Montana Commerce Director, Tony Preite to Present Montana Ethanol Producers And Consumers with a $87,500 check from the WIRED Program

Montana Department of Commerce Director Tony Preite will
present the Ethanol Producers And Consumers (EPAC) of Montana with a
$87,500 WIRED grant Tuesday, March 20, at the Ethanol Fuel Workshop at
the Glasgow Elk’s Club.

EPAC will use the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development
(WIRED) grant to conduct 13 workshops which will support the biofuels
industry across the 32 county WIRED region in eastern and central
Montana and on six Indian reservations.

Montana’s WIRED program was created as a result of Governor Brain
Schweitzer’s commitment to value added agricultural energy projects. In
January 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor approved Governor
Schweitzer’s application for the WIRED initiative. Montana’s application
was one of only 13 approved nationwide.

The Commerce WIRED program has nearly $3.5 million in grant funds
available annually for customized worker training for businesses working
with universities, colleges, high schools, and other training providers
on specialized bio-product training and curriculum development. The
program will also provide grants for WIRED eligible job training
programs or projects that will enhance and expand the bio-product
industry in the WIRED region.

WHO: Montana Department of Commerce Director Anthony Preite

WHAT: Check Presentation

WHEN: Tuesday, March 20 @ 11:50 AM

WHERE: Ethanol Fuel Workshop, Glasgow Elk’s Club

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Marissa Kozel

Public Information Officer

Montana Department of Commerce, Director’s Office

406-841-2772

[email protected]