Department Of Commerce

Program Overview

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, specifying how Commerce can use these funds for purposes like tourism promotion and grants.

The Montana Emergency Tourism Assistance Grant Program is a state-funded opportunity. Beginning July 1, 2023 there is an appropriated $500,000 from the Lodging Facility Tax fund to Commerce to distribute grant awards for tourism-related emergency service projects in rural areas. Commerce's Community MT Division will administer the METAP in accordance with these Guidelines. To the extent these Guidelines conflict with SB 540, the terms of SB 540 control.

Definitions

Consistent with Section 1(4) of SB 540, Commerce has adopted the following definitions:

Emergency Services: Emergency services, as defined by 10-4-101(6), MCA, are services provided by a public or private safety agency, including law enforcement, firefighting, ambulance or medical services.

Rural: For purposes of the METAP grant, a Rural area is defined as any area that is not "Urban,” as defined below.

Urban: Urban places are defined as either: 1) a census urban area with a population at or exceeding 30,000 people according to the most recent United States census; or 2) an incorporated city/town within 10 miles of one of those large urban areas. Areas in Montana that meet this definition currently include Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, Belgrade, Columbia Falls, East Helena, Laurel, Walkerville and Whitefish.

Eligible entities, as defined by SB 409, must be in or serve a rural area. Applicants may use this map to determine rural eligibility. The following entities are eligible to apply for a METAP grant:

  • A rural incorporated city or town
  • A rural county government
  • A rural consolidated government
  • A rural tribal government
    • A waiver of sovereign immunity likely will be required for a tribal government to receive funding.
  • Any entity that provides emergency services or response units to a rural area

Eligible applicants may use SB 409 funds to purchase or provide tourism-related emergency services.

Funding recipients generally may use METAP grant funds for the following activities:

  • Ambulances
  • Police vehicles
  • Firefighting vehicles or equipment
  • Hospital or emergency response equipment
  • Search and rescue team supplies or equipment

A project related to tourism-related emergency services other than those listed above also may be approved by Commerce. Please contact Community MT Division staff prior to submitting an application for additional guidance.

METAP grant funds generally cannot be used to pay for the following activities:

  • Operation and maintenance of costs or expenses
  • Grant administration and management expenses
  • Research or other grant opportunities
  • Financial expenses, including but not limited to interest expense, bond issuance costs or any other debt related costs or expenses
  • Any otherwise eligible project costs incurred prior to the date of announcement of the grant award by Commerce

A project related to tourism-related emergency services other than those listed above also may be approved by Commerce. Please contact Community MT Division staff prior to submitting an application for additional guidance.

The maximum amount that will be awarded for a METAP grant is $50,000. Applicants may apply for one METAP grant per funding cycle. Applicants with an open METAP grant generally are ineligible to apply for an additional grant until their current project is completed and closed out, unless approved in writing in advance by Commerce.

Application Submission and Award Process

Commerce will assist cities and towns with administration and awards of funds as defined in SB 490. Please see program guidelines and requirements for the administration of projects here:

Application Submission

To be considered for priority funding, an eligible applicant must apply between Jan. 5, 2026 and 12:59 p.m. on Feb. 5, 2026. Applications received after Feb. 5, 2026 may be reviewed by Commerce if additional funding is available. Applications will be reviewed in the order received.

 

Award Process

Commerce will review and award applications in the order they are received. Applications that meet all of the eligibility requirements described above will be awarded up to the max amount until all grant funds are obligated.   

All applicants will be notified of award decisions by email.

The disbursement of grant funds for awarded projects are subject to grantee’s completion, and submission to Commerce, of the following: 

  1. A completed budget and implementation schedule for the project
  2. A completed contract with Commerce, a provision of which must include an attestation that funds will only be used for rural tourism-related emergency services

Reimbursement Basis for Grant Disbursements

Commerce shall disburse grants by reimbursement as grant recipients incur eligible project expenses in accordance with the terms of the contract. If actual project expenses are lower than the projected expense of the project, Commerce may, at its sole discretion, recapture the amount over actual costs for redistribution to other applications.

Project Reports and Completion Notices

As required by Commerce, grantees shall provide a quarterly progress report, including  completing Commerce’s invoice tracking sheet, identifying the following:

  1. Work that has been undertaken on the project
  2. Rhe percentage of work completed
  3. Rhe amount of funds expended to date
  4. Remaining funds
  5. A description of any significant problems
  6. Whether the project encountered any modification necessary to the scope of work, budget

If the project is completed in an efficient manner, all of these items may occur in a single reporting effort.

The quarterly report and invoice tracking sheet can be found on Commerce’s website.

Grantees also must submit a final report to Commerce at the completion of the project. The final report must confirm the project was completed as intended  from the applicant.

Project Management

The grantee is fully responsible for managing the project and ensuring that it is completed on time and within budget. If cost overruns occur, the cost of the overrun is the full and sole responsibility of the grantee. 

Project Completion

Projects must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026. The grantee may request a one-time extension, which Commerce may approve at its discretion. 

Return of Funds

At Commerce's sole discretion, the grantee will be required to and agrees it shall return to Commerce any and all funds that are determined by Commerce to have been spent in violation of the terms and conditions of the grant contract.