What is the Pilot Tourism Community Grant Program?

The Montana Department of Commerce’s Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program (PCTGP) is a state-funded opportunity authorized by the 2023 Montana Legislature’s enactment of Senate Bill 540. Building tourism in a manageable, sustainable way can stimulate and diversify Montana’s local economy, protect and enhance local resources, and foster community pride without compromising the qualities that make local communities so special.

The purpose of the PCTGP is to elevate communities across the state, increase their economic vibrancy by improving their appeal as visitor destinations, and improve their resilience as a destination by enhancing and diversifying tourism assets and infrastructure. Through this program, communities can cultivate regional visions, identify strategies to harness the power of tourism, and develop unique experiences in tourism.

In 2025, Red Lodge’s Tourism Development Project was one of seven communities throughout Montana to be awarded a Cohort 2 Pilot Community Tourism Grant in the amount of $1.25 million over a two-year period with the potential to be awarded $2.75 million over a five-year period. 

To learn more about the PCTGP and the other awarded communities, click here.

Red Lodge Tourism Development – Project Summary

The Red Lodge Tourism Development Project is a five-year process to identify and assess all tourism assets within Red Lodge, enhance existing tourism assets, and complete a Tourism Development Strategy & Community Plan to guide the five-year project. Through tourism enhancement and planning, we aim to achieve year-round tourism to boost our local economy and strengthen the fabric of our community.

Over the next five years, the Community Tourism Steering Committee will collaborate with community members, stakeholders, and a professional firm to achieve the Red Lodge Tourism Development Project goals. 

2025 Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program – Red Lodge Tourism Development Project Visitor Profile. Data provided by the Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research.

Anticipated Projects – Years 1 & 2

During project planning, members of the Community Tourism Steering Committee emphasized the importance of keeping tourism development centralized downtown to promote connectivity and walkability, ensuring visitors are engaging in the local economy by eating at restaurants, buying local goods, and lodging in Red Lodge. PCTGP funds will be used to increase activities offered during the winter and polish our successful summer tourism assets, encouraging those passing through to stay one additional night in Red Lodge during the summer and creating Red Lodge as a year-round destination. We are focused on tourism development within Red Lodge that puts tourists close to restaurants and retail shops and improves access to activities that promote overnight stays. Increased tourism and visitation will increase the local economy through new jobs, new wealth for local business owners and greater spending by new employees and new businesses.

The Red Lodge Tourism Development Project has officially been awarded funding for two years and the following projects are based on years one and two of the PCTGP. Please note that the Community Tourism Steering Committee will work with a professional firm, community members and stakeholders to finalize each project. Project concept renderings will be available as they are produced. Below you will find a short description for each anticipated project:

Red Lodge Ice: The ice rink at Lion’s Park is a great asset for both residents and visitors, but is dependent on cool weather for use. Funding will go towards completing a Preliminary Engineering Report to guide the expansion and development of the ice rink, including the installation of cooling coils to extend the skating season.

 

Courtesy photo of Red Lodge Ice

Coal Miners Park: An exciting project that aims to develop Coal Miners Park as a winter destination for residents and visitors by creating a sledding hill and Nordic ski loop. In year one, funding will go towards developing a site plan.

Photo courtesy of Beartooth Trails

Roosevelt Center: Identified as a need by downtown businesses, city leaders, and tourists, public bathrooms will be installed in the Roosevelt Center as part of the ongoing building renovations. A catering kitchen will also be installed to offer quality food at events.

 

 

Red Lodge Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center: The Visitor Center is the first place many visitors stop at to see what there is to do in the Red Lodge area, and is one of the main buildings that establishes Red Lodge’s main street. Funding will go towards producing a Preliminary Architectural Report to guide future capital investments.

Photo courtesy of Merv Coleman

Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot Gallery: A nationally recognized historic building and charming tourist attraction, the Depot Gallery needs repairs. Funding will go towards completing an Architectural Assessment/Master Study to provide a guide for the preservation and restoration of the building.


Community Involvement

We are partnering with the University of Montana’s Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR) to conduct resident and visitor tourism surveys. Your voice matters to us. The survey lets you tell us how you define tourism, what you consider a tourism asset, and what you want tourism to look like in our community. The survey should take 10-15 minutes to complete. Click the link below to take the survey. Please feel free to share the survey with other members of the community. The more responses we get, the more informed we will be! The survey will remain open through Dec. 15th, 2025.

Link to survey: https://umt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5bE4wwZBvvwNwWy 

The community responses will be used to develop a visitor survey to be circulated in 2026. The results will be used to complete a tourism development plan and identify shovel-ready tourism projects for years 3-5 of Red Lodge’s PCTGP, if funded. At the end of the five years, we will work with ITRR to implement a post-program survey to measure changes in community perceptions, visitor feedback, and the impact of tourism-related investments over time. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Community Tourism Steering Committee expects to hold at least one community wide workshop to discuss the Red Lodge Tourism Development Project and collect initial resident feedback before the end of 2025. Please check later for more details.

Community Tourism Steering Committee

As a grant requirement, the Red Lodge Tourism Development Project must maintain a steering committee of 8-12 members. This diverse group of stakeholders are responsible for implementing the program and utilizing PCTGP funds as a catalyst for destination development and management activities, with the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation as the lead fiscal organization. Committee members agree to make a significant and long-term commitment to leadership, participation, and making tourism a shared, community-wide objective.

Community Tourism Steering Committee Members:

  • Kathleen Healy – Roosevelt Center Director, Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
  • Maryvette Labrie – Grant Manager, Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
  • Sherry Weamer – Executive Director, Red Lodge Area Chamber of Commerce DMO
  • Tom Kuntz – CEO, Red Lodge Hospitality
  • David Westwood – Mayor, City of Red Lodge
  • Tyson Bednarz – Director of Resort Services, Red Lodge Mountain Resorts
  • Jennifer Drinkwalter – Roosevelt Center Events Manager, Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
  • Nick Gaddy – Executive Director, Beartooth Trails
  • Raymond G. Kuntz – Attorney at Law, Red Lodge Law
  • Kendall Ard – Grant Associate, Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
  • Andrew Christianson – Owner/Operator, Yodeler Motel

Past Committee Members:

  • Hannah Kohley – Marketing Coordinator, Red Lodge Hospitality & TBID

Committee Member Affiliate Organizations & Partners

Questions? Email us at PCTGP@rlacf.org.