Montana Department of Commerce, Block Grant Program Awards $166,860 in Funding to the City of Kalispell for Flathead Valley Community College to develop a a welding and metals fabrication program

The Montana Department of Commerce http://commerce.mt.gov/ has awarded $166,860 in funding from the Community Development Block Grant – Economic Development (CDBG-ED) Program to the City of Kalispell to grant to Flathead Valley Community College http://www.fvcc.edu/ to assist with a welding and metals fabrication program. The college will focus on specific computer numerical control (CNC) training giving students experience in set-up and operation of CNC lathes and milling machines, as well as manual programming.

“These funds are keeping Montana on the move,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer http://governor.mt.gov/. “Flathead Valley Community College expects to see at least 60 students enroll in this program over a two year period and more than half of these students are expected to find employment with local businesses after completing the program.”

“This project is a win-win for Flathead Valley Community College, its students, area businesses and the state economy,” said Anthony Preite, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “These funds are helping generate a skilled and educated workforce for many Montana businesses.”

The City of Kalispell will administer the project. Flathead Valley Community College will also contribute $154,500 in funding and $15,000 in donated supplies towards this training program.

Montana’s CDBG-ED program is designed to stimulate economic development activity by assisting Montana’s private sector in job creation or retention for low and moderate income persons.

The program receives funding from the Community Development Block Grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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Marissa P. Kozel

Communications Director, Director’s Office

Montana Department of Commerce

406-841-2772 (o)

406-465-7208 (c)

[email protected]