Western Montana's Glacier Country (WMGC) has long supported community-based visitor information centers (VICs) with training and financial assistance. Studies show that community-based VICs are more likely to be used by first-time visitors to that area. Visitors who use VICs spend more time in the community and are more likely to stay longer, experience more of what that community has to offer and have an overall better experience. Visitors engage with travel counselors, use informational materials and are more likely to change trip plans based on the information obtained. VICs do a great job in terms of influencing visitors—helping them learn about what there is to see and do in our region’s communities.
PROGRAM PURPOSE AND GOALS
Western Montana's Glacier Country Visitor Information Center (VIC) staffing assistance program's intention is to aid not-for-profit chambers of commerce, economic development corporations/authorities, tourism improvement districts, tribal governments and visitor information centers in need of financial support to supplement qualified visitor information center programs with paid and/or volunteer staff positions to operate their visitor information centers. We have committed a total of $100,000 for staffing assistance to this program. Staffing assistance up to $10,000 is available depending on the number of hours open per week. The minimum number of hours to be open per week is 30, and for VICs open between 30 and 39 hours, the grant amount is $6,000. For 40 to 49 hours per week, the grant amount is $8,000. For 50 or more hours per week, $10,000. The center must be open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY RULES AND GUIDELINES
Only established chambers of commerce, economic development corporations/authorities, tourism improvement districts and visitor information centers within the Glacier Country region are eligible for this program. Geographically, Glacier Country includes Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli and Sanders counties.
Applications open each spring. For questions, please contact our office at 406.532.3234.