Western Building Center asks city for help with expansion

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

Western Building Center plans to open a manufacturing plant here and is looking for a little help from the city.

Doug Shanks, with Western Building Center, spoke to the City Council Monday to explain the companies plans to open a manufacturing plant behind its building here. Construction work has already begun on the building.

The company is hoping to get some help from a grant application the city is considering submitting to the Montana Department of Commerce. The Community Development Block Grant could be used for a variety of community development needs.

Susan Moyer brought the grant application to the council for consideration.

She said the grant could be used in three areas for affordable housing, public facilities — water, sewer and paving —or economic development.

"It's your responsibility to get input and work to identify the most viable project — what would benefit the community the most," she said.

If the city applies for the grant it would submit proposals along with the application explaining what the money would be used for. Then after the city receives the money it would loan it to what ever project it deems worthy. The money would then return for use to loan out again.

It could mean up to $400,000 for the city to loan.

The city has previously participated in similar programs using Montana West Economic Development to manage the loans.

Western Building Center's new operation will manufacture roof and floor trusses and prefabricated wall panels.

Shanks said it will create 13 new "well-paying" jobs.

He noted that previously WBC has purchased the products from out of town or out of state manufacturers and this would bring that work right here to Columbia Falls.

"It will add something to the Flathead Valley," he said.

The estimated cost of the entire operation is about $3 million. Half of that is estimated to be in equipment costs, which is what WBC hopes to receive help purchasing.

Shanks said if the city did not get the grant it would be forced to get a bank loan for the project.

City Manager Bill Shaw said previous programs like this one have been successful.

He said that if this grant is approved it would mean the city could have close to $1 million to help businesses.

Councilman Don Barnhart said he supports the idea.

"It sounds like a wonderful project," he said. "If it helps establish one business, I'm 100 percent for things like this."