Community Parks & Recreation Grant

Missoula County Parks, Trails & Recreation administers the Community Parks & Recreation Grant, formerly called the Matching Grants Program, to support community partners that create or enhance public recreation facilities throughout Missoula County. The program seeks partnerships with community groups, nonprofit organizations, recreational associations, public agencies, and other eligible entities for capital improvement projects that provide lasting public recreation benefits. Projects on property operated by Missoula County Parks, Trails & Recreation receive priority consideration, but eligible projects may occur elsewhere in Missoula County as long as they are outside the City of Missoula. The program makes $90,000 available each year, with a maximum funding request of $30,000 per project. Average awards are reported as $5,000 to $15,000, and an organization may submit only one application per grant cycle. Eligible applicants include tribal, federal, state, and local government agencies, school districts, community councils, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and recreational associations. Eligible projects must create or enhance public recreation facilities and provide a long-term benefit of at least five years, preferably longer. Allowable activities include construction of park amenities and facilities such as ball courts, shelters, picnic tables, and pathways; trail infrastructure such as boardwalks, fencing, interpretation, and signage; projects needed for compliance with industry standards; planning directly related to implementation; physical accessibility improvements; and one-time maintenance activities required to implement a new project. Regular ongoing maintenance, moveable equipment purchases or maintenance, property or easement acquisition, feasibility studies, preliminary planning, profit-making ventures, projects under litigation, noncompliant projects, projects causing specified environmental harm, and projects at Big Sky Park are ineligible. If the applicant does not own the project property, written permission and evidence of project support from the owner or land manager are required. Applicants must provide a match equal to at least 25 percent of the grant funding requested. For example, a $30,000 grant request requires at least $7,500 in match. Both cash and in-kind contributions are accepted. Cash match must be supported by invoices and proof of payment. In-kind contributions may include donated supplies, facilities, services, equipment, or volunteer labor, with general volunteer labor currently valued at $30 per hour. Match contributions must constitute eligible grant activities, be clearly connected to the proposed project scope, be guaranteed when the application is submitted, and generally be incurred after the project start date. Design and engineering costs used as match may be incurred up to twelve months before the project start date. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, so recipients must first incur and fully pay eligible expenses and then provide adequate invoices and payment documentation before receiving reimbursement. The application cycle opened August 17, 2026, and applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on October 30, 2026. Before applying, applicants must complete a consultation with Parks, Trails & Recreation staff to determine project eligibility. Applicants then create or use an existing account in the Missoula County Grant Portal at http://missoula.co/grantportal and submit the application through that online system. Before submission, applicants must certify that they understand and will comply with the terms and conditions associated with receiving grant funding. Applicants are also invited to attend the November 19, 2026 Parks & Trails Advisory Board meeting to briefly present their projects and answer questions before application scoring. The meeting is expected to be available in both virtual and in-person formats. Applications are evaluated under four categories worth 25 points each for a total possible score of 100 points: demonstrated need and community support, project resiliency and maintenance considerations, recreational opportunity, and project feasibility. Review factors include evidence documenting project need, community participation, additional cash or in-kind support, alignment with planning documents, sustainable maintenance capacity, safety and liability management, environmental resilience, expansion of recreational and educational opportunities, reduction of access barriers, year-round or multi-season use, connectivity, project readiness, a defined implementation timeline, urgency, detailed and reasonable costs, and financial or in-kind capacity. Parks, Trails & Recreation staff and the Parks & Trails Advisory Board each generate a score; the two scores are averaged and used to create a ranked recommendation list. The Board of County Commissioners makes the final award decisions at a public meeting, expected in January 2027, and award announcements are expected in February 2027. Awarded projects may not begin until the grant contract has been signed by both the grantee and the Missoula County Board of County Commissioners. Expenses incurred before contract execution are not reimbursable, and the review and contracting process may take up to 60 days. All projects must be completed and reimbursement claims received by June 1, 2028. A final report is required when the grant is closed out, and award recipients must submit a W9 to receive payment from Missoula County. Questions about the opportunity may be directed to Missoula County Parks, Trails & Recreation at countyparks@missoulacounty.us or 406-258-4657. The source states that $90,000 is made available each year, supporting treatment of the program as recurring; based on the August 2026 opening month, the next expected cycle is August 2027.

Demonstrate project need with credible data and community support; document cash and in-kind support and guarantee the required 25% match; prioritize sustainable maintenance, safety, environmental resilience, accessibility, and multi-season recreational benefit; demonstrate project readiness with clear scope, roles, timeline, permitting considerations, detailed reasonable costs, and financial or in-kind capacity; projects on property operated by Missoula County Parks, Trails & Recreation receive priority consideration.