Out of 170 applications, only 10 were selected. Thompson Falls was one of those.

Being the only recipient in Montana, the town will receive a grant award to develop marketing strategies, partnerships and place wayfinding signage to attract visitors, promote local amenities and public lands for both visitors and residents, according to Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC) Executive Director Jen Kreiner.

In a collaborative effort, Thompson Falls Main Street representatives, business owners, Mayor Jerry Lacy, Sanders County Commissioners, U.S. Forest Service and SCCDC will work to compose a vision and actions needed to obtain the goals defined in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Program grant application. The group will follow specifications outlined in the Downtown Master Plan created in 2015 by Thompson Falls Main Street.

The grant is a technical assistance program award, which will in turn provide tens of thousands of dollars in professional services to Thompson Falls, stated Kreiner. Scheduled to begin next spring, workshops will take tourism and community attraction and marketing strategies into consideration. In addition, design and placement of wayfinding signs will be established. After the planning phase, funds will be raised to implement the projects.

The goal is for rural communities to be able to “revitalize their Main Streets through outdoor recreation,” stated the EPA. Further information on the program can be obtained by contacting Kreiner at (406) 827-6935 or emailing [email protected].