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Montana Commerce Director Presents $342,138 in Workforce Training Funds to Cable Technology Inc. of Great Falls

February 14, 2008 /

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Bear Paw Development Corporation is a private non-profit organization created for the purpose of administering programs to help improve regional economic conditions in Hill, Blaine, Liberty, Chouteau and Phillips Counties and the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian Reservations.

Today Montana Department of Commerce http://commerce.mt.gov/ Director Anthony Preite presented $342,138 in Workforce Training Grant funds to Cable Technology of Montana, Inc. http://www.cablemt.com/ in Great Falls.

“These grant funds will create 100 new, good paying jobs for the Great Falls community,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “This is economic development at its best, and it’s proof that Montana’s on the move.”

Cable Technology Inc. will use the $342,138 in WTG funds to train 100 new employees over the next two years. New employee wages must be at or above the average wage for Cascade County, which is $14.20 per hour.

“This is a perfect example of a public/private partnership working for the people,” said Director Preite. “This Workforce Training Grant is a solid economic investment that will create numerous opportunities for the Great Falls workforce.”

Cable Technology Inc. was established in 1997 and expanded to Great Falls in 2005. The company designs and produces cable assemblies and harness systems for companies like Boeing and various industries including the aerospace, automotive and medical industries as well as the military. Because the work is engineered to customer specifications by individuals with specialty training, cable and harness assembly is widely considered to be one of the most difficult and time-consuming assembly phases of manufacturing.

At Governor Schweitzer’s request, the 60th Montana Legislature increased funding for WTG from $1.4 million annually, to nearly $4 million annually. The program was designed to assist established businesses and new businesses in their expansion efforts. It is targeted toward businesses that create at least one net, new job that pays at least the lower of the current county average or the current state average. That wage can include fringe benefits. New employees must work at least thirty-five hours per week year round. Program applicants must demonstrate that at least fifty percent of their sales originate outside of Montana. The maximum funding available to train a single employee is $5,000.