MSE (Butte) nets $20 million for this year’s funding

MSE, one of the county’s largest private employers with 200 people, has won nearly $20 million in government funding for the coming year.

By Leslie McCartney of The Montana Standard

“ This was the most difficult appropriations process I’ve ever been through,” said MSE President Don Peoples.

MSE, which conducts research in a number of projects, ranging from aerospace research to mine waste cleanup, is heavily dependent on gov ernment money for its operations.

Peoples said the national deficit, coupled with fear about a war with Iraq, made the appropriations climate harsh. But he credited the Montana congressional delegation, especially Conrad Burns and Dennis Rehberg, as being stars for the Butte-based high technology firm.

The delegation delivered dollars to MSE for continued research into several of its specialty areas, including research into the Mariah II wind tun nel project. That effort is under way at MSETechnology Applications at the Mike Mansfield Advanced Technology Center in Butte’s Industrial Park.

The Air Force program is a national effort to prove the viability of and ultimately build a hypersonic wind tunnel. The research has potential use in advanced missile and aerospace development. MSE-Technology Applications is in charge of the pro ject with support from such renown research entities such as Princeton University and Sandia National Laboratories.

MSE says it can be a force in forging the aerospace industry in Montana, and winning the Mariah II research is a boon to the company. Peoples said he hopes that more research can be conducted in Butte so that aerospace becomes a player in the state economy.

“ It’s very realistic for us in the next 10 to 20 years,” he said.

MSE sweats it out during the appropriations process because it is not part of an earmarked fund already in the budget. And although it holds several contracts with agencies like the Department of Energy, it is up to Congress to provide the money to honor those agreements.

“ We get help from the entire delegation,” Peoples said.

He added that Montana representatives have a lot of influence, especial ly Burns, who sits on an appropria tions committee. Burns is interested in high-tech firms like MSE. He and Rehberg have both visited the Butte facility.

“ They have a commitment to hightech jobs and know that MSE does top-flight work,” Peoples said. He also pointed out that the delegation continues to support MSE, even though members may not enjoy as much support from the Democratic Butte as other parts of the state.

And although MSE is sitting well for the coming fiscal year, future allo cations may be difficult to get.

“ Next year is shaping up to be a very difficult year,” Peoples said.

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