Reclamation and Development Grants Program (RDGP)

The Reclamation and Development Grants Program (RDGP) Project Grants is an initiative operated under the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), aimed at funding projects that offer measurable benefits to Montana’s natural resources. This program supports two distinct project types: mineral development reclamation and projects that address a crucial state need. The intent of RDGP is to support technically and financially feasible initiatives that demonstrate an urgent public need and provide environmental and public health improvements related to Montana's non-renewable resource impacts or severe threats to natural resources. Under the mineral development (reclamation) category, eligible projects include those focused on reclaiming land, water, or other resources adversely affected by mineral development, mitigating public resource damage, researching environmentally compatible mineral processing methods, investigating and remediating hazardous waste sites, or assessing environmental damage from mineral development activities. These projects are required to be both cost-effective and compliant with environmental quality standards and must not relieve liable parties or support work on actively permitted sites. Examples include abandoned mine reclamation, brownfields cleanup, abandoned oil and gas well remediation, and cleanup of abandoned hazardous waste sites. The second category, crucial state need, includes projects that aim to prevent or eliminate unacceptable damage to natural resources or capture extraordinary public benefits that might otherwise be lost. These projects must be regionally or statewide significant, with benefits directly tied to natural resources. Eligible subcategories include drought mitigation projects tied to documented management plans, high hazard dam projects as defined by the Montana Dam Safety Act, and other projects with demonstrated urgency and endorsement through formal plans or agency support. Applicants must show that their project is the best option available for addressing the need and that other funding sources are not available. Eligible applicants for RDGP Project Grants include cities, counties, other political subdivisions, tribal governments in Montana, and state government divisions, including departments, agencies, boards, and commissions. Applicants must demonstrate a willingness and capacity to enter into agreements with DNRC for project implementation. Proposals must clearly describe technical feasibility, financial planning, and compliance with regulatory standards. The 2026 application cycle is currently open, with a firm deadline of May 15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. MT. Applicants are encouraged to review the official RDG Project Grant Application Guidelines prior to submission. DNRC offers weekly open office hours every Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. via Microsoft Teams, where applicants can consult program staff, discuss proposed projects, and ask questions about the application process. Program contacts for further assistance include Samantha Treu (Program Manager) and Brittany Trushell (Grant Manager), both reachable by phone or email. Successful projects may receive up to $500,000 in funding, provided that the application clearly demonstrates multiple natural resource benefits, urgency, financial need, and the lack of other available funding sources. While the program does not specify a recurring submission cycle in the source material, past cycles and the structure suggest ongoing biennial offerings. The grant announcement page also provides links to previous applications and funded projects for additional context and reference.

Applicants should clearly demonstrate multiple natural resource benefits, financial need, and the unavailability of other funds to strengthen proposals.