(1) Any city-county planning board organized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is hereby empowered, if requested by the board of county commissioners, to conduct specific planning projects within the county and outside of the jurisdictional area of said city-county planning board as defined in 76-1-504 through 76-1-507.
(2) Such authority to conduct specific planning projects outside of the jurisdictional area of the city-county planning board upon request of the board of county commissioners shall be broadly construed so as to enable the county to qualify under the provisions of and regulations governing any planning assistance program administered by any agency of the United States of America or the state of Montana.