Wye Water System

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Missoula County is considering entering into a public-private partnership with Grass Valley Industrial to construct a publicly owned and operated water system south of Interstate 90 at the Wye. The private sector will finance and construct the system in 2025, after which ownership and operation will transfer to the County. Grass Valley Industrial will be reimbursed for construction costs through Tax Increment Financing (TIF), while operating costs will be covered through creation of a special district.

The system will initially serve two properties: Grass Valley Industrial Subdivision, an 18-lot industrial development, and Montana Knife Company, which plans to build a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The core system in Wye I Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD) will be TIF-funded, while extensions to Montana Knife Company in the Wye II TEDD will be privately financed. Property owners nearby the initial system will be able to connect to the system but will not be required to.

The system includes a high-capacity well, a 500,000-gallon storage tank, booster pumps and distribution mains. It meets fire suppression requirements and supports future development in the area. The design allows for future expansion to connect additional properties and create a regional water network.

Upon completion, the County will purchase the system from Grass Valley Industrial through a bond and manage the system under municipal standards. If the developer cannot complete the project, the County will assume responsibility. This partnership aims to provide critical infrastructure for economic growth in the Wye area.

Review the process in the Newsfeed section below and let us know your comments and questions on the Wye water system.


Missoula County is considering entering into a public-private partnership with Grass Valley Industrial to construct a publicly owned and operated water system south of Interstate 90 at the Wye. The private sector will finance and construct the system in 2025, after which ownership and operation will transfer to the County. Grass Valley Industrial will be reimbursed for construction costs through Tax Increment Financing (TIF), while operating costs will be covered through creation of a special district.

The system will initially serve two properties: Grass Valley Industrial Subdivision, an 18-lot industrial development, and Montana Knife Company, which plans to build a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The core system in Wye I Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD) will be TIF-funded, while extensions to Montana Knife Company in the Wye II TEDD will be privately financed. Property owners nearby the initial system will be able to connect to the system but will not be required to.

The system includes a high-capacity well, a 500,000-gallon storage tank, booster pumps and distribution mains. It meets fire suppression requirements and supports future development in the area. The design allows for future expansion to connect additional properties and create a regional water network.

Upon completion, the County will purchase the system from Grass Valley Industrial through a bond and manage the system under municipal standards. If the developer cannot complete the project, the County will assume responsibility. This partnership aims to provide critical infrastructure for economic growth in the Wye area.

Review the process in the Newsfeed section below and let us know your comments and questions on the Wye water system.


  • Wye Water System Process

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    Process

    The process to create the Wye Water System will include a series of decision points for the Missoula County commissioners to consider.

    Decision Point A: Tax Increment Financing

    Missoula Development Authority: The first decision point will be consideration of a joint Missoula County/Grass Valley Industrial LLC application for Tax Increment Financing (TIF). This starts with a request to the Missoula Development Authority (MDA) for $5.3 million through TIF funds to reimburse Grass Valley Industrial for construction of the public water system. The MDA Board members will make a recommendation to the county commissioners on whether or not TIF funds should be used for the project.

    UPDATE: The MDA recommended approval of the application at its public meeting Wednesday, Jan. 22.

    Board of County Commissioners: Taking the MDA recommendation into consideration, the county commissioners will hold a public hearing on the TIF request at their public meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse. Information on how to join that meeting in person or online will be available here.

    Decision Point B: Development Agreement

    Upon a decision of approval for the Tax Increment Financing request, the Missoula County commissioners also will consider at their Feb. 6 meeting a development agreement with Grass Valley Industrial LLC that will detail the terms and conditions of the purchase using Tax Increment Financing.

    Decision Point C: Special District Creation

    The Missoula County commissioners will hold a public hearing concerning the creation of a proposed special district (pursuant to MCA 7-11-10) to own and operate the system. This decision point will be the start of a 60-day comment period. The special district will include the two properties in the initial creation of the system.

    First public hearing: 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse. Information on how to join that meeting in person or online will be available here.

    Following the 60 day comment period, the Missoula County commissioners will hold a second public hearing to make a final decision on the creation of the proposed special district.

    Second public hearing: 2 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse. Information on how to join that meeting in person or online will be available here.

Page last updated: 29 Jan 2025, 11:34 AM