Seeley Lake Community Empowerment Pilot Project

Project Lead: Seeley Lake Community Council


Project Purpose/Need

The Seeley Lake Community Empowerment Pilot Project supports the town during a time of change and opportunity. With the closure of the community’s largest employer—the lumber mill—Seeley Lake is actively looking for ways to strengthen local connections, diversify its economy, and build a more resilient and inclusive future.

Many individuals and organizations in Seeley Lake are already doing excellent work. This project is not intended to replace or compete with those efforts, but rather to support and amplify them. The goal is to bring people together across sectors, encourage collaboration, and make space for new voices, new energy, and new ideas—all in support of shared community goals.


Project Description

The Seeley Lake Community Empowerment Pilot Project began with a simple but powerful conversation.

In winter 2024, Western Montana’s Glacier Country hosted a public meeting in Seeley Lake to share its Destination Stewardship Plan. The conversation quickly evolved beyond tourism, as attendees embraced the opportunity to speak openly in a neutral space. That energy sparked something real—people asked Glacier Country to come back and help host more conversations like it.

Recognizing that we didn’t have the capacity to serve as a permanent convener, Glacier Country asked a different question: How can we help the community build a process to do this for themselves?

That question became the foundation for the Community Empowerment for Sustainable Development Program, a grant-funded initiative designed to help rural communities lead their own planning, engagement, and project development work.

Seeley Lake was selected as the pilot community, co-creating a process that can be replicated throughout the region.


How the Process Works
  • Glacier Country leads the overall program, providing structure, tools, and funding
  • The Seeley Lake Community Council serves as the local community partner, helping convene local participation
  • A volunteer workgroup, made up of people from different organizations and backgrounds, was formed to steer the effort locally

This workgroup isn’t meant to replace existing leadership—it’s meant to complement it by creating space for fresh collaboration. These are people who may not have traditionally worked together but are united by a desire to make meaningful progress in Seeley Lake.

Importantly, this initiative is about broadening the base of engagement while honoring the work already being done. The many leaders and organizations already contributing to Seeley Lake’s future play a vital role, and this process is designed to complement and support their efforts—not change direction, but add momentum. By combining long-standing experience with new energy and perspectives, the community can create even stronger outcomes through shared action.


Western Montana’s Glacier Country Role:

Glacier Country is the project lead and grant administrator, funded by the Montana Department of Commerce’s Resiliency Grant. Our role is to support the “how”—facilitating inclusive, locally led efforts that build stronger, more connected rural communities.

Key Contributions:

  • Funding and coordination of the overall “process development” program
  • Community-building tools and outreach support
  • Destination stewardship guidance
  • Support for local leadership development and collaborative planning
  • Documentation of a scalable model to bring to other rural communities

Goals and Objectives
  • Empower Seeley Lake to plan and lead its own economic and social development.
  • Strengthen existing efforts by aligning new energy with ongoing work.
  • Build relationships across traditionally separate sectors.
  • Encourage innovation while honoring what’s already working.
  • Assist Seeley Lake to identify up to three high-priority, achievable community projects.
  • Broaden local leadership and engagement through inclusive participation–providing a replicable process. from project concept to project completion.
  • Create a scalable model for grassroots-led development in rural communities.


Project Location:

Seeley Lake, Montana

Seeley Lake is a rural community in Missoula County, known for its natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and strong sense of identity. While it is not an incorporated municipality, it is supported by county government and several locally governed districts, such as schools, fire, and water. Collaboration among these entities—and with community organizations and residents—plays an important role in shaping local progress.


Project Timeline:

Start Date: July 2024
End Date: May 2026


Project Partners:
  • Western Montana’s Glacier Country – Project Lead
  • Seeley Lake Community Council – Local Community Partner
  • Outdoor Community Partners (OCP) – Project Facilitator
  • Volunteer Workgroup – Diverse mix of residents and local stakeholders
  • Local nonprofits, businesses, and community members – Collaborators and contributors


Project Outcomes:

In Progress:

  • Winter 2024: First community meeting sparks interest in continued engagement
  • Spring 2024: Grant awarded; pilot process initiated
  • Summer 2024: Community-wide survey completed with 130 responses (link to project page)
  • Fall 2024: Volunteer workgroup assembled to guide collaborative planning


Expected Outcomes:

  • Formation of a Community Leadership Cohort representing diverse voices.
  • Development of up to three community-priority projects with broad support.
  • Creation of strategic plans with budgets, goals, and implementation steps.
  • Strengthened relationships and reduced silos across the community.
  • Increased participation from residents who haven’t traditionally been involved.
  • A repeatable model of rural community empowerment.
  • A more connected, inclusive, and resilient Seeley Lake.