Fort Belknap Community Economic Development Corporation receives $30,000 grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Harlan Mount

February 9, 2017 406-353-4260

The Fort Belknap Community Economic Development Corporation (FBCEDC) recently received a $30,000 grant from the First Nations Development Institute of Longmont, Colorado through the Mapping Ecological Stewardship Opportunities (MESO). This award was made possible through the generous support of the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation. This grant will support the efforts of the Recreational Trails Project and RV Park in the beautiful Little Rocky Mountains and the RV Park near the junction of US Highway 2 and Montana Highway 66.

The FBCEDC Tourism Department will coordinate phase 1 with the BIA Archeologist and the Tribal THPO officers to survey and flag a 7-and-a-half-mile route for the Mission Ridge Trail. The trail crew and Montana Conservation Corps will then start construction on the new trail. Maintenance can start on existing trails in the system upon completion of this new trail. Phase 2 will be upgrading the RV Campground and renovating the rental cabins. Phase 3 will be wrap up of these objectives by the end of the 2017 Summer season.

Harlan Mount, FBCEDC Executive Director states the First Nation Development Institute offers grant opportunities to strengthen Native American economies and support stewardship opportunities in Indian Country. “I believe the impact of the grant on the Fort Belknap Recreational Trail System will create community pride in our sacred Fur Caps (Little Rocky Mountains) through stewardship of the land. The communities will identify ways to create private entrepreneurs in developing amenities for our visitors. I would like to thank First Nations Development Institute for this opportunity “.

FBCEDC is a nonprofit corporation striving to promote a thriving economy on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. FBCEDC is governed by a board of directors, consisting of four enrolled members of the Fort Belknap Indian Community.