Foundation awards $91,500 to boost rural Montana projects
This article originally appeared on NBC Montana at https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/foundation-awards-91500-to-boost-rural-montana-projects.
MISSOULA, Mont. — The Foundation for Montana History announced $91,500 in grant funding for nine rural counties across the state.
The funding is up to $10,000 per project, and six previously unfunded counties are receiving assistance.
Grants support community-based history initiatives, like an educational program at the Ninepipes Museum.
The program awarded a total of $1.85 million since 2012.
The Foundation for Montana History released the following information:
The Foundation for Montana History announced its rural grant making cycle this week, awarding $91,500 to 9 rural counties across the state of Montana. With the announcement of this grant cycle, The Foundation has now awarded at least one grant to every single county in Montana. The Foundation is a nonprofit based in Helena that raises funds and makes grants for community-based history initiatives. Since starting the Foundation’s grant program in 2012, $1.85 million in grant funding has been placed in all 56 counties, supporting over 350 projects statewide.
“[The Foundation] set out with a goal to provide grant funding for all 56 Montana counties,” says Foundation President/CEO Charlene Porsild. “Reaching communities where funding is often less accessible was the top priority for us because rural Montana is at the heart of what makes our state so special.” This initiative was possible through support from the Steele Reese Foundation.
The Foundation makes grants up to $10,000 per project. This year, funding supports projects in 6 previous unfunded counties. Counties include Pondera, Toole, Garfield, McCone, Roosevelt, and Powder River. Projects include:
-Ninepipes Museum, “Voices that Shaped the Ninepipes Museum,” Charlo, $10,000: Ninepipes Museum will develop and implement a multi-year educational program that
shares the unique history contained within their collection. Learn more about the organization at https://ninepipesmuseum.org.
-The Conrad Public Library, “Tuckpointing of Historic Brick Façade,” Conrad, $10,000: The Conrad Public Library will hire a contractor to tuckpoint and preserve the brick façade of the historic building. Learn more about the organization at https://www.conradlibrary.com/.
-City of Shelby, “Roxy Theater Repair,” Shelby, $10,000: The city of Shelby will use funding to help repair and restore the historic Roxy Theater. The space will eventually become a community venue.
-Treasure County 89ers, “Yucca Theatre Pillar Dome Repair,” Hysham, $10,000: The Treasure County 89ers will prevent further water damage in the historic Yucca. Theatre by sealing cracks to the exterior, wall repairs, and painting the entire entry. Learn more about this structure at https://historicmt.org/items/show/2125.
“This unique grant cycle was made possible through community efforts from individuals who care so deeply about their local history,” says Foundation Program Director Zachary Coe. “2025 was the first time our Foundation sent out a call for select counties to apply to [The Foundation’s] grant cycle and every single county responded with strong projects that will now receive grant funding.”