<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">April
24, 2020</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Missoula
Media</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:13pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,32,96)"><br></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:13pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,32,96)">MISSOULA DOWNTOWN FOUNDATION
CREATES</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:13pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,32,96)">DOWNTOWN MISSOULA BUSINESS
SUPPORT FUND AND</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:13pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,32,96)">PIVOTS SPRING FUNDRAISING
CAMPAIGN TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:13pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,32,96)">BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC</span></b><span style="font-size:13pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,32,96)"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With unanimous support from the Board of Directors, the
Missoula Downtown Foundation (MDF) has established a Downtown Missoula Business
Support Fund and will use its annual spring campaign to raise funds that can
support businesses and organizations negatively impacted by the Coronavirus
pandemic. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As the fundraising arm of the Downtown Missoula Partnership,
the Missoula Downtown Foundation has the mission to support and promote the
spirit and heritage of Missoula through cultural, historical and <u>economic enhancement
of Downtown Missoula</u>, now and for future generations. In an effort to help
rebuild the economy and vibrancy of Downtown, the MDF will seek support from
individuals, grantors, businesses not impacted by the crisis, partner
organizations, and government agencies to raise and distribute a minimum of
$100,000 in 2020. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Foundation will roll out an online fundraising campaign
in conjunction with the Missoula Gives (<a href="https://www.missoulagives.org/" style="color:blue" target="_blank">https://www.missoulagives.org/</a>)
annual fundraising campaign next week: April 30-May 1, 2020. With the original
intent of raising funds for Downtown holiday décor and wayfinding, the
Foundation’s spring campaign will instead provide the opportunity for any and
all individuals or entities to support Downtown businesses and organizations
through the Missoula Downtown Business Support Fund. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“A vibrant and healthy city is built upon the tenacity and
dedication of business owners who give their time, talent and treasure to many
different projects and programs that make Missoula such a special space,” said
Jared Kuehn, President of the MDF Board of Directors and commercial lender at
First Security Bank. “The COVID pandemic has had a significant impact on the
health of the Downtown business community, and the Foundation believes this is
the time for us to do all we can to support those businesses that could use a
lift.” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Small, locally-owned businesses and organizations are the
heart of Missoula and are the first ones to support community initiatives,
non-profit organizations, and individuals in need. The world-wide COVID-19
pandemic has been particularly impactful on small downtown businesses.
Businesses have been shuttered, jobs have been lost, and the supply chain has
been compromised. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Downtown Foundation has allocated $25,000, and will pivot
its spring fundraising campaign from street décor to the business support fund.
The Downtown Business Improvement District contributed $10,000 from its
business development budget to the fund. As of April 23, Clearwater Credit
Union, First Interstate Bank, First Interstate Bank and TrailWest Bank have each
contributed to the fund, which is now at $65,000 in just three days. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Individuals and businesses interested in contributing to the
Downtown Missoula Business Assistance Fund can send a check, payable to the
Missoula Downtown Foundation, to 218 East Main Street, Missoula, MT 59802.
Donors can also contribute through the Missoula Gives Campaign April 30-May 1,
or through the Foundation’s GoFundMe Campaign (<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/downtown-missoula-business-support-fund" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small" target="_blank">https://www.gofundme.com/f/downtown-missoula-business-support-fund</a>). The MDF is a
qualified charitable organization, and all donations are deductible to the full
extent allowed by law. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“As neighbors and friends, Missoulians will come together to
support our local businesses and organizations, lessen the economic impacts of
this crisis, and help build resiliency among our business community,” Kuehn
said. “The Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to support Downtown
recovery during this time of need.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Applicants must have a City of Missoula Business License or
an IRS Determination Letter, be located in the Downtown Business Improvement
District, or service the community in Downtown Missoula. Downtown businesses
and organizations in need of support shall complete a simple online application
located at <a href="http://www.missouladowntown.com" style="color:blue" target="_blank">www.missouladowntown.com</a>
and scheduled to open on Monday, May 4. Applications will be reviewed by
committee, and disbursement of funds shall be one-time checks distributed by
the Downtown Missoula Partnership. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For more information, visit <a href="http://www.missouladowntown.com" style="color:blue" target="_blank">www.missouladowntown.com</a> or contact
the Downtown Missoula Partnership office via phone (406-543-4238) or email (<a href="mailto:info@missouladowntown.com" style="color:blue" target="_blank">info@missouladowntown.com</a>). </p></div><div><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0px"><font size="4" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></p><p style="margin:0px"><font size="4" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></p><p style="margin:0px"><font size="4" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><b>Bram Moore</b></font></p><p style="margin:0px"><b><span style="font-size:13px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Operations Coordinator</font></span></b></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Downtown Missoula Partnership </font></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">218 E Main | Missoula, MT </font></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><a value="+14065434238" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">406.543.4238 | </a><a href="http://www.missouladowntown.com/" title="http://www.missouladowntown.com/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">missouladowntown.com</a></font></p><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>