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Montana Department of Commerce, Special Events Grants Now Available

Governor Brian Schweitzer is inviting Montana communities, organizations and tribal governments sponsoring or planning annual ongoing events to apply for $80,000 in state tourism grant funds available from the Montana Department of Commerce, Office of Tourism Special Events Grant Program (SEGP). The SEGP application deadline is September 25, 2009.

"Special Events Grants provide important support to one of Montana’s leading industries – tourism and recreation. Ten million people visit Montana annually, and these grants help support the local community events that draw these visitors into our towns and to our main street businesses, restaurants and lodging facilities," said Governor Schweitzer.

Any Montana event is eligible to apply and the funds must be used to advertise and promote the event to target markets outside a 100-mile radius of the event site. Grants will be awarded based on a 3-tier approach that ranks communities according to population. The grants are designed to be matching funds for non-profit organizations involved in developing new annual events as well as enhancing existing community-based tourism festivals and events.

"We recognized the need to not only assist new emerging events but provide the opportunity for our communities to enhance their ‘hallmark’ events that have become important economic drivers in their communities," said Anthony Preite, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. "These events help to showcase our authentic people, places and experiences."

The SEGP funds are provided by a 4% state tourism lodging tax which is assessed on the lodging price of all accommodations across Montana, including campgrounds. Tourism and recreation is one of Montana’s leading industries.

For more information about the SEGP, or to request an application, contact Carol Crockett at the Montana Office of Tourism, 406-841-2796. SEGP application materials can be downloaded from the Montana Office of Tourism’s Intranet site: http://www.travelmontana.mt.gov/forms.

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