Libby, Montana Crafts a New Identity – Hundreds of jobs arrive as town grapples with soaring unemployment

Lincoln County is a land of extremes and superlatives. It has Montana’s lowest elevation and highest unemployment rate. Located in the state’s far northwestern corner, its remote and gorgeous timberland seems the very definition of the "last best place." Miners, loggers and environmentalists all call this place home, and the debates over natural resource extraction are often as hot as the winters are cold.

It is in this context that Lincoln County confronts a period of great transition, as its once thriving timber industry hangs by a thread, two mines hang in the balance, and one person out of every five in the workforce is unemployed. And to better understand Lincoln County’s situation, it is instructive to view it through the lens of Libby , the county seat and most populous town.

"We sit on an edge right now," Pezzelle said, "where we can turn a corner and Libby can start growing again or we can just sit out here and stay at the status quo."

Pezzelle rattled off a list of examples to demonstrate an improving economy, including the arrival of bridge-building company Stinger Welding http://www.deckjoint.com/ , which will usher in more than 200 jobs over the next few years. The FVCC campus has implemented a welding program specifically aimed at training workers for Stinger.

Kootenai River Development Council http://www.krdc.net/

Libby Chamber of Commerce http://www.libbychamber.org/

Full Story: http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/libby_crafts_a_new_identity/21864/