This hour-long webinar will explain the concepts of geotourism and how it relates to The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. As tourism continues to diminish with the outbreak of Covid-19, it is as important as ever for communities to remain united and create a plan of action for when visitors return. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail has built a new travel website --https://lewisandclark.travel/--specifically designed to bring together businesses, attractions, landmarks, and other points of interest on and around the trail to help promote sustainable tourism.
MontanaPBS is here for you.
We want to make sure you have access to the information you need, when you need it. From learning at home to laughing along to your favorite programs, we've got you covered.
Schools are closed around the state, but Montana’s Largest Classroom is in session! Starting Monday, March 30, we’re picking up where school left off by scheduling K-8 programming, Monday through Friday, during regular school hours. We will have a Social Studies block from 8:30 to 10:30am, a STEM block from noon to 2pm, and special Montana History block from 2 to 3pm. Click here to view the full PDF.
Also, if you were not already aware, MontanaPBS has made hundreds of grade appropriate activities, lessons, videos, and worksheets available to kids throughout the state of Montana on our new distance learning webpage.
If you need a laugh or just some pure entertainment, you might consider tuning into one of our British comedy series or musical performances. If you are looking to immerse yourself in a dramatic narrative, perhaps you’ll enjoy Masterpiece or Call the Midwife.
If we can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at membership@montanapbs.org, or call 406-994-3437.
We are all in this together. Stay strong, Montana. Stay connected.
Please do not hesitate to call. There is a friendly voice on the other end of the phone waiting. This is serious and many of us are struggling.
Know yourself well-enough to know when to call.
Montana Warmline: 877-688-3377
Mon - Fri 8am - 9pm
Sat & Sun 12pm - 9pm
If one needs to stay home and be isolated for a period of time (14 day), that can play a toll on our Mental Health, so let's help with some resources and self care that might help:
Phone: can you facetime? Even communicating through Yahoo Messenger will help us feel connected
Hobbies: are there some hobbies you enjoy doing, this will be the time to add more or to finish that project
Water: stay well hydrated
Tele-health/Doctor/Peer Support: Therapists/counselors/peers that can do facetime/video chat - can help us with those anxiety moments
Self-Care: listening to music, playing video games, playing a game of chess with the dog and winning!, even playing cards with someone over a video platform - what is in the Self Care Recovery tool kit?
The CARES Act, the largest economic relief package in our nation’s history, was signed into law on March 27 and includes major provisions U.S. Travel fought for to deliver economic support to travel businesses, travel workers and their families. Learn what the different parts of CARES Act mean for you and your travel business with the guides below:
Click hereto find lenders available by state and region from the Small Business Administration.
CARES Act Highlights for the Tourism Industry: The CARES Act contains important measures for tourism communities, including:
Recovery Promotion. $1.5 billion for the Economic Development Administration to support distressed cities. This funding has been earmarked for “open for business” campaigns at the appropriate time, and would follow the model the agency used to fund promotional efforts following the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf Coast.
Emergency Aid for State and Local Governments. To offset the rising costs and lowered tax revenue from falling business activity, $150 billion has been allocated for state and local governments, including $8 billion for tribal governments. Each state will receive a minimum of $1.5 billion.
Community Development Block Grants. $5 billion for states and local communities to mitigate economic disruptions in impacted industries, including direct grants to tourism businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
$25 Billion for Infrastructure Grants to States.
Key Tourism Segments
Museums and Cultural Institutions. The CARES Act provides $75 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and $75 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities to distribute to local institutions address the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Matching grant requirements are waived for this funding, as well as the requirement for grants to be project specific.
Distillers. A temporary exemption from an excise tax for alcohol used to make hand sanitizer that is produced and distributed within Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
Fishery Assistance. $300 million provided for shrimp and oyster producers who can no longer sell their products to restaurants, for charter fishery operators and other fishery-related entities that have economic revenue losses due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Airports. $10 billion to support airport operations through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
Connected Communities. $50 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services to expand digital network access in areas of the country where such access is lacking, including the purchase of internet-enable devices such as “hotspots” to allow individuals in rural areas to remain connected.
Webinar: Monday March 30, U.S. Travel's government relations team hosted a webinar detailing what the CARES Act means for the travel industry. You can watch thefull recording or review the slide deck.
Important Updates for Montana Manufacturers
Key aspect to this update:
If you sell medical supplies or equipment or can donate, please click on the link.
Montana World Trade Center and Montana District Export Council invite all Montana firms engaged in international business to a virtual happy hour on Tuesday, April 7th at 4 PM Mountain Time.
Shop at our local stores if you are in a position to do so.
Most everyone is still open for business in some capacity.
(You can order over the phone or online in many cases.)
Call your favorite store to double check.
