On April 5, 2023, the Montana Department of Commerce announced over $730,000 in grant funding was awarded to regenerate Main Street businesses and revitalize downtowns in 15 Montana communities.
The funding is provided by Commerce’s Montana Main Street Program.
“Montana’s main streets are at the core of our state’s economy,” said Scott Osterman, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce.
“Montana Main Street grants help generate redevelopment through community-initiated projects that enhance the physical assets of these towns – which inspires others to invest in their properties and businesses,” he added.
The Montana Main Street Program helps communities strengthen and preserve their historic downtown commercial districts by focusing on economic development, urban revitalization and historic preservation through long-range planning, organization, design and promotion.
Additionally, the program works with local partners to identify and plan for a community’s greatest development needs and provides seed money to help implement high-impact projects.
In 2021, the City of Havre, in partnership with Bear Paw Development Corporation, received a $20,000 grant from the Montana Main Street program to develop a Downtown Master Plan to guide the growth and redevelopment of Havre’s commercial core.
The plan was adopted by the Havre City Council in February and represents the community’s collaborative effort to develop a blueprint for downtown revitalization, preservation and economic development.
Hopefully, Havre won’t fall into the same trap that causes over 90% of community revitalization plans to fail: the lack of an actual revitalization process.
The combined market analysis, public engagement and application of planning and design principles culminated in a list of actionable steps that the community is now working to accomplish.
Specifically, the community’s recent grant award to develop a feasibility study for establishing second floor housing in a downtown historic building is a direct result of the development of the plan.
“Bear Paw Development is thrilled to be a part of this exciting redevelopment in Havre’s downtown area,” said Paul Tuss, Executive Director of Bear Paw Development.
“By securing the grant for a feasibility study for second floor housing in one of our historic buildings, we can help address the ongoing housing shortage in our community and assist property owners in taking the first step towards bringing life back into our unused spaces. We’re excited to help Havre make its downtown area one to be proud of,” he continued.
In 2023, Commerce established an Impact Grant as an additional funding opportunity designed to promote high-impact, brick-and-mortar improvements in historic downtown districts.
Grant awards for both the Impact Grant and the yearly Planning and Project Grant were increased to a maximum award of $50,000, allowing for more meaningful downtown improvements and strategic planning.
Planning and Project Grants are used for projects that are related to downtown revitalization, economic development and historic preservation.
Montana Main Street Program Planning and Project Grant funding recipients:
- The City of Butte will receive $50,000 of grant funding to develop a wayfinding plan for Uptown Butte.
- The City of Forsyth will receive $50,000 of grant funding to develop a branding plan to inform the design and implementation of downtown revitalization projects, like community entrance signs, downtown light pole banners, informational kiosks, benches and garbage receptacles.
- The City of Great Falls will receive $20,000 of grant funding to develop an economic vitality transformation strategy for downtown Great Falls.
- The City of Hardin will receive $33,333 of grant funding to develop a wayfinding plan.
- The City of Havre will receive $25,000 of grant funding to conduct a feasibility study to determine the possibility of establishing second floor housing in the JM Donovan building downtown. The award is contingent upon the Department of Commerce receiving the community’s 2022 reinvestment statistics.
- The City of Helena will receive $24,000 of grant funding to conduct an art space feasibility study for work and live maker spaces.
- The City of Red Lodge will receive $37,500 of grant funding to update the downtown revitalization plan and growth policy. The award is contingent upon the Department of Commerce receiving the community’s 2022 reinvestment statistics.
- The City of Shelby will receive $50,000 of grant funding to develop an architectural design/master plan for the historic Rainbow Hotel.
- The City of Thompson Falls will receive $32,000 of grant funding to develop a wayfinding plan. The award is contingent upon the Department of Commerce receiving the community’s 2022 reinvestment statistics.
Impact Grant funding can be used to activate public spaces, downtown retail spaces, and upstairs housing.
Montana Main Street Program Impact Grant funding recipients:
- The City of Baker will receive $50,000 of grant funding to develop a downtown pocket park. The award is contingent upon the Department of Commerce receiving the community’s 2022 reinvestment statistics.
- The City of Billings will receive $40,000 of grant funding to develop a downtown light bike trail. The award is contingent upon the Department of Commerce receiving the community’s 2022 reinvestment statistics.
- The City of Butte will receive $50,000 of grant funding to install pre-formed thermoplastic crosswalk and streetscape surfaces at two intersections, and a mid-block crosswalk along the Park Street corridor.
- The City of Great Falls will receive $50,000 of grant funding to install ten informational kiosks downtown.
- The City of Hamilton will receive $50,000 of grant funding to develop a façade improvement program. The award is contingent upon the Department of Commerce receiving the community’s 2022 reinvestment statistics.
- The City of Red Lodge will receive $30,740 of grant funding to install a sprinkler system, sod and walkway in the public greenspace of the Roosevelt Center. The award is contingent upon the Department of Commerce receiving the community’s 2022 reinvestment statistics.
- The City of Roundup will receive $50,000 of grant funding to develop a plan to install wayfinding and place marker signs, as well as light pole banners. As a condition of the grant award, Department of Commerce staff must review and approve the wayfinding plan prior to the purchase/installation of wayfinding signs.
- The City of Sidney will receive $50,000 of grant funding to install windows and doors in the Yellowstone Merc building. The award is contingent upon consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office.
- The City of Townsend will receive $39,700 of grant funding to develop ”The Nook,” a third space community gathering spot with an ADA-accessible bathroom. The award is contingent upon the Department of Commerce receiving the community’s 2022 reinvestment statistics.
Additionally in 2022, Montana Main Street program staff worked with the local Main Street program partners in Lewistown and Roundup to produce a video highlighting their community revitalization accomplishments since joining the program.
Montana Main Street funding can be used for planning or brick-and-mortar projects that support downtown revitalization efforts and require a $1 match from the local community for every $5 received. The program currently serves 37 member communities across the state.
Photo of Forsyth, Montana courtesy of Montana Department of Commerce.