City Manager Lake announced at the March 23 Helena City Commission meeting that the city has been awarded a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant to advance disability accessibility planning in Helena. The funds were awarded through the Montana Department of Commerce and will go to Disability Rights Montana to support architectural reports, a feasibility study, and the development of a capital improvements plan.

Lake credited the work of the city's community development staff for securing the award, and also acknowledged Governor Gianforte and the state Department of Commerce. No commission vote was required for the grant acceptance announcement at this stage. The grant was described as part of an ongoing effort to identify and address physical accessibility gaps in the community.