The Montana Community Foundation, Inc. (MCF) awards over $31,000 in “ReImagine What is Possible” grants to local community foundations and organizations that participated in the second installment of ReImagining Rural (RR2), a partnership with the First Interstate Bank Foundation, the Governor’s Office of Montana, the Burton K. Wheeler Center, and Montana State University Extension. This year, RR2 was offered through a virtual platform, welcoming over 200 people from communities throughout Montana.
Throughout three separate sessions, participants heard from experts that dispelled the notion that rural communities are dying and shared research and examples for how rural communities can create a vital future for themselves. See the full sessions here: http://www.mtcf.org/RR2.
“We are so happy that local leaders in 24 communities were able to hear the positive messages shared throughout this event,” says Tara Mastel, MSU Extension. “Hearing the positive messages about rural communities, such as families are moving back to rural communities, the idea that we live in the middle of everywhere and how desirable rural living is, changed the perspective of event participants about their town and motivated them to take on some exciting new projects.”
As an incentive to capitalize on what they learned during these sessions, community foundations, and other local organizations, that participated in the event were able to submit grant applications for funding to support the development of their community projects. Grant awards were between $1,000-$2,000 and the grant recipients include:
Bear Paw Development Corporation
Blaine County 4-H Council
Carter County Geological Society
City of Shelby, Montana
Dawson County Economic Development Council
Eastern Plains Economic Council
Fort Belknap Community Economic Development Corporation
Laurel Montana Community Foundation Incorporated
Missouri Valley Marketing
Phillips County Community Foundation
Powder River Trails
Rosebud County
Seeley Lake Community Foundation
Stillwater County
Montana State University Extension Deer Lodge County
Musselshell Valley Community Foundation
“We hope these grants encourage these local leaders to take what they have learned and apply it to their own communities, ensuring the resiliency and vitality of these rural areas we love,” says Mary Rutherford, President and CEO. “This is how we ensure a strong future for Montana and the generations of Montanans to come.”
For more information or to set up an interview, contact Teal Whitaker, Communications and Outreach Manager, at [email protected] or (406) 581-8976.
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