Rural Initiatives
News and Updates |
Recent Publication
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 June 4, 2010 |
About Us
Fast growth Montana counties like Missoula have been struggling with a changing landscape spurred by conditions such as the high cost of continued agricultural operations, a shifting focus within the timber industry, and pressures to transform resource rich lands to residential development. These factors and others like them threaten our conservation resources and natural amenities, our cultural heritage and economic base, and our abundance of recreational opportunities throughout the county. The potential loss of critical amenities in our rural areas threatens the quality of life enjoyed by rural and urban residents alike, as well as one of the fundamental links within arguably one of the most critical ecosystems in the United States, the Crown of the Continent. Compounding this problem is the fact that rural communities and residents do not feel adequately connected with Missoula County government, which is charged with addressing these issues. Without this connection, efforts to address the above-mentioned issues are likely to fail.
As a result, the Missoula County Board of County Commissioners created Rural Initiatives. The mission of RI is to maintain rural landscapes and lifestyles by protecting and enhancing the natural, cultural, economic, historic, and recreational resources of Missoula County, including lands associated with farming, ranching, and timber production.
To achieve this mission, Rural Initiatives provides planning, program development and implementation services to the citizens and elected officials of Missoula County. Rural Initiatives strives to serve rural communities both by responding to immediate issues and by developing long-term relationships that lead to the trust and credibility necessary for local government to be a successful partner in rural projects and programs. More particularly, Rural Initiatives works in partnership with 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
- Serve proactively as a partner with other organizations to develop strategies to protect rural resources as well as providing opportunities for growth in rural areas
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 |
| Carly Lewis | |
| Rural Landscape
Scientist 406-258-4869 |
clewis@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Lisa Moisey | |
| County Parks
Coordinator 406-258-4716 |
lmoisey@co.missoula.mt.us |
| Sarah Richey | |
| Rural Landscape
Scientist 406-258-3707 |
srichey@co.missoula.mt.us |
News and Updates
