Welcome!

Destination Fort Benton (DFB) is a 501c3 non-profit organization formed for the purpose of seeking grant funding for the purpose of advancing tourism in Fort Benton. The committee formed in 2024 to apply for the Montana Department of Commerce Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program, a $2.75 million grant opportunity designed to support under visited communities in Montana in their efforts to increase tourism. We are proud to announce that Fort Benton was awarded this grant as part of the Cohort 2 cycle of funding!

We encourage you to review this slide presentation that introduces our organization and plans for the Pilot grant funding. DFB also has plans beyond the Pilot Tourism grant. We will continue to actively seek additional grant funding that will help support the tourism projects identified in the Fort Benton City Growth Policy. We have also recently applied for membership to the Montana Main Street Program.

Destination Fort Benton Meeting Schedule

The DFB Steering Committee meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Grand Union (unless otherwise noted).

April 28, 2025 (cancelled—members attending Governor’s Tourism Conference)
May 5, 2025, 7 pm (note time change)
May 12, 2025 (cancelled—in lieu of Destination Development Community Assessment meeting—see information below)
May 26 27, 2025, 6 pm (note date change due to Memorial Day weekend)
June 9, 2025, 6 pm
June 23, 2025, 6 pm
July 14, 2025, 6 pm
July 28, 2025, 6 pm

Don’t miss our tourism assessment event coming up on May 12, 6:30 pm at the Elementary Auditorium!

Steering Committee Members

DFB was set up to represent a broad variety of organizations and businesses within our community who have an invested interested in tourism activities. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact us using the form below.

Shannon Walden—President
Joellyn Clark—Vice President (representing Fort Benton Chamber of Commerce, Fort Benton Schools)
Colette Longin—Secretary (representing hospitality business)
Jenice Fugere—Treasurer (representing recreation business, Chouteau County Performing Arts, Fort Benton Trails)

Lanny Walker—City Mayor
Corey Embleton—City Council
Karyn Giles—representing River and Plains Society, Women’s Club, Lions Club
Jayna Romine—representing Fort Benton Community Improvement Association, Fort Benton Summer Celebration
Raymond Gonzales—representing Lions Club, Signal Point Golf Club, Chamber of Commerce, Fort Benton Recycles
Thomas Valencia—BLM
JC Lindeman—Chouteau County Fairgrounds Manager
Jessica Salazar—Chouteau County Fine Arts Council
Laurie Rettig—Fort Benton Trails Committee
Nicolle Fugere—representing Dedman Foundation, recreation business

Contact Us

IMPORTANT LINKS

Grant Plans Overview Slide Show
Fort Benton City Growth Plan