Rural Initiatives
News and Updates |
Recent Activity & Publications
Click here to view online (4.4 MB) To pick up a hard copy, visit us at 317 Woody St in downtown Missoula. |
| Last updated on February 1, 2012 |
About Us

The mission of Rural Initiatives is to support rural landscapes and the rural way of life by protecting and enhancing the natural, cultural, economic, historic and recreational resources of Missoula County, including lands associated with farming, ranching, and timber management.
To achieve this mission, Rural Initiatives works in partnership with landowners, local communities, governmental boards and agencies, the development community, and non-governmental organizations to:
- Provide planning and growth management assistance to rural areas
- Enhance communication between rural communities and the County and encourage public participation in local government
- Develop and implement land and resource conservation and enhancement programs that meet the unique needs of rural areas
- Provide technical assistance to elected officials, community groups, and citizens regarding planning and resource conservation policy and projects
- Partner with organizations to develop strategies to enhance rural resources as well as provide opportunities for growth
To learn more about the Rural Initiatives program, please contact any of our staff by e-mail, phone or visit our offices at 317 Woody in downtown Missoula.
Contact & Office Location
| Mailing Address: | Office Address |
| 200 West Broadway Missoula, MT 59802 |
317 Woody St. (click
here for map) (one block west of the courthouse) |
| Email: | ri@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Phone: | 406-258-3432 |
| Fax: | 406-258-3920 |
| Laurie Hire | |
| Administrative
Aide 406-258-3432 |
lhire@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Patrick O'Herren | |
| Rural Initiatives
Director 406-258-4981 |
poherren@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Nancy Heil | |
| Planner 406-258-4714 |
nheil@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Karen Hughes | |
| Senior Planner 406-258-3425 |
khughes@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Sarah Canepa | |
| Rural Landscape
Scientist 406-258-4869 |
scanepa@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Lisa Moisey | |
| County Parks
Coordinator 406-258-4716 |
lmoisey@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Christine Dascenzo | |
| County
Parks Assistant 406-258-3458 |
cdascenzo@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Sarah Richey | |
| Rural Landscape
Scientist 406-258-3707 |
srichey@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Nate Rogers | |
|
GIS Tech 406-258-3429 |
nrogers@co.missoula.mt.us |