Hardin City Government - Economic Development

City Government

Economic Development

Economic Development issues in the City of Hardin involve every aspect of the Community. Assistance is given to local organizations as well as business owners, schools, medical facilities and the general public. Following is a list of current projects being assisted or directed by the department.

Current Projects

LMI Housing Project, Frontier Court

Business Recruitment
New business is beginning to prosper with the recruitment of a coal generated power plant and an adjoining ethanol plant. These projects will add in the neighborhood of 100 jobs to the local area. It is hopeful that the addition of these businesses will allow the City of Hardin to expand it's sewer and water systems to the north of interstate I90.

LMI Housing Project, Frontier Court
Currently in process is a 16 lot mixed subdivision. complete with curb, gutter, sidewalks and the utilities stubbed into the lots. A Community Development Block Grant has supplied the infrastructure to make the lots affordable to new homeowners. Lots sell for $4,000 to low to moderate income families and $6,000 to those that do not qualify under HUD guidelines. Situated across from Heimat Park, these lots are made to order for first time homeowners.

Hardin Burlington Northern / Santa Fe Depot Restoration
The City of Hardin is leasing the Depot and assisting with project management and accessing funding sources. It was then sub-leased to the Chamber of Commerce for a local information center and Community Center.

Funding for this project has been acquired from many sources:

Source	Amount	Notes
Montana Dakota Utilities	$ 1,500.00	(insulation)
Montana Community Foundation Renaissance Grant	$10,000.00	(requires $20,000 in donations to Hardin Area Community Foundation)
Department of Commerce Tourism Infrastructure Investment Grant	$20,000.00	(requires $10,000 match)
Big Horn County Historical Society	$ 500.00
City of Hardin	$3,650.00	(first year lease, environmental assessment)

Additional local donations of time and money currently at $28,525.00.

For more information on how you can participate see the Chamber of Commerce section on this site.

Big Horn County Crime Prevention Council
Economic Development Director was requested to restructure program in April 1999 when problems arose in the program. The Montana Board of Crime Control funded the program and currently the program is financially stable with a reorganized board and new Director. A list of programs, fund-raisers and additional information can be found in Community organizations.

Web Site
With a $5,000 grant from USDA/US West this page was made available to all local entities within our community at no charge.

Hardin Area Community Foundation
A local community foundation started by the city of Hardin through the Montana Community Foundation. A challenge match offered to the community allows every dollar donated to the foundation to be matched dollar for dollar up to $12,000 by the city of Hardin. This foundation will provide grant money for charitable and economic development projects in the future. Current donations total $20,500. For more information on Montana Community Foundation visit http://www.mtcf.org/.

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