Montana Promotion Division

TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Resource information is arranged by State, Federal, Local and Private sector. Links listed below provide sources for funding and technical assistance for projects related to tourism, recreation, business development, economic and community development, transportation, conservation and historic/cultural programs. For information about each of the programs, contact the organization listed.

STATE RESOURCES

Montana Finance Information Center

  • The Montana Finance Information Center provides summary information for the most significant financing resources available from state, federal, and local institutions.
    Contact: MT Department of Commerce, Finance Information Center, 301 S Park Ave, Helena MT 59620, 406-841-2732

    • Montana Department of Commerce, Promotion Division

  • Grant programs are available for non-profit tourism facilities and new annual events. Information is available for low or no cost marketing assistance, Montana Superhost employee/manager customer service training and Film-TV-Commercial shooting location assistance.
    Contact: Montana Department of Commerce, Promotion Division, 301 S Park Ave, Helena MT 59620, 406-841-2870, 1-800-548-3390

    • Montana Arts Council

  • The Montana Arts Council is charged with promoting and expanding the significant role of arts and culture in our lives through a variety of grant and technical assistance programs.
    Contact: MT Arts Council, 316 North Park Ave., Suite 252, Helena MT 59620, 406-444-6430

    • Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks

  • Several grant programs are available for funding a diversified range of projects.
    Contact: MT Fish Wildlife & Parks, 1420 East 6th Ave, Helena, MT 59620, 406-444-3750

    • Montana Historical Society

  • The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) mission is to work together with all Montanans to preserve significant historic, archaeological and cultural places.
  • The Certified Local Government (CLG) Program is a partnership with the National Park Service that certifies local governments with historic preservation programs, provides technical preservation assistance, and annually dedicates federal funding to cities, towns, and counties that commit to preserving their heritage.
    Contact: MT Historical Society, Historic Preservation Office, 225 North Roberts, Helena, MT 59620, 406-444-7715

    • Montana Department of Transportation

  • Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP)
    • funds transportation-related projects designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of Montana's intermodal transportation system.
    Contact: MT Department of Transportation, 2701 Prospect Ave, Helena, MT 59620, 406-444-9209
  • The Sign Catalog is intended for use as a supplement to and in conjunction with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) published by the Federal Highway Administration.
    Contact: MDT Maintenance Division, 406-444-6414

    • MONTANA UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

    The University of Montana

  • Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research (ITRR) serves as the research arm for Montana's tourism and recreation industry. Its overall mission is to provide information that will help the industry make informed decisions about planning, promotion and management.
    Contact: ITRR, 32 Campus Drive #1234, Missoula, MT 59812-1234, 406-243-5686

    • The School of Business Administration maintains partnerships with:

  • American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL)
  • Business Bureau of Economic Research (BBER)
  • Montana Business Connections (MBC)
  • Montana World Trade Center (MWTC)
    Contact: University of Montana, School of Business Administration, Missoula, MT, Toll free: 1-800-252-3581 or 406-243-2064

    • Montana State University

  • The Montana State University Extension Service is an educational resource dedicated to improving the quality of people's lives by providing research-based knowledge to strengthen the social, economic and environmental well-being of families, communities and agriculture enterprises.
    Contact: MSU Extension, Montana State University, 203 Culbertson, Bozeman, MT 59717-2230, 406-994-1750

    • FEDERAL

    Toolbox 4 the Great Outdoors offers "tools" for adding resources and partners to recreation and visitor services programs. Toolbox "drawers" include valuable information for projects dealing with Transportation; Wildlife, Fisheries & Conservation; Volunteers & Partnerships; Youth Programs, Contests, Competitions & Internships; Health and Education; Economic Development & Effective Program Management; and Technical Assistance & Design Programs.

    Grants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for Federal government grants. There are over 1,000 grant programs offered by all Federal grant making agencies.

    Multi-Agency

  • Challenge Cost Share Program: National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management
    The Challenge Cost Share Program (CCS) provides matching funds to non-federal organizations' contributions for projects that provide new or enhanced opportunity for protection of natural/cultural/historic assets, interpretation and recreation sites management.
    Contact: USDA Forest Service, 406-329-3347; BLM, 406 896-5000; NPS, 505-988-6809

    • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
    Rural Development - The overall mission of USDA Rural Development is to improve the quality of life for rural Americans.

  • Business Cooperative Programs
  • Rural Community Development Initiative
  • Resource Conservation & Development
  • Value Added Producer Grant

    • Contact: USDA Rural Development Office, 900 Technology Blvd, Suite B, Bozeman MT, 59717, 406-585-2580

    Forest Service - The State and Private Forestry (S&PF) organization reaches across the boundaries of National Forests to States, Tribes, communities and non-industrial private landowners. S&PF is the federal leader in providing technical and financial assistance to landowners and resource managers.
    Contact: Forest Service Region 1, 200 East Broadway, Missoula, MT 59807, 406-329-3511

    U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)

  • National Park Service (NPS) grants help protect the nation's significant historic and cultural sites and preserve the diverse cultural heritage. More than $1 billion has been awarded to Federal, State, and local governments, Native American Tribes, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions for preservation projects in all 50 states and the U.S. Territories.
    Contact: For a complete list of program contacts, visit the website.
  • The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, also known as the Rivers & Trails Program or RTCA, is the community assistance arm of the National Park Service. RTCA staff provide technical assistance to community groups and local, State, and federal government agencies so they can conserve rivers, preserve open space, and develop trails and greenways.
    Contact: Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance, National Park Service, 4030 Sourdough Rd., Bozeman, MT 59715, 406-587-1667

    • U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

  • The mission of DOT is to ensure a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets vital national interests and enhances quality of life, today and into the future. For information on DOT - Federal Highway Administration programs and grants, visit their website.
  • National Scenic Byways Program - The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. The program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States.
    Contact: National Scenic Byways Program, 1-800-4BYWAYS (1-800-429-9297), option 3. For information on Montana's Byway Program, contact Montana Department of Transportation, 2701 Prospect Ave, Helena, MT 59620, 406-444-3423

    • Nonprofit / Local

  • The Montana Community Foundation provides grant funds to Montana community organizations for projects related to the arts, economic and community development, education, the environment, natural resources and human resources.
    Contact: Montana Community Foundation, 101 N. Last Chance Gulch, Suite 211, Helena, MT 59601, 406-443-8313

  • Montana Rural Development Partners (MRDP) supports locally conceived strategies to sustain, improve, and develop vital and prosperous rural Montana communities by encouraging communication, coordination, and collaboration among private, public and tribal groups.
    Contact: Montana Rural Development Partners, Inc, 118 E. 7th St.; Suite 2A, Anaconda, MT 59711, 406-563-5259

  • The Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) is a certified community of “lead” economic developers, business specialists, government employees, and staff members of affiliated non-profit organizations that promote or foster economic development activities in Montana.
    Contact: Montana Economic Developers Association, 118 E. 7th St.; Suite 2A, Anaconda, MT 59711, 406-563-5259

  • The National Forest Foundation (NFF) is a conservation organization focused on addressing the challenges that face America’s National Forests. It stands apart from similar organizations through its commitment to facilitating local involvement and encouraging grassroots participation in forest stewardship.
    Contact: National Forest Foundation, Building 27 Suite #3, Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804, 406-542-2805

  • Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) is an authoritative source of research, analysis, and forecasting for the domestic and international travel industry.
    Contact: Travel Industry Association of America, 1100 New York Avenue, NW, Ste. 450, Washington, DC 20005, 202-408-8422

  • Montana Community Development Corporation's goal is to improve the economy of western Montana by providing assistance to new and expanding businesses, sustain communities and create income opportunities for low and moderate income residents. Services are offered in the following western Montana counties: Missoula County, Ravalli County, Sanders County, Mineral County and South Lake County. MCDC's trained commercial loan officers are available to assist in obtaining the financing needed. Visit their website.

    • Private

  • NorthWestern Energy realizes the importance of maintaining, developing, and creating economic prosperity in Montana communities. Its Economic Development team helps retain existing jobs, promotes business expansion, and recruits new businesses in the communities it serve.
    Contact: NorthWestern Energy, 406-497-3621 or 406-655-2550
    • The

  • Northwest Area Foundation focuses on long-term poverty reduction in an eight-state region (MN, IA, ND, SD, MT, ID, WA, OR). NWFA uses three programs to help communities develop long-term solutions to poverty: 1) The Community Ventures program is based on need, opportunity, and potential impact of the program to reduce poverty. There are no applications for this program as communities are identified on the basis of NWAF research. 2) The Community Connections program facilitates access to products, services, knowledge, financial/other resources, and information which communities need most to form partnerships and reduce poverty. 3) Community Horizons helps new and existing community leaders gain skills and resources to stem decline in the community.
    Contact: Northwest Area Foundation, 60 Plato Boulevard East, Suite 400, St. Paul, MN 55107, 651-224-9635

  • PPL Montana Community Fund is a philanthropic community funding source that awards grants to Montana organizations in three major "quality of life" areas: education, environment and economic development.
    Contact: PPl Montana, 303 North Broadway, Suite 400, Billings, MT 59101-1255, 406-237-6900

  • The Trust for Public Land works to protect/conserve land to improve the quality of life for people and communities, and to protect natural and historic resources for future generations. TPL offers assistance to source financing for parks and open space, helps generate federal, state, and local conservation funding, and promotes the importance of public lands.
    Contact: Northern Rockies Field Office, 432 North Last Chance Gulch, Suite A, Helena, MT 59601, 406-443-4017
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