April 25, 2024 – PRESS RELEASE

Three Recognized for Leading Nearly $50 Million in Midtown Development Projects

(Missoula, MT) – The Missoula Midtown Association recognized its annual award winners yesterday at the Association’s 2024 Annual Membership meeting held at the Missoula County Fairgrounds.  

• Heather Foster, CEO of the Missoula YMCA, was awarded the prestigious Midtowner of the Year Award for leading the Missoula YMCA’s $20 million Russell Street campus revitalization project and for her incredible commitment to providing free and inclusive programming to Midtown families and seniors. The Y’s new Phyllis Washington Early Child Care Center opens this Summer with additional phases of construction to be completed through next year. Midtown widely considers the Y its community center and Heather was recognized for her hard work ensuring the Y will serve Missoula well for decades to come.

The award, co-presented by Jackson Contractor Group, recognizes a Missoulian who exemplifies the mission of the Association through their commitment to maintaining a healthy business community and enhancing the quality of life and quality of place for visitors and residents alike.

• The Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium was awarded the Midtown Nonprofit of the Year Award for completion of their new facility at Missoula Fairgrounds, which is already drawing thousands of visitors to Midtown. Co-presented with Clearwater Credit Union, Butterfly House founders Jennifer & Glenn Marangelo were honored for achieving their decades-long dream to build a tropical butterfly house and insectarium in Missoula to teach entomology and foster an appreciation and respect for the smallest species we share the environment with. 

Nominees for the award also included Families First, Glacier Ice Rink, Missoula Economic Partnership and Mountain Home Montana.

• First Security Bank was awarded the Business of the Year Award for investing over $24 million in redeveloping an underutilized property near Southgate Mall into their new world headquarters to better serve our growing city. The project will be a catalyst for new commercial projects in the Southgate Triangle and solidify First Security as a major Midtown employment anchor. The new building and plaza will be completed this Fall. 

Co-presented with Worden Thane, First Security was also recognized for recently leveraging funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines to quadruple its annual contributions to 45 local nonprofits. The Missoula Midtown Association received an incredibly generous capacity building grant from First Security Bank as a result that will allow Midtown to jump start a few Master Plan implementation projects and accelerate our work.

Nominees for the award also included Scheel’s and Diane Hellman Insurance Agency.

“Midtown is in an exciting phase of growth and revitalization,” said Missoula Midtown Association Executive Director Melanie Brock. “The leaders we recognized today showed us all that big dreams can be accomplished here and it’s really just the beginning of major investment into the district.”

Over 170 business leaders and Midtown residents attended the meeting and a new board member was elected to the Midtown Association Board of Directors:  Jan Schweitzer, Pinion Global. 

Congratulations to Ellen Buchanan, winner of the second annual “Townie of the Year” Award!
The award, co-presented by Farmers State Bank and Jackson Contractor Group, recognizes a Missoulian who exemplifies the mission of the Association through their commitment to maintaining a healthy business community and enhancing the quality of life and quality of place for visitors and residents alike.
Ellen Buchanan is the Director of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency, where for two decades she has been the behind-the-scenes leader guiding the creation of Mary Avenue’s extension across the Southgate Mall parking lot, the transformation of a railroad property into the well-loved MRL park, the redevelopment of a shuttered KMART into the South Crossing with restaurants and retail spaces, and she helped with the creation of the Missoula Midtown Association as one of our founding volunteers who saw the potential in organizing businesses and residents to have a voice in Missoula’s future.
“Ellen has spent countless hours guiding our organization in the Midtown Master Plan process,” Lauren Hutchison, Midtown Board President said. “We are incredibly grateful for her years of advocacy, her vision and her ability to help make big goals a reality to ensure residents and businesses in the center of this valley have a vibrant and accessible place to live and work.”
Nominees for the 2023 Townie of the Year included Ellen Buchanan of the MRA, Scott Burke of First Security Bank, and Glenn Marangelo of the Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium.

Online Visioning Survey to Follow in October

ECONorthwest, SERA Design and our team of economists, transportation planners and urban designers met with over 200 Missoulians this week to gather ideas and feedback for the Midtown Master Plan. Housing, bicycle and pedestrian safety, parking and road connectivity were among the discussion topics during the community visioning workshop and small group meetings.
An online survey will be published on MidtownMasterplan.com in October for more Missoulians to participate in the proces (a follow up email will be sent when the survey is live.)

What do you love most about Midtown? What do you think is missing? Now is the time to give your feedback to our design team so they can take the suggestions and work on drafting the preliminary plan for community input.

The first plan drafts will be presented to the public in early 2023. Email us with any questions at midtown@missoulamidtown.com. Updates on the process will be posted on the Midtown website.

Click to see full newsletter

Missoula Midtown Association 2022 Townie of the Year Award The MMA is recognizing an exceptional Missoulian making a difference in Midtown with the first annual Townie of the Year Award was presented at our Annual Membership Meeting on May 24,2022. 

We had major developments recently in our work to launch a master planning effort for Midtown. With a significant investment in Urban Renewal District III funding from the Missoula Redevelopment Agency, we are now $17,000 away from a fully funded Master Plan project. 

Please see our press release below for details on the historic investments being made in Midtown. We ask for you to please consider joining the 38 businesses and public sector partners supporting this effort by making a tax-deductible donation to the Missoula Midtown Foundation to help us close the funding gap and launch the Master Plan in January.

Contributions can be made online HERE or by sending an email to midtown@missoulamidtown.com.

Thank you for your support and participation!

November 18, 2021

PRESS STATEMENT

Record Breaking Investment in Midtown Missoula

Missoula Midtown Master Plan Taps Urban Renewal District III Support at Pivotal Moment

           (Missoula, MT) – The Missoula Midtown Association today solidified a partnership with the Missoula Redevelopment Agency to finalize funding to launch a Master Plan for Missoula’s urban core. The MRA Board approved up to $370,000 in Urban Renewal District III funding toward a $570,000 project budget. The Missoula Midtown Association will now proceed to hire a planning & design team to lead Missoula County in an 18-month planning process to guide growth in Midtown.

The plan dovetails extraordinarily well with other efforts underway for Midtown, particularly the Brooks Street Corridor bus rapid transit project, which Missoula was awarded an $850,000 RAISE grant from the federal government to complete plans for this week. The Association was pleased to support the City of Missoula’s application for a USDOT RAISE grant that will identify all that is required to make bi-directional, fixed-route, center-running bus-rapid transit successful on Brooks Street. These two planning efforts present a combined over $1.4 million investment in charting the future of Midtown.

The Midtown Master Plan differs from other efforts in that it will approach Midtown holistically, recognizing our area as a loved place people already enjoy, and folding previous work into a comprehensive vision that embraces current residents and workers.

“Without a community vision for Midtown, we risk being caught flatfooted when demand for development increases beyond our community capacity to manage it appropriately,” Lauren Hutchison, Missoula Midtown Association Board Chair wrote to MRA. “The equitable Master Plan we envision and have carefully planned over the last two years will be a thorough, thoughtful, and innovative approach to create a space for Midtowners and Missoulians to engage in a planning process unlike any before. We plan to put Midtown on the map as an extraordinary place and Missoula on the map as a leader in innovative planning and engagement.”

The deliverable will be an all-inclusive Master Plan in a multi-media format that details a comprehensive strategy to engage public and private businesses, citizens, and stakeholders, emphasizing disenfranchised populations. This will require innovative approaches to working directly with groups who are left out of traditional public processes, and will be a fresh approach to community planning in Missoula.

The Missoula Midtown Association has been working for many years to prepare for this moment and we are grateful to our many community partners and over 30 businesses who are supporting this effort. We will be issuing the RFP to begin building the planning & design team who will lead us in this process this January and look forward to working with the community to create a plan that will guide Missoula growth for decades to come.

It’s summertime in Missoula, and that means the Western Montana Fair is just around the corner! The festivities are back this year with a fresh new look following several renovations and improvements to the Missoula County Fairgrounds throughout the past couple of years, while many of your classic attractions including fair food favorites, carnival rides, live music, dirt bike racing, and rodeos will give everyone something to enjoy!

This year’s event has been dubbed, “The Hoedown in Midtown” and will feature live entertainment each evening, along with a FREE Barn Dance every night starting at 9 PM.

The Western Montana Fair operates from 11am-11pm daily, August 11-15, and as in years past, ADMISSION IS FREE TO ALL!

Public parking opens 7:30am. There is one lot for handicap parking (South Ave entrance) and one lot for public parking (Russell St).

The mission of the Missoula County Fairgrounds is to promote agriculture, education, culture, recreation, community connection and to reflect the beauty of Western Montana.

For full Fair Exhibit & Show Schedule, click here

The New Year is underway, and we know many of you are glad to see 2020 in the rearview mirror. While the start of 2021 holds much promise and hope, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the resilience and creativity that Missoula businesses had in response to the pandemic. 

Over the last ten months or so, we’ve found new ways to connect, we’ve spaced out our encounters respecting six feet of distance while smiling behind our masks, and we’ve kept the community united and strong. That’s something we should all be proud of.

For the Missoula Midtown Association, we moved our monthly Mixers to a virtual format and had great participation by members seeking interaction and connection. We have made significant headway on the Midtown Master Plan Whitepaper, thanks to many of you who have offered your feedback and ideas. Our committees have been working hard to connect with Midtown business and find ways to help spread the word about how we can support each other and keep our doors open for business.

As we look on the horizon for 2021, it will be a busy year for the Midtown Association. The foundation is set for the Master Plan, and the heavy lifting will be underway quickly. As of now, we anticipate leaving our monthly Mixers in a digital format until it is prudent to get everyone together again, and we will be facilitating our Annual Meeting in a virtual format as well.

We encourage you to stay involved and connected! If your business is willing to contribute to the Master Plan financially, please reach out to Emily Brock. If your business is interested in hosting a virtual Mixer event and sharing information with our membership, reach out to Sandy Bollom. If you have news and information you would like shared in our newsletter or on our social media pages, reach out to Tara Halls.

We are all in this together, and each does our part to strengthen Midtown Missoula for the long-haul. Thank you for supporting the association, and we look forward to all that is to come in the new year.

Happy New Year from your Missoula Midtown Association Board of Directors!

Midtown Missoula’s everyday retail, affordable homeownership, and ample parking are characteristics we all love that are associated with a different experience than anywhere else in town. Recent additions to our area like OnX Maps, Notorious P.I.G., Big Dipper, Dram Shop, and Scheels are so exciting! Without proper planning to support increasing demand, we could suffer a fragmented district that lacks a sense of place and adequate infrastructure.
For Midtown to be a healthy neighborhood, we need development to enhance our desirable qualities with transportation networks that allow physical connections, gathering spaces that nurture social connectedness, and greenspace that reduces heat islands, noise, and air pollution. In January of 2020, recognizing the pressing need for cohesion around a vision that embraces our existing character, encourages equitable development, and promotes healthy urbanism, the Midtown Association formed a committee to lay out a path to make a Midtown Masterplan a reality.
To assess the financial feasibility and institutional appetite for a Midtown Masterplan, the committee conducted community leaders’ interviews. The response was overwhelmingly supportive, in no small part due to the success of the Downtown Masterplan. Missoula recognizes this urgent need, and our leaders are willing to fund it.
Planning will require a multi-disciplinary team comprised of civil engineers, traffic engineers, parking specialists, land-use planners, architects, economists, public outreach specialists, historians, cultural experts, art experts, landscape architects, and local stakeholders. To manage this team, the Midtown Association is bringing on an Executive Director – stay tuned for this important announcement!
The estimated project schedule is 18 months, and the project budget is estimated to be $450,000 to $550,000. The project will incorporate a comprehensive strategy to engage public and private businesses, citizens, and stakeholders, emphasizing disenfranchised populations. The deliverable will be an all-inclusive Master Plan in a multi-media format that accomplishes the following project goals:

• Provide a voice for the people who live in, work in, and utilize Midtown. Create a space for residents, workers, and users to articulate the unique characteristics that should be preserved. 
• Promote equitable development. Ensure neighborhood balance with factors that promote healthy urbanism like affordable housing and retail, nearby groceries, manufacturing and other living-wage jobs, business incubation space, accessible parks, clean indoor and outdoor environments, quality education and growth opportunities, social gathering spaces, and mobility for all people and modes with reliable and safe transportation connections.
• Create predictability for private investment. Attract and retain development that meets the community vision for Midtown. Provide a clear path forward, so developers have fewer hurdles when approaching design, permitting, zoning, and regulatory agencies. 
• Promote a sense of belonging. Nurture the social fabric of Midtown. Promote positive and diverse human interaction. Hone and promote the Midtown brand and drive right-sized business in the area. 
• Leverage local dollars to attract Federal infrastructure funding. Position Midtown for large capital grants to build transformative infrastructure, such as transit, which serves new and existing populations. Improve the Brooks Street Corridor to meet the multimodal transportation pressures of growth in Midtown, Miller Creek, and the Bitterroot Valley while improving – and not sacrificing – livability. Improve east-west connectivity in Midtown. Build on existing planning initiatives for Midtown. Incorporate previous work. Several studies have been done of the area, each building on the previous effort. 

If you are interested in becoming involved in the planning process, reach out and let us know by emailing midtown@missoulamidtown.com. 

With many great locally owned businesses in Missoula and midtown, remember to show your support as you do your Christmas shopping this year to support the businesses that represent the backbone of our community.

The Missoula Midtown Association is teamed up with the Missoula Downtown Association, Missoula Chamber of Commerce, and Destination Missoula to promote our small businesses this holiday season.

As part of this campaign, these organizations want to provide information regarding the special offerings our small businesses have to provide safe shopping and dining experiences. From special holiday hours to scheduling private shopping or dining experiences, to curbside pick-up, it’s crucial that this information get out into the community.

Please fill out the form linked below to the best of your ability, and if you have any questions, please reach out to the Downtown Missoula Partnership at info@missouladowntown.com.

Scope of Work

The major project of the Executive Director will be the creation of a Midtown Master Plan. The Downtown Master Planning process has primed community leaders, residents, and businesses to engage in a similar process for Midtown successfully. However, the plans will be very different as Midtown and Downtown have different identities, both vital to Missoula.

Recognizing the pressing need for cohesion around a vision that embraces our existing character, encourages equitable development, and promotes healthy urbanism, the Midtown Association wrote the attached whitepaper as a roadmap to achieve this objective. Goals of the Master Plan include:

• Provide a voice for the people who live in, work in, and utilize Midtown. Create a space for residents, workers, and users to articulate the unique characteristics that should be preserved. Discover new ways to engage disenfranchised populations and implement their ideas.
• Promote equitable development. Ensure neighborhood balance with factors that promote healthy urbanism like affordable housing and retail, nearby groceries, manufacturing and other living-wage jobs, business incubation space, accessible parks, clean indoor and outdoor environments, quality education and growth opportunities, social gathering spaces, and mobility for all people and modes with reliable and safe transportation connections.
• Create predictability for private investment. Attract and retain development that meets the community vision for Midtown. Provide a clear path forward, so developers have fewer hurdles when approaching design, permitting, zoning, and regulatory agencies.
• Promote a sense of belonging. Nurture the social fabric of Midtown. Promote positive and diverse human interaction. Hone and promote the Midtown brand and drive right-sized business in the area. Maintain existing and attract new businesses that meet the needs of a safe and connected neighborhood.
• Leverage local dollars to attract Federal infrastructure funding. Position Midtown for large capital grants to build transformative infrastructure, such as transit, which serves new and existing populations. Improve the Brooks Street Corridor to meet the multimodal transportation pressures of growth in Midtown, Miller Creek, and the Bitterroot Valley while improving – and not sacrificing – livability. Improve east-west connectivity in Midtown.
• Build on existing planning initiatives for Midtown. Incorporate previous work. Several studies have been done of the area, each building on the previous effort. This will be the most ambitious scope of work to- date and should incorporate work from the last two decades years, including the Urban Renewal District III Plan (2000), the ULI Report (2003), and the Brooks Street Corridor Study (2016).

The deliverable will be an all-inclusive Master Plan in a multi-media format that accomplishes the project goals. It will incorporate a comprehensive strategy to engage public and private businesses, citizens, and stakeholders, emphasizing disenfranchised populations. This will require innovative approaches to working directly with groups who are left out of traditional public processes. Likewise, there are multi-

jurisdictional agencies located in Midtown, including the City of Missoula, Montana Department of Transportation, and Missoula County. The Master Plan needs to be developed in close coordination with these agencies, as its success requires their backing, and in some cases, their adoption.

Work will begin by gaining a full understanding of the existing land use and infrastructure conditions, including conducting a review of all previous planning efforts for the area, such as those by Midtown Mojo. The effort will analyze the transportation network’s ability, utilities, and communications infrastructure to handle future land use, and if needed, will provide recommendations for improvements that include cost estimates. The infrastructure needs assessment will dovetail with creating a land-use plan that articulates the community vision and can be incorporated into governing policies. If needed, it will include zoning language to aid governing agencies in adjusting the code to encourage the type of development desired. Finally, the Master Plan will include implementation strategies to assist the community in prioritizing action items.

Creating the plan will require a multi-disciplinary team comprised of civil engineers, traffic engineers, parking specialists, land-use planners, architects, economists, public outreach specialists, historians, cultural experts, art experts, landscape architects, and local stakeholders. The estimated project schedule is 18 months, and the project budget is estimated to be $450,000 to $550,000. This figure does not include the fees to pay the Executive Director.

The Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring the project goals are met. Work will include, but is not limited to:

• Ensuring the Association/Foundation has the professional creditability to conduct the Master Planning process – this may include website updates, content creation, and social media engagement
• Raising funding for the Master Planning process and for operational expenses, such as fee’s for the Executive Director
• Creating and managing subcommittees as needed – such as a Steering Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, and Implementation Committee
• Being the public face and speaking on behalf of the Association/Foundation
• Providing periodic progress updates to the Foundation/Association board
• Managing a fair and open procurement process for a consultant team, as required by public sector partners
• Managing the consultant team
• Working with Association and Board treasurers to ensure payments to the consultant team are accurate and made in a timely manner
• Proving for an inclusive public process and finding new ways to engage people who have been left out of community decision making
• Rolling out the plan for adoption to participating boards, agencies, and stakeholders
• Capitalizing on the planning process by working with Association board members to sign up participants as Midtown Association members
• Working with the board to dovetail Master Planning with board efforts such as Midtown Mixers and membership drives
• Wrapping up the project and leaving the Association/Foundation in a position to implement the plan, including legacy planning for an ongoing Executive Director and more staff.

Qualifications

The Missoula Midtown Association is seeking a highly-skilled licensed independent contractor or person with a Montana Limited Liability Corporation with the following qualifications:

• Missoula relationships. Previous experience working on major projects in Missoula. Both private and public sector relationships, especially in Midtown Missoula and with state and local governments.
• Project management. Has successfully managed multi-disciplinary teams of consultants and/or staff on major projects.
• Fundraising. Can demonstrate expertise in donor cultivation/prospect research, major gifts, event planning, solicitation, multi-year giving strategies, volunteer coordination.
• Public relations. Experience working with the Missoula press corps, on social media, and with the public-at-large. Experience working with local business.
• Advocacy experience. Has worked in a promotional role before. Is comfortable publicly representing a position and advocating for an area/policy/idea/etc.
• Land use planning knowledge. Has an understanding of land use and redevelopment. Has a solid grasp on equitable redevelopment and healthy urbanism theory.
• Is a Montana Limited Liability Corporation or is a licensed Independent Contractor in Montana.
• Has Workman Compensation Insurance, or is willing to obtain it

Submission

The proposal should be submitted electronically as a PDF to the Midtown Board of Directors at Midtown@MissoulaMidtown.com by 5:00pm on December 1, 2020. Submittals must include the following:

• A letter of interest
• A resume or vita
• A fee proposal for a two-year contract
• Three references with contact information
• Proof of Montana LLC or Independent Contractor license
• Proof of Workmen Compensation insurance or statement showing a willingness to obtain it
• A five-page maximum narrative that demonstrates an understanding of the scope of work, knowledge of Midtown and Missoula, approach to the project, relevant experience, and availability to work on a project of this magnitude.

Additional background information about the position and association can be viewed by clicking HERE.

In January 2020, due to unprecedented and exhilarating growth in Midtown Missoula, and in anticipation of more changes to come, the Missoula Midtown Association (MMA) adopted strategic goals calling for the creation and implementation of a Midtown Master Plan. Recognizing the pressing need for cohesion around a vision that embraces our existing character, encourages equitable development, and promotes healthy urbanism, the Midtown Association formed a whitepaper committee to lay out the path to make a Midtown Master Plan a reality. The committee, which is made up of both MMA board leaders and members, convened virtually and met with community leaders over the summer of 2020. The whitepaper is broken up into four sections: goals, project scope and cost, Midtown Association structure, and interview findings.

Even amidst the pandemic, Midtown is growing rapidly. Without a community plan for the area, we risk being caught flatfooted when market demand for development increases beyond our community capacity to manage it. A haphazard approach to revitalization will likely lead to frustration for developers and local officials as well as poor outcomes for current residents or gentrification that pushes them out of Midtown altogether. A well-developed plan created through an inclusive process will offer predictability and preserve the qualities we love about Midtown.

Take a look at the Midtown Master Plan Whitepaper by clicking HERE and stay tuned as we progress on this exciting path, focused on the vision and future of our beloved Midtown Missoula.

The Missoula Midtown Association is seeking to hire a professional Executive Director. Details can be viewed HERE.

In an effort to increase accessibility and access for voters this fall, Mountain Line has released a special Bus-to-Ballot map this week. The map details the public transportation routes Missoulians can take to access various ballot drop-off locations and the Elections Center. All Mountain Line services are ADA accessible and zero-fare. 

“Transportation shouldn’t be a barrier to participating in our democracy,” said Corey Aldridge, Mountain Line general manager. “Mountain Line is proud to offer accessible, zero-fare service to all Missoulians, helping to create a more equitable community to benefit us all.” 

Please note the Elections Center is open daily, now through Election Day, but all other ballot drop-off locations are open only on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Mountain Line is operating Tuesday, November 3. 

For voting information and location hours visit MissoulaVotes.com. Find Mountain Line route schedules here. 

As Missoula grows, access to affordable, reliable transportation is critical. That’s why Mountain Line updated its strategic plan after hearing from Missoulians their desire for increased service.
Mountain Line is asking for a mill levy investment of 20 mills, raising approximately $3 million annually, to:

1. Implement seven-day and seven-night transit service, expand weekend service, including adding Sunday servicefor the first time.
2. Increase bus frequency on heavily used routes.
3. Add additional early-morning and late-evening service.
4. Enhance our Zero-Fare program,and,
5. Support the conversion of our fleetto meet our 2035 zero-tailpipe-emissions goal.

A reliable public transit system helps employees get to work, students get to school, and those with limited resources access health care and affordable housing. It supports connectivity between Missoula’s business community, which in turn substantially benefits our local economy. And, our seniors and people with disabilities benefit from Mountain Line’s Paratransit and Shuttle Van services.

Mountain Line contributes to local and regional transportation planning efforts and creates opportunities for investment of federal dollars in our local community. Improved bus service and expanded hours will also further support economic development and revitalization efforts in Midtown.

The benefits are real. More people riding the bus equates to reduced traffic congestion, shorter commute times, improved air quality, and a healthier community as more people choose active transportation.
Mountain Line helps make Missoula a more livable, equitable, and prosperous community, which benefits us all.
Learn more at www.mountainline.com/mill-levy.

Hit television series “Yellowstone” is currently in the process of filming its fourth season in and around the Missoula area. Last week, semi-trucks and tents full of equipment and crews lined the streets across from Tremper’s Shopping Center to shoot some scenes near a Midtown cafe. At least a couple of MMA members have had a role in the show’s production, with scenes being filmed at Community Medical Center, and Sterling CRE Advisors helping to lease a warehouse used by the team. The show’s popularity will certainly give Missoula some exposure and provide an economic boost to a number of local businesses.

The Quarter 3 Missoula Market trend data is now available on the Missoula Organization of Realtors (MOR) website and can be viewed by clicking HERE. Additionally, from this page, you can also navigate to the Annual Housing Reports from years past.

MOR provides market information as a public service based on statistics generated through the MOR Regional Multiple Listing Service. This information is not based on all real estate activity and is intended to indicate general trends only and should not be used to determine what to expect in any specific neighborhood or community. Contact a REALTOR® for a more specific and detailed market analysis.

Earlier this month, Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Missoula held its 2nd Annual Superhero Run (this year’s event was virtual!) to help abused and neglected children in the community find an advocate and transition to safe and permanent homes.

While participation was down slightly from its inaugural event in 2019, donations increased significantly: nearly $7,000 was raised compared to roughly $2,500 last year.

CASA is incredibly grateful for the generosity of the community, and the Midtown Association wants to thank CASA for all they do in helping the future generations of Missoula!

While the past six months have brought forth many challenges for businesses and people, many positive things have come out of this pandemic. Although we miss the opportunity to see and connect with others in social and business settings, the connections have not been entirely lost while we are all socially distant to keep our community healthy. We have kept the conversations going and information flowing within Midtown Missoula through our monthly virtual mixers and town hall meetings. 

Each month on the first Tuesday, we connect with members via Zoom from 4-5pm. The event often kicks off with information sharing from a member, and then discussions amongst the group follow. Earlier this month, Clearwater Credit Union hosted the Virtual Mixer and provided information to the group about their organization and followed that with a roundtable-style discussion about how we as leaders in Missoula can positively impact the Midtown area and our greater community.

Insightful responses were given by many in attendance, and we genuinely appreciate the opportunity to hear from our members on topics like these as we work to fulfill our mission to promote and enhance Midtown.
We appreciate the feedback and engagement these events have brought forth. While we look forward to resuming ‘business as usual’ with in-person events, it has been great to connect and maintain the vibrancy that we hold in Midtown virtually. We hope to see many more of you join us for our upcoming events!

The Midtown Association is gearing up to collaborate with the community on a Midtown Master Plan to articulate a community-driven vision for our area. The plan will inform public investment and policy; create predictability for private investment; and improve quality of life and generate business in our area. We are fortunate in Missoula to have a great road map in place from our sister organization, the Downtown Association. We believe our process will be similar but customized for our unique area.
The master planning process will have 5 steps:

1. Publishing a Whitepaper that illustrates the goals, timeline, structure, and budget for a master plan – this summer
2. Fundraising – this fall/winter
3. Assembling the steering committee, planning team of consultants, leaders, and partners – next spring
4. The master planning itself – summer, fall, and winter of next year
5. Implementation

Step #1 is in progress. In addition to detailing the goals, timeline, structure, and budget for a master plan, we are seeking to identify key stakeholders, perhaps like yourself! Our goal right now is to gain insight from community members and leaders to shape our process. We are interviewing Missoulians and asking broad questions like what makes Midtown unique and important to Missoula? As well as more narrow questions like who else do you think should be involved in this process?

If you would like to be interviewed or join the white paper committee, please click HERE to let us know.

There’s a new concert venue in town, Missoula: Mountain Line’s electric bus! Mountain Line will host a live stream concert series Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. from August 19 – September 16, dubbed the Electric Stream Sessions, which will feature local musicians playing inside one of the Mountain Line’s new electric buses.

The concerts will be live-streamed on Mountain Line’s Facebook page and available on the agency’s YouTube channel for post-stream viewing. Mountain Line is proud to partner with Destination Missoula, the Trail 103.3 and the Montana Area Music Association (MAMA) on this series.

Click HERE to see the full lineup and learn more.

The City of Missoula, in collaboration with other members of Midtown Mojo, recently released the first phase of the Brooks Street Corridor Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Infrastructure Study. This study, led by HDR, builds on the vision for vibrant TOD on Brooks Street established through a series of previous studies. This most recent study recommends center-running bus rapid transit (BRT) with two travel lanes in each direction, dedicated bicycle lanes, and wide sidewalks with street trees and pedestrian amenities.

The design concept is for the full gamut of transportation infrastructure needed to transform Brooks Street into a permeable, enjoyable destination corridor, with vital development nodes in the heart of Midtown. The next phase of the study will engage the Montana Department of Transportation and examine right-of-way needs.

Thank you to Annette Marchesseault with the Missoula Redevelopment Agency (MRA) for the thorough presentation regarding the studies and plan in place during the virtual MidTown-Hall earlier this month!

TrailWest Bank is an FDIC insured, locally owned, independent bank serving western Montana. For over three decades, TrailWest has provided the people and businesses of Ravalli, Missoula, Mineral, and Flathead Counties with a wide range of secure and dependable financial services—all with a commitment to personal service. 

The mission of TrailWest Bank is to build loyal, long-term relationships based on trust, prosperity, and community. Over the years, TrailWest has experienced considerable growth, and continues to remain fiscally strong; meeting the ever-changing needs of the communities served. Today we live in an environment where many believe that bigger is better. Banks and other businesses are consolidating to streamline and achieve economies of scale. By streamlining, big banks are losing the personal touch that TrailWest feels is so important, and their team looks at this trend as an opportunity to promote relationship banking.

TrailWest Bank has set high customer service standards and recognizes that customer relationships are the most important element in keeping customers satisfied. TrailWest differentiates its banking services from that of larger corporations by taking care of our customers’ needs by creating a high value-added experience, offering a wide range of financial services for both personal and business customers. They also specialize in small business, medical practice, real estate, and agricultural lending. 

At TrailWest Bank, they take pride in helping you achieve your financial and business goals with customizable, creative lending solutions. Whether you need help starting or purchasing a business, investing in property, a new home, or are looking for a new set of wheels or boat for those trips to Flathead, their knowledgeable Loan Officers will be happy to help. The TrailWest team has real-world experience in industries like real estate, construction, agriculture, and more. 

Being locally owned and operated, TrailWest invests directly back into the communities served. They are proud to serve Missoula County with 7 convenient locations: Missoula (4), Frenchtown, Bonner, and Lolo. With over 120 employees, their strong network is ready to serve you wherever you travel throughout Western Montana. 

As summertime gets underway, the warm weather and sweet aromas of the mountain air remind us that there remains to be a great deal of promise to look forward to over the second half of 2020. While some may want to forget about the challenges brought on by various obstacles we’ve all faced over the first six months of the year, let us look back on the bright spots and recap the progress that was made during that time.

To kick off the new year, the Board of Directors held a Strategic Planning Session, where goals for the coming one year, three years, and five years were developed. Some of the goals for the current year included: bringing on 50 new members, creating an additional revenue source, establishing a relationship with the Western Montana Fair, hiring a college intern, and developing a plan for a Midtown Master Plan. Some of those goals have been made more difficult due to certain circumstances; but, thanks to hard work by many of our volunteers, we have continued to make good strides and remain optimistic about continued advancements.

In February, the Annual Membership Meeting was held, where President Mark Bellon, and a number of additional speakers from around Midtown provided updates and discussed upcoming objectives. As part of that event, a working session was held where attendees provided direct feedback – those suggestions were collected, organized, and appropriately assigned to the association’s various committees based on the topic.

Building on the growing success of the “Midtown Mixers” becoming one of Missoula’s premier business networking events in 2019, the association held a gathering each of the first three months of 2020 thanks to gracious hosts: Keller Williams (co-hosted by First Interstate Bank), Community Medical Center, and Opportunity Resources. Additional Mixers were scheduled for nearly the rest of the year before social-distancing measures were put in place due to COVID. In order to gain momentum back and provide an outlet for members to voice ideas and give updates, we plan to hold virtual Mixers the first Tuesday of each month for the foreseeable future (more info below).

Following the resignation of a Director, the Board voted to bring on Marion Alley of Berkshire Hathaway to fill the open seat and serve the remainder of the vacated term. The Board also voted to bring on two Advisory Board Members to provide input on Midtown objectives: Corey Aldridge with Mountain Line, and Jessica Yandell with AlphaGraphics.
Finally, one of the most recent – as well as most exciting – projects the group has undertaken is getting the initial process underway for what will eventually become a Midtown Master Plan. A committee, chaired by Director Emily Brock of the Fairgrounds, received approval to hire a consultant and has begun preparing a “white paper” that will help develop the road map to a Master Plan.

As we navigate through the current situation over the remaining months of 2020, we will aim to maintain a connection with our membership and ensure that continued efforts will be made towards our mission to promote and enhance the Midtown community.

Rumour Restaurant & Tap House, located in the heart of Missoula’s midtown neighborhoods at 1855 Stephens Ave, is open daily and offers one of the best happy hours around. Their menu rotates with the seasons and celebrates Montana’s farmers, ranchers, growers, and producers. They are committed to sourcing sustainable seafood and crafting innovative, diverse, and memorable dishes for all palates. The beautiful outdoor patio, numerous private rooms, and spacious indoor dining area allow for patrons to maintain an appropriate social distance during these unique times; and, they pledge to do the best they can to keep all guests and employees feeling safe and healthy. The staff at Rumour aim to have fun, provide great hospitality, and ensure you have a delightful dining experience. Stop in and see them today! Hours of operation:

• Brunch: Sat & Sun, 11:30am – 3pm
• Lunch: Mon – Fri, 11:30am – 3pm
• Dinner: Daily, 5pm – close
• Happy Hour: Daily, 3pm – 6pm

Washington Prime Group, owner of Southgate Mall, and partner organizations have launched the Open for Small Business Initiative, providing an easy to use lease modification template allowing for the deferral of payments until local entrepreneurs can get back on their feet.

Open for Small Business is also hosting educational webcast seminars with government agency officials and private sector experts to discuss how to access SBA guaranteed loans and more.

Resources are being made available to all small businesses whether or not they are a WPG tenant. Additional information can be found here:

http://washingtonprime.com/open-for-small-business-initiative?fbclid=IwAR0TWw7WcC6FBrhuCOFYMrHwhKWcE11MkJDer6trUKabcexJH2U8uV_XVnc

Gold Level Sponsor of the Missoula Midtown Association, NorthWestern Energy, has pledged $300,000 to assist small businesses that have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Below is a link to the grant application for bill credits. Grant recipients must be a NorthWestern customer impacted by the state and local closure directives related to COVID-19, and also must have contacted NorthWestern to discuss management of their utility bill.

https://contactus.northwesternenergy.com/Char…/applicationsb

Additional information can be found by visiting the NorthWestern Energy website:

http://northwesternenergy.com/safety/covid-19

The Missoula County Economic Recovery Task Force is a partnership of public and private for-profit and nonprofit entities working to ensure our community is informed and positioned for recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by:

1) Understanding how you are being affected economically 
2) Improving access to resources that are available to help you now 
3) Making you aware of resources that are in development
4) Identifying any remaining gaps in resources

Click the link below to take look at the Business Assistance resources available.

http://covid19.missoula.co/businessassistance

Southgate Mall originally opened its doors to the Missoula community in 1978 and has been operating for over 40 years. 
The tagline of ‘Eat. Shop. Play.’ adequately sums up the mission to serve a variety of connection points and experiences visitors and residents can enjoy.

As many malls around the nation have evolved, so has Southgate Mall. The Mall will seek additional food and beverage, entertainment, and home furnishing retailers, while also providing space for local and regional operators. You will notice active common areas with installations for existing and prospective stores, as well as events and activities designed especially for residents and visitors.

Southgate Mall provides the best collection of retailers, services, community events, and restaurants to over 6 million visitors every year. The Mall collaborates, elevates, and fosters new relationships with as many creative, innovative, and motivated individuals or businesses as possible.

Many exciting things are going on at Southgate Mall these days with the recent announcement for the addition of Scheels, a new Now Care center, a new Nail Trix, a new River City Hair Studio, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Cinnabon, The Big Dipper, and “The Giggle Box”, Missoula’s first interactive art museum (March-August).

There’s never a shortage of things going on at the Mall – one of Midtown Missoula’s staple icons. For a full line-up of events and updates, click HERE.

The Missoula County Office of Emergency Management has shared guidance for Missoula Midtown Businesses from the CDC and WHO concerning business preparedness for COVID-19.

• Interim guidance for employers – CDC
• WHO “Getting Workplace Ready” Guide

Missoula County residents with COVID-19 questions can reach the COVID-19 information line at 258-INFO (4636) or visit the Health Department website by clicking HERE (FAQs – click HERE)