Tester Secures $3.9 Million to Improve Key Infrastructure for Blackfeet Tribe

Funding comes from the Senator’s bipartisan infrastructure law

As a direct result of his bipartisan infrastructure law, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced he has secured $3,906,652 in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant funding for the Blackfeet Tribe, which will work to improve safety and accessibility of the Tribe’s transportation system and provide opportunities for future economic and tourism development.

Tester worked with five Republicans and four Democrats to negotiate the IIJA¸ which will fund this project, and was the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to vote for the bill.

“Safe and reliable infrastructure is critical to the health of any community, which is why I was proud to lock arms with Blackfeet community members and leaders to make these much-needed safety improvements to the Tribe’s transportation system,” said Tester. “With this announcement, this project now has the funds to get started on making vital improvements to safety and accessibility by ensuring that infrastructure in the community meets current roadway, pedestrian, and stormwater standards. I’m proud to have secured this funding from my bipartisan infrastructure law, and I’ll keep working to ensure this project gets off the ground quickly.”

Tester secured significant wins for Montana in the IIJA, including $2.82 billion for Montana’s roads, highways and bridges; $2.5 billion to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements; $1 billion to complete all authorized rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation; $65 billion to deploy broadband to areas across the country that lack internet access and additionally make online connectivity affordable; and $3.37 billion to reduce wildfire risk nationwide, among others. Tester also worked to ensure that all iron, steel, and construction materials used for these projects must be made in America.

A full list of Montana provisions in Tester’s bipartisan infrastructure law can be found HERE.