When the town needs help the CFBB is there
In 1970 Bigfork was a sleepy little village.
The population was less, there was no museum or library or sidewalks. But it still boasted dedicated volunteers committed to making Bigfork great. It was those people who founded the Bigfork Development Company, and helped grow Bigfork into what it is today.
These days the Bigfork Development Company is known as the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork, and has been most visible in efforts with Flathead County to keep the trash site and protect Sliter Park.
The CFBB is a nonprofit and they only hold one major fundraiser a year. That fundraiser is Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Garden Bar.
When the CFBB was formed in 1970, its aim was to save the old Bigfork Summer Playhouse building. Once that goal was achieved they began to focus on building cultural opportunities and enhance Bigfork’s infrastructure.
One of the first things they did was purchase the cultural center, which houses the library, the Bigfork Museum of Art and History and the museum gift shop.
The foundation is run by a board, which is elected by CFBB members every May. The board, in many ways acts as a center communication for many of the other volunteer organizations working for the betterment of Bigfork. They work closely with the Chamber of Commerce and with groups at the forefront of projects such as the stormwater project.
“We try not to interfere with anybody,” CFBB president Paul Mutascio said. But he pointed out, “We really do function as a community council.”
The CFBB has about 300 members. There is a one-time fee of $150 to be a member. Members and non-members are welcome to attend the board meetings on the third Thursday of every month at noon, at the United Methodist Church.
Walter Kuhn, who owns Bridge Street Cottages and Lake Hills Shopping Center, was recently appointed to the Bigfork Parks Advisory board for the county. He is a CFBB member and former president of the organization and he served on the board for about five years.
During his time on the board the CFBB created the Swan River Nature trail, put sidewalks on Grand Avenue and helped preserve Harry Horn Park with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
He signed on with the organization shortly after moving to the area in 1990.
“Bigfork is a volunteer-based community and when you come here, as a small community you want it to do well and you want to contribute,” he said. “They have a big influence on a lot of positive things that get done here.”
As an unincorporated town, Bigfork’s infrastructure is mostly county based, which means sometimes the CFBB needs to step in to get things done.
“The BDC and the chamber come as close to a local governing body as we have,” Kuhn said.
Donna Lawson, owner of the Jug Tree in Bigfork, has been on the board for 15 years. Her father was one of the seven founding members, and Lawson remembers the first meeting of the group being held in the back of the liquor store.
“I had big shoes to fill,” she said. “I knew it was important to him. I’m very proud to be a member of that organization.”
Different things come up each year she said that the town needs that county won’t pay for. The CFBB pays to have the parking lines repainted downtown, funded spraying for wasps and will soon be replacing the roof on the Arts and Cultural center.
They also coordinated the upgrading of downtown street lights. They are looking at becoming more actively involved with Sliter Park, after paying the county $3,200 to help with the park’s operating costs. The CFBB will continue to work with the county regarding the green box trash site to make sure the new site fits the needs of the community.
In addition to contributing to infrastructure, the CFBB also tries to provide scholarships and assistance to local youth.
Mutascio said they raised $32,000 at last year’s fundraiser, and need to raise even more this year, largely to help fund Sliter Park. The auction will be at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Garden Bar. Donated items for the auction may be dropped off at Eva Gates downtown.