Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnerships (IMCP) Phase II – Information on industrial parks requested

As part to the Phase II of the IMCP grant application, we need to identify the available infrastructure in the state. We’d appreciate it if designated Montana industrial parks could send us information on their parks. If successful, this grant could potentially benefit all manufacturing in the state and region.

We are working on an application to address the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative that was announce in December by the federal government. A team from southwest Montana including Butte-Silver Bow local government, Butte Local Development Corporation, Mike Mansfield Advanced Technology Center, Montana Tech and Headwaters RC&D was successful in securing a planning grant from in Phase I of the IMCP initiative. In Phase II of the initiative we are working with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and broadening the scope to include the entire state of Montana and focus on Natural Resource Development. I have attached an summary of the project for additional information.

I am working on defining the Infrastructure and Site Development resources available in the state. I am requesting your assistance in gathering information in regards to industrial parks that are located around the state.

Please provide the following for the industrial parks located in your area;

Size

Available infrastructure

Infrastructure that is needed

Majority of Ownership of sites within the parks

Qualify as Brownfields

Is the site part of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

Please send your responses to Kristen Rosa [email protected]. If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact me at 406-497-6470.

We are on a very short time line so if you could please get me information as soon as possible it would be great appreciated.

Thank you

Kristen Rosa

TIFID Administrator

406-497-6470

[email protected]

What is the IMCP?

The ‘Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership’ (IMCP) seeks to enhance the way federal economic development funds are leveraged to encourage communities to focus not only on attracting individual investment one at a time , but to transform themselves into globally-competitive manufacturing hubs. The IMCP initiative encourages communities to create comprehensive economic development strategies that strengthen their competitive edge. IMCP brings together the resources of multiple federal departments and agencies in economic development to work together with these communities.

A team from southwest Montana including, Butte-Local Development Corporation (BLDC), Butte-Silver Bow (BSB), Montana Economic Revitalization and Development Institute (MERDI) and Montana Tech, were successful in the Phase I of the IMCP. In September 2013, we were awarded a $200,000 matching grant to evaluate and accelerate manufacturing with an emphasis on Natural Resource Development in the area.
Phase II of IMCP was announced in December 2013, in this phase communities will compete for a special designation that will elevate them in consideration of $1.3 billion in federal dollars and assistance from 10 cabinet department/agencies. Communities that receive the designation may also receive additional federal investments to further support their economic development strategies.

What are we trying to accomplish?

The requirements for submitting a proposal for Phase II of the IMCP initiative include providing data that shows your "community" is within the top third of the nation in your chosen field. With thorough investigation and discussions with representatives from EDA in Washington DC, we are focusing on Petroleum and Coal Production, and Nonmetallic Mineral Production and generally expanding the scope to consist of Natural Resource Development (NRD). The idea being that without NRD the manufacturing resurgence in America will be unsuccessful; manufacturers need Natural Resource as inputs for production. The application also requires a geographic scope. Because of the abundant Natural Resources and production support throughout the state we are focusing our efforts on the entire state of Montana. Our proposal will create a comprehensive economic development strategy for Natural Resource Development throughout the state of Montana.

In our application we are required to address 6 different elements of our industrial ecosystem. The elements include Workforce and Training, Supplier Network, Research and Innovation, Infrastructure/Site Development, Trade and International Investment and Operational Improvement and Capital Access. We are gathering information on all of these areas and have identified individuals who will help.
Montana’s application will have a couple of key discriminators that we believe will help us be successful in the application process. First, the Montana University System’s 2-year and Community Colleges have received a $25 million grant to improve the workforce training opportunities in Energy Development and Manufacturing. This project fits in perfectly with the IMCP application. Second, Montana appears to have been identified as a rural state that has the capability to accomplish the goals of the IMCP. There is pressure in Washington for these manufacturing communities to not just be focused on large industrial cities and leave the rural population behind.

What do we need before the deadline?

The application is due on March 14th, 2014. This short timeline necessitates creating a strong group of organizations to gather the information, get written support from stakeholders and partners, write the proposal and then critique the final product.

We have been gathering information in regards to NRD from around the state. We have created strong partnerships with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Idaho National Labs, Montana’s Department of Commerce, BLDC, MERDI, BSB, Montana Tech, and the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center. We are working on a meeting with the Mining Association and others in the Mining field and have been given initial indications that they may be interested in being involved with the application. Where we need the most assistance is in gathering partnership interest from the private entities in the industry.

Questions or comments –

Kristen Rosa at [email protected] or 406-497-6470

Andy Zdinak at [email protected] or 406-723-1562

Helen Joyce at [email protected] or 406-494-7232