Whitefish Credit Union has signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with the Flathead County Fairgrounds that will invest $75,000 in the 112-year-old fairgrounds.

Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell said the first-year payment of $20,000 will be made in two installments, a portion following the Northwest Montana Fair in August and a portion next spring. The second-year payment of $25,000 and third-year payment of $30,000 will follow the same installment schedule.

For its investment, Whitefish Credit Union will be offered sign space at the fairground’s three key facilities: Expo Center, Trade Center and the grandstand. 

Whitefish Credit Union banners and other signs will be displayed during the Northwest Montana Fair and during other key events at the fairgrounds, Campbell said.

Whitefish Credit Union Chief Financial Officer Mike Blubaugh said the partnership “marks an exciting new chapter” for the credit union.

“This partnership goes directly to the proposition that Whitefish Credit Union desires to be fully engaged in the local communities we serve,” Blubaugh said in a prepared statement. “We are always exploring new and unique opportunities to increase awareness of the many products and services we offer and to make those products and services available to our members when and where they want them. Given the number of events that the fairgrounds sponsors and supports each year, we felt that this gives us that opportunity.”

Campbell said he “looked very carefully” at Whitefish Credit Union before approaching the financial institution about a sponsorship, assessing factors such as how the credit union represents itself in the community.

“We like their logo — ‘We Belong to You” — because that pertains to the fairgrounds as well,” Campbell said.

The county is investing more than $1.5 million to upgrade the aging fairgrounds with basic projects such as replacing the 90-year-old grandstand roof, relocating and replacing utility lines and improving stormwater drainage.

“The county has been generous in supporting our main facility needs, but we’d like to begin to add user elements and amenities” beyond the infrastructure needs, Campbell said.

Whitefish Credit Union’s sponsorship will allow the fairgrounds to do just that, he said. “We’ll put those funds into making the facility better.”

The fair has relied on sponsors for years to host events. Kalispell Toyota, for example, sponsors the concert series at the Northwest Montana Fair. Coors, Ram Trucks and Don K Whitefish are listed on the fair’s website as sponsors of the Ram PRCA Rodeo this year.

The Whitefish Credit Union sponsorship has the potential to go much further.

“We’ve promised them we’d continue discussion of a naming aspect beyond where we’re at now,” Campbell said. “That goes into the realm of bringing the county commissioners and Fair Board into discussions with Whitefish Credit Union. This is a great initial establishment. We want to get through the fair before we take it to another level and open the door to further discussions.

“We understand that this fairgrounds belongs to the people,” Campbell continued. “We’re not going to start selling it. We want partnerships instead. We’re being careful and strategic.”

In addition to the Northwest Montana Fair — an annual event that’s expected to bring 78,000 people to the fairgrounds this year — the fairgrounds plays host to more than 200 individual events throughout the year. 

The Montana Sportsman’s Expo, Home & Garden Showcase and several firearms shows are among the events staged there.

Whitefish Credit Union President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Kenyon said the new level of exposure provided through the sponsorship will help the credit union fulfill its mission of providing affordable saving and lending options to area residents.

 “This partnership allows Whitefish Credit Union to further promote our message of thrift and financial responsibility to an even wider audience throughout the year,” Kenyon said in a press release.

Chartered in 1934, Whitefish Credit Union has more than $1 billion in assets and serves in excess of 55,000 members.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.