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Montana Department of Commerce, Special Events Grants Now Available September 24, 2010 Application Deadline

The Montana Department of Commerce is inviting Montana communities, organizations and tribal governments sponsoring or planning annual ongoing events to apply for $80,000 in state tourism grant funds available from the Montana Department of Commerce, Office of Tourism Special Events Grant Program (SEGP). The SEGP application deadline is September 24, 2010.

"Montana’s spectacular setting and distinctive communities attract ten million visitors annually. The Special Events Grants provide the opportunity to showcase our notable hospitality and unique character that inspire our visitors to return time and time again,” said Anthony Preite, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce.

Any Montana event is eligible to apply and the funds must be used to advertise and promote the event to target markets outside a 100-mile radius of the event site. Grants will be awarded based on a 3-tier approach that ranks communities according to population. The grants are designed to be matching funds for non-profit organizations involved in developing new annual events as well as enhancing existing community-based tourism festivals and events.

"Providing quality, memorable events helps enrich our visitors’ experiences. Not only do they bring people to our downtowns and main streets, but they also build civic pride while serving as important economic drivers for our communities,” said Preite.

The SEGP funds are provided by a 4% state tourism lodging tax which is assessed on the lodging price of all accommodations across Montana, including campgrounds. Tourism and recreation is one of Montana’s largest industries. In 2009, 10 million people visited Montana spending over $2 billion during their stay. Over 25,000 jobs are directly and indirectly supported by nonresident travel, resulting in over $660 million in total personal and proprietors’ income for Montana residents.

For more information about the SEGP, or to request an application, contact Carol Crockett at the Montana Office of Tourism, 406-841-2796, [email protected]. SEGP application materials can be downloaded from the Montana Office of Tourism’s Intranet site: http://www.travelmontana.mt.gov/forms.

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