Commerce Awards More Than $5 Million of Historic Preservation Grants to 23 Montana Communities

May 20 2021

MONTANA – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that 23 Montana communities will share more than $5 million of grant funding for 26 historic preservation projects. The grants, awarded through Commerce’s Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program, will be used to improve historical sites, historical societies and history museums in Montana.

“These grants will help communities share stories of the past, giving visitors and residents a true glimpse of Montana’s fascinating, deep-rooted history,” Commerce Director Scott Osterman said. “Projects like these can really help rejuvenate Montana communities with increased economic development, statewide tourism and job creation.”

Improvements to these historical sites, societies and museums may include infrastructure repair, building renovations, maintenance, remediating building code issues, security enhancements and fire protection.

The following community projects will receive Montana Historic Preservation grant funding:

Baker: $298,657 for the O’Fallon Historical Museum
Boulder: $498,500 for the Boulder Hot Springs
Bozeman: $500,000 for Museum of the Rockies
Butte: $228,600 for the Carpenters Union Hall
Butte: $341,189 for the Hotel Finlen
Butte: $450,000 for the Mother Lode Theater
Chinook: $60,240 for the Blaine County Museum
Dillon: $11,447 for the Dillon Public Library
Gardiner: $500,000 for the Gardiner Community Center
Glendive: $206,822 for the Dion Block
Great Falls: $125,000 for the 10th Street Bridge
Hungry Horse: $72,200 for the Spotted Bear Ranger Station
Hysham: $23,300 for the Yucca Theatre
Kalispell: $58,385 for the Central School Building
Lewistown: $412,535 for the Crowley Block
Libby: $229,690 for The Heritage Museum
Livingston: $140,000 for the Livingston Depot Center
Missoula: $500,000 for the Milwaukee Depot
Missoula: $419,000 for the Missoula Art Museum
Pablo: $50,600 for The People’s Center
Paradise: $123,220 for the Paradise Center
Seeley Lake: $15,000 for the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitors Center
Shelby: $9,000 for the Old Town Hall
Stevensville: $81,561 for the East Barracks at Fort Owen State Park
Troy: $4,904 for the Troy Museum and Visitors Center
White Sulphur Springs: $89,500 for the Ringling Mansion

“Our nonprofit organization is deeply grateful for the unique Historic Preservation Grant Program. During these troubled times it is inspiring that treasures from Montana’s past, such as the Historic 10th Street Bridge across the Missouri River in the center of Great Falls, will be preserved and utilized as a trail for future generations,” said Arlyne Reichert, President, Preservation Cascade, Inc. “In addition to folks from Montana, many tourists from near and far will be able to enjoy this beautiful 101 year old architectural gem. It has taken over 25 years of perseverance on the part of many volunteers. This historic grant has enabled the completion of the project and brought our dream to reality.”

Enacted in 2019, the Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program was created to help communities increase economic development, community revitalization and statewide tourism through added investment, job creation, business expansion and local tax-base growth.

Eligible applicants for the program include incorporated nonprofit organizations, incorporated cities or towns, associations, counties and tribal governments. For more information visit COMDEV.MT.GOV.

Tags: Community Development Division, Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program and Grants

Commerce Awards More Than $5 Million of Historic Preservation Grants to 23 Montana Communities

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