Rehberg Hails $8 Million in Science, Justice and Commerce Projects for Montana

Montana’s Congressman Denny Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today announced the list of Montana projects included in the FY 2006 Science, State, Justice & Commerce spending approved by a joint congressional committee. Specific Montana projects totaled over $8 Million.

“This is another victory for Montana’s economy, which will benefit from this federal investment,” Rehberg said. “While my goal has been to try and squeeze a little more into these spending bills for Montana, nevertheless, it’s important to work within the overall budgetary constraints.”

Rehberg was able to include several Montana-specific projects in this year’s bill, including $500,000 that will allow the Missoula-based Montana World Trade Center to launch EnterpriseMontana.

“I’m especially proud of the EnterpriseMontana funding, which I fought to get included in this legislation,” Rehberg said. “Our last trade mission to Europe confirmed that we can use the EnterpriseMontana model to promote Montana businesses into global markets well-suited for the type of products and services that Montana’s small and large businesses have to offer. We discovered pretty quickly the global business community is aware of and enthusiastic about the quality of Montana’s products. EnterpriseMontana was created to capitalize on that enthusiasm and help create economic opportunity for Montana.”

Montana-specific projects added to the measure include:

• MSU Compact Laser Sensors $1,250,000

• MSU Spaceflight Health Monitoring Technology 1,250,000

• Statewide Communications Network 1,000,000

• Montana Technology and Innovation Partnership—Billings 600,000

• Montana Department of Administration, economic development 500,000

• Montana World Trade Center 500,000

• Montana Supreme Court’s Case and Document Management System 430,000

• Applied Technology Center at MSU Northern 400,000

• Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Bi-State Safety Project 300,000

• Court Assessment Program’s Family and Youth Drug Courts in Montana 270,000

• Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Technology Upgrade 250,000

• Family Tree Center – Billings 250,000

• Technology Venture Center 250,000

• InvestNet/Technology Venture Center Partnership 200,000

• Methamphetamine Treatment Demonstration Project, MT 200,000

• Missoula County & City Public Safety Operations Technology & Equipment 200,000

• Montana Safe Schools Project 200,000

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mt00_rehberg/110905_SSJCApprops.html

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$8 million goes to agencies in state

Billings Gazette Staff

Two Billings agencies will benefit from the Commerce, Justice and State bill approved Wednesday in Congress. Montana projects included in the measure totaled more than $8 million.

The Family Tree Center, which offers many programs in its mission to prevent child abuse, received $250,000.

"We hope to be able to utilize this funding to help more families," said Mary Gilluly, executive director of the agency. "We’re seeing a tremendous need for parent education services."

The Family Tree Center’s programs include training parent volunteers to support parents of newborns, teaching parenting classes for community members, including parents who have been involved in the state system because of child abuse or neglect.

A grant of $600,000 will go to the Montana Technology and Innovation Partnership, which includes Montana State University-Billings, Big Sky Economic Development Authority, Center for Applied Economic Research, Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development and the Montana Business Incubator.

The partnership works to create jobs and technology-based business opportunities.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?display=rednews/2005/11/10/build/state/80-agency-money.inc