The Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce held its first meeting of 2017 at the new meeting room in Camas Organic Market on Jan. 5. The meeting had approximately 20 people in attendance, with many being business leaders, owners and several residents. Leslie Smith, who is the owner of Symes Hotel and the President of the Chamber of Commerce, led the meeting by reviewing the agenda. Hot Springs businesses and residents discussed ways to improve Hot Springs visibility and attract more people.

Facebook and social media are being used to inform residents of upcoming events, as well as providing a place to answer any questions that are posted.

“We do want to keep an active presence on social media,” Smith said.

The chamber is using several different sources of advertising, including calendars that are available at Hot Springs Telephone, signs along Montana Highway 28 that are modeled after the Burma-Shave roadside advertising of the 1950s and 1960s, and placemats. Restaurants are currently using the placemats as advertising for many Hot Springs businesses.

A large renovation of the Hot Springs Bathhouse was discussed as something that could increase the need for housing for the construction workers employed on the project, which could take between two and five years to complete. The project is called the Hot Springs Wellness Center and is being considered by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The project will include the long-standing bathhouse, a new hotel and an outdoor pool at an estimated cost of $10.7 million.

David Max with the Hot Springs Community Radio station was given a financial donation by the chamber to help meet FCC requirements to have an Emergency Broadcast System in place.

“I am hoping to replace the current radio content with local content and have DJs from the community help us out,” Max said.

The museum in Hot Springs held a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. at KnickKnack Paddywhack, located at the corner of Wall and Central streets (behind Buck’s Grocery). Norah Potts stated at the chamber meeting that the museum can hold between 25-30 people and it can be rented for other purposes.

Chamber of Commerce meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month and rotate to different locations. For more information, call 406-741-2662 or visit www.hotspringschamber.org.

Reporter Douglas Wilks can be reached at dwilks@vp-mi.com or 406-826-3402.