Envision Lincoln preparing to submit grant application for Downtown Master Planning funds

Envision Lincoln is preparing to submit the first of two applications for grants that will hopefully fund a Downtown Master Plan for Lincoln.

The community development organization had been working in collaboration with Lewis and Clark County, the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce, Heart of the Rockies, and the Montana Business Assistance Connection on a $20,000 grant application through the Montana Main Street program since August. The grant cycle opens Dec. 8

“We had kind of a final review of the application Wednesday. It’s looking really good,” said Karyn Good, the lead coordinator for Envision Lincoln. The application has to be approved by Lewis and Clark County, which is considered the local government for Lincoln as an unincorporated community. “The county is going to look it over to see if there’s anything we’re missing.”

The original plan to apply for $20,00 to fund the Master Plan was modified in October, when it became apparent to Good that, even if successful, that grant alone won’t cover the going rate for development of even a basic master plan.

During a conversation with the Montana Business Assistance Connection in October, the possibility came up that Envision Lincoln could double their funding by leveraging Montana Main Street grant finding as the 1:1 match for a grant application through the Big Sky Trust Fund.

Since then, MBAC chipped in $1000 in matching funds on top of the $4000 Envision Lincoln already had on hand from a significant local donation and from Heart of the Rockies. The Montana Main Street grant requires a 1:5 match, so the additional money will allow Envision Lincoln to apply for a $25,000 grant instead.

Once the application is approved by the county, it will be submitted to the Montana Main Street Program first thing Dec. 8. Since the MMS grants are highly competitive, Good said it’s important to submit the application immediately.

If Envision Lincoln receives the full $25,000 grant from MMS and is then successful in their application to the Big Sky Trust Fund, the community could potentially see up to $50,000 to fund the master planning.

“It doesn’t mean we’ll end up spending that much, but it would definitely get the attention of some contractors,” Good said, adding that should definitely get Lincoln a pretty good downtown master plan.”

Good credited Heart of the Rockies Rural Development Director Erin Farris-Olsen with doing the bulk of the work on the MMS application, while she handled editing and specific local information.

Envision Lincoln is also weighing an application for a grant through the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Recreational Trails Program to implement part of the in-town trails program. That is still under consideration however, since it will require additional discussion, coordination and partnership.