50 jobs stay in Butte

County officials’ fears that another business had plans to leave town were assuaged Tuesday when PPL Montana confirmed
that the marketing arm of the company will stay in Butte.

By Leslie McCartney of The Montana Standard

“ We are thrilled with PPL’s decision,” said Kathy Fasso, economic development director, who along with Butte-Silver Bow
Chief Executive Judy Jacobson and Butte’s legislators, have been working to persuade the company to stay in town. Fasso also
pledged the community’s sup port for the company and its local work ers.
However, PPL’s David Hoffman made it clear that no decision had ever been made to leave Butte, but that the compa ny was
evaluating its business — as it does elsewhere — to analyze compe tency and efficiency.

Hoffman said that PPL managers are impressed with the quality and dedication of its Butte employees as well as the city’s
pro-business attitude.
Employees at PPL’s Butte office, locat ed on Harrison Avenue, were told of the decision to keep operations the same prior to
notification of county officials.
Approximately 50 people work at the office — split between generation employees, who were not believed to have been affected,
and those working for PPL EnergyPlus, the marketing and trading component of the energy company.

Besides Butte, PPL Montana and PPL EnergyPlus, both subsidiaries of PPL Corp., have offices in Billings and Helena. PPL
Montana operates the Colstrip and Corette generating plants and 11 hydroelectric facilities within the state.
The Pennsylvania-based company bought Montana Power Co.’s generation assets a few years ago. However in late June, PPL
had a reduction of 600 jobs company-wide, fueling fears that Butte could be vulnerable.

Officials pointed out that Butte was especially worried because of losses it has suffered dur ing the past year from the lingering
effects of the shutdown of Montana Resources, the fleeing of EnCana, formerly PanCanadian, and other business closures, on
top of worries about the future of the ailing Touch America.
County officials said the quality of Butte’s work force is a big factor in PPL’s decision to keep workers employed in Butte.

“ They (PPL) are very pleased with the operations here,” Jacobson added.
Reporter Leslie McCartney may be reached via email at leslie.mccartney(at)(at)mtstandard.com.

http://www.mtstandard.com/newslocal/localnews1.html