Study focuses on economic recovery after loss of missiles in Great Falls, Montana

Two economic development consultants told 25 local government and business leaders Tuesday how they hope their upcoming study can help the region recover from the loss of a Malmstrom Air Force Base mission by diversifying.

Praxis Strategy Group of Grand Forks, N.D., has been picked by local officials to do a multi-faceted study under a nearly $500,000 grant from the Defense Department’s Office of Economic Adjustment.

Cascade County applied for the grant on behalf of surrounding counties as Malmstrom’s 564th Missile Squadron was being deactivated. The Great Falls base will lose about 500 military personnel, and the counties northwest of Great Falls that housed the 50 missiles will lose road-maintenance money.

Parts of the study will quantify the economic impact of losing the airmen and their families, do an inventory of the region’s businesses and study how the region can recruit, train and keep its work force. But the most important parts will be competitive analyses of what Great Falls and northcentral Montana can do to increase development and jobs in three key areas: agricultural processing, energy and entrepreneurial and small-business development.

By PETER JOHNSON • Tribune Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080917/NEWS01/809170309/1002/news01