The 2023 Montana Legislature directed the Montana Department of Commerce (“Department”) to establish a Regional Assistance Program (“RAP” or “Program”) by enacting Section 1(d) of SB 540. The Program is intended to assist the Regional Nonprofit Tourism Corporations (“Regions”) and Convention and Visitor Bureaus (“CVBs”) to: (i) build additional capacity; (ii) coordinate with the Department’s Destination MT Division (“Division”) on tourism strategies; (iii) collectively develop and enhance Rural and Under-visited tourism opportunities, including asset development and collaborative promotion, to increase visitor commerce; and (iv) generate community revenue for the benefit of local economies.
RAP grant applications will launch no sooner than March every two years. An application cycle will also be available in February of the interim year to allow any newly designated Convention and Visitor Bureau to apply if they are eligible.
Destination MT is launching the interim RAP grant application cycle on Feb. 5, 2025 and will close the cycle on March 5, 2025, at midnight. Any applications after March 5, 2025, will not be considered.
