Ekalaka one of 5 new Montana Main Street communities

Last week, the Montana Department of Commerce announced that five Montana communities were recently accepted to become affiliate members of the Montana Main Street Program. According to the department, the program helps Montana communities strengthen and preserve historic downtown commercial districts by supporting economic development, urban revitalization and historic preservation through long-range planning, organization, design and promotion.

“The Department of Commerce is dedicated to supporting communities in their efforts to improve the economic, historic and cultural vitality of Montana’s downtowns," Commerce Director Tara Rice said. “The Montana Main Street Program supports these communities through coordination and technical assistance with a focus on maintaining and restoring vibrant community districts and preserving historic structures that contribute to Montana's unique sense of place.”

The new Montana Main Street communities are Baker, Ekalaka, Havre, Lincoln and Polson. Each community will now have access to resources to help build their own local Main Street programs and work on downtown improvement efforts to advance local community development objectives. Montana now has 34 Main Street Program communities.

The Montana Main Street Program is part of a network of communities across the country that are committed to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

The Carter County Chamber of Commerce is the lead, local organization for the program and will be working in conjunction with the town and department of commerce. A local meeting will be held in the following months.

For more information about the Montana Main Street program visit COMDEV.MT.GOV or attend the next chamber meeting this Thursday.