Community Technical Assistance Program and SMART to create Baker’s first Downtown Masterplan
The Montana Department of Commerce’s Community Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) and SMART are teaming up to create a Downtown Master Plan for Baker. CTAP specializes in empowering communities to reach their full potential through targeted training, collaboration, and long-term planning.
This journey started in community meetings back in the fall of 2025, where residents shared what they felt would help create a more livable community and increase the quality of life in Baker. Over five public meetings, a clear picture formed. From facade improvements to wayfinding, a list of wants and needs was created, and it became clear that a cohesive approach to Baker’s downtown would be necessary.
Baker residents attended a Reimagining Rural session in February of 2026
SMART, the Baker Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, and the City of Baker met together to discuss how to begin checking items off the community’s list. With additional guidance and input from Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation, the group determined that a downtown master plan would be the absolute best tool for the job.
Baker has successfully used community vision meetings in the past to list out what projects the majority of residents wanted to see completed. The downtown master plan will work in a similar way, gathering local input to shape the potential future of our Main Street. However, the master plan will be more detailed and structured, creating a reference guide on how to achieve community goals. Small, incremental changes over time add up and will make a big difference in Baker, and the end goal is to see economic vibrancy on Baker’s Main Street.
This month, CTAP and SMART officially partnered with Sanbell and High Plains Architects to begin drafting Baker’s first downtown master plan. Community meetings and interactive input sessions are scheduled for later this year. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements, and make sure to stop by to make your voice heard.