Ravalli County Economic Development Authority’s Two-Million Dollar Grants Package for Retention and Expansion of a Major Employer in Ravalli County is now a Reality

An announcement received by Ravalli County Economic Authority from U. S. Senator Max Baucus office that the1.4 million dollar USDA EDA grant sought by RCEDA was approved. Betty Davis said, “the joint County/City/RCEDA project now has the funding in place to complete the water sewer project down Old Corvallis Road to Corixa Corporation.

(Congratulatins to everyone involved in this valuable project for the economy of Montana- Russ)

The expansion of Corixa was not possible unless City water and sewer reached their location. Other States were in the process of wooing Corixa out of Montana with a multitude of incentives, which put the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority on alert. RCEDA’s Director, Betty Davis put together a task force, including the following entities: Montana Department of Commerce – RDO Eric Hanson, Betty Lund, Ravalli County Commissioner, Mark Shrives, Manager – City of Hamilton.

Assistance was requested and received from Governor Martz and Dave Gibson, the Governor’s Chief Business Officer. On behalf of RCEDA, Davis originally presented the need for the project to U.S. Senator Max Baucus and two representatives, John Rogers and Tony Preite of U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration. She was then invited to present the project to the EDA regional directors in Denver, Colorado. The City of Hamilton also made it possible for Dale Huhtanen to be present for the Denver presentation.

All entities were in agreement that Montana and Ravalli County could not afford to loose Corixa Corporation to another state. Corixa has the potential of hiring over a hundred new employees and retaining the hundred they already employ. Corixa also is looking at a two-phase expansion project that could amount to 60 million dollars.” Ravalli County Economic Development Authorities goal is to get higher paying jobs into Ravalli County and through this expansion, that’s exactly what is happening” Davis said.

The Ravalli County Commissioners, the City of Hamilton and RCEDA jointly applied for $800,000 Economic Development grant for the infrastructure and employee training for this project. “Putting a package together like this is not an over night thing”, Davis said.

The Mayor of Hamilton, Joe Petrusaitis, reported to the press early on that Corixa is the ideal “Poster Child for Economic Development” and that Ravalli County and Hamilton had an opportunity to lead the way.

Davis says, “Only by joining hands and pooling all incentive resources possible, could these grants and the incentive package have become a reality. This is a win-win for Ravalli County.

The City of Hamilton is administering the joint County-City and the EDA grants at the request of the County. Dale Huhtanen, City of Hamilton, is Projects and grants manager. RCEDA is managing the hiring and training plan.

The City will end up with a sizeable addition to their water sewer infrastructure. Other entities, including Council on Aging, established and new businesses along the route, plus the Fairgrounds will benefit from the lines going down Old Corvallis Road.

Bids are currently in progress on the project with construction to start this Spring.

CONTACT:

BETTY DAVIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RAVALLI COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

105 E. MAIN,

HAMILTON MT.

PHONE # 375-9416

Additional Contacts:
Betty Lund, Ravalli County Commissioner, 375-6200

Mark Shrives, Manager -City of Hamilton 363-2102

Charles Richardson, Vice President, General Manager – Corixa Montana 375-2114