The Montana Department of Commerce stands ready to help Boulder find its way to a brighter future, two staffers told the Boulder Development Fund Board October 2.
Montana Main Street administrator Tash Wind- miller and Community Development Division administrator Jennifer Olson emphasized something the BDF Board had already heard: a growth policy and downtown master plan are “crucial foundational documents” to guide the community.
The duo also shared one major piece of information the board had not been told: the Community Technical Assistance Program can pay the costs of developing a growth policy. “You would just need to say the word and we would have a consultant down here,” said Olson. That was welcomed news indeed for the board that had already recommended the city get going on a growth policy. The board voted to let city officials know of Olson’s offer and to advise the city take her up on it. Windmiller and Olson provided the group with information on tangible accomplishments that can flow from those initial foundational documents: brick and mortar building rehabilitation; signage; lighting; facade improvements; housing/construction projects; business equipment and more.
Both of the commerce staffers were upbeat about Boulder’s chances to foster economic success, based on the demonstrated interest and participation by community members thus far. That puts Boulder ahead of where many communities are before enter- ing the Montana Main Street program and finding other assistance, they said. “Community, after community has started with ‘where, do we start,’ and they start with planning and invariably they have success,” said Olson. “People are looking for these charming small towns,” said Windmiller. Sharing plans created for Whitehall, Stevensville and Thompson Falls in the past four years, the pair pointed to projects in those communities they said flourished with help through the state.
In a visit to Boulder seven months earlier, Wind- miller acknowledged that the Montana Main Street program had not been as effective in its early years because it focused mostly on training opportunities for local residents. More recently it has focused on guiding communities to funding opportunities, he said. The program now aims to help communities identify “which funds are out there and which ones should you throw at main street and which ones should you throw at other projects,” he said.
One participant with the Boulder Development Fund, Tom Harrington with the Jefferson Local Development Corporation, took part in the Whitehall project that reinvigorated the Borden’s building there. An urban renewal district there was created in the wake of a March 2009 fire that destroyed five buildings and impacted nine businesses directly.
Another two businesses closed due to lack of customer traffic after the fire. With the assistance of state agencies, grants and loans, Whitehall’s downtown has moved toward recovery. In response to questions, Olson said the time required to complete a growth plan depends on the time and work invested by the community but could be as short as four months or as long as a year. “We are not here to tell you what to be or do,” said Olson. “Our goal is to be responsive to the community.” Asked how soon Boulder will know whether its Montana Main Street application, submitted a couple of months ago, has been approved, Windmiller simply said it is under review.
In other discussions, members of the BDF board agreed to press state officials to learn the status of efforts to repurpose the Montana Developmental Center.
