HomeMy WebLinkAboutBeartooth RC&D (2)Dan Lowe D~an 3ones
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~ny ~nd~ ~n Ha~n
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RESOURCE CONSERVATION INC.
Online at htW://www.beartxxdfl.om Email:
October 19, 2004
John Outhmiller
USDA/RD
PO Box 850
Bozema,~ MT 59771
~,i' 0CT 20 2004 ~Jl
i CITY oF .AUREL
Dear John,
Encleeed is the final report and resultant product of USDA Rural Development's Rural Business Opportunity Grant to
Beartooth RC&D Area, Inc.
On bchnlfofthe Board of Di_re~ors of Beartooth, Beartooth Staff and the communities of Laurel, Columbus, Bridger
and Big Timber, I thank Rural Development for funding this opportunity. We sincerely hope this will be the foundation
on which to build in promoting manufactm-ing in these communities.
If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.
Betty J. Curry
Community Rehtions~mwnficlds Coordinator
Beartooth RC&D Area, Inc.
cc.~ yaess~s, ~.c~a:) Coorcim~or
lsou, Jr., iVhyor, City of Laurel
Webb Mandeville, Mayor, Town of Columbus
James Devanny, Mayor, Town of Big Timber
Bill Y~roll, Mayor, Town o£ Bridger
Beartooth RBOG October 19, 2004
Final Report
USDA Rural Buslnees Opportunity Grant
Raw to Ready - Providing Manufacturing Ready Space in Five Rural Montana Communities
This narrative will provide a brief overview of activities in each of the specified sites since
the last report (June 1, 2004 through October 29, 2004) recap the entire project and cite some
possibilities for development as a result of the work provided by this funding.
Big Timber, Montana - following the adoption of the West End Plan by the Big Timber
City Council, Absaroka Consultants, Inc. (ACl) completed the zoning revisions that were
requested by the council at the time of adoption. The project was closed out by ACI with
layouts of conceptual street and utilities and production of final plots.
thLa~urel, .M.o. ntana ..- to further move the industrial propertyr that~l[gain access through
ne acquisition of me appraised property, closer to occupation the Laurel project has used
the remainder of their allotted funding to do a title report of the proposed storm drain
area.
Columbus, Montana - no significant activity has taken place since the eedier report.
Beartooth staff and Keith Brown, engineer for this project, have discussed various options
for phasing this proposed industrial park.
Bridget, Montana - The conceptual drawing for the Bddger site has been completed
and arrangements have been made to meet with the Bridget City Council by Beartooth
staff and Kalth Brown of Brown and Associates to discuss with the Council the
possibilities for future use of the RBOG site.
Overview of Completed Grant
Significant strides have been taken in the communities that were engaged in the pursuit of
manufacturing and industrial space since the initial award of this Rural Business Opportunity
Grant to Beartooth RC&D. The regional approach to preparation of manufacturing space has
helped to create a progressive mindsst within the communities.
One of the communities, Columbus, used foresight a number of years ago and created their
original business/industrial park. Today, theirs are no longer any lots available. The Columbus
economy has benefited from that initial preparation for business. The proposed RBOG industrial
area is located across town from the existing park and borders access to Interstate 90.
Columbus has grown its economy based a great deal on Stillwater Mine but has some diversity
through other firms such as Timberweld, laminated beam manufacturer, and Montana Silver
Smiths, silver jewelry manufacturer. The "manufacturing cluster' is substantial enough to attract
like or related companies. The Town of Columbus does not own the property that was selected
for the RBOG assessment. As is the case in many developments, this park would take the
cooperation and investment of local government and pdvate owner. The currant owner is
motivated to proceed with the first Phase of the plan but lacks adequate investment capital to
proceed on his Own. Further negotiations with the Town of Columbus regarding their participation
in the form of infrastructure, is anticipated as a follow up to the assessment and conceptual plan
provided by RBOG grant. Beartooth staff and Brown and Associates personnel have concluded
that recruitment of an anchor business for the Phase I portion is needed to bring the private
owner and local government together to collaborate on this project. The product we have created
through this project is adequate to begin a business recruitment and hopefully insight some
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Beartooth RBOG October 19, 2004
enthusiasm for moving on to a next stage of development for this property. (Attached is a copy of
the conceptual plan produced for Columbus).
Brown and Associates has also created a conceptual plan for property owned by the Town of
Bridget. This property is a narrow strip of land, approximately 3.2 acres. Although the portion of
land is not large, there is potential for expansion in adjoining land currently being used for
agricultural purposes. The location of this property is ideal for industrial use. Access to Highway
310, running between Cody, Wyoming and Billings, Montana, is unencumbered and a f~w blocks
away. The Bridget Airport is across the street. One of the valuable products of this project has
been a recorded survey, in addition to the conceptual plan. An earlier land sale bythe town had
some boundary discrepancies and would have been cumbersome in recruitment of a business for
the property. The Town of Bddger's resources are minimal in providing infrastructure to this site
however there is a possibility they would convey the property as an incentive to bring a viable
business to Bridger. As with the Columbus project, the product of this grant is suffmient to begin
recruitment for this industrial site. (Attached is a copy of the conceptual plan and survey
produced for Bridget).
Another property that was considered in the grant application was a vacant building in downtown
Bridger. Private, non prot'~ and all levels of public involvement were partners in relocating Prairie
Cabinets to this building and along with that 8 manufacturing jobs to a town of 745 population
(2000 Census). The original owner of the business sold to an investor earlier this year and has
stayed on with the company as the designer and sales representative. Staff recently visited the
plant and full production continues under the supervision of a seasoned woodworking foramen.
Perhaps the showcase of this grant has been the project in Big Timber. A portion of vacant
ground lying between commercial areas and very close to Interstate 90 access is the logical
commercial growth area for the community. An older plan for the area existed, however currenl
property owners and planning staff felt that revisiting the planned use of this property was
imperative to equip the Town of Big Timber to accommodate and recruit business. Absaroka
Consultants, Inc. was contracted to provide engineering services in the revision of this plan. This
was a pdme example of partnership between Federal, State and Local government, private
investors, pdvata business and non profit. All stayed engaged throughout the process and the
product, a revision to the West End Plan, was so universally accepted that after review and
approval of the Planning Board, the City Council approved the revision and annexed the property.
An additional benefit has been the proposed sports park bordering the school. One of the
landowners has committed to the prospect of constructing soccer fields for Big Timber. His
commitment includes the possible donation of property to kickoff the project. The current owners
of the land at the site are aggressively seeking businesses to relocate in Big Timber and are
prepared to work toward the development of this commerclalrindustrlal~area. Beartooth will
continue to collaborate with them in carrying this project beyond the close of this grant. (Attached
is a copy of the conceptual plan produced for Big Timber, The Big Timber West End Planning
Study/Sewer Feasibility Summary Report, and the Draft West End Annexation Plan).
Laurel's identified need, when approached with this grant, was to open access for prime industrial
land bordering a fast growing commercial/manufacturing area. Marketing of this property has
been hampered by access on one side that included a steep approach to reach the Interstate
interchange and, in the other direction, access onto a busy street with poor visibility of oncoming
traffic both ways. As identified in the enclosed document, prcberty needs to be purchased to
allow extension of East 4~h Street, opening up Entertainment Park Subdivision directly to the east
for commercial/industrial development. East 4~ p. resently ends at this property and does a 90-
degree turn to the north. The extension of East 4'" will lead traffic from this area to South First
Avenue which has traffic control via signal light and very close access to Interstate 90. The first
step in acquiring the needed portion of property to extend East 4~ was an appraisal for
condemnation. The funding allotted to Laurel was used to secure that appraisal, portions of
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Beartooth RBOG October 19, 2004
which are attached to this report (the complete appraisal is on file at the Beartooth RC&D Area,
Inc, office).
Additional monies, from this grant and earmarked for use in Laurel, have been spent for
engineering the storm water system for the road running between the lots needed for the
extension of East 4t~ Street and Entertainment Subdivision and for extending the municipal sewer
to the development site.
An onsite visit to Laurel proves the need of the work that was accomplished through the funding
of this project. As with most communities, Laurel, has an over abundance of work to be done and
a lack of fonding to accomplish the preparation needed for expansion to their
industrial/commercial sites. The City of Laurel has expressed their appreciation for the funding
that helped bring this expansion one step closer to reality. Currently a log home manufacturer is
expanding and preparing to move to the site that has benefited from this project. Future plans
include a railroad spur into the development site.
The odginalapplicattonof~Raw~o ReadyJncluded the Towr~3f P, edJ.edge,~3sa participant inthis _
grant. After meeting with community and local government leaders the decision was made to not
invest at that time because the direction of the Industrial Park was unclear and possibly at a dead
end. In the best interest of the return on USDA monies, the remaining grant fonds were injected
into the designated projects in the other 4 communities.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, the Towns of Columbus, Bridger, Big Timber and the City of
Laurel, and staff of Beartooth RC&D Area, Inc., I express our appreciation to USDA Rural
Development and the Rural Business Opportunities Grant Pregrem for the important contribution
they have made to these communities. Be assured that we will pursue further development of
these sites. We are enthused about the capacity to recruit or expand business that has been
afforded through these monies.
Reimbursement Request
Montana Engineering & Administration, PC (Laurel) $1,806.00
Abseroka Consultants, Inc. (Big Timber) 443.75
City of Laurel (Laurel) 1,000.00
Brown & Associates (Bridger) 1.355.00
Brown & Associates (Columbus) 2,710.00
Seartooth RC&D Area, Inc. (Regional Coordination @25.41/hr) 440.15
Total Reimbureement Requested
$7,754.90
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