Fairgounds, Museum reel in hefty TIIP grants

HELENA —  Last Tuesday, the Montana Department of Commerce finalized the list of recipients for $550,000 worth of grant money, distributed through the Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program (TIIP). The grants were awarded to twelve institutions throughout the state, including two landmarks here in the Mission Valley – the Polson Fairgrounds and the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana in Charlo.

It was the first time that both the Fairgrounds and the Museum had applied for TIIP funding, but the two tourist draws stood out among the field of 30 different applicants.

The Ninepipes Museum will receive $66,114 from the grant, while $80,000 will be allocated to the Fairgrounds.

“We’re ecstatic and thrilled and pleased and honored,” Una Rose Graham, secretary of the Polson Fairgrounds said of her organization’s reaction to securing the TIIP grant.

Graham said that the Fairgrounds’ grant is “totally geared towards grandstand renovation” and will used to revitalize the aging seats overlooking the rodeo arena.

Built in 1940, the grandstand is still structurally sound, but the surfaces of its seats, decks and walkways are showing the wear and tear of seventy years of dedicated service to rodeo fans. Graham adds that another chief component of the grant is oriented toward enhancing handicapped access to the facility for those with disabilities.

“We’re really grateful for the community support,” Graham added, as the grant had to be supplemented by revenue from a variety of other sources in order to meet the project’s overall cost of $120,000.

Meanwhile, in Charlo the TIIP award will be used to bring the Museum into sole ownership of its governing board, as, until now, the organization has leased its home facility since opening in 1997.

“We are so excited to receive the TIIP grant because that was the amount of funds that we needed to finish the purchase of our building,” said museum administrator Laurel Cheff.

Cheff profusely thanked donors and other sources of funding who helped amass the balance of the $250,000 necessary to buy the Museum. Even out-of-state visitors to the museum contributed to the fundraising effort, Cheff reported.