Billings Swords for Kids Community Project Vying for Pepsi’s Top Grant Dollars

Winner to be chosen by voter popularity -
Swords for Kids now ranks 35th of 309 community projects nationwide

Billings, MT, January 8, 2011 -- The Billings Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau (http://www.billingschamber.com/) together with BikeNet (http://bikenet.org/) and other area business partners, is helping promote an opportunity to improve, restore and preserve Sword’s Park for the children of today and tomorrow. This community project offers Billings, Montana residents and visitors the chance to enjoy not only the view but also the recreational opportunities, healthy living advantages and history of the community.

The competitive fund raising event is being held in conjunction with the national Pepsi Refresh Everything Grant Campaign (http://www.refresheverything.com/). It all came together in January of 2010 when Chamber/CVB and BikeNet got together with a group of 20 community business partners that included McCall Development, the Billings Gazette, adventure travel company Austin-Lehman Adventures, Vertex Consulting Group and Online4Offline.

The ultimate winner will receive $250,000 in grant money from Pepsi, based on the project that receives the most votes. On January 3, 2011, voting began. After the first 12 hours of voting, the Swords For Kids project ranked 40th out of 309 other ventures vying for Pepsi’s grant. At time of this news release, the project has risen in rank to number 35. The two projects with the most votes as of January 31, 2011, will each receive a $250,000 grant.

Billings Chamber/CVB Vice President Alex Tyson said, “If reached, the goal is a huge win for the entire community! The focus is on Sword’s Park with a plan to develop a “template-identity” to be carried throughout the entire Heritage Trail System.” Tyson adds, “Think of it as a model home. We have the chance to beautify, expand and preserve a very important part of Billings for today and tomorrow.”

The Swords Park plan will be complete within the next 12 months if the $250,000 Pepsi Refresh Everything Grant is obtained. Sword’s Park is essentially the story of Billings. It connects the historic Yellowstone River to the sandstone rim rocks that embrace the city. Boot Hill Cemetery, part of Sword’s Park, is the revered burial grounds for the Crow Indians and past residents of the Wild West town of Coulson. Buffalo Jumps, wagon trails, the native lore of Sacrifice Cliffs all make up Sword’s Park. It is the final burial grounds of frontier scout Yellowstone Kelly. The Heritage Trail, a new bike and pedestrian path, winds its way through Sword’s Park.

Anyone from anywhere can vote each day, but the key to gaining the winning number is to generate repeat votes daily until January 31.

Vote Online: http://www.RefreshEverything.com/SwordsForKids

Vote by Text: Text 105554 to 73774. You will receive a confirmation text from Pepsi. Standard text rates may apply.

Sign up for daily reminders: http://www.swordsforkids.com/.

Advocates and business representatives are encouraged to post voting information on Facebook, Twitter, blogs and web pages. Anyone interested in learning more about how to help spread the word can contact Alex Tyson: alex@billingschamber.com.

Media Contact: Dave Wiggins, Widness & Wiggins PR / dave@travelnewssource.com

The Swords Park plan will be complete within the next 12 months if the $250,000 Pepsi Refresh Everything Grant is obtained. Sword’s Park is essentially the story of Billings. It connects the historic Yellowstone River to the sandstone rim rocks that embrace the city. Boot Hill Cemetery, part of Sword’s Park, is the revered burial grounds for the Crow Indians and past residents of the Wild West town of Coulson. Buffalo Jumps, wagon trails, the native lore of Sacrifice Cliffs all make up Sword’s Park. It is the final burial grounds of frontier scout Yellowstone Kelly. The Heritage Trail, a new bike and pedestrian path, winds its way through Sword’s Park.

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This release was published on openPR.