Thirteen communities across Montana are receiving support through Reimagining Rural Grants, with a total of $22,750 being distributed for community projects. Reimagining Rural is a program spearheaded by MSU Extension in conjunction with the Montana Community Foundation and supported by Wells Fargo. The program provides small towns with opportunities and resources to shape their future. 

Jennifer Anderson, with MSU Extension’s Community Vitality Program, describes Reimagining Rural as an initiative aimed at strengthening local relationships and inspiring resiliency to help participating communities thrive. “This program has been incredible at sparking collaboration between local organizations, residents and the rise of leadership within these communities, as they actively shape their collective future. It's impactful and inspiring work.” 

The projects funded through this year’s Reimagine What is Possible Grants are a result of ideas learned during the Reimagining Rural Virtual Gathering held this past February. Over the course of three virtual sessions, each community heard from rural leaders, experts, and advocates about ideas to revitalize their small towns and how to put them into practice. 

Grants are provided through the Montana Community Foundation with financial support from Wells Fargo. Since Reimaging Rural’s inception in 2020, $140,510 has been reinvested in small towns across the state through grants from the Montana Community Foundation, and 58 communities have been through the program. This year’s grantees include: 

• Cut Bank - $1,750 to organize at least ten volunteers to paint at least two buildings downtown, along with a community BBQ afterwards. These efforts will beautify downtown Cut Bank while increasing community connections.  
• Dillon - $1,750 to create an interactive mural along with an organized art walk downtown to showcase other murals. The "mural trail" will create a public space for folks to gather and lead to other arts-focused events that will increase foot traffic to downtown businesses.  
• Ekalaka - $1,750 to create a 9-hole disc golf course at Camp Needmore, which will include a fun fact about Carter County at each hole. Camp Needmore is located 20 minutes outside Ekalaka; it is a popular spot for recreation, and this will likely inspire other courses in Ekalaka at the park and school.  
• Forsyth - $1,750 to tackle three beautification projects downtown (1: refurbish a community bulletin board, 2: replace broken windows and doors on empty buildings with murals, and 3: improve Search and Rescue building). These efforts will prompt further beautification efforts and property upgrades in Forsyth.  
• Fort Benton - $1,750 for a three-part project: $1,000 to create a space for youth / young adults to gather and socialize, $500 to rehabilitate the school greenhouse, and $500 to support the art club/arts council.  
• Glasgow - $1,750 to host the Valley County Nonprofit Summit, which will bring nonprofits across the community together to foster collaboration and share resources. A piece of the event will be a volunteer recruitment initiative to connect organizations with volunteers, along with a "Family Feud" game for attendees to learn about work in the Glasgow area.  
• Glendive - $1,750 to establish "The VigiPlantes," whose first project will be transforming an abandoned sign right off the interstate into a "Welcome to Glendive" sign to encourage visitors to "discover more over the hill."  
• Harlem - $1,750 to create Harlem's "Sizzlin' Start to Summer Bash," which is a free, family-friendly event to celebrate community, connection, and small-town pride. These efforts will allow the community to come together to celebrate who they are; the effort will also work in tandem with Harlem's Community Heart & Soul efforts by providing a space for people to share ideas, offer feedback, and learn about upcoming projects.  
• Havre - $1,750 for community engagement events related to Havre Heart & Soul; this will include four events in different spots in Havre to find out what the whole community sees as Havre's successes and opportunities.  
• Jordan - $1,750 to create a giant sandbox, picnic tables, and a life-size chess/checkerboard at the park on Main Street. These efforts will provide another community amenity for residents, along with a reason for visitors to stop and stretch their legs.  
• Rudyard - $1,750 to create an outdoor space to connect the new Rudyard Community Center to Main Street.  
• Thompson Falls - $1,750 to start a summer concert series with local musicians; these summer concerts will be done in conjunction with the farmers markets and other summer events. These efforts will increase foot traffic at summer events and create a welcoming atmosphere for community members to gather and connect.   
• Wolf Point - $1,750 for "Take Action Tuesdays," which will tackle community beautification efforts (painting, flowers, etc.) over bi-weekly Tuesdays between April and July. The goal is to tackle low-hanging fruit community projects while recruiting other volunteers.  

“Reimagining Rural continues to inspire and empower communities across Montana,” said MCF Program Officer Taylor Crowl. “At the Montana Community Foundation, we believe every community should have the resources they need to thrive. We’re proud to partner in this work, helping small towns turn great ideas into action and building momentum for a stronger, more vibrant future.” 

For questions about the Reimagining Rural program, please contact Community & Economic Vitality Program Officer, Taylor Crowl at (406) 603-4913 or taylor@mtcf.org. For more information about grant opportunities at the Montana Community Foundation, please visit https://mtcf.org/grants/apply-for-a-grant.  

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About the Montana Community Foundation: The Montana Community Foundation’s mission is to cultivate a culture of giving so Montana communities can flourish. Founded in 1988, MCF manages more than $188.5 million in assets and administers more than 1,470 philanthropic funds and planned gifts. Since its founding, MCF has reinvested more than $100 million in Montana through scholarships, grants, and programs. Learn more at www.mtcf.org.