Children's Museum, Youth Hockey Get Tourism Grants

The Montana Department of Commerce has approved the award of $530,000 from the Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program (TIIP) for tourism-related facility improvement projects in 11 cities, including two projects in Glasgow.
The HiLine Youth Hockey received a grant for $46,378 for installation of an elevator and construction of a foyer at the Valley Event Center multi-use facility. Total project cost is $83,292.
The Children’s Museum of Northeast Montana was awarded $27,600 for renovations and improvements to the second-floor mezzanine of their downtown Glasgow facility. The project will cost $66,100.
“The 2011 TIIP grant funds are re-investing Montana’s tourism tax dollars into the improvement of key tourism facilities. These projects will help attract visitors to Montana and keep them here longer – spending more money in our main street businesses,” said Montana Department of Commerce Director Dore Schwinden. “These projects also benefit Montana residents through local investments.”
Schwinden approved the TIIP grant funding for the tourism facility projects following recommendations from Department of Commerce staff and the state’s Tourism Advisory Council. The twelve TIIP grant recipients were selected from 30 applications requesting just under $2 million in grants from the program.
“This year’s TIIP grant investment leverages $2.6 million from other state, private and national funding sources to finance these projects. This investment creates and supports local construction jobs, the state’s building supply and service industry, and strengthens Montana’s visitor appeal,” said Schwinden.
Big Sky, Butte, Bynum, Choteau, Great Falls, Helena, Huntley Project, Kalispell, Missoula and Red Lodge were the other grant recipients.
TIIP grant funds are provided by the 4 percent Montana Lodging Facility Use Tax, which is assessed on the lodging price of all accommodations across Montana, including campgrounds. The grants are awarded through a competitive process and require a $1 match for every $2 provided by grant funds.