Missoula, MT — Missoula residents now have the chance to leave their mark on the city’s snowplows as part of a new, lighthearted initiative. The City of Missoula has officially launched its first-ever “Name the Snowplow” contest, inviting locals to submit creative names for three of the city’s hardworking snowplows.
Lori Hart, Communications Specialist for the City of Missoula’s Public Works and Mobility Department, explained that the contest is a fun way to engage the community while celebrating the arrival of the winter season.
“We’re kicking off today our ‘Name Our Snowplows’ contest,” Hart shared. “We haven’t done this in Missoula before, and it’s something we’re really excited about. We’re going to name three snowplows in our fleet, and all the information is available on the city’s Engage Missoula website.”
While the city owns more than just three snowplows, Hart clarified that the contest will be spread out over several years. This year marks the inaugural event, with plans to continue the tradition and name more snowplows in the coming years. The goal is to have all 22 snowplows in the city’s fleet named over time.
“We decided to start with three this year as a way to ease into it,” said Hart. “Next year, we’ll name another three, and so on, until we’ve named all 22. It’ll be fun to see the creativity of our community over the years.”
Submitting a name is simple. Residents can visit the Engage Missoula website, where they’ll find all the contest details and a button to enter their suggestions. Participants will need to provide their name and phone number to ensure the city can contact the winners.
The deadline for submissions is January 12. Afterward, the city will narrow down the entries to a top 15, which will then be put to a public vote. The voting process will also take place on the Engage Missoula website, allowing residents to select their favorite names.
“We just want to have a little fun and spread some cheer as we head into winter,” Hart said. “It’s a great way to get people involved, and we’re looking forward to seeing what names people come up with.”
The contest is part of an ongoing effort to make city services feel more accessible and personable to Missoula residents. By naming the snowplows, the city hopes to add a touch of local flair to its fleet of winter vehicles, making the often-chilly season just a bit warmer for residents.
As Missoula gears up for the snowplow naming tradition, residents are encouraged to tap into their creativity and submit the best, funniest, or most unique names they can think of. Who knows? Your snowplow might soon be cruising the streets of Missoula with a name you helped choose!
