City going after federal grant for industrial park

There may be a silver lining in the recent Weyerhaeuser layoffs. Columbia Falls now qualifies for a federal U.S. Economic Development Administration grant and the city plans to pursue one as soon as possible, city manager Susan Nicosia told the Columbia Falls city council Monday night.

The administration gives grants and has a revolving loan fund for business expansion. The city has a shovel-ready industrial park off Railroad Street to attract new businesses, but it does need some infrastructure — namely roads and a sewer line. It already has water, zoning and engineering in place.

To put in the rest of the infrastructure would cost roughly $1 million.

City leaders learned they qualified for the program after meetings the past few weeks with both Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Ryan Zinke.

“Now is our time,” Nicosia told council.

The city has been waiting to see if SmartLam, a cross-laminated panel manufacturer would expand to the park. But that expansion hinges on a $14 million new market tax credit — another federal program that helps expanding businesses. Word on that won’t come until October or November and might not happen at all.

The company was supposed to meet with Weyerhaeuser about potentially moving into one of the mill buildings, but that meeting was canceled, Nicosia said.

Rather than wait, Nicosia said the city will pursue the EDA grant. As of late, there’s been a lot of interest in the city’s industrial park, Nicosia told council. City staff gets a call about once a week.

Stampede Meats has already expressed interest in expanding to Columbia Falls and another company, Hi-Test Sand, of Edmonton, Alberta, has also expressed an interest in the region.

“It’s our turn,” Nicosia said. “We are ready with that industrial park.”