Montana Commerce Community Development Block Grant Program Awards $20,000 to Butte-Silver Bow for Rocket Testing Facility

The Montana Department of Commerce has awarded $20,000 in funding from the Community Development Block Grant – Economic Development (CDBG-ED) Program to Butte-Silver Bow toward engineering costs for data collection, testing, preliminary design work, and feasibility assessments for rocket testing for the Montana Aerospace Development Association’s AeroTec facility. The testing will advance hybrid rocket technology, and future development of aerospace science in Butte.

"We have an exciting aerospace industry developing here in Montana," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "The AeroTec project will open many doors for Butte and create valuable partnerships with industry leaders. This project will help take Montana’s aerospace industry to the next level."

AeroTec is a rocket and jet engine testing facility located at the former Rhodia Chemical site, 10 miles west of Butte, in the Butte Silver Bow Tax Increment Financing District. The Montana Aerospace Development Association (MADA) operates the facility, which is leased by Butte-Silver Bow. Space Propulsion Group (SPG), an offshoot of Stanford University, and AeroTec’s first client, is currently conducting rocket propulsion tests at the facility. SPG conducted its first tests in March, 2009 and is slated to conduct a second series of tests in May, 2009.

"AeroTec is a unique feature to Montana and it has much room for development," said Anthony Preite, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. "It’s a boon for the economy of Butte-Silver Bow and the state. We are just getting started and I look forward to seeing it progress in the future."

In November 2007, the Montana Department of Commerce provided a $25,000 grant from the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF) to Headwaters RC&D Area Inc. to assist MADA with the development of a preliminary engineering grant for the AeroTec facility.

The CDBG-ED program receives funding from the Community Development Block Grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Butte Silver Bow Tax Increment Finance District will contribute additional funding.

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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]