Chamber, community foundation lighting up the square

The Hill County Community Foundation is helping the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce to light up Town Square even more.

The foundation presented Chamber Executive Director Jody Olson and President Shawn Holden with a $500 check to install new electrical outlets at the square.

Olson said the project to install the outlets will begin this spring.

"We want to light more of the poles and trees for Christmas," she said.

Olson added that $2,400 that has been gathered from the Havre Area Renewal Trust Project will also be used for the lighting project.

The HART Project was established in 2000 as a way for businesses to fund community efforts such as the purchase of new Christmas decorations to hang in the city.

Member businesses place water jugs on their counters allowing people to easily donate money. People can also make direct donations to the Chamber.

Olson said there is no estimate on how much the Town Square project will cost or how many outlets will be installed.

She added that the additional electrical capacity could help with other events throughout the year such as the Saturday Market and Sounds on the Square, the weekly summer outdoor concert series.

The Chamber was one of four local organizations to receive a $500 grant this year.

Pam Veis of the Community Foundation said at the check passing that 10 organizations applied for grants this year.

Each grant awarded, she said, touches on at least one of three areas - community beautification, arts and culture, and basic human needs.

Other recipients were 90.1 KNMC, which in cooperation with the Montana State University Northern Alumni Foundation; created an interactive, online calendar for community events; Van Orsdel United Methodist Church to purchase hygiene and food products for local individuals in need, and Our Savior Lutheran Church to offer bead work classes in Box Elder so individuals can create and sell traditional American Indian beadwork.