Commerce Director Anthony Preite to Present More than $1.3 Million in Funding to Cascade & Pondera Counties for Economic Development Projects

Montana Department of Commerce Director Anthony Preite will visit Great Falls and Conrad on Thursday, August 30, to present checks totaling more than $1.3 million in funding for economic development projects in Cascade and Pondera Counties.

“These grants are essential to the ongoing economic development efforts in North Central Montana,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “These types of public-private partnerships maximize the benefits that economic development brings to our local communities.”

9:30 a.m. Great Falls

Director Preite will present Cascade County Commissioners with a check for $200,000 for various studies and determination of future missions at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The event will take place at the Cascade County Courthouse Annex Building in Great Falls.

10:30 a.m. Great Falls

Director Preite will present Centene Corporation officials with $480,700 in Workforce Training funds at the Centene building at 2000 – 26th Street South in Great Falls.

1:00 p.m. Conrad

Director Preite will present a total of $700,000 to officials from Pondera County and Intercontinental Truck Body for worker training, equipment and working capital at the Intercontinental Truck Body plant in Conrad.

Cascade County will use the $200,000 to conduct various studies related to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure study ordered by Congress and for the determination of future missions to be housed at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The funding is provided through the Montana Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant Program and the 2005 Legislature.

The Centene Corporation will use the $480,700 in funds to hire and train 100 new employees over the next three years. The medical claims processing corporation currently employs 110 people in Great Falls. The funding is provided by a Workforce Training Grant through the Montana Department of Commerce’s Workforce Training Grant Program.

Intercontinental Truck Body will use $300,000 in funds to train new and incumbent workers. The $300,000 in funding is provided by the Workforce Innovation in Regional Development (WIRED) program. Pondera County will use $400,000 in funds to assist Intercontinental Truck Body with a loan for working capital, equipment purchases and administrative costs. The $400,000 in funding is provided by the Community Development Block Grant – Economic Development (CDBG-ED) program. Funding is provided through the Montana Department of Commerce