The subcommittee heard testimony from Sabre Moore, director of the Carter County Museum in Ekalaka, ranked number one on Commerce’s list, requesting a $500,000 Montana Historic Preservation Grant to renovate and expand the existing museum building.

Moore told the committee the museum had raised its full $1 million project match since applying and reported the museum reached 5,808 in‑person visitors and an audience of 145,000 since last February. She said the project addresses an inadequate roof, lack of climate control for the collection, substandard storage and limited exhibit space; the expansion would allow 100 percent of the collection to be accessible and enable new programs including a visible paleontology lab, a planetarium dome and expanded school programming. Moore estimated the renovation would double visitation and generate roughly $2 million in annual regional economic impact.

Why it matters: the Carter County Museum serves a remote, tourism‑linked part of eastern Montana. Committee members generally praised the fundraising and local match and asked for engineering details on structural repairs.

Details from testimony

- Scope and outcomes: roof reinforcement and replacement of trusses, installation of HVAC and museum‑quality lighting, upgraded storage and exhibit spaces, ADA compliance, and public program spaces including a planetarium dome and a paleontology lab.

- Match and economic claims: Moore said the museum had secured $1,000,000 in match and that the project would create and expand staff positions from part‑time to full‑time and add six more positions. Construction was projected to generate roughly 33 jobs and in‑state spending estimated at $7 million annually for the project period.

- Committee questions: Members asked about engineering and cost estimates for structural elements; Moore said estimates had been done and the roof truss work was urgent.

Ending: Moore urged the committee to approve the funding; Commerce and committee staff will continue to vet project budgets and schedules during the appropriations process.