Downtown Business Support & Resiliency Grant Program

Coming Early Fall 2026!

Grant Program Purpose and Rationale

The Missoula Downtown Foundation (MDF) has developed a Downtown Business Support & Resiliency Grant Program to proactively assist Downtown Missoula businesses during major disruptions, such as infrastructure transitions like the Downtown Safety, Access & Mobility (SAM) Project. This initiative is not intended as emergency relief.  Rather, this program is an economic vitality and business support investment strategy designed to:

• Strengthen long-term business & economic resilience
• Preserve downtown vibrancy
• Support customer traffic for businesses during disruption
• Sustain tenant retention

This program aligns with MDF’s mission to enhance the cultural, historical, and economic vitality of Downtown Missoula for future generations.

Grant Details and Criteria

The grant program is designed to provide flexible but strategic tools that directly address disruption-related challenges. Effective mitigation to construction disruption is often a bundle of tactics: protect and clearly communicate access and parking, coordinate with the project owner and neighboring businesses, aggressively market “we’re open” with targeted promotions, and proactively adjust operations and finances to ride out the worst months.

Two targeted grant categories allow businesses to apply for support based on their most immediate operational needs. Applicants may apply for one grant per grant cycle in either category.

Activation & Visibility Grants

Purpose:

Support Downtown businesses in maintaining visibility, attracting customers, and sustaining revenue during periods of construction or infrastructure disruption. These grants help businesses implement creative, customer-facing strategies that clearly communicate that they are open and welcoming, while also encouraging continued visitation to Downtown.  Award Range: $1,500–$3,000

Eligible Uses:

• Business Signage & Wayfinding: Temporary or permanent signage that helps customers easily find and access businesses during construction or street closures.
• Storefront Enhancements: Improvements that make a storefront more visible, welcoming, and engaging to pedestrians during construction periods when normal foot traffic patterns may be disrupted. Enhancements should help capture attention and encourage people to stop, enter, and shop.
• Construction-Zone Promotions: Collaborative marketing or promotional efforts between neighboring businesses to draw customers to areas affected by construction. Joint promotions can help reinforce that the area remains active and open for business.
• Extended Hours Programming: Special events, promotions, or temporary extended business hours designed to attract customers at alternative times when construction impacts daytime traffic.
• Marketing & Promotions: Targeted marketing efforts that communicate clearly that the business remains open and accessible during construction and actively encourage customers to visit. Print, radio, tv, social media advertising specific.

Access Adaptation Grants

Purpose:

Help Downtown businesses adapt their operations when construction or infrastructure projects temporarily disrupt customer access, parking, or normal circulation patterns. These grants support practical adjustments that allow businesses to continue serving customers, maintain revenue, and provide alternative ways for customers to shop, dine, or engage while access conditions are changing. Award Range: $2,000–$4,000

Eligible Uses:

• Delivery Infrastructure: Equipment, tools, or systems that allow businesses to expand delivery, pickup, or off-site sales options when customers may have difficulty accessing the business directly.
• Temporary outdoor service modifications: Adjustments that improve the functionality, visibility, or customer experience of the space immediately outside the business when sidewalks, entrances, or access routes are impacted.
• Technology Improvements: Investments in digital tools that help businesses maintain sales, communicate with customers, and expand online access when in-person visitation may be reduced.
• Customer communication systems: Tools and materials that help businesses clearly communicate operational changes, promotions, and access information to customers during construction.

Eligibility

Nonprofits and for-profit businesses may apply if they meet the criteria.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY

1. Downtown businesses permanently located within the Downtown Master Plan area
2. Fewer than 50 full-time employees
3. Demonstrated operational history (12+ months)
4. Be a legally registered business operating within the Downtown Missoula district
5. Maintain an active storefront or customer-facing presence
6. Be in good standing with local, state, and federal regulations
7. Demonstrate impact from construction or related disruptions
8. Submit a complete application by the stated deadline

Preference Criteria (2027):

• Permanently located within Downtown SAM construction zones

WHAT CAN GRANT FUNDING BE USED FOR

Grant funds must be used solely for approved project activities, which may include:

• Marketing and promotional efforts
• Storefront enhancements that enhance customer access
• Temporary signage, wayfinding, or visibility enhancements
• Operational adaptations related to construction impacts
• Construction-Zone promotions
• Extended hours programming
• Delivery infrastructure to expand delivery, pickup, or off-site sales options
• Temporary outdoor service modifications
• Digital tools that help businesses maintain sales, communicate to customers and expand online access
• Customer communication systems that help businesses communicate to customers

WHAT IS NOT ELIGIBLE

• Direct payroll subsidies
  
• Rent or mortgage payments
• Debt servicing
• Owner draws
• Retroactive reimbursement for losses
• Taxes of any nature
• Political or lobbying activities
• Expenses incurred prior to grant approval (unless otherwise authorized)

Evaluation Criteria

Grant recipients will be required to submit a post-project impact report to MDF, documenting how funds were used and the outcomes achieved. MDF will compile annual and aggregate impact summaries to evaluate program success. Individual business financial information will remain confidential and will only be reported in aggregate form.

Impact Report forms will be distributed digitally to awardees and due by November 1 of each grant year.

Business Engagement Metrics

Grant recipients will report on the reach and engagement of activities funded through the grant, including:

• Estimated number of customers reached through marketing, communication, or promotional activities funded by the grant
• Digital engagement metrics when applicable (website visits, social media reach, email open rates, or online sales traffic)
• Participation in collaborative campaigns, events, or promotions designed to drive customer traffic during access disruptions

Participating Business Sales Trends (Confidential Reporting)

To understand the economic impact of the program, participating businesses will provide:

• A high-level comparison of sales performance during the construction or disruption period compared to the previous year or typical seasonal performance
• A brief description of whether the grant-funded strategy helped stabilize or increase customer activity
• Optional narrative feedback and testimonials on customer behavior, traffic patterns, or operational adjustments

Sales information will not be publicly disclosed and will only be used to report aggregate economic trends across participating businesses.

Tenant Retention and Business Stability

To measure long-term business resilience in impacted areas, participating businesses will report:

• Whether the business remained open and operating during the disruption period
• Whether the business intends to continue operating at its current location
• Any staffing or operational adjustments made to maintain operations

Program Feedback and Continuous Improvement

Grant recipients will also provide qualitative feedback to help improve future programs, including:

• Which strategies were most effective in maintaining customer access or sales
• Lessons learned during the disruption period
• Recommendations for future business support efforts