Montana Commerce Department offers $200,000 for tourism projects

Montana Commerce Department Grant Offers $200,000 For Tourism Infrastructure Projects; August 1, 2005 Application Deadline

Montana Commerce Department Director Anthony J. Preite announces that $200,000 in tourism “bed tax” funds are available for tourism-related projects through the agency’s 2005 Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program (TIIP) Grants. The deadline for TIIP Grant applications is Monday, August 1, 2005.

“We invite non-profit organizations or governments from across the state to use our TIIP grants as part of the funding package they put together to improve Montana’s visitor attractions and facilities,” said Director Preite. “These tourism projects are an important part of maintaining and expanding the benefits tourism and visitor spending bring to our communities and businesses.”

The Commerce Department’s TIIP Grants are for tourism-related “brick and mortar” projects sponsored and operated by non-profit organizations or local and tribal governments. Eligible projects include construction associated with building new and/or remodeling or preserving existing tourism and recreation attractions, historical sites and artifacts; costs associated with purchasing new and/or existing tourism and recreation attractions, historical sites and artifacts; and equipment purchased for specific tourism project operation. Since its creation in 1995, TIIP has invested more than $2 million in "bed tax" funds into 44 projects in 32 communities across Montana. This investment has helped create over $24 million in new or improved tourism facilities in Montana.

The guidelines and applications for the 2005 TIIP Grants are available on Travel Montana’s Intranet site http://www.travelmontana.state.mt.us/newsandupdates under the applications, regulations and form section or you may call Travel Montana at 406-841-2795, FAX 406-841-2871, or email Travel Montana’s Tourism Development Coordinator, Victor Bjornberg at [email protected].