Two Local Communities Receive Tourism Grant Award

The Children’s Museum of Northeast Montana and the Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture were recipients of the fiscal year 2023 Eastern Montana Initiative Tourism Grant Award. The awards are effective Jan. 25, 2023, and both organizations were notified last week via a letter signed by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte.

The Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture was awarded $50,850 which will be used for a mobile office and sales trailer with an onboard generator. One of the ways the trailer will be utilized is to upgrade the existing trailer used during the Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament to sell branded merchandise out at Kiwanis Park during the tournament. The trailer will also have the ability to be used as a concession trailer and/or ticket trailer for other community events. Upon hearing the news they were selected and the new trailer can be purchased, those involved in utilizing the existing trailer exclaimed with glee as a new trailer has been a much needed wish list item for some time.

“The grant is huge for the Glasgow Area of Commerce & Agriculture. The product trailer will allow us to continue to promote our area’s outdoor recreation, especially the Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament,” said Shyanne Wallace, office manager of the Glasgow Chamber.

Another local organization receiving grant funds was the Children’s Museum of Northeast Montana, who received $29.320. The grant will be used for the museum’s exterior renovation and interior lighting updates.

"It is going to be helpful in allowing us to complete the exterior project. We are going to replace the windows so they don’t crack every year and remove the exterior tile that is falling apart. We have had a difficult time finding someone to complete the project but we are hopeful that we have someone lined up to do it this summer in July," said Stacey Fast, director of the Museum.

The Children’s Museum is also hosting a “Leave Your Mark at the Museum” fundraiser where for $10 per handprint, the community can leave their mark on March 4, from 10 to 3 p.m. The handprints will be on the wall leading up to the upstairs exhibits.

The Montana Office of Tourism is partnering with communities across eastern Montana through the Eastern Montana Tourism Initiative to strengthen and diversify local and regional economies, in part by raising awareness of eastern Montana as a tourism destination.

The Eastern Montana Tourism Partner Initiative has awarded funds to eligible entities in Eastern Montana that demonstrate investment in tourism infrastructure, ensure asset development, and promote long-term sustainability in Growth Policy and community development. The funding for the Eastern Montana Tourism Initiative grants comes from the four percent Lodging Facility Use Tax, more commonly known as the “Bed Tax,” which is collected from guests of lodging facilities across the state, including hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, guest ranches, short-term vacation rentals, resorts and campgrounds.

“Montana’s outdoor recreation and destinations are second to none, and tourism is a leading industry in our state, supporting local economics, and good-paying Montana jobs. Thank you for partnering with the state to promote Montana’s spectacular experiences and western hospitality as one of our country’s vacation destinations of choice,” stated Governor Gianforte in the announcement letter.

The Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture had previously received $75,000 to purchase the event stage and digital screen.