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# Release No. 0121.02

#  Contact: Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623

# Tim McNeilly 202-690-0498

# **USDA ANNOUNCES \$3.6 MILLION FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN MONTANA**

## **Funds to Assist With Economic and Community Development**

MISSOULA, Mont., March 28, 2002 --Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman
today announced the approval of \$3.6 million in U.S. Department of
Agriculture funds that will assist local economic and community
development in rural Montana.

"We are pleased to announce the funding of these rural community
development programs for Montana," said Veneman. "These projects help
invest in and create jobs in these rural communities."

Veneman made the announcements while on her first visit to Montana since
becoming agriculture secretary. She held a farmer roundtable with
Congressman Dennis Rehberg in Missoula and then attended a rural
development conference with Governor Judy Martz and Senator Conrad
Burns.

The following are details about the rural development projects announced
today:

> **M L Properties, LLC, Columbia Falls, Mont.** **-- \$1.85 million**
> guaranteed loan. Federally guaranteed loan funds will be used for debt
> restructuring and loan fees. M L Properties is a real estate holding
> company and leases the Meadow Lake Resort located in Columbia Falls,
> MT to the Meadow Lake Development Corporation. Financing is through
> Flathead Bank of Bigfork, MT with an 80% guarantee from RBS. This
> project will create 90 additional jobs for the area.
>
> **Town of Hot Springs, Mont. -- \$900,000** water loan and grant
> package (\$750,000 loan/\$150,000 grant). The total project cost is
> approximately \$1.6 million with funding also being provided by two
> state programs---Treasure State Endowment Program and Community
> Development Block Grant Program. Funds will be used to upgrade the
> existing water distribution system that will provide improved services
> to 556 users. The majority of Hot Springs water distribution system
> consists of cast iron pipe installed in 1937. This project will fix
> problems including undersized mains; constant breaks and leaks;
> inadequate pressure and flow; dead-end mains; inadequate valves,
> hydrants and metering; and negative pressures.
>
> -more-
>
> -2-
>
> **Headwaters RC&D Area, Butte, Mont. -- \$600,000** Intermediary
> Relending Program (IRP) loan. The revolving loan funds will be used by
> Headwaters to provide loans to businesses in eight counties in
> southwest Montana: Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Broadwater, Granite,
> Jefferson, Madison, Powell and Silver Bow. Headwaters will target
> businesses that contribute to establishing employment opportunities
> and that have a positive economic impact on these rural areas.
>
> **Glacier Electric Cooperative, Cut Bank, Mont. - \$39,442** weather
> radio transmitter grant. Funds will be used to purchase and install a
> National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio
> transmitter. The new, 300-watt transmitter will be located at
> Browning, Glacier County, Montana.
>
> **Garfield County, Mont. - \$46,276** weather radio transmitter grant.
> The 300--watt transmitter and antenna will be located in Jordan, Mont.
> Jordan does not receive any National Weather Radio coverage, or any
> reliable radio or television coverage. There is no Early Alert System
> or "All Hazards" radio coverage in Garfield County. The County
> projects that 80% of the area will receive coverage as a result of the
> new transmitter. This is one of the largest areas in Montana without
> National Weather Radio Coverage.
>
> **Town of Wibaux, Mont. -- \$220,000** water loan. Funds will be used
> to update and improve existing water system, providing improved
> services to 567 residents. Wibaux has identified improvements to the
> water system including replacement of approximately 7,800 lineal feet
> of existing cast iron mains including looping dead end lines. The
> first phase of the project is to coordinate with the Montana
> Department of Transportation to replace water transmission lines under
> the state highway going through town. These lines presently leak and
> will be replaced before the highway is resurfaced. Lead lines will
> also be replaced.

USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal entity for rural
development needs and administers financial and technical assistance
through three agencies: Rural Housing Service, Rural
Business-Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service. Further
information on USDA Rural Development can be obtained by contacting any
USDA Service Center or by visiting the USDA's web site at
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov[.]{.underline}

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