Blueprint marks year of focus on economy in Butte

Several economic development efforts are under way under the umbrella organization of Blueprint for Change.

The Montana Standard launched the effort 11/2 years ago under publisher Heidi Wright. Wright is leaving the community to take a publishing job in Klamath Falls, Ore. In mid-May. In her place, Maureen Kenneally, vice president of corporate communications for Town Pump Inc. and Standard Editor Gerry O’Brien will co-chair the steering committee until settling on a chairman and some new members in the near future.

By Gerard O’Brien of the Montana Standard

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2004/04/04/featuresbusiness/hjjfjfjfjajded.txt

The steering committee comprises members from the corporate sponsors for Blueprint effort. They include: Town Pump, St. James HealthCare, Atlantic Richfield and MSE/MERDI. The groups have contributed $120,000 to growing the economy of Butte.

The steering committee helps three subcommittees attain their goals by finding and providing the resources necessary to accomplish those tasks.

For example, it is helping launch the Chamber-backed Leadership Butte initiative. The plan is to take up-and-coming people in southwest Montana communities and give them the skills to become tomorrow’s leaders. The group met last week and plans to launch the effort in the fall.

Here’s an update on some of the Blueprint efforts:

# The economic development task force of Blueprint for Change has begun its survey of businesses under the Business Expansion and Retention or BEAR program. The program is an extensive survey that helps firms find the resources to expand or retain its current business. Cost of the program is $10,500 financed by Blueprint and monitored by the Butte Local Development Corp. To date, five local firms have been surveyed, and four have received information on resources available to help them grow. The committee reviews progress bi-weekly at the BLDC. Dillon and Twin Bridges have similar programs under way as well.

# A business marketing kit, a publication to entice employers and employees to locate in Butte, is being updated. It will includue a listing of opportunities for businesses and detail the quality of life that would be attractive to relocating in southwest Montana. Plans are to have it published by June. Cost is about $8,000.

# The group has a list of chain stores that may fit well in the vacant 25,000-square-foot anchor store at the Butte Plaza Mall. Contacts are being made with those retailers.

The Civic Improvement committee, with $8,000 in funding from Blueprint, will put up lights on the Orphan Girl mining frame at the World Museum of Mining. Plans are to have them in place by July 4. Other efforts:

# The Beautify Butte and Anaconda campaign kicks off on Earth Day, April 22. The annual Chamber-sponsored town cleanup will also include removing junk vehicles and camp trailers from the Butte streets. The Standard will build a Web page of photos of junk vehicles to nudge the owners to clean them up.

# The group is planting flowers along the newly paved walking trail from Excelsior Avenue to Western Avenue in mid-April

# It is continuing its campaign to have all businesses clearly display their street addresses. A county ordinance requires that the addresses be clearly displayed.

# And it is working with the Chamber on the renovation of the Berkeley Pit Viewing Stand.

The tourism committee is working on a regional tourism fair at the Butte Civic Center (see related story) and is seeking funding for two tour guides for the chamber’s Old No. 1 Trolley. The group needs $4,000 for this summer and is asking the community for help. Blueprint has comitted matching $1,000 to the fund-raising effort.