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New economic development district expected to bring opportunities to 5 eastern Montana counties

An economic development district intended to serve five eastern Montana counties has been designated through the efforts of the Eastern Plains Resource Conservation and Development http://www.sjrcd.org/rcdmenu/fiscalagent.htm .

The formation of the Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation and its designation as an economic development district was discussed at the recent Eastern Plains RC&D meeting.

By Margaret Brinkley
Ranger-Review Staff Writer

Dawson County joins Carter, Fallon, Prairie, and Wibaux counties in forming the corporation.

Designation as an economic development district comes through the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, or the EDA. The designation will serve as a foundation for future successes that will benefit both businesses and families in the region, according to information shared at the meeting.

At the meeting, Eastern Plains RC&D Coordinator Mike Carlson said, “This is a historic event for eastern Montana. This is one of the purposes of an RC&D, to create economic development infrastructure.”

The milestone designation will give cities and counties within the district access to funds for infrastructure which they never had before, Carlson added.

The program is designed to help these five counties build capacity through a planning and economic development staff, said Cal Oraw, economic development specialist with Eastern Plains RC&D.

It is hoped that the designation by EDA will lead to other projects that the federal government might fund. For example, all of the counties and cities within the district are eligible for public works financial assistance, through grants and low cost loans, for infrastructure such as sewer, water and streets. Technical assistance funds for engineering studies is also available, Oraw said. There are also monies for economic adjustment when a large employer leaves an area, for disaster assistance, and for research grants, he added.

Eastern Plains RC&D is providing matching funds for a grant from EDA to use for program planning assistance. Eastern Plains RC&D is supplying $33,334 to ward the required local match. This money will be used to hire a staff and implement the programming for economic development district, Oraw said.

“This is something we thought was unachievable,” he said. But Eastern Plains RC&D was given the opportunity to submit a final application in mid-August. “It was very much a surprise when it was granted. There seems to be a renewed commitment (by EDA) to help out rural areas.”

Now that the Eastern Plains EDD has been designated for the five southeastern Montana counties, it is time to work on a joint agreement for the smooth administration and efficient delivery of services to these five counties, Carlson said.

Work toward establishing this economic development district has been ongoing since 1997, Carlson said. The last three years’ efforts have been directed through Eastern Plains RC&D with funding from an EDA planning grant and a Community Development Block Grant, he concluded.

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