In 2025, the passage of Senate Bill 409 revised laws related to the Montana Department of Commerce and the lodging facility use tax, commonly known as the bed tax. The bill updates SB 540, which passed in 2023, restructuring the allocation of bed tax revenue by specifying how Commerce can use these funds for purposes like tourism promotion and grants.
The Regional Assistance Program is intended to assist the regional nonprofit tourism corporations and convention and visitor bureaus to:
Build additional capacity.
Coordinate with Commerce's Destination MT Division on tourism strategies.
Collectively develop and enhance rural and under-visited tourism opportunities, including asset development and collaborative promotion, to increase visitor commerce.
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 CVB to apply if they are eligible.
Destination MT launched the interim RAP grant application cycle on Feb. 5, 2025, and the cycle closed March 5, 2025. The next cycle will launch in March 2026.
