Tribal Tourism

TRIBAL TOURISM GRANT

Thank you for your interest in the Tribal Tourism Grant for tribal governing bodies, which opens annually Oct. 1-Nov. 30. Please check the Office of Indian Country Economic Development website for other funding opportunities. This year’s grant cycle budget is approximately $150,000, with a maximum award amount of $50,000 to tribal governments of Montana for eligible tourism projects, and a 50% matching requirement.

FINANCIAL and TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

• Native American Made in Montana is for producers of products for sale. Native American Made in Montana is a free program in which members receive the ability to use a branded label, a website listing and apply to exhibit at the annual Made in Montana Trade Show for food and gifts.
• Tribal Tourism Grant Programs are available to tribal governments. These reimbursement grant programs fund shovel-ready tourism-related projects such as arts, culture and heritage preservation, visitor facility upgrades and construction as well as niche product development.
• The Tribal Tourism Small Business Grant helps enrolled tribal citizens of a Montana tribe to startup or expand tourism businesses in Montana. A total of $240,000 in funding is available for fiscal year 2025. Approximately 24 awards will be granted, averaging three per tribal nation.

OKTA INSTRUCTIONS

CONSUMER MARKETING

• Indian Country Guidebook: Developed by the Office of Indian Country Economic Development in Commerce’s Business MT Division in partnership with Commerce’s Brand MT Division team and in association with the tribes in Montana. Limited quantities of hard copies have been distributed across the state; a digital download is available at visitmt.com.
• Indian Country at visitmt.com: The state’s official travel website.
  
  • Receive instructions to claim your visitmt.com business listing.

RESEARCH

• "Interest in Native American Tourism Assets” (Destination Analysts): Available to Montana tourism organizations by request.
• “Montana Destination Brand Research Study” (Destination Analysts): Available to Montana tourism organizations by request.
• Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research
  • Report: “Indian Country Cultural and Heritage Tourism”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• “Linking Communities, Tourism & Conservation: A Tourism Assessment Process”  — George Washington University
• "National Guidelines: Indigenous Cultural Experiences"  —  Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

In addition to the Indian Tourism Region, Montana is organized into six geographic tourism regions, each of which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting its area — including Indian Country. By working together, tribal communities and tourism regions may maximize their impact.

The following tourism regions include reservations:

• Central Montana
  
  • Fort Belknap Indian Reservation
  • Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Headquarters)
  • Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation
• Glacier Country
  • Blackfeet Indian Reservation
  • Flathead Indian Reservation
• Missouri River Country
  • Fort Peck Indian Reservation
• Southeast Montana
  • Crow Indian Reservation
  • Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation

The OICED Tribal Tourism Grant Programs are exclusively for the Tribal Governments in Montana. For those Tribal Council staff authorized to submit requests for reimbursement of eligible grant project expenses, please complete all three forms below, including all receipts and invoice, and email them to doctribal@mt.gov or rachelle.brown@mt.gov. Please call 406-841-2734 if you have any questions.

Note: Incomplete forms, missing receipts or expenses incurred outside the scope of the contractual terms of the grant award will either be denied, not processed or will delay the reimbursement of funds.

• Tribal Tourism Program Grant Request for Reimbursement Form
  
• Tribal Tourism Grant Programs Project Status Update Report 
• Tribal Tourism Program Grant Receipts Worksheet
• Tribal Tourism Program Grant Request for Drawdown/Advance Form