HELENA, Mont. – The Department of Commerce recently announced 26 of Montana’s vibrant and charming towns will receive grants to help them attract visitors to their communities. In 2017, visitors from out of state added $3.4 billion to Montana’s economy.

Funds totaling $829,644 will be awarded through the Tourism Grant Program at the Department of Commerce, Office of Tourism and Business Development.

“In Montana, you’re never far from world-class recreation and visitor experiences,” said Jenny Pelej, interim division administrator for the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development at Commerce. “Tourism is an industry with a statewide impact, and these grants help communities both large and small maximize their ability to bring customers into Main Street businesses and support jobs.”

The Tourism Grant Program awards funds to projects that strengthen Montana’s economy through the development and enhancement of the state’s tourism and recreation industry. Eligible projects include arts, culture and heritage preservation; visitor facility upgrades and construction; and niche product development.

Mineral County was awarded $64,388 to replace the Superior rodeo bleachers, and for advertising the improved bleacher seating to the northwestern states region.

Last summer, the Superior Lions Club applied for the grant to replace the bleachers at the fairgrounds. The plan is to have a licensed contractor strip the wood and keep the frame, and replace the wood and aluminum, Steve Temple reported during a county commissioners’ meeting last summer. The total cost is estimated at $150,000 and they had applied for $100,000 hoping to get the rest of the funding from other resources.

It is unknown at this time exactly how the budget will be adjusted since they did not receive the entire $100,000.