Community technical assistance program

The Community Technical Assistance Program CTAP provides professional planning assistance to communities across Montana in support of sound land use and development decisions, economic revitalization, and overall community resilience. Technical assistance is provided through workshops and trainings, direct assistance by phone or email, collaboration with local, state, and federal partners, the creation of model documents, and guidance on planning best practices.

CTAP staff include a land use attorney, professional planners, planning and outreach specialists, and licensed engineers who assist communities in everything from the development of long range plans to interpretation of statute to guidance on grant applications and review of technical documents.

This assistance is provided at no cost to communities statewide. Planning is at the foundation of building vibrant, healthy and prosperous communities and helps to more effectively take local efforts to the next level. CTAP assists Montana communities proactively prepare for critical development needs and promote economic vitality through grants, direct assistance, workshops and more. We can help connect you to resources that will enhance local innovative approaches to plan for and create better places, strong economic opportunities and best practices for your community.

Please use the CTAP contact form to submit a request for community needs, projects or planning assistance. The mission of the Community Technical Assistance Program is to provide technical assistance to encourage planning and sustainable development in Montana communities by working with local governments, planning departments, private developers, non-profit organizations, and the public.

CTAP assists communities statewide through research and by providing both technical and legal guidance, education, and training. CTAP staff work with local governments and the public on long range planning issues and assisting in the development and adoption process of land use plans and regulations.

CTAP staff also provides legal guidance and professional insight on planning topics such as subdivision regulations, zoning, and annexations. They assist developers, surveyors, engineers, and planners to interpret statute and understand case law governing land use planning in Montana. JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. Please click here to see any active alerts.

Under the TASC contract, a contractor provides scientists, engineers and other professionals to review and explain information to communities. The services are determined on a project-specific basis and provided at no cost to communities.

This assistance supports community efforts to get more involved and work productively with EPA to address environmental issues. TASC services can include information assistance and expertise, community education, information assistance needs evaluation and plan development, and assistance to help community members work together to participate effectively in environmental decision-making.

The TASC program benefits communities by explaining technical findings and answering community questions, helping them understand complex environmental issues, and supporting their active roles in protecting healthy communities and advancing environmental protection.

The TASC program can also provide opportunities for environmental education, bring diverse groups together and help them get more involved, and offer training and support environmental employment opportunities through the Superfund Job Training Initiative.

TASC has the expertise and skills needed to guide communities in the direction of their choice. TASC services are not a grant. There are no funds awarded to the recipients of the assistance services. TASC provides services only. These services are delivered under a contract which is funded, administered and managed by EPA. After initial contact, communities submit a request via email or letter for TASC services.

TASC Technical Assistance Specialists work with communities to evaluate their educational and technical assistance needs and identify the services that will best address those needs. In which parts of the country are TASC services offered? Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. TASC services are provided at no cost to communities.

However, TASC resources are limited, and EPA must consider each community request alongside requests from other communities across the country. Our community would like to request technical assistance from EPA for a brownfields site rather than a Superfund site.

Can the TASC program help us? What are they, and how are they different from TASC?