The East Helena Community Review Phase 1 Report Is Here!
This report is the culmination of many hours of hard work and marks the first phase of the community review process. It reflects the voices, ideas, and priorities shared by community members throughout surveys, listening sessions, and conversations.
Special thanks to all of our partners, sponsors, home team and the East Helena Community.
Help Shape the Future of East Helena: Phase II
The East Helena Community Review is entering Phase II, and we want you in the conversation.
This phase turns Phase I priorities into real, actionable projects. As a participant, you’ll:
- Explore ideas to strengthen the community
- Identify opportunities for collaboration
- Discuss potential projects and solutions
- Help build action plans alongside industry experts
Whether you were part of Phase I or you’re just joining in, your voice matters. Your ideas will help shape a plan that reflects what East Helena actually wants and needs.
Phase II Planning Workshops
When: Monday, October 5 and Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Key Events:
- Monday, 12:00 PM: Kickoff Review and Overview of Program Events, Lunch hosted by Valley Bank
- Monday, 5:00 PM: Community-Wide Town Hall Meeting (Project Presentation & Voting), City Hall and Zoom
- Tuesday, 9:30 AM: Action Plan Drafting Sessions (Full Day Working Groups)
- Tuesday, 5:00 PM: Next Steps & Phase III Launch Town Hall
Locations: East Helena City Hall and East Helena Library Meeting Room
RSVP for Phase II
Scan or click the QR code to reserve your spot.
Helena, Montana
Preliminary Feasibility Study
October 2023
Helena Artspace Feasibility Study
Over the past two years, Artspace has had a chance to learn about the current opportunities and challenges in Helena through conversations with Montana Business Assistance Connection (MBAC).
Chief among those challenges and related to this feasibility study is a growing population causing an increase in demand for all housing types along with elevated property values for both commercial and residential properties. This recent population growth and affordability challenges has an out-sized impact on the creative sector. The new population that is moving to Helena is also significantly younger than the median age would indicate of this community, bringing in new perspectives from out of state as people seek a more rural idyllic place to live.
While a hallmark of the community, its historic downtown has become unaffordable for many of the users who made it the “award-winning” district. The historic downtown and the Helena Business Improvement District (HBID) were given the highest tier of recognition by Main Street America in 2022.
Helena’s arts and culture identity is evident by the number of excellent and world-class organizations, but is of minimal note in its strategic plans. If arts and culture truly want to be at the forefront of Helena’s future, more identification and reference to its impact should be noted.
This Artspace Preliminary Feasibility Study is well-timed to understand whether the Helena community supports an affordable mixed-use artist live/work housing project and is willing to put the resources behind supporting such a project.