Oktoberfest, Marathon awarded state grants

Two Whitefish events were recently awarded grants from the state Department of Commerce.

Great Northwest Oktoberfest was awarded $5,750 and The Whitefish Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K was awarded $2,500.

The grants are part of the pilot cycle of the Tourism Grant Program at the Department of Commerce, which awarded nearly $550,000 to help 44 communities across Montana boost attendance at events to grow visitor spending.

Grant recipients completed a competitive application cycle earlier this spring and will be reimbursed for event costs related to marketing, temporary infrastructure, facilities, hospitality and signage. The maximum award per event is $25,000.

“Local celebrations, festivals and events — big or small — are important for bringing visitors into Montana communities,” said Commerce Director Tara Rice. “Events like these pull visitors from out of the area into our communities and Main Street businesses. Even a small investment can have a big impact.”