Helena First, Inc. was incorporated on September 21, 1967, with the goal of promoting and participating in the economic development of Helena. Its membership consisted of owners of Helena businesses. The organization hired Alex Cunningham, a local insurance and property management consultant, as manager. Ward Shanahan served as legal counsel. Helena First, Inc. cooperated with the Helena Urban Renewal office in planning for the economic revitalization of downtown Helena. The major project of the organization was the building of a motel and convention center in the downtown area. This eventually led to the construction of the TraveLodge on Last Chance Gulch (currently the Park Plaza). The motel was leased to Pearson Enterprises, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah, with an option to buy. When the lease expired the Pearsons declined to exercise the option and the hotel was sold to Eric Myhre in June 1980. Myhre's purchase contract was cancelled in October 1982 and a new contract made with Don West. West, however, was unable to complete the purchase and the property was sold to DeTienne Associates. In 1983 the name was changed to the Park Plaza. The negative side of Helena's Urban Renewal was the razing of many historic buildings on the Gulch in downtown Helena. These included the Wheat Building (formerly the Union Bank Building), the Wallace grocery building, the Holter hardware building, and several small rooming houses in the first block north of Broadway, as well as many other buildings throughout the downtown area. Helena First, Inc. officially dissolved itself in the fall of 1991.