WCVB opens grant application
Depot Park in downtown Whitefish with the train depot in the background.
The Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau (Explore Whitefish) recently opened the application period for its third annual grant program with submissions due on April 1.
Though Explore Whitefish typically holds two grant cycles per year, this year's program shortened to one cycle.
Eligible grant applicants must be Explore Whitefish member businesses, or Montana nonprofit organizations. Selected projects will demonstrate the ability to strengthen the Whitefish community by driving visitation during the shoulder and winter seasons, in line with the Explore Whitefish Annual Marketing Plan. This year, the criteria has expanded to also grant projects with goals consistent with the "Key Pillars" of the recently adopted Whitefish Sustainable Tourism Management Plan: Community Character, Livability, and Community Engagement. This plan is being implemented in 2021 in partnership with the City of Whitefish after two years of stakeholder planning and community-wide input.
Examples of previous grant winners have launched projects that are far reaching and create lasting impact in the community. Notably, the Whitefish Bike Retreat utilized funds to maintain a free public groomed winter fat biking trail, Whitefish Legacy Partners was granted an award to expand the City of Whitefish vehicular wayfinding signs to include trailheads, and the Whitefish Shines program used grant funds to purchase and install additional winter decorations for downtown Whitefish.
"We're looking forward to reviewing applications this spring especially since we weren't able to offer the program earlier this year due to constraints related to COVID-19," explains Explore Whitefish Executive Director Dylan Boyle, "This grant program is an opportunity for us to support our community while working towards the common goal of bolstering shoulder season visitation and managing sustainable tourism."
The grant application can be found online at the explorewhitefish.com/members page. Contact Dylan Boyle at 406-862-3390 or dylan@explorewhitefish.com for more information.