Havre receives $1.25 million tourism grant

Havre just received a major boost in its planning for downtown and boost up tourism.

The Downtown Havre Matters! committee at a meeting Monday discussed $1.25 million in a two-year grant the Havre Tourism Enhancement Project was awarded last week to help revitalize downtown and increase tourism in the area, part of the goals of the Downtown Master Plan recently approved by the city.

The grant is being administered by Bear Paw Development Corp. and will be overseen by a board set up to administer the grant, with its general makeup mandated by the grant application set up by the Montana Department of Commerce, which awarded the grants.

Paul Tuss and Julea Robbins of Bear Paw Development, as well as other members of the Downtown Havre Matters! board, said both boards and other boards and organizations can continue to work together on projects and on separate projects.

Tuss and Robbins said exactly how the grant will work is still to be found out.

Bear Paw is meeting with Commerce to find out more about the grant and how it can be used, and a meeting is set in six weeks for all grantees to meet with the department.

They said the first part of the grant, a quarter million, can only be used for planning purposes, not for actual projects.

Once the second year of the grant is complete, the recipients of the grants will be graded on their performance and have a chance of a second year of grants.

They said having a completed Downtown Master Plan both helped in the application for the grant and will be immensely helpful in moving forward with using it.

“This significant investment in the tourism infrastructure for Havre and our area has the potential to be a game-changer in terms of how we build and market our authentic brand of genuine western hospitality,” Tuss said in a release announcing the grants. “Increasing out-of-area visitor stays and spending from folks who want to experience the natural beauty of the Hi-Line, along with our rich historic and cultural offerings, will have a positive and hopefully sustainable impact on our economy.” 

The release said $8.75 million of total grant funding will be distributed to seven pilot communities to increase economic vibrancy and tourism appeal, enhance destination resiliency and diversify tourism-related assets and infrastructure. The grant funding is provided through Commerce’s new Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program.

“Visitation provides a significant impact to towns and communities across our state,” said Paul Green, director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Through the Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program, these communities will understand more ways to diversify their economic portfolios, improve the quality of life for local residents and provide unique experiences for visitors to discover.”

To be considered for PCTGP funding, eligible applicants demonstrated community readiness, commitment, vision, goals and partnerships to aid in the long-term success of their plans. Awarded communities will receive up to $2.75 million each in funding over 60 months of long-term commitment and engagement.

In 2023, the Montana Legislature authorized the Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program enacted through Senate Bill 540.  To learn more about this program and other upcoming funding opportunities, people can visit https://brand.mt.gov.

The other grant recipients are:

• Big Timber’s Crazy Mountain Collective - A Roadmap for Tourism Success will receive $1.25 million of PCTGP grant funding within a two-year period.

• The Blackfeet Tribe Pilot Community Tourism will receive $1.25 million of PCTGP grant funding within a two-year period.

• Building a Better Broadus will receive $1.25 million of PCTGP grant funding within a two-year period.

• Elevate Anaconda’s Winter and Cool Season Tourism Development will receive $1.25 million of PCTGP grant funding within a two-year period.

• Garfield County Community Tourism will receive $1.25 million of PCTGP grant funding within a two-year period.

• Ronan’s Building a Thriving Rural Region Through Placemaking, Downtown Revitalization and Strategic Tourism Infrastructure will receive $1.25 million of PCTGP grant funding within a two-year period.