BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 8.94.3814 and 8.94.3815 pertaining to the submission and review of applications for funding under the Montana Coal Endowment Program (MCEP)

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NOTICE OF AMENDMENT

 

TO: All Concerned Persons

 

           1. On March 8, 2024, the Department of Commerce published MAR Notice No. 8-94-211 pertaining to the public hearing on the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules at page 358 of the 2024 Montana Administrative Register, Issue Number 5.

 

2.  The department has amended the above-stated rules as proposed.

 

3. The department has considered the comments and testimony received. A summary of the comments received, and the department's responses are as follows:

 

Comment 1: A comment was received regarding small Montana communities not having the capacity to quickly turn around draft meeting minutes to be available for the next commission/council meeting agenda.  Applications should not be scored less because of this.  Rural local governments have less staff and meet less frequently than larger communities.  Again, this scoring item inappropriately negatively impacts the most rural Montana communities.

 

Response 1: Expectation that documents submitted are finalized and signed by local governments in all submitted documents creates an even playing field for all applicants to compete with each other in the analysis process.

 

Comment 2:  A commenter requested that a match not be required for grants to smaller communities and that grant funds are not dispersed on a reimbursement basis.

 

Response 2: Because the event award is limited to $25,000 for defined allowed expenses, no match is required for this funding opportunity.  Most of the permissible expenses will be incurred close to or at the time of the event, and event deliverables must be submitted to the department within 30 days.  Grantees who submit deliverables within the contractual term should not incur large out-of-pocket expenses before grant funds are distributed.

 

 

/s/ John Semmens                                       /s/ Mandy Rambo                                        

John Semmens                                            Mandy Rambo

Rule Reviewer                                              Deputy Director

                                                                     Department of Commerce

 

Certified to the Secretary of State April 16, 2024.