New license plate helps lake group

A new specialty Montana license plate is available for those who want to display their pride for Whitefish Lake while supporting a local nonprofit.

Fees for the new Whitefish Lake plate benefit the Whitefish Lake Institute, a local group that works to protect Whitefish-area lakes and rivers.

The plate depicts two whitefish jumping out of swirling water with mountains in the background. Kathy McHale of McHale Creative Services designed the plate.

Lori Curtis of the Lake Institute said the plate will benefit the nonprofit by bringing in some extra income and as a marketing tool.

“If you look at some of the groups who have created license plates, they make a lot of money,” she said. “It’s one more way folks can support us.”

The Stumptown Historical Society earned more than $6,000 from their specialty plate in the first two quarters of fiscal year 2013. Glacier National Park’s plate brought in nearly $100,000 to the Glacier Fund in the same time period.

Groups that want specialty plates pay $4,000 up front, but then the entirety of the plate’s annual $25 renewal fee goes directly to the institute.

The institute’s plate is one of 10 new designs recently released by the Montana Motor Vehicle Division.

Other new plates include the Bitterroot Humane Association, Blackfeet Tribe, Community Medical Center Foundation, Eureka Public Schools, Friends of the Wild Swan, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, March of Dimes, and Montana Swimming Inc.

The new plates and information about each sponsoring organization and how they use the donations can be viewed on the Motor Vehicle Division’s plate designs and fees website.