First Bank of Montana and FHLB donate $10,000 to Chinook pool and park project

Press release

First Bank of Montana, in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines announced that Chinook's Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation received a $10,000 grant from the FHLB Des Moines Member Impact Fund and First Bank of Montana.

FHLB Des Moines provides funding solutions and liquidity to more than 1,200 members to support mortgage lending, economic development and affordable housing in the communities they serve. The Member Impact Fund provides $3 for every $1 of an eligible FHLB Des Moines member's grant donation to strengthen the ability of not-for-profits or government entities to serve the affordable housing or community development needs of their communities. The Member Impact Fund awards are given in partnership with member financial institutions to communities in their districts to become more vibrant places to live and work. This is the second year that FHLB Des Moines offered the Member Impact Fund, which is designed for members to directly strengthen communities within targeted areas in its district.

"The Chinook swimming pool and adjacent Ensign Sweet Memorial Park have been the heart and soul of the community for so many years," First Bank of Montana's Branch President Jessica Aberg said. "The Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation have seen the need for community development and sustainability of the pool and park and we are proud to offer our support to ensure their endeavors continue."

The Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation was established in 2020 as a non-profit group dedicated towards the growth and development of the Ensign Sweet Memorial Park and the Chinook City Pool.

These funds will be used for the Chinook Pool Rehabilitation project. The Chinook Pool sees more than 5,700 visits per year and is currently failing. It is in need of major repairs to sustain it for the community for years to come, and The Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation's mission as an organization is to prevent closure from failure and leaking.

"We are beyond grateful for the donation from First Bank of Montana and the FHLB," Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation President Heather DePriest said. "It is businesses and organizations like First Bank that have helped our project immensely. The Chinook Community will benefit from the funds raised for many years and we are grateful for the generosity of our local hometown bank. Thank you for supporting this very important cause."

First Bank of Montana, in partnership with the FHLB, donated $420,000 to 13 non-profit organizations across its Central Montana footprint.

In addition to First Bank of Montana's participation in this program, all Montana divisions of Glacier Bank, in partnership with the FHLB, donated $2,048,600 to 100 non-profit organizations and government entities across the state of Montana.

Recipient organizations were selected based on the needs for grant funding to support capacity-building or working capital necessary to strengthen their ability to serve affordable housing or community development needs, including training, predevelopment assistance, management information systems or software, strategic planning, market study or community needs assessment, and working capital.

The Member Impact Fund is part of FHLB Des Moines' ongoing mission to offer a variety of funding options through its members to support affordable housing and community development needs.

"We are thrilled to see grants from our Member Impact Fund having a direct, positive impact on the communities in which our members help advance affordable housing and community development needs in a meaningful way," FHLB Des Moines President and CEO Kris Williams said.