Federal grant gives Twelfth Avenue project a big boost

The city of Columbia Falls received some good news on Thursday for its 12th Avenue West project. The federal Economic Development Administration announced a $633,146 grant to the city, which will be used to upgrade the road and city water and sewer services to the Cedar Palace Medical Center.

The city became eligible for the grant due to job losses when Weyerhaeuser shut down the plywood and sawmills here a few years ago.

The city and Cedar Palace will split the additional $633,000 of the more than $1.26 million project.

The Cedar Palace has about 70 people working at its various clinics and services, but it needs the city’s sewer and water services. The road itself is in poor condition after years of heavy truck traffic.

Nicosia said engineering work on the project will start as soon as the final grant agreement is in place.

The city is also looking at eventually expanding its TIF district to a plot of land just west of the Cedar Palace that could eventually become a business park.

The independent medical center, which supports several Columbia Falls natives who have returned here to work, opened last November.

It used to be the office headquarters for Plum Creek’s operations here, but was shut down shortly after Plum Creek merged with Weyerhaeuser in 2016.

“The coronavirus pandemic has hit Montana’s economy hard, and as our businesses work hard to turn things around, this funding will be a valuable support,” said Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. “These funds will help Columbia Falls build out critically needed infrastructure that will attract new businesses, create jobs, and put Montana’s economy back on the right track.”

“Montana small businesses have faced incredible challenges throughout

this pandemic and stepped up to continue providing essential services to our communities,” said Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines. “I am pleased to announce they are receiving needed support with these grants, so they can continue to thrive.”