On November 6, Mayor Jordan Hess and County Commissioners Juanita Vero, Dave Strohmaier, and Josh Slotnick officially renamed the former federal building as the John Engen Local Government Building. John Engen served as Missoula's 50th mayor from January 2006 until August 2022. The City of Missoula and Missoula County issued a joint proclamation naming the building in honor of the late Mayor Engen in recognition of his unwavering dedication to the community. The City and County will preserve and maintain the historic building as a National Historic Monument. After renovation, the Engen Building will provide City and County services in a convenient, combined location.

Missoula County and the City of Missoula invite all Missoula County residents to the dedication and naming of the Missoula Federal Building at 200 E. Broadway on Monday, November 6, at noon at the northwest entrance to the building.

The City of Missoula and Missoula County received the title to the Missoula Federal Building on Jan. 5 of this year at no cost in return for agreeing to preserve and maintain the historic building as a National Historic Monument. The building is undergoing renovation. In 2025 or later, the City and County will move public services into the building, creating a convenient, combined location.

Mayor Jordan Hess and County Commissioner Josh Slotnick will lead the event on Monday, Nov. 6.

The City of Missoula and Missoula County hired a consultant to inventory hazardous materials in the former Federal building. The study found asbestos and lead-based paint. Cleanup will cost about $500,000. Both the report and the cleanup are fully funded by grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The report, an Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives, is available for review online. The County and City invite public comment on the proposed cleanup alternatives. The public can review, ask questions, and comment on the report here. The comment period is open until November 6.

The former Federal building is vacant except for the Post Office. Asbestos and lead-based paint cleanup will be easier and less expensive while the building is vacant. The report recommends full asbestos abatement and moderate lead mitigation. Cleanup will begin this winter. After cleanup, the City and County will be able to start rehabilitating the historic building.

Leadership and staff of Missoula County and the City of Missoula are excited to announce that the local governments are the new owners of the historic Missoula Federal Building at 200 E. Broadway. The federal government conveyed ownership on January 5, at no cost to the City and County. The building is currently sound, and many of its beautiful historic architectural features and treatments are intact. The next step is to prepare the building for use. The City and County will hire a construction partner to finish the design phase for the building’s renovation. A very ballpark estimate for that phase is $14 to $16 million, which could change as planning and work move forward. Local government staff will not move into the building until 2025, at the earliest.

Mayor Jordan Hess will be discussing and taking questions about the Federal Building at Wednesdays with the Mayor on January 25 at 6:00 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Missoula Public Library. This monthly event provides an opportunity for residents to have an informal chat with Mayor Hess on topics of interest to the community. Join us for coffee, cookies, and conversation on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

The Missoula City Council will consider a Memorandum of Agreement Wednesday, February 9, which would pave the way for designing rehabilitation of the Missoula Federal Building. The Interlocal Agreement creates a mechanism for the City and Missoula County to jointly oversee design and rehabilitation of the Federal Building and functionally launches the design phase.

On February 22, the Board of County Commissioners will consider the same agreement.

The Missoula City Council will consider a resolution on Wednesday, June 23, at 8:45 a.m. authorizing the mayor to take the necessary steps for City-County ownership of the Missoula Federal Building. Members of the Administration and Finance Committee will also consider a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the County to enable joint ownership of the Federal Building. City Council meetings are held virtually as well as televised. Participation information, agendas, and streaming information is available on our main website.

The Missoula Board of County Commissioners will meet on Thursday, June 24, at 2 p.m. to consider the Memorandum of Understanding. Commissioners’ public meetings are now hybrid, with in-person and online options.