Mission West Community Development Partners: March 2025 Newsletter
26 Mar 2025
Dear Friends and Partners,
As winter gives way to longer spring days, Mission West is gearing up for another busy season. The past few months have challenged us to explore new directions as we face the harsh reality of administrative changes that threaten the very community programs, we know are vital—and were actively implementing.
Mission West has been a proud leader in the USDA Rural Renewable Energy Program. This initiative helped cost-share projects focused on energy savings and, more importantly, brought renewable energy solutions to our rural communities. With support from the Montana Department of Agriculture, we assisted businesses in developing strategies that improved their bottom line through sustainable innovation. Unfortunately, this program is now frozen by USDA Rural Development.
We also launched a Brownfields program aimed at helping our communities and businesses address pollution left behind from previous land uses. Across our towns, there are sites identified as needing cleanup, and what better use of public funds than investing in a cleaner, safer environment for the next generation? This program, too, has been halted under current federal directives.
Despite these setbacks, we’re not standing still. We’re actively engaging with partners, funders, and friends to understand and respond to the concerns we’re hearing from our communities. The “Why?” behind this federal shift away from supporting rural America is hard to pin down. But one thing is clear—we know our communities. They’re resilient. They’re innovative. And together, we’ll rise to meet these challenges head-on.
It’s an honor to be part of Mission West, surrounded by a dedicated team and rooted in the strong, mission-driven communities we serve.
Sincerely,
Jan Tusick,
Executive Director
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