Defense spending: 3 Butte firms set to share nearly $25 million

Three Butte firms should share in nearly $25 million in defense spending — nearly half of the $54.7 slated for the state — much to the delight of those businesses.

By Leslie McCartney of The Montana Standard

Sen. Conrad Burns announced Thursday that the Defense Appropriations bill was approved by a joint House-Senate committee.

The conference report will next be voted on by both the House and the Senate. The final step is that the bill — one of 13 spending bills that funds government every year — will be signed by President Bush.

The firms should see the money in the next calendar year if the bill passes.

"This is the most significant appropriations, obviously, in our history," said Don Peoples, head of MSE, who also said that in his experience, passing the joint committee was the biggest hurdle for the funding bill.

"I can’t say enough for Sen. Burns," Peoples continued. "He truly recognizes what Butte has to offer in high technology and this goes a long way to establishing Butte as a high-tech center."

MSE http://www.mse-ta.com/ raked in nearly $18 million in funding, while another Butte firm, Resodyn Corp. http://www.resodyn.com/ , garnered $5 million, and another, called Universal Technical Resource Services Inc. http://www.utrs.com , will get $2 million.

"Our armed forces deserve the best we can provide," said Burns, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"The funding included in this legislation helps to keep our volunteer forces the best trained and equipped military in the world."

The money is sprinkled among several research and development projects being conducted by the firms. The lion’s share of the funding, $12 million, will go toward MSE Technology Applications’ Mariah II hypersonic wind tunnel program. That program is investigating how materials respond to high pressure. The research has applications in space launch vehicles or deep space transportation, among others.

Other projects funded at MSE include a demilitarization technology program which basically helps develop ways to safely destroy outdated ordnance and munitions stockpiled by the military. Also getting the green — $1.5 million — is the machine vision confirmation of launch bar engagement system. In that research, a computer program is employed that can tell exactly if a hitch for aircraft is properly seated before it takes off from an aircraft carrier. MSE’s waste minimization and pollution prevention project is getting $1.4 million as well.

At its first time at the funding table, Resodyn Corp., a research and development firm, pulled down $5 million to be split between two projects.

"Senator Burns understands the need for high-tech research and development in Montana and its direct effect on creating new jobs for the economy. Resodyn is very appreciative of the senator’s support, and we will be working to create a sustainable industry that will bring new jobs to Butte and new technological opportunities for our armed forces. That is great news," said Larry Farrar, company president.

Resodyn will receive $2.7 million for its work on advanced metallized gelled propellants, which at its most basic results in a more powerful propellant. Another $2.3 million was granted for Resodyn’s thermal spray for structural protection program which helps provide blast protection for buildings.

Universal Technical Resource Services will get $2 million for its work on ways to produce low-cost titanium that will directly benefit the military in addition to having commercial uses. That firm, headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., with an office in Butte, is working with the Army to reduce the cost of processing titanium and fabrication technologies.

"This is clearly good news for the Butte economy and those seeking employment," said Mike Lewis of the Butte office. "Senator Burns has come through for the folks of Montana again."

All the businesses were clearly pleased with the level of funding they received for their ongoing research projects.

"This is the best day I’ve had in years," Peoples said.

Reporter Leslie McCartney may be reached via email at [email protected].

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2003/09/19/newsbutte/hjjgjaiajcfbid.txt