BOZEMAN – The Northern Lights Community Fund awarded its March grants to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation. Both organizations will receive $500.
The GYC will put the grant money toward creating a solution for the 155,000-acre Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area, an area of contention among many recreational users in the region.
The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation will use the grant to fund trail projects within the 1.5 million acre wilderness. “The Bob,” as it’s often referred to, includes the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat and Great Bear wilderness areas, which currently has over 1,700 miles of trails, much of which are maintained by volunteers. The BMWF works alongside the Forest Service to coordinate crew leadership, work itineraries, food menus, tool and equipment needs and pack support.
“We’re trying to take some of the money that goes into buying gear and invest it right back into the land and trails that our customers use,” said Mike Garcia, owner of Northern Lights Trading Company. “It’s good for our water, it’s good for wildlife, it’s good for our customers and it’s great for the economy of our state to have such areas set aside for recreation.”
Northern Lights Trading Company established its Community Fund with the goal of clearly demonstrating the direct and positive effects of a consumer’s local spending on the Bozeman community. The company has committed to donating $1,000 per month to a selection of conservation and human-interest organizations that help make Montana a great place to live and recreate. northernlightstrading.com[
