County gets grant for senior center planning

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has announced grant awards totaling more than $400,000 for 20 communities across the state, including a $30,000 grant that will be used for senior center planning in Flathead County.

“From Kalispell to Miles City, cities and counties across Montana will be able to better plan for future growth and development,” Bullock said in a press release Wednesday. “The projects will equip community leaders with the resources needed to create long-term solutions to critical housing and infrastructure needs.”

The Community Development Block Grant program is administered by the Montana Department of Commerce. Flathead County was not eligible to apply for a grant for senior center planning this year because it already had one active grant application, so the city of Kalispell applied on the county’s behalf. 

According to the city’s community development office, the grant will fund an architectural report reviewing senior centers in Kalispell, Bigfork, Columbia Falls and Whitefish. 

The grant application cited accessibility and health-and-safety challenges at some of the centers.

The grant will soon be brought to the Kalispell City Council for acceptance on behalf of the county.