A press release issued December 14 and published in this issue caught our eye. As we read it, we wondered, “And why was it so hard for Boulder to get that kind of help?”
At first, this editorial may sound a bit like sour grapes, like we are jealous of Colstrip and the extensive help it is receiving as it plans for a cutback in the generating facility there. But we ask readers to go all the way to the end before leaving with that impression.
The press release from the offices of the Governor and the Attorney General addresses $10 million in impact funds from the Washington state firm closing down two units at Colstrip, $4.6 million in workforce planning and worker training funds set aside for the community, and $395 million committed to clean-up of the facility.
It is not the amount of money, however, that caught our eye as much as the recognition in the press release that there are many aspects to saving a community when a major employer leaves town.
A quote from Governor Steve Bullock talks about “challenges and opportunities for employees, businesses and families.” Workforce planning and worker training and planning for the future of the abandoned facility are also part of the considerations.
Responding to needs in all of those areas is a huge job, and the state has clearly recognized that by appointing 14 people to an advisory group to oversee the use of the impact funds.
Boulder community members and representatives tried hard in the last two legislative sessions to convince folks that the closure of the Montana Developmental Center would impact employees, businesses and families in many ways. They also urged state officials to act to plan for the future of the abandoned facility. The parallels with Colstrip are unmistakable.
We have no doubt Colstrip will need all of the help it is going to receive. And we would never pretend that Boulder needed as many millions as will go to Colstrip. Having that kind of money flow into our community would undoubtedly change the place we all love, and not necessarily in a good way.
We also expect it would change our community in unpleasant ways to have 14 people, mostly outsiders, deciding on our future.
Boulder was fortunate to receive a $500,000 grant from the state in recognition of the needs in the wake of the MDC closure. We have also been fortunate to find some very great people within the state agencies who are working hard to help us find our way. And we are blessed with some dedicated, hard-working local residents who stepped forward to serve on the Boulder Development Fund Board to oversee our process.
Thanks to those factors, we heartily agree with a recent statement by Tom Harrington of the Jefferson Local Development: “I’m just really excited. I think we’re going to see a lot of good things happen in Boulder in this next year.”
It is up to us, and that really is how most of the stubborn folks who call Boulder home like things to be. We like to be in control.
As we read the press release, we could not help but wonder what it says about the value our state places on coal jobs as opposed to jobs caring for those with life-long challenges such as developmental disabilities. But that is probably best left for another time.
Along the way in the last three or four months, Boulder folks have been told two things that kind of surprised us: none of the $500,000 can be spent on administration and all of the $500,000 has to be spent before the next legislative session. We understand the first contention has been clarified and addressed, but the second one (never mentioned as the bill creating the fund went through the legislature) is still driving what the community is trying to accomplish.
Now here is the part that makes this absolutely not sour grapes.
We are glad Colstrip is getting the help it is, and we are glad the governor and attorney general trumpeted that. Because now Boulder has an ace in the hole to pull out when needed that says those officials recognize what a big deal it is for a community to lose a major employer – and we have a royal flush in our grasp when we emphasize that in our case that employer was the state.
As we head into the new year, we repeat the words of Mr. Harrington: “I’m just really excited. I think we’re going to see a lot of good things happen in Boulder in this next year.”
