The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is awarding a close to 645-thousand dollar grant to the city of Montrose to make critical infrastructure improvements needed to protect the local business community from flooding. This EDA grant is expected to be matched with more than 161-thousand dollars in local investment.

Dana Gartzke with the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development said that spring flooding has become an annual occurrence in Montrose and has taken its toll on the city’s infrastructure.  He said that the EDA’s investment in Montrose’s sanitary sewer infrastructure will protect established businesses and accommodate future economic growth.

The project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the South Eastern Council of Governments, which EDA funds to help bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.