Pages of hope

By Roberta Forsell Stauffer - 02/10/2008

Taken together, the many articles published the past four Sundays as part of The Standard’s series, “Southwest Montana Economic Outlook 2008,” paint a promising vision for our little corner of the world.

From Butte to Ennis, Anaconda to Deer Lodge, plans and projects are under way that aim to build on our strengths and continue to improve the high quality of life that we already enjoy here in southwest Montana.

Community leaders are optimistic and with good cause. Employment is up; outside interest is growing, and — since we haven’t experienced the record growth and real estate speculation seen in other parts of Montana — we’re not coping with fallout from the national mortgage loan crisis. In some cases, it’s best to be behind the times.

And as the cost of living and the hassles of modern life continue to mount in other parts of the country, the relaxed pace we enjoy here with minimal traffic and easy year-round access to the outdoors will only grow more appealing to businesses and individuals considering a move.

Thus, the pages and pages of stories were ones of hope, grounded in reality — not hype.

Here in Butte, the significance of Montana Resources cannot be understated, and it wasn’t. As reporter John Grant Emeigh wrote in one story, “When mining catches a cold, everyone in town coughs.” Slowly but surely, however, Silver Bow County’s economy is diversifying. Engineering firms are working to develop more private-sector contracts, knowing the days of federal earmarks are waning. The Port of Montana is poised to further capitalize on its prime location by possibly building more warehouse space. The county is adding the necessary infrastructure to make the industrial park more attractive to potential tenants. NorthWestern Energy’s future appears more secure than in years past, and the major employer said it plans to invest $17 million in capital investments around this area in 2008, plus invest in a new gas-fired power plant near Anaconda.

And in virtually all the communities profiled in the series, health care investments are on the rise, and that, too, is a positive sign. As the population grows and ages, access to quality medical care will become increasingly important, and southwest Montana towns large and small are preparing themselves to provide it.

A number of counties are also in the process of updating their growth plans as required by state law, and this exercise offers an important opportunity to shape the future and move toward appropriate land-use regulations aimed at avoiding the sprawl that has plagued other parts of the state.

By clustering development and striving to preserve the unparalleled scenery we enjoy, southwest Montana can remain largely unspoiled yet still welcome growth.

As Butte-Silver Bow building inspector John Harrington said, “Butte’s growth is going to be continuous, but it’s not a boom growth. And in my opinion, it’s the way you should grow and sustain it, where people are coming to stay and make this the place to live.” The same could be said for Philipsburg, for Dillon, for (fill in the blank). The outlook for 2008 and beyond is encouraging for our area, and we count ourselves as very fortunate to be living in this particular place at this particular time.