Industrial parks at whim of earmark slashers

"Somebody told me that if you’re in the economic-development field, patience is a virtue," the executive director of Bear Paw Development http://www.bearpaw.org/, Paul Tuss, said. "Typically things take twice as long as you think and cost twice as much."

For now, it’s a vast, grassy field. With time and money, however, the Montana Agro-Industrial Park south of Havre could become a boon to the Hi-Line economy.

That field will remain a dream as Congress walks the tricky line between funding economic-development projects and trimming the budget of earmarks.

The project started three years ago and is still $350,000 shy of what’s needed to finish the first phase, which includes building roads, digging wells, creating holding ponds and other infrastructure within the park.

By KIM SKORNOGOSKI • Tribune Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110102/BUSINESS/101020304/Industrial-parks-at-whim-of-earmark-slashers