WCVB grants go toward winter recreation, art project

The Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau (Explore Whitefish) has announced the winners of its fall 2021 grant awards program.

Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center, Whitefish Bike Retreat, and Stumptown Art Studio are the recipients of this year’s grant cycle for projects which encourage responsible recreation, enhance winter activities, and increase the livability of the Whitefish community through public art.

“We are happy to support these local projects that help sustain the health of our community in a variety of ways," said Explore Whitefish Executive Director, Dylan Boyle. "These funds assist with sustainability by helping our local population, as well as travelers who appreciate and respect our character, environment, and residents."

Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center was awarded funds for installing 10 new signs at popular access points aimed at educating winter recreationists on avalanche safety and best practices. Funds will also be used for five monthly campfire discussions from December through April where the community can share observations and talk with avalanche forecasters.

Whitefish Bike Retreat was awarded funds to help pay for trail maintenance in the Beaver Lake area to assist in trail grooming for fat bikes, snowshoes, and nordic skiing during the 2021-22 winter season. Funds will be spent on grooming equipment, fuel, and labor to help keep trails free and open to locals and visitors.

Stumptown Art Studio was awarded funds to support a public art installation called "Reflections of Whitefish" beneath the new Baker Avenue pedestrian underpass. The installation will involve creating sculpted and fused glass panels that depict the Whitefish range and area lakes and rivers on the walls of the tunnel.

Explore Whitefish is a nonprofit organization that strives to be a leading destination steward dedicated to sustainable tourism, balancing economic and community sustainability while protecting the natural environment.

Each of the successful grant projects supports key pillars of the Whitefish Sustainable Tourism Management Plan including community character, livability, and community engagement, according to the WCVB. Eligible grant applicants must be WCVB member businesses or Montana nonprofit organizations. For more information visit www.explorewhitefish.com.