Grant Funding Available to Support Services for At-Risk Populations, Substance Abuse Prevention
Posted on April 02, 2026
Missoula County is accepting grant applications for both the Substance Abuse Prevention Mill Levy and Community Assistance Fund. Government and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply online at http://missoula.co/grantportal by 11:59 p.m. Friday, May 8. Funding is for fiscal year 2027, which runs July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Missoula County voters approved the Substance Abuse Prevention Mill Levy (SAP ML) in 2008 to support prevention programs that help build healthy youth and families and reduce the negative consequences and high costs of underage substance abuse. The total funding amount available for fiscal year 2027 is $384,539.
Previous recipients of funding from this mill levy include programs administered by Missoula Public Health, All Nations Health Center, Western Montana Mental Health Center, the Boys and Girls Club, Empower MT, Friends of the Children and Mountain Home Montana.
Applicants for the SAP mill levy must demonstrate how they use effective strategies based on one or more of the following proven programs:
- A coalition that coordinates prevention efforts and community members to prevent substance abuse and its negative impacts on Missoula County residents.
- Community education about the risks and costs of abusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
- A supervised non-school hour activity that gives young people alternatives to drug use and opportunities for positive youth development.
- Early intervention to help youth and families address alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems.
Missoula County levies the Community Assistance Fund (CAF) to support human services and establish a safety net or continuum of services to meet basic human needs. Projects funded through CAF prioritize services that address the most fundamental needs of at-risk populations, including food, shelter, medical services and emergency transportation. The total funding amount available for fiscal year 2027 is approximately $895,000.
The Community Assistance Fund has roots going back to 1877, when the Montana Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Montana created an act that directed county commissions to use taxes for a special fund to assist the poor by collecting annual bids for the “care, support and maintenance of the sick, poor and infirm of the county.” While many iterations of state law have occurred over the decades, it is this foundation that guides the work of the CAF review committee and ultimately the decisions by the county commissioners.
Grants and Community Resources staff will host a pre-application workshop on Wednesday, April 8, at 1 p.m. via Microsoft Teams to provide information and guidance for agencies interested in applying. More information about the workshop is available online.
For additional information, visit https://www.missoulacounty.gov/departments/grants-community-resources/ or contact [email protected].
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