Kalispell in line to receive more than $6 mil.

Baucus, Tester Say Funds Go Towards Public Safety, Water Projects, Health Care

(WASHINGTON D.C.) Montana’s U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced that more than $6 million is geared up to go to projects in the Kalispell- area in an upcoming appropriations bill.

The FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill will combine several spending bills that were not completed last year. The bill will fund projects both in Kalispell, and across the state.

This funding is in addition to the more than $600 million that Baucus and Tester secured in the recently passed Jobs Bill.

“The entire Flathead Valley is a real crown jewel for our state, and Jon and I are committed to doing everything to help these projects,” Baucus said. “Funding for things like the CARD Clinic are vital to the folks up there and that is why Jon and I really pushed for these funds.”

“Max and I know that these much-needed, much-deserved funds are extremely important to new jobs, public safety and education in northwestern Montana,” said Tester, a member of the influential Senate Appropriations Committee. “Max and I work hard to get Montana the resources it needs for the 21st Century.”

The bill will be voted on in the House of Representatives this week, and then be voted on in the Senate early next week. The bill is expected to pass both the House and the Senate.

KALISPELL

• Highway 93 bypass in Kalispell: These funds will go towards helping complete the bypass in Kalispell – $2,850,000
• City of Kalispell: These funds will go towards building a new testing and training center for law enforcement – $750,000
• Libby School District: These funds will support academic programs as the district saves for a new elementary school  $381,000
• US Forest Service Land Acquisition North Swan River Valley: These funds will help protect Montana’s outdoor heritage $2,000,000
• Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) Clinic in Libby: These funds will go towards the work at the CARD Clinic – $190,000
• North Valley Hospital Foundation: These funds will go for facilities and equipment – $404,000