Montana Department of Commerce Awards Sidney a Regional Assistance Grant
Photo Information
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture will receive more than $113,000 of grant funding to develop local tourism opportunities. The grant funding is provided through Commerce’s Regional Assistance Program.
“Commerce’s RAP grant funding helps nonprofit tourism corporations and visitor bureaus develop and enhance rural and under-visited tourism opportunities, increase visitor commerce and generate community revenue for the benefit of local economies,” said Montana Department of Commerce acting Director Mandy Rambo.
In 2023, the Montana Legislature directed Commerce to establish a Regional Assistance Program by enacting Montana SB 540. RAP grant applications launch before March every two years. An application cycle will be available in February of the interim year to allow any newly designated Convention and Visitor Bureau to apply if they are eligible. This year, Commerce launched the interim RAP grant application cycle on Feb. 5, 2025; the cycle closed March 5, 2025. The next cycle will launch March of 2026.
In 2024, Montana’s Missouri River Country received $167,141 of RAP grant funding to support key regional projects. Carla Hunsley, executive director of Montana’s Missouri River Country said, “We are incredibly grateful for the RAP grant funding, which has made a significant impact on our efforts to promote Missouri River Country. The funding allowed us to support key regional co-op partnership projects like The Great Wide Open, Montana Trail to the Stars and the Montana Dinosaur Trail. These funds also enabled us to participate in the state's cooperative marketing ventures at a level that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.”
For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
“Commerce’s RAP grant funding helps nonprofit tourism corporations and visitor bureaus develop and enhance rural and under-visited tourism opportunities, increase visitor commerce and generate community revenue for the benefit of local economies,” said Montana Department of Commerce acting Director Mandy Rambo.
In 2023, the Montana Legislature directed Commerce to establish a Regional Assistance Program by enacting Montana SB 540. RAP grant applications launch before March every two years. An application cycle will be available in February of the interim year to allow any newly designated Convention and Visitor Bureau to apply if they are eligible. This year, Commerce launched the interim RAP grant application cycle on Feb. 5, 2025; the cycle closed March 5, 2025. The next cycle will launch March of 2026.
In 2024, Montana’s Missouri River Country received $167,141 of RAP grant funding to support key regional projects. Carla Hunsley, executive director of Montana’s Missouri River Country said, “We are incredibly grateful for the RAP grant funding, which has made a significant impact on our efforts to promote Missouri River Country. The funding allowed us to support key regional co-op partnership projects like The Great Wide Open, Montana Trail to the Stars and the Montana Dinosaur Trail. These funds also enabled us to participate in the state's cooperative marketing ventures at a level that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.”
For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
Tags: Business and Press Release
