The Ravalli County Economic Development Authority seeks grant for business park

The Ravalli County Economic Development Authority is again seeking the county’s endorsement of a block grant to extend infrastructure to a proposed business park near the Ravalli County Airport.

by BUDDY SMITH Ravalli Republic Staff Reporter

Up to $500,000 is available in block grant money, federal dollars administered through the state Department of Commerce. Commissioners held a public hearing this week for entities vying for the Community Development Block Grant dollars.

"We ended up having only one applicant, and that was the Economic Development Authority," Commissioner Jack Atthowe said Thursday.

He said commissioners are "favorably impressed" with the authority’s preliminary proposal.

Atthowe said members of the Florence Sewer and Water District also attended the hearing, but announced intentions to hold off on applying for the grant to help fund a waste water treatment and collection facility until the next round of grant applications in the spring.

Director Betty Davis said the authority will apply for $500,000 through the block grant program. The money would be part of the funding needed for infrastructure, specifically sewer and water line extensions east of town to the proposed, 26-acre business park site near the Ravalli County Airport, she said.

"It’s an infrastructure project that will benefit many," she said. "It will get the water and sewer right out to the edge of the airport."

The authority is the only group that came forward, so there basically is no competition for this round of funding, Davis said. The EDA vied for the county’s endorsement last year but commissioners backed the Florence Sewer District, though ultimately there were problems securing property for the project and the application was not submitted.

Judy Sass of the Florence Sewer and Water District said members did not seek the county’s endorsement of the grant this week because the district is not quite ready to use the money for the project. However, in May the sewer and water district will again ask for county endorsement of a block grant, she said.

"We will certainly be knocking on their door, actually in about February, to get them going on it," Sass said.

Davis, meanwhile, said the grant would be matching funds for a federal EDA grant the county is applying for on behalf of the local economic development authority. Davis said the federal grant must be matched with non-federal funding, in this case the block grant administered through the state.

"So between the two grants, that’s basically where the funding would come from for that infrastructure project," Davis said.

"Without the infrastructure, we, of course, cannot begin to develop the park and we’ve had inquiries and had to turn people away that were interested in starting businesses in that area," Davis said.

Community Development Block Grant funds use appropriations from the federal Office of Housing and Urban Development and are administered by the Montana Department of Commerce. The state agency grants those dollars to Montana cities and counties for projects that will benefit the community. Block grants may be awarded for economic development, public facilities or housing and projects must provide potential to benefit low- or moderate-income residents.

Montana has $3.5 million to allocate in public facilities dollars through this particular grant program, though Ravalli County is eligible for up to $500,000, said Skip Rosenthal, the county’s administrative director. Rosenthal said from seven to 10 grants are funded statewide.

"I feel pretty confident the county commissioners will endorse this application," he said.

Davis said commissioners will hold a public hearing on Dec. 23 and finalize a decision.

"They have to develop a good application that meets the criteria that is set forth," Atthowe said.

"I think it’s a worthwhile grant and will provide a major economic stimulus to this valley and I think would provide a great number of jobs for the people within the county," he said.

Reporter Buddy Smith can be reached at 363-3300 or [email protected].

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