Bigfork among 44 Montana community event grant awardees
A pair of T-boned rafts go over a rapid on the Wild Mile during the Bigfork Whitewater Festival Sunday, May 26. The raft to the right flipped and was quickly recovered by the rafters without aid from safety crews. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)
The Montana Department of Commerce announced June 11 that over $750,000 of grant funding will be shared by 44 destination events to help grow Montana’s economy through tourism. The grant funding is provided through Commerce’s Economic Impact and Destination Event Grant Program.
“The economic impact of visitation and events is important for communities across Montana,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Funding through the Economic Impact and Destination Event Grant Program helps communities by supporting destination events to increase regional, national and international tourism while promoting Montana’s unique attributes and generating additional community revenue.”
Over 60 Economic Impact and Destination Event grant applications were received with the intent to host events that promote tourism, community pride and Montana’s unique cultural heritage.
The following local events are among those to receive grant funding:
Missoula’s 18th Annual River City Roots Festival will receive $25,000.
Polson’s 37th Annual Live History Days at the Miracle of America Museum will receive $22,576.
The 46th Annual Bigfork Festival of the Arts will receive $9,752.
The 49th Bigfork Whitewater Festival will receive $2,500.
The Evergreen Chamber of Commerce Annual Show N Shine Car Show will receive $9,120.
The Missoula Marathon will receive $25,000.
In 2023, the Montana Legislature authorized the Economic Impact and Destination Event Grant Program enacted through Senate Bill 540.
To learn more, visit brand.mt.gov.