Explore Your Montana in Bigfork.
Don't forget to email your stunning photos of life in Bigfork (shopping, dining, lodging and recreation) to help us with our advertising campaign. If you missed the information last week, here it is again:
We are excited to announce that the chamber has secured $10k in grant money for an in-state advertising campaign. We, as a board, feel this is not the year to encourage tourism from out of state, but to invite our neighbors from Bozeman, Billings, Helena and Missoula (too name a few) to Explore their Montana in Bigfork. The campaign will run from June to September focusing on the idea of weekend get-aways and day trips. If you remember the Save the Season campaign from Fall 2018, it will be similar. There will be multiple ads running concurrently across multiple media platforms.
We are asking our members to share photos that represent summer and fall in Bigfork. I am sure you have some stunning images to share to help promote Bigfork, and your business, at the same time. We are looking for everything: food, drink, shopping, lodging and recreation (in summer and fall only). Please email photos to chamber@bigfork.org. Please include photo credit information if you would like that to be included.
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Join us tonight for the June Sundowner at
Lake Baked - 191 Mill Street
(formerly Brookside Yard)
It has been awhile since we have been able to see you and we are excited to invite you to visit the newly opened Lake Baked and River View Bar. This event will be outside, with social distancing in place. We ask that you respect current state guidelines if you attend. Please understand if crowds within the Lake Baked yard exceed requirements, you may be asked to converse in the parking area. There will be masks, gloves and hand sanitizer available.
We are excited to welcome Lake Baked to the community and excited to help with the launch of their "Roll it Forward" program. Bring some monies for that and the raffle that will have prizes from Lake Baked, Riverside Bar, Peters & Crown and more.
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Mark your calendars for the Bigfork Water & Sewer Open House
Next Thursday
June 18th from 4:30-6pm
108 Harbor Heights Boulevard
This is a chance to meet the staff, tour the facility,
check out their state of the art plans and see all the new project for 2020-2021.
There will be NA beverages and raffle prizes.
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A Message from Laughing Horse Lodge, chef and owner, Kathleen Moon:
For Local Business Friends...
It's time to get out of your house (and into mine)! Imagine an evening away from the home and business projects and responsibilities (and maybe the kids?). Just the two of you, reconnecting and relaxing over a good meal, a nice bottle of wine and retiring to a warm, quiet room...no driving, no phones, no tv...just the two of you.
This special is just for the Horse's FB friends and local business owners that need a break... enjoy a 4 course dinner with a bottle of chef-selected wine, a night in one of our cozy queen rooms, and hot breakfast (early if you need to get to work). $169/couple.
Call Kathleen 406-886-2080 to make your 'out of the house for a night' reservation.
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ImagineIF Library in Bigfork is expanding their hours. The Bigfork location will be open
Tuesday 3-6pm and Wednesday-Saturday 10-1pm starting June 15th.
Enhanced safety measures are in place to protect the welfare of staff and customers; including social distancing signage and floor markings, quarantining books and other materials, and frequently sanitizing high touch surfaces. Patrons are encouraged to wear a mask, to swiftly find their materials and proceed to check out. The first open hour is designated for vulnerable populations to access the library.
Book returns will be open 24 hours, 30-minute computer sessions are available at each location, and curbside pickup will continue. ImagineIF Libraries will host virtual Summer Experience programs and workshops this year. Participants can explore, learn, and create in their own homes. Youth and adults alike can complete activities, earn badges, and win prizes using Beanstack reading challenge software, or by picking up a paper gameboard at any ImagineIF location. The library's virtual branch will remain open featuring unique virtual programs on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Find out more at:
https://imagineiflibraries.org/
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State & Regional Happenings
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Glacier's West Gates are Open
Responding to mounting pressure from gateway community businesses and local business leaders, Glacier National Park has announced that the park's West Glacier gates are open, for limited day-use only.
Citing guidance from the CDC, the White House and state/local health authorities, GNP Superintendent Jeff Mow said the park's "phased" opening is designed to allow time to improve and refine the COVID-19 mitigation measures being put into place to deal with higher levels of visitation.
Limited park access and services began June 8. The park will open the west gate entrance at West Glacier for day use only. The gate will be open until 4:30 p.m. each day, until operations are extended. Visitors will be able to access Agpar and Going-to-the-Sun Road as far as Lake McDonald Lodge.
The Sun Road will open to hiker/biker traffic as conditions allow. Check the
Park Website
for regular updates. Visitors will be able to use restrooms and trails that are accessible from open park roads, and private businesses in Apgar are free to open for the season. Park officials are also hoping to have personal boating on Lake McDonald (and AIS inspection stations) open as well.
Lodging, campgrounds, Ranger Stations remain closed
Park Visitor Centers, book stores, Ranger Stations and hotels will remain closed until later in the season, as will all campgrounds, backcountry permits, Red Bus tours, full service restaurants and take-out dining options. All eastern entrances to Glacier National park will remain closed as discussions with the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council continue over how -- and when -- to reopen the east side.
CLICK HERE
to view the full Glacier National Park press release on it's reopening plans
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Business Adaptation Grants
Now Accepting Applications
The Montana Business Adaptation Program will provide reimbursement for COVID-19 expenses related to keeping staff and customers safe – from the purchase of personal protective equipment to resources needed for staff to work remotely. Eligible small business must be Montana-based, employ 50 or less, have incurred eligible adaptation expenses since Feb. 15 due to COVID-19, and be in good standing with the Secretary of State or local tribal government. Nonprofit entities are eligible. Eligible expenses include costs related to communication, remote work equipment, cleaning supplies, tools to enhance social distancing and sanitation, travel and hotel costs related to quarantining workers. Total funding available is $20 million, the maximum reimbursement amount per business is $5,000.
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Complete the 2020 Census Now!
Filling out the Census is quick, easy, and safe. It will take less than 10 minutes to complete and your information and privacy are protected by federal law. Montanans can fill out their Census forms online at
my2020census.gov
or by phone at 1.844.330.2020. The Census is also available via TDD (Telephone Display Device) at 844.467.2020. Learn more at
CENSUS.MT.GOV
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The quickest way to engage people on social media? That would be through video, according to
this report
from Social Media Today. Since January, the number of people watching Facebook Live content has risen 50 percent, and consumers view more than one billion hours of video everyday on YouTube. Learn more about how consumers are using video, and how you can use it to your advantage in marketing and social media.
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f we missed an item you had submitted for the weekly email, please accept our apologies! If you would like something included in the next email, please include "Happenings" in the subject line.
Thank you for your understanding!
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