Colstrip Impacts Foundation: Worker Support Grant

Colstrip Impacts Foundation: Worker Support Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Montana Community Foundation
Last Updated: October 08, 2025

Summary

The Colstrip Impacts Foundation: Worker Support Grant is designed to assist workers affected by recent closures in the Colstrip community. Managed by the Montana Community Foundation, this grant aims to provide financial support directly to impacted employees and promote economic development. Eligibility includes being a direct employee of designated facilities and experiencing a layoff. The program emphasizes support without restrictions on fund usage, reinforcing the community's resilience and recovery.

Overview

About Us Here at the Montana Community Foundation, we care about Montana. It's not just the place where we live and work, it's our home. Since 1988, the Montana Community Foundation has worked tirelessly to create permanent philanthropy and build stronger communities. MCF manages more than $188.5 million in assets and administers more than 1,470 philanthropic funds and planned gifts. Our work with donors, charitable organizations, cities and towns plays a critical role in both philanthropic and community development. Since our founding, MCF has reinvested more than $100 million in Montana through scholarships, grants, and programs. Colstrip Impacts Foundation Grants available to support impacted workers and their families and further economic development in the Colstrip community. Colstrip is a changing community. Supporting people, businesses, and services is key to the future of the Colstrip region. The Colstrip Impacts Foundation offers grants to support the local community. Grants will be made to eligible organizations and individuals. Funding is available in three areas of support: economic development, support for taxing districts, and grants directly to impacted workers. Worker Support Grant The Worker Support Grant provides support to workers impacted by recent unit closures. Award Details The Worker Support Grant Program will be effective on January 1, 2021. Claims may not be retroactive prior to the effective date of the program. There are no restrictions as to funding use. These funds will go directly to the impacted employees. Each year at the end of the calendar year, the Colstrip Impacts Foundation Committee will determine the amount to be awarded per eligible employee for the following calendar year.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Must be employed at the Colstrip Power Plant, Rosebud Mine, or Rosebud Operating Service (ROSI). Verification for eligibility will include a layoff letter. Must be a direct employee, not a contractor. Must have been employed at one of the 3 entities on or before June 11, 2019. This is the date of the Talen Press Release announcing the closure of Units 1 & 2. On this date the public was officially made aware of the closure. Company employees and Union Members in good standing with the union are eligible. Must be laid off. If a person retires, resigns, takes a voluntary lay off, is terminated, or gains employment elsewhere, they are not eligible. Grantees will only be eligible for a one-time payment.The grant is optional and no one is required to apply for funds.

Ineligibility

If an employee receives funds and is later called back to work, he/she may not apply again if/when they are laid off again in the future.If an employee receives a severance payment representing more than 50% of their annual income, they will not be eligible for funding.If an individual chooses to apply at a later time, he/she will no longer be eligible for funding after 3 months from his/her original layoff date.