Frequently Asked Questions About the
Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program (TIIP)
2006

Who is eligible to apply?

Any organization officially recognized by the IRS as having a non-profit status. Montana Indian tribes, cities and counties would be considered as qualifying tourism-related, nonprofit groups for the purposes of applying for participation in TIIP.

What is the required match?

The required match is 2:1. For every two dollars of grant money being requested, the sponsor must provide one dollar.

The match must be in “hard” dollars. In-kind services are not eligible in consideration of the match.

Money that has been put toward the project in the current and previous fiscal year (since July 2004) may be considered as part of the hard match.

What are the grant amounts?

The grants can range from the minimum of $20,000 to the maximum amount available for the TIIP grants in any given year. The amount of FY 2007 (July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007) TIIP Grant funds will be determined in June 2006.

When is the application deadline?

Completed applications must be received at Travel Montana, Department of Commerce, 301 South Park Avenue, Helena, MT 59620-0533 by 5:00 p.m. on August 1, 2006. No Late or Incomplete Applications will be considered.

What types of projects are eligible?

TIIP funds are to be used for bricks and mortar projects. They cannot be used for marketing or ongoing operation expenses. Types of usage that would be allowed include, but are not limited to, project construction costs associated with building new and/or remodeling or preserving existing tourism and recreation attractions, historical sites and artifacts; costs associated with purchasing new and/or existing tourism and recreation attractions, historical sites and artifacts; and equipment purchased for specific tourism project operation.

What types of projects score high?

Projects that tend to score high usually fall into one of three categories:

1. Projects that leverage funding from various sources (i.e. TIIP grant funding is used as a match to complete a financing package involving other private and/or public funding).
2. Grant funding that completes a project rather than “seed money” to start a project.
3. The urgency of the project is clearly demonstrated (i.e. the proposed project, if not completed within the next 18 months, will not happen or the project focuses on urgent repairs and/or stabilization to a recognized cultural, historical, interpretive and/or other tourism-related resource).

What types of projects score low?

All infrastructure needs are important and each application is judged on its own merit. Projects that retain visitors based upon cultural, historical, or interpretive significance have scored higher than projects where people may stop briefly and be pointed to other attractions in the area. Historically, projects that have scored lower in the process have included visitor information centers, stand alone public restroom facilities, and projects that have recently received TIIP funds.

What projects have been funded?

Fiscal Year 2006
Conrad Mansion, electrical system upgrade, (Kalispell); $41,400
Holter Museum of Art, Roof Renovation, (Helena); $50,000
Makoshika Dinosaur Museum, Fire Suppression System & Exhibit Expansion, (Glendive); $38,600
Meagher County Historical Association, Window Restoration for Castle Museum, (White Sulphur Springs); $20,000
Missoula Art Museum, Grand Foyer of Renaisance, Renewal & Renovation Campaign, (Missoula); $50,000

Fiscal Year 2005
Custer County Art & Heritage Center, Pumphouse Renovation, (Miles City); $48,360
Liberty Village Arts Center & Gallery, Roof, Siding & Basement Project, (Chester); $20,500
Pondera History Association, Pondera County Museum Exhibit, (Conrad); $21,400
HiLine Youth Hockey Association, Inc., Valley Event Center, (Glasgow); $109,740

Fiscal Year 2004
Beartooth Nature Center, Wildlife Access Project, (Red Lodge); $25,000
Great Falls Baseball Foundation, Inc., Legion Park Improvements, (Great Falls); $50,000
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, “Bears: Imagination & Reality” Exhibit Building and Installation, (West Yellowstone); $69,000
International Wildlife Film Festival & Media Center, Full Public Access Facility Project, (Missoula); $20,000
Mission Valley Friends of the Arts, John Dowdall Theater Safety & Access Project, (Polson); $36,000

Fiscal Year 2003
Conrad Mansion Directors, Inc, Conrad Mansion roof replacement, (Kalispell); $50,000
Childrens’ Museum of Montana, Interior and Accessibility Improvements, (Great Falls); $29,000
Livingston Depot Foundation, Livingston Depot Center Structural Repair and Roof Replacement, (Livingston); $50,000
Phillips County Historical Society, Robinson House Landscape Project, (Malta); $21,000

Fiscal Year 2002
Northwest Montana Historical Society/Central School Museum, Timber Products Industry History Exhibit, (Kalispell); $30,000
Huntley Project Museum of Irrigated Agriculture, Museum Center Construction
(Huntley); $43,415
Richland Youth Hockey, Inc., Complete Construction of Multi-Use Community Event Facility (Sidney); $76,585

Fiscal Year 2001
Daly Mansion Preservation Trust; Daly Mansion Restoration (Hamilton); $50,000
Miracle of America Museum, Inc.; Miracle of America Museum (Polson); $30,000
World Museum of Mining; The Orphan Girl Underground Exhibit, (Butte); $30,000
Friends of Makoshika; Makoshika Group Picnic Shelter, (Glendive); $20,000
Hill County H.Earl Clack Museum; Wahkpa Chu’gn Archeological Site Improvements (Havre); $20,000

Fiscal Year 2000
Rialto Community Theatre, Inc. (Deer Lodge), $73,677
Blaine County Wildlife Museum/Blaine County Museum (Chinook), $61,600
Moss Mansion Carriage House Reconstruction (Billings), $24,000
Historic Savenac Nursery Infrastructure Restoration (Haugan) $20,361.50
The Reid Building Museum & Archival Library Renovation (Twin Bridges), $20, 361.50

Fiscal Year 1999
The High Plains West Heritage Museum and Archives (Great Falls), $56,150
Makoshika State Park Amphitheater Renovation (Glendive), $48,850
Old Montana Prison 1912 Cell House Roof Replacement (Deer Lodge), $45,000

Fiscal Year 1998
Peaks to Plains Museum (Red Lodge), $44,026
Reconstruction of Historic Fort Benton (Fort Benton), $38,435
Old Trail Museum Exhibit Upgrade Completion and Infrastructure Stabilization (Choteau), $24,699
Seeley/Swan Historical Museum and Visitor’s Center (Seeley Lake), $55,000
ZooMontana--Initial Phase: Plains Habitat (Billings), $37,000

Fiscal Year 1997
Fort Peck Theater (Fort Peck), $95,500
Montana Wildlife Rehabilitation Center & Nature Park (Helena), $66,968
Hangman’s Building Restoration (Virginia City), $60,000
Yellowstone Art Center’s Expansion (Billings), $50,000
Chief Plenty Coups’ House Restoration (Pryor), $47,532
Charlie Russell Chew-Choo Tour Train (Lewistown), $30,000

Fiscal Year 1996
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center (Great Falls), $200,000
St. Mary’s Mission Museum and Research Library (Stevensville) $50,000
Malta’s Museum of the Future (Malta), $50,000
Pictograph State Park’s Pictograph Recovery & Stabilization (Billings), $20,000

What is the timeline for the selection process?

Applications are due to Travel Montana August 1, 2006. The TIIP committee reviews and scores the applications and makes a recommendation to the Tourism Advisory Council (TAC) at their October meeting. The TAC then makes a recommendation to the Montana Commerce Director who makes the final decision. These are usually announced in mid to late October. All applicants are then notified of the status of their application.

How long does the recipient have to invest his grant funds?

Grant funds must be spent within 18 months of signing the contract. Contracts are usually signed in December.