The Reclamation and Development Grants Program (RDGP) is a state-funded grant program designed to fund projects that protect Montana citizens from the effects of mineral development on public resources, and that meet other crucial state needs, serve the public interest, and benefit the total environment of the people of Montana.
Donor Name: The Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation
State: Montana
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/15/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) administers the program.
The purposes of the RDGP are:
- To repair, reclaim, and mitigate environmental damage to public resources from non‑renewable resource extraction;
- To develop and ensure the quality of public resources for the benefit of all Montana citizens.
Funding Information
DNRC can recommend up to $500,000 for projects.
Eligible Projects
Proposed projects must provide benefits in one of two categories: (1) mineral development (reclamation of impacts from non-renewable resource extraction, also called reclamation projects) or (2) crucial state need. Mineral development impacts and crucial state need projects will be given equal preference in the ranking process. Projects not fitting into either of these categories will not be eligible for RDGP funding. DNRC will conduct a review and screening of all applications to determine eligibility under these two categories.
Reclamation (Mineral Development)
To be considered a reclamation project, the project goals and objectives must achieve at least one of the following:
- Reclaim land, water or other resources adversely affected by mineral development.
- Mitigate damage to public resources caused by mineral development.
- Research, demonstrate, or provide technical assistance to promote the wise use of Montana minerals, including efforts to make processing more environmentally compatible.
- Investigate and remediate sites where hazardous wastes or regulated substances threaten public health or the environment.
- Research to assess existing or potential environmental damage resulting from mineral development.
Eligibility Criteria
Any department, agency, board, commission, or other division of state government, city, county, or other division of local government, or tribal government within the state may apply. Private persons, private companies, non-profits, and federal agencies are not eligible for RDGP funding.
For more information, visit DNRC.
