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$418,560 awarded from commerce economic action program to stabilize fire impacted rural areas

Eleven Montana entities will receive $418,560 in U.S. Forest Service National Fire Plan (Title IV) funds from the Montana Department of Commerce Economic Action Program (EAP).

Projects Located in Fergus, Flathead, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Petroleum, Powder River and Sanders Counties

The intent of the joint U.S. Forest Service – Montana Department of Commerce effort is to stabilize rural Montana communities impacted by wildfires of 2000.

This is the second round of EAP awards from the Department of Commerce.

"The importance of planning for future uncertainly is being driven home as we watch as well as help other states battle this year’s early round of fires," said Mark Simonich, Director, Montana Department of Commerce. "By putting resources in the hands of Montana’s communities and entrepreneurs plays an important role in enabling them to be better prepared."

The awardees are:

· Fergus, Judith Basin and Petroleum Counties will collectively receive $25,000 in the Community Planning for Fire Protection grant category for the development of a comprehensive, strategic, interagency wildfire management plan in portions of Snowy Mountain Development Corporation’s service delivery area. Snowy Mountain Development Corporation will administer the grant for the counties. Snowy Mountain, a local development corporation, also serves Golden Valley, Musselshell and Wheatland Counties.

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· Lake County’s Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will receive $100,000 in the Economic Action Pilot Project category for the expansion of the Flathead
Sticker Plant to include a dowel mill. The dowel mill will produce pole furniture, teepee furniture and residential fencing and railing.

· Lewis and Clark County’s Wolf Creek/Craig Fire Service Area will receive $25,000 for the development of a comprehensive, strategic, interagency wildfire plan for the Wolf Creek/Craig corridor of the county which is a rural area with a growing year-round population.

· Lincoln County Economic Development Council will receive $45,750 in the Economic Action Pilot Project category to employ a small diameter wood agent in its service delivery area, Lincoln and Flathead Counties.

· Lincoln County’s Northwest Regional Resource Conservation and Development District will receive $69,100 in the Economic Action Pilot Project category for the purchase of a molder that will be leased to Chapel Cedar in the town Troy. This small wood project is unique because it focuses on cedar, birch and hemlock.

· Mineral County’s Bailey’s Superior Post and Pole will receive $32,200 in the Economic Action Pilot Project category for the purchase of a wood waste fired boiler system at their operation in the town Superior.

· Missoula County’s Montana Community Development Corporation will receive $60,000 in the Economic Action Program category for the implementation of phase two of a treated posts awareness campaign. The campaign will focus on reclaiming the wood post and pole market share for Montana.

· Missoula County’s Seeley Lake Fire District will receive $25,000 for the development of a comprehensive, strategic, interagency wildfire plan for this rural corridor of the county with a growing year-round population.

· Powder River County will receive $25,000 in Community Planning for Fire Protection funds for the development of a countywide, strategic wildfire management plan.

· Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC) will receive $11,510 in the Economic Action Project category to educate Sanders County residents about creating defensible wildfire spaces on their property. The grant will also allow SCCDC to explore the potential for creating wood waste products industries in an area of Montana with high unemployment.

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Grant for small diameter wood projects and 2000 fire impact $248,656 AVAILABLE FROM COMMERCE ON FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS FOR COMMUNITIES
IMPACTED BY FIRES 2000 http://www.matr.net/article-4019.html

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