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Montana Department of Commerce Awards $293,000 in Funding to the Town of Westby & New Century Ag

The Montana Department of Commerce has awarded a
combined total of $293,000 to the Town of Westby and New Century Ag, to
support infrastructure improvements and workforce training related to
the expansion of New Century Ag facility.

Commerce has awarded the Town of Westby $243,000 in funding, from the
Community Development Block Grant – Economic Development (CDBG-ED)
program and $25,000 from the Big Sky Trust Fund. The funding will be
used to assist with the cost of road improvements and water and sewer
extensions to New Century Ag as it completes construction on a new
office space, and a new grain elevator.

The Department has also awarded New Century Ag $25,000 in funding from
the Workforce Innovation in Regional Development (WIRED) program. The
award will be used for worker training associated with the facility’s
new grain elevator.

"Retention of the grain elevator in Westby is a crucial factor in
maintaining businesses and local economies in eastern Montana," said
Governor Brian Schweitzer. "I am committed to supporting projects that
support industry in our eastern communities."

"New jobs and an improved facility will mean great things for New
Century Ag and the people of Westby," said Anthony Preite, Director of
the Montana Department of Commerce. "We’re proud to help keep local
economies moving."

The awards must be used to create a minimum of five new jobs for low to
moderate income workers. Great Northern Development will assist with the
administration of the project.

The CDBG-ED program includes support from the Community Development
Block Grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, and the Economic Development Administration.

In January 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor approved Governor
Schweitzer’s application for the WIRED initiative. Montana’s application
was one of only 13 approved nationwide. Montana’s WIRED proposal focused
on the development of the bio-product industry in 32 counties and six
Indian reservations of Central and Eastern Montana. The Montana
Department of Commerce is managing a grant program under contract with
the Montana Department of Labor and Industry to implement part of the
WIRED proposal.

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Marissa Kozel
Public Information Officer
Montana Department of Commerce, Director’s Office
406-841-2772
[email protected]

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