Money for Missoula Events Available, Grant Writing Meeting Thursday

Every time someone stays in a Missoula hotel, the hotel collects a special Tourism Business Improvement District tax which is used to help market the city. According to Destination Missoula Board President Christine Johnson, some of that money is available to groups willing to put on local events.

"Twice a year we conduct a grant process to award events in Missoula or new events that are coming to Missoula grant money to help make the events bigger and better or to help bring them to Missoula," Johnson said. "So it is that time of year again so we are putting out the grant request for proposals.

Johnson says that events that will put “heads in beds” at local hotels are more apt to win the grant money. There is a free training on that process today.

"At 4:00 p.m. on August 4, at the MSO Hub, on the second floor, we are going to be having a grant training for anyone interested in applying for the grant.: Johnson said. "Even if you have grant writing experience, come because you'll get five points on your score to help you make it to the second round of grant funding. Come. It's free of charge and we'll explain exactly what we are looking for."

Some recent events to win grants include the Big Sky Film Festival and the recent U.S.A. Gymnastics Tournament. According to Johnson some events have been awarded between 15,000 and 20,000 dollars.