Eleven Montana communities will share $600,000 in grant funding through the Montana Main Street (MMS) Program to support revitalization projects aimed at strengthening downtowns and local businesses.
“The MMS Program focuses on empowering communities to reinvigorate downtowns through locally led planning and implementation projects,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “Competitive grant funding and additional resources provided through MMS foster grassroots efforts, enabling communities to envision and pursue vibrant futures while protecting historic and cultural vitality.”
The MMS Program collaborates with local partners to identify and address community development priorities, providing seed funding to implement high-impact projects.
The communities and their grant awards include:
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Boulder – $78,515 to upgrade Jefferson High School sound and lighting systems
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Broadus – $45,000 to install seasonal parklets
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Fort Benton – $67,000 to renovate the historic Levee Trail system along the Missouri River
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Hardin – $40,000 for Phase I of a downtown wayfinding installation project
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Havre – $15,000 to complete the Havre Beneath the Streets sidewalk restoration project
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Lewistown – $40,000 to create a downtown master plan
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Miles City – $82,124 for exterior improvements to the Mountain States Telephone Building
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Red Lodge – $65,000 for the Roosevelt Center outdoor space project
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Roundup – $49,785 for playground equipment installation at the historic Central School campus
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Terry – $34,816 to construct the Murn Park Community Pavilion
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Winnett – $82,760 to complete the Petroleum County Courthouse restoration project
The City of Roundup, which received MMS funding in 2022 for wayfinding and placemaking signs, praised the program’s impact. “Montana Main Street Program resources and professionals have been Roundup’s most critical partner in the intentional development and preservation of our historical downtown,” said Theresa Doumitt, Co-Chair of Roundup Community Partners. “One project we are especially grateful for is our welcome plaza, a key step in our downtown master plan to anchor Main Street and serve as a gateway for visitors.”
Currently, 38 Montana communities participate in the MMS Program. Eligible applicants for MMS grants include communities without an active grant.
Established in 2005 and administered by the Montana Department of Commerce, the Montana Main Street Program is funded through Montana Senate Bill 540 and supports projects that preserve historic structures, strengthen local economies, and enhance community vitality.