A great example of this is our work with the City of Malta, Montana. Since 2022, Great West has increased administrative capacity for the City in addressing its aging infrastructure. Planning grants are important in strengthening a community’s ability to identify existing deficiencies, develop comprehensive plans to prioritize improvements, and secure funding for projects that consider future development and growth. The City was awarded funding for multiple planning grants including a Capital Improvements Plan, Levee Feasibility Study, and Water Preliminary Engineering Report, all prepared by Great West Engineering. Our funding team handles all the necessary requirements for the City, including specific financial documentation and coordination for the execution of grant agreements.

Malta’s has an aging water system consisting of 70 to 80 year old piping and a storage tank that experiences ongoing leaks. The groundwater supply is also high in manganese.  Furthermore, the City operates a wastewater collection system that conveys wastewater to six different lift stations across the City. Similar to many of our clients, Malta relies on state and federal grant funding to add to its local resources and provide safe and reliable water and wastewater services.

Through a combination of planning and project grants, Great West administrators have recently managed over $3 million in grant funding for the City, utilizing seven different funding streams through four different agencies. In addition to the project grants, our funding team successfully submitted and managed two Emergency Grants, utilized to address unexpected wastewater system failures. Moreover, we have recently submitted an additional $8.2 million in funding applications to continue this important work to replace a failed sewer force main, install a new water storage tank, and upgrade the water treatment system.

Our Grant administrators play a pivotal role in the lifecycle of grants. They are responsible for overseeing and managing the grant process, from identifying potential grant opportunities to ensuring compliance with the grant’s conditions. This includes preparing and submitting grant applications, managing awarded funds, monitoring project progress, and ensuring that all financial and performance reporting requirements are met. They also act as a bridge between the funding agency and the organization receiving the grant, facilitating communication and ensuring that the grant’s objectives are achieved efficiently and effectively. Their role is crucial in ensuring that the projects funded by grants are completed successfully and that the funds are used appropriately and responsibly.