Commerce Funding Helps Ronan Move from Planning to Action
Aided by a $2.75 million grant from the Montana Department of Commerce’s Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program, Ronan is implementing a long-term economic vision that began in 2016. The 2024 pilot grant was supplemented by a 2024 Montana Main Street Grant for $100,000, over $80,000 that same year from two State-Local Infrastructure Partnership Act grants and a $750,000 Montana Coal Endowment Program Grant for wastewater system upgrades in 2025.
“Several Commerce programs came together to help Ronan move from the drawing board to reality on a community vision a decade in the making,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “It’s truly exciting to see so many moving parts and diverse stakeholders work together for long-term prosperity and sustainable growth.”
The shift from years of strategic planning to this period of implementation marks an exciting chapter for Ronan and the surrounding counties. While the initial steering committee process was challenging, the community’s positive response and the committee's enthusiasm embody the project's spirit.
The local economy is already seeing tangible benefits, including a completed mural commissioned with Native artists and residents. The Ronan Co-op Brewery is fully operational, acting as a successful anchor business, while the newly refurbished Pearl Theater on Main Street is now a vital resource for local musicians, offering open mic nights and community jam sessions. This venue, created by the Western Montana Musicians Co-op, was boosted by the pilot grant through facade rehabilitation and is tackling asbestos remediation with a separate grant from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
This pivotal funding allows the Ronan steering committee to invest in the wider region, encompassing Mineral and Sanders counties and reflecting a regional approach to development. In addition to these projects, the regional view extends to a Sanders County trail plan and a Trout Creek park plan, further underscoring a commitment to regional, holistic growth.
The Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program, now known as the Montana Tourism Development Grant Program, is administered by Commerce’s Destination MT Division and was established with the 2025 passage of Senate Bill 409, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings. The SLIPA Program, MMS Program and MCEP are administered by Commerce’s Community MT Division.
For more information about Commerce’s grant and loan opportunities, programs and services, visit commerce.mt.gov.
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