Deputy Director Mandy Rambo of the Montana Department of Commerce briefed the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee on the department’s 2025 biennium goals, grant programs, tourism strategy and housing efforts.

Rambo summarized three current priorities: improving customer service and program efficiency; implementing process improvements across grants and loan portals; and business attraction and economic development. She described new programs established under the 2023 Legislature (the State‑Local Infrastructure Partnership Act, Emergency Shelter Facility Grant Program and seven programs created under Senate Bill 540 that direct lodging facility use tax revenues).

Rambo highlighted Brand MT’s tourism work and the department’s emphasis on dispersing visitation from over‑visited gateway areas. She said the department spends less than 20 percent of its bed‑tax budget on statewide marketing; more than half of bed‑tax funds go back to businesses, communities and events, and 17 percent supports regional tourism organizations (CVBs/DMOs). The Department of Commerce said it is focusing marketing on drive markets and rural destinations to relieve congestion near Glacier and Yellowstone and to spread economic benefits to under‑visited communities.

The presentation listed an $8,000,000 Big Sky Economic Development Revolving Loan fund to support local economic development organizations and noted $2,750,000 in pilot community funding awarded across seven communities (including one tribal recipient) under a resiliency/grant program.

On housing, Rambo said Housing MT administers state and federal programs; one American Rescue Plan Act program (Homeowner Assistance Fund) could run through Sept. 30, 2026, though staff expects funds to be exhausted in calendar 2025.

Committee members asked about tourism overflow near Glacier National Park, partnerships with the Department of Transportation on infrastructure needs, tribal tourism grants and agritourism. Rambo said the department produced regional tourism resiliency plans (supported by federal EDA funds) and can provide links to the committee; she described grant programs targeted to tribal events, tribal business development for tourism and sponsorships to support Native media production and cultural tourism.

Rambo also said the department would work with the Agriculture Department and the Ag Development Council on agritourism outreach. She offered to send links and materials to committee members and to coordinate follow‑up conversations.