Cascade County hears CDBG project pitches for senior center, water and sewer upgrades

Cascade County commissioners heard public testimony June 23 on potential Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects that residents and nonprofit partners asked the county to sponsor.

At a public hearing convened during the county's regular meeting, Joanne Eisenzimmer, representing the Cascade Senior Community Center in Cascade, asked the commission to support a CDBG application to renovate and preserve the center's historic stone building and to add 2,800 square feet of space. Eisenzimmer described the facility's programs ' meals on wheels, congregate meals, a food bank and a local museum ' and said its infrastructure has long-needed repairs including a leaking roof and inadequate HVAC. She said the project's estimated cost is approximately $1,425,000, that $110,000 has already been set aside, and that a $675,000 grant application is pending.

"The proposed project will renovate the exterior and interior of the infrastructure and construct an addition to the facility in accordance with related federal and Montana guidelines," Eisenzimmer said, outlining plans to clean and remortar the stone, replace the roof, bring restrooms and HVAC up to current standards, and improve accessibility.

Robin Renz, president of the Southwind Water and Sewer District, requested county sponsorship of a CDBG application to complete phase 4 of a water and sewer improvements project. Renz described components including expansion of a treated wastewater drain field, a secondary water source to meet DEQ requirements, a hydrogeologic study to support water-rights applications, and wellhead protection fencing. She said the district serves 92 homes and approximately 240 residents and sought $534,588 in CDBG funds to close a funding gap.

NeighborWorks Montana's Danielle Bundrock urged commissioners to prioritize and sponsor the Southwind application, saying the project would leverage roughly $1.595 million in other funding sources and would be ready to proceed if the county agreed to sponsor the CDBG request.

Representatives of the Great Falls Homebuilders Association also asked the county to consider whether CDBG funds could be used to temporarily subsidize a short-term front-desk or coordinator position in the county planning office, arguing such a role would speed permitting and support local growth; staff and speakers noted limits on using CDBG for ongoing payroll.

County staff and the chief financial officer explained the CDBG process and deadlines, noting that Cascade County may have one open project in each CDBG category (public facilities, housing, economic development) at a time and that the hearing was for information and prioritization only. No formal action or awards were made; commissioners recessed the regular meeting to take public testimony and said staff would follow up on potential internal applications and sponsorships.

Next steps: staff will compile the public input, consult with applicants about readiness and funding strategies, and notify the commission when applications are prepared for formal sponsorship and submission under Montana Department of Commerce deadlines.