Association, County, State & National News
October 16th: Townhall Answering Your CARES Act Questions
On October 16th, MACo and the Local Government Center hosted a virtual “townhall” to provide Montana’s counties with a venue and opportunity to share and learn from the situations and…
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MACo 2nd Vice President Candidate: Commissioner Sidney Fitzpatrick, Big Horn County
I will be dedicated to MACo and will work to bring cooperation and diversity with other counties to ensure integrity in the 2nd Vice President position. I would respectfully serve…
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October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Now in its 17th year, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) continues to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity across our Nation, ensuring that all Americans have the resources they…
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MACo President, Commissioner Shane Gorder, Bids Farewell
I wanted to put a few words together to say thank you to everyone for the opportunity to serve as the MACo President this past year. It has truly been…
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MACo 2nd Vice President Candidate: Commissioner Dennis Zander, Dawson County
I was elected in 2016 and currently serve as the Dawson County Commission Chair, and have held a seat on MACo's Energy Committee since joining the Association. I will continue…
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MACo 2nd Vice President Candidate: Commissioner Roman Zylawy, Mineral County
I want our smaller voice at the county level to be heard and acknowledged by larger government entities while the discussion is happening and before the decisions are made. The…
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New Lodging Rates Beginning October 1st
The General Services Administration has announced new lodging rates effective for travel beginning October 1, 2020.
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September 18th: Townhall Continues to Address COVID-19 & CARES Act Questions
On September 18th, MACo and the Local Government Center hosted a virtual “townhall” to provide Montana’s counties with a venue and opportunity to share and learn from the situations and…
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CDBG Community Planning Grant Applications Accepted Through October 15, 2020
Community Development Block Grant Community Planning Grant Applications are being accepted through October 15, 2020.
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3rd FEMA/CAREs Reimbursement Application
Application materials are now available for the third reimbursement cycle, closing September 25th. The process is similar to the first two application cycles wherein the reimbursement form includes FEMA and CAREs…
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Commerce Department Launches the 2020 Census State Championship
The Montana Department of Commerce has launched the 2020 Census State Championship to encourage counties and tribes in Montana to compete for the highest increase in self-response rates to the…
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Lewis & Clark County Seeking Deputy County Attorney
Lewis & Clark County is seeking a Deputy County Attorney. Under the general direction of the County Attorney, this position prosecutes criminal and civil offenses, represents county government in legal…
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NACo Launches NEW Online Advocacy Toolkit
The National Association of Counties has developed a county online federal advocacy toolkit to help you be an effective advocate for top county priorities.
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September 4th: Townhall Continues to Answer COVID-19 & CARES Act Questions
On September 4th, MACo and the Local Government Center hosted a virtual “townhall” to provide Montana’s counties with a venue and opportunity to share and learn from the situations and…
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An Important Message from Our MACo President
MACo President, Shane Gorder, shares an important message with MACo members and partners during this unprecedented and challenging time.
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August 21st: Townhall Focuses on COVID-19 & CARES Act Questions
On August 21st, MACo and the Local Government Center hosted a virtual “townhall” to provide Montana’s counties with a venue and opportunity to share and learn from the situations and…
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FY 2020 Mineral Impact Fund Distribution
The FY 2020 Federal Mineral Royalties have been distributed. Montana statute provides that money deposited into the mineral impact account shall be distributed to local governments according to MCA 17-3-240…
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August 7th: Townhall Focuses on COVID-19 & CARES Act Questions as well as Census & General Election Directive
On August 7th, MACo and the Local Government Center hosted a virtual “townhall” to provide Montana's counties with a venue and opportunity to share and learn from the situations and…
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Counties Allowed the Choice to Conduct Mail Ballot Election & Expand Early Voting for November General Election
Governor Bullock today (August 6th) issued a directive to ensure all eligible Montanans can safely vote in the 2020 November general election by allowing counties to expand voting by mail…
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Cascade County Seeking Deputy County Attorney – Criminal Department
Cascade County is currently seeking to fill the position of Deputy County Attorney (Criminal Department). This position performs complex legal, professional and administrative work. The work is performed in accordance…
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MACo Welcomes Joanne Romasko as HCT Trust Administrator
Help us in welcoming our new team addition! Joanne Romasko, RHIA, CHDA, CCSP, joined the MACo Health Care Trust Team on as the Health Care Trust Administrator.
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July 24th: Continuing to Answer Your Local Government Reimbursement Program Questions
On July 24th, MACo and the Local Government Center hosted a virtual “townhall” to provide Montana's counties with a venue and opportunity to share and learn from the situations and…
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Governor Bullock Issues Directive Requiring Face Coverings in Certain Indoor Spaces and Outdoor Gatherings
On July 15th Governor Steve Bullock issued a directive requiring face coverings in certain indoor spaces and for certain organized outdoor activities in counties currently experiencing four or more active…
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July 10th: Answering Your Local Government Reimbursement Program Questions
On July 10th, MACo and the Local Government Center hosted a virtual “townhall” to provide Montana's counties with a venue and opportunity to share and learn from the situations and…
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Plan Released for Reopening Safe and Healthy Schools for Montana
On July 2nd, the Governor’s Plan for Reopening Safe and Healthy Schools for Montana was released to provide flexible guidance for public schools to prepare to offer in-person instruction in…
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MACo Launches Mobile App
After several years fielding requests, the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) is eager to announce that we are now offering a mobile application.
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FY 2020 PILT Payments Distributed
U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced today that more than 1,900 local governments around the country will receive $514.7 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT)…
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MACo Awards 2020 President’s Scholarships
MACo President and Richland County Commissioner, Shane Gorder, has announced that Allyson Young, Everett Jensen, and Mason Mindt are the awardees of the 2020 MACo President’s Scholarships.
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June 12th: Local Government Reimbursement Program Update & Answering Your Questions
On June 12th, MACo and the Local Government Center hosted a virtual “townhall” to provide Montana's counties with a venue and opportunity to share and learn from the situations and…
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Local Government Reimbursement Program Created
The Local Government Reimbursement Program is now open. Reimbursement is available to local governments as part of the CARES Act and the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) grant…
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Montana 2020 Census: Fill Out Your Form!
With the Census continuing until October, the State Complete Count Committee is closely tracking Montana’s response rates down to the Census tract level. Read this article to view a highlight…
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May 29th: Update on CARES Act Reimbursements
On May 29th, MACo and the Local Government Center hosted a virtual “townhall” to provide Montana's counties with a venue and opportunity to share and learn from the situations and…
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Ravalli County Commissioner, Greg Chilcott, Elected President of WIR
Ravalli County Commissioner, Greg Chilcott, took up the presidential reins of NACo’s Western Interstate Region (WIR) on May 13th during a remote WIR Board Meeting. The Officers were scheduled to…
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Millions Available in Emergency Grants Via Montana Programs
The state has created a single application portal for emergency grants funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided Montana with $1.25 billion for…
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MACo’s Annual Salary Survey Completed: Results Available for Download
Every year, MACo collects county elected official salary information from the current fiscal year (FY 2020) for use by counties in the budget-setting process for the next fiscal year (FY…
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National Association of Counties (NACo) to Hold Virtual Annual Business Meeting
The National Association of Counties’ Board of Directors made the difficult decision to cancel the NACo Annual Conference and proceed with a virtual Annual Business Meeting, which will include the…
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CISA, IRS, USSS, and Treasury Release Joint Alert on Scams Related to COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the United States Secret Service (USSS) urge all Americans to be on…
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Phase Two of Reopening Planned to Begin on June 1st
Governor Steve Bullock today announced the state will move to Phase Two of the Reopening the Big Sky plan and will lift the 14-day out-of-state travel quarantine beginning June 1…
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SBA and Treasury Release Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application
On Friday, May 15th, the U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for…
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TSEP Application Submission Guidance Presentation
An application submission guidance presentation has been posted on the TSEP webpage for applicants applying by the Friday, June 12, 2020 deadline.
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CDBG Grant Application Deadlines
Grant applications for three Community Development Block Grant programs, managed by the Department of Commerce, are now being accepted.
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Upcoming 2020 District Meetings
Given these unprecedented times, and after MUCH discussion, we have come to the difficult decision that this year’s district meetings will be virtual as opposed to in-person. The annual trip…
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TSEP Application Deadline Extended
Due to the repercussions of COVID-19, the Montana Department of Commerce has received many public comments expressing concern over the May 1, 2020 TSEP Construction application deadline. Commerce has: (1)…
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Livestock Loss Board Loss Prevention Grants
Apply now for livestock loss prevention grants. The Livestock Loss Board has $80,000 available for wolf only loss prevention projects. Limited money will be available for grizzly bear loss prevention…
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May 8th: Governor’s Coronavirus Relief Fund Task Force Update & Outcomes
The second session in our series of townhalls focused on the Governor’s Coronavirus Relief Fund Task Force. MACo Executive Director, Eric Bryson, reported on the progress and guidance that came…
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Second Opportunity for Mobile Crisis Unit Grant
The Department of Public Health and Human Services, Addictive and Mental Disorders Division (AMDD), recently released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Mobile Crisis Unit Grant; however, the the…
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2020 Census Operational Adjustments Due to COVID-19
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau is adjusting 2020 Census operations in order to: protect the health and safety of the American public and Census Bureau…
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Letter from Our MACo President
I am writing you all to say hello and to wish you, your family, and friends all well in these uncertain times. Thank you to all the counties and their…
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