Sikorsky plan fails to lift off in Montana

Although it has not been announced where it will site its new design center, Sikorsky Aircraft will not be coming to Montana.

Dave Gibson, the chief business officer for the governor’s economic opportunity office, said the state made it onto Sikorsky’s "very short list" but the manufacturer got a better offer from another state. That state has not been disclosed to Montana officials.

By the Standard Staff

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2004/11/05/newsbutte_top/hjjfiijejcgdii.txt

Despite the loss, Gibson said he is proud of the effort put forth by the state and in particular, Butte and Billings.

"The local communities did a great job with proposals," he said.

Both Butte and Billings dangled proposals in front of Sikorsky. The manufacturer, part of the the $35 billion company United Technologies, wants to install design and research centers outside its home base in Connecticut. A successful bid would have meant at least 50 good-paying engineering jobs with assorted support personnel.

"They were very complimentary of the proposal Billings and Butte put forth; they were the two most detailed," Gibson said Thursday. He also lauded the cities and state for the teamwork displayed in

competing for the business.

"It’s not a bad thing to make a really good impression. It never hurts to have a big corporation think that Montana’s an incredible place to do business," Gibson said.

While Butte officials are disappointed with the decision to go elsewhere, Butte Local Development Corp.’s Evan Barrett said the team worked hard and gained good experience.

"We came up with some different approaches that I believe can be replicated in other proposals in the future," Barrett said. "It’s never a total loss; there is a gain of community cohesiveness and team-building aspect to it."

"I really think the Butte team performed marvelously on this," he added.

Sikorsky, a leading manufacturer of helicopters, seemed to be interested in Butte with tours by officials of a proposed office site in the Hennessy Building, which was recently purchased by Resodyn Corp. In addition, a "blind" advertisement was published in various newspapers to gauge interest and quality of candidates needed to staff a design center.

— Leslie McCartney, The Montana Standard