The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) was awarded a $694,439 federal Project Grant under the Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings Grant Program (CFDA 66.044) from the Environmental Protection Agency's Office for Air and Radiation. The grant funding will be used to enhance community wildfire smoke preparedness in six Montana counties and two tribal nations over a three-year period from May 2024 to April 2027.
Key activities under the grant include:
Providing training to building and facility managers on HVAC maintenance and indoor air quality
Creating materials for public building managers on ventilation and air quality during smoke, inversions, and heat events
Hosting DIY air filter sessions and developing a community smoke readiness toolkit
Establishing a recognition program for "cleaner air shelters" in six communities, including provision of air monitoring equipment and small sub-awards to participating buildings
Conducting community outreach and messaging on wildfire smoke awareness and mitigation strategies
This federal grant aims to increase awareness, capacity, and action to reduce building occupants' exposure to wildfire smoke in highly impacted Montana communities.