[MCN] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Funding Downtown Holiday Decor Repairs Successful for Thanksgiving Installation

[Leidy Wagener]

Humes

Local/State

November 19, 2015

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            *



*FUNDING DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY DÉCOR REPAIRS *

*SUCCESSFUL FOR THANKSGIVING INSTALLATION *



*MISSOULA* – With significant support from the Missoula Downtown Foundation
(MDF) and the City of Missoula, the Missoula Downtown Association (MDA) has
funded the holiday décor infrastructure repairs to light and decorate
Downtown Missoula for this holiday season.  In order to install the décor
before Thanksgiving, the MDA and MDF had only four weeks to raise $14,500
needed for repairs.  With several different partners and donors pitching
in, an additional $10,000 was raised to put towards next year’s repairs.



The 30 year old electrical infrastructure supporting the Downtown holiday
décor was failing and efforts were put in place last summer to repair the
system.  Due to the short time frame to raise funds, the $35,000 project
was split into two phases.  Phase I included electrical box and wiring
upgrades to 70 of the 115 light poles utilized for holiday décor.  Phase II
will include replacing distribution wires and switching all décor to a LED
lighting system.  Currently, incandescent bulbs light the Downtown holiday
décor requiring additional distribution wiring and electricity.



“We had an overwhelming response to this project and it is clear that
creating a festive atmosphere Downtown during the holiday season is
important to our community,” states Heidi Starrett, President of the MDA
Board of Directors.  “This year’s improvements along with future repairs
will benefit the entire community for many holiday seasons to come.”



At the end of September, MDF kicked off a ‘Light-A-Pole Campaign’ to fund
Phase I repairs.  Roemer’s Tire Factory donated funds to the effort through
tires purchased during the month of October.  In addition, the remaining
funds needed for Phase I and Phase II have come from a $10,000 gift from a
community member, funding from the City of Missoula, Light-A-Pole
sponsorships from local businesses such as First Security Bank, Choices
Counseling, Blackfoot Telecommunications Group, Datsopoulos, MacDonald, &
Lind, and from contributions from the MDA and its partner organization, the
Downtown BID.  An in-kind donation of labor was given by Liberty Electric,
the contractor hired for the repairs.



“On behalf of all three Downtown Missoula Partnership organizations, we
thank everyone who has come forward to support this effort,” states Colleen
Rudio, President of the MDF Board of Directors.  “The Missoula community
has listened to the needs of Downtown, embraced it, and helped fund Phase I
entirely as well as an additional $10,000 towards our $20,500 goal for next
year.  We have other Downtown projects on the docket for 2016, and with
this fundraising effort, we have a great start to finalizing Phase II
repairs by the end of the year.  This will allow us to turn our attention
to other projects, such as Downtown Wayfinding and a new Caras Park
Pavilion canopy and sound system.”



Downtown Holiday Décor installation will be completed this week and turned
on at dusk on Friday, November 27.  To donate to Phase II of this campaign,
to the MDF’s annual fall Friends of Downtown Campaign, or to other Downtown
projects, go to downtownMISSOULAfriends.org or call 406.543.4238.



 ##



For more information, contact Noreen Humes, Community Development Manager
at Noreen at downtownmissoula.com or 406.543.4238.



*Leidy Wagener*

*Operations Coordinator*

Downtown Missoula Partnership


218 E Main | Missoula, MT

406.543.4238 | missouladowntown.com <http://www.missouladowntown.com/>
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