Commerce announces seven large tourism grants for rural communities

The Department of Commerce announced last week it awarded grants to seven projects to increase tourism in rural communities throughout the state.

The program stems from 2023 legislation brought by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, a Billings Republican. Each project is receiving $1.25 million to start and the projects will be eligible for up to $2.75 million over the duration of the grant, which is funded through the bed tax.

“Developing tourism in a sustainable and manageable manner boosts Montana’s rural and under-visited communities by diversifying local economies, fostering community pride and creating tourism destinations that represent the qualities that make rural communities special,” Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio said in a press release.

The projects Commerce is funding this round are:

• Carter County for the Carter County Museum Project.
• Headwaters RC&D Area, Inc. for the D-TOUR Project.
• Libby Area Chamber of Commerce for the Visit Libby: Tourism Advancement Initiative.
• Mission Valley Ice Arena Association for the Mission Valley Ice Arena Building Project.
• Foundation for Montana History for Montana Dinosaur Trail projects.
• City of Sidney for the Sidney Stay and Stroll Project.
• Winnett ACES, Inc. for the Access, Heritage and a Welcoming Winnett Project.

Previous grant funding has gone towards projects like one in Choteau, where they looked to turn the Weatherbeater Arena, the Old Trail Museum’s Rocky Mountain Front Interpretive Center and the Montana Dinosaur Center into more notable tourist attractions.

“We’ve been able to work together and help each other out and grow as a group. I’m hoping that will translate to the community as well,” Bonnie Griffis, a member of the Choteau steering committee said in a press release. “Having upgraded facilities, upgraded signage, having the museum play a more prominent role in tourism and in attracting people, I think it’s just overall going to help the community be more attractive.”