Focus on food, drink and tourism can drive local Montana economies;

Visitors to Cascade County spent about $203.8 million at local restaurants, bars, hotels, gas stations, retailers and more, according to data from 2015-2016.

Bed tax collections in the Great Falls area have also been trending up since 2007, according to Dax Schieffer, director of the non-profit Voices of Tourism.

Schieffer spoke to a group of hoteliers, business owners and civic leaders in early October about the role tourism can plan in local economies.

by Jenn Rowell

Focus on food, drink and tourism can drive local Montana economies;