Terry, MT

You’re Invited to “All Things Considered: Pros and Cons of Biofuels” workshops Tuesday, October 7th in Miles City and Thursday, October 9th in Wolf Point. Workshops will be presented in these two locations by Ethanol Producers And Consumers (EPAC) to explore the pros and cons of biofuels and the co-products. Partners with EPAC are Miles Community College in Miles City and the Great Northern Development Corporation in Wolf Point.

Montana citizens who are interested in ethanol and biodiesel, whether it is for consumers or for business, or for biofuel degrees and opportunities in Montana are invited to “All Things Considered – the Pros and Cons of Biofuels”. This is an opportunity to learn about the availability and use of biofuels and its co-products.

Topics that will be covered include Food VS. Fuel; the Environmental Impact of Biofuels; the Use of Biofuels in vehicles; the Availability of Biofuels and Biodiesel in Montana; Crop diversification – can it be done; Biofuel education and degrees in Montana and the Renewable Fuel Standards 2008 and beyond.

The workshops will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at both locations. Workshops will feature speakers that present the pros and the cons of renewable fuels. A legislative and candidate’s forum will take place from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at each location to provide Montana legislative candidates the opportunity to present their views of biofuels and the biofuel industry in Montana.

On-site registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. The cost per participant for the workshop is $5 for materials. Workshop attendees will receive a packet of resource and educational materials to take home from the event. Lunch will be provided courtesy of EPAC.

We look forward to seeing you there! Register today. Call 406-785-3722 or email pamd@ethanolmt.org.

Funding for the workshop is provided by a USDOL WIRED grant from the Montana Department of Commerce in conjunction with Montana Department of Labor.

Prairie County is starting a community foundation to help sustain the community long after current citizens are gone. Cathy Cooney of the MT Community Foundation met with the new board May 29 to review the benefits and the responsibilities. With Prairie County being the oldest median population in the state at 49.5 years old, the transfer of wealth from one generation to another is coming faster than average to Prairie County. This is a way to give back to the community that helped raise your family and supported your business. It is a way to help the community prosper as the foundation will give back the interest and special incentive grants to local projects. Officers include Dale Hellman Chair, Ron Kiosse Secretary, Tim Rittal Treasurer and board members Larry Bond, Rolane Christofferson, Ann Marie Davis, Sandra Brown and Jim Ross. They are looking for an other agriculture based member. Donations may be made to Prairie Benefits at Box 82, Terry, MT

The short term project chosen after Terry conducted Study Circles is now visible to the world. Terry wanted to make their community look inviting to encourage people to venture into town off the interstate… beyond the 4 Corners gas station. Sandra Brown was the spearhead behind this project that got many more partners involved in contributing money, time or resources like heavy moving equipment to make it happen. The work has paid off and lights are in the future — really not necessary in the summer months when it’s light until nearly 10PM but will make the community look welcome in the dead of winter. This is also next to the new Backcountry Byway, Highway 253 now paved all the way to Brockway.
Hope other can list all the partners who helped make this inviting entry into Terry.

Add the ages of all of Prairie County’s residents and divide by the 1199 residents and you will find Prairie County’s median age is 49.3, the oldest in the state. 47 families or 202 individuals are below poverty but if say 200% of poverty 262 of the 353 households have incomes under $25,000. 577 of the population are employed –208 or 36% in agriculture; 128 or 22% in education, health and social services which includes the two largest employers are the Terry Public Schools and the Prairie Co. Hospital District - the hospital, nursing home and clinic–both listed as strengths in the local survey.
Even though the county has 24% over age 65 (twice the national average), items that became priorities during this process were the city park and pool, improving trails, getting the drive in theater going again as well as enticing young professionals to return. This goes against the perception that the older generation aren’t supportive of youth. Is sure doesn’t show in Terry as that’s where they are putting some of their energy and resources. The former owner of the drive in is willing to make special arrangements this year with someone willing to run the drive-in which is in need of repair before it can reopen. A newsomer has expressed interest. Let’s make it happen! All us nostalgia folks as well as the youth are rooting that it happens.

Initial committees were formed in February to begin planning a timeline for action within five areas:
(1) establishing a local community foundation to fund community projects for the long-term;
(2) promoting value-added agriculture projects such as natural beef and ethanol/biodiesel development;
(3) creating incentives for businesses to expand or locate in Prairie County;
(4) complete city pool and bath-house upgrades; and
(5) to have ample and affordable housing for all ages and income levels.

Committees were to meet individually in March to progress with action planning. All committees and other interested individuals are invited to meet on April 30th to discuss their progress and future plans. The meeting will take place at the USDA Service Center in Terry from 5:30-6:30 p.m. We hope you are able to attend!

Information from Catherine Cooney, Program Director for the Montana Community Foundation:

The Montana Community Foundation receives grant money annually from the Steele-Reese Foundation for a small grant program for rural communities under 5,000 in population. We make grants of up to $5,000 in the areas of rural education, rural humanities, rural welfare, rural health and rural conservation. We only have $47,000 to distribute for the entire state so it’s very, very competitive. This is the only general grant program we have now for nonprofit organizations in Montana since all of our other unrestricted grant money is being devoted to programs for our local community foundations.

A few of you have requested that I send this information to you every year so you can share this opportunity with your local charities. Please do not apply for this program for your local community foundation, but if you would like to forward the information to a few nonprofits in your area, attached are the guidelines and the application form. The due date for applications is February 15, 2008.

Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

Catherine Cooney
Program Director
Montana Community Foundation
17 2nd Street East, Suite 210
Kalispell, MT 59901
p 406-755-4525
f 406-755-4525
ccooney@mtcf.org
www.mtcf.org

Grant Application Cover Sheet
Grant Guidelines

Check out the link titled “Training Opportunities” on the right side of this page under the heading “Pages” for some great upcoming training opportunities!

Congratulations to Dan Thomason for winning the $250 in Chamber Bucks and to Dale Brown for winning the $500 in Chamber Bucks at the Visioning Event on December 13th! Thanks to everyone that filled out surveys. Your input was very valuable.

The next phase in Horizons is Visioning. This “Visioning” will provide the opportunity for over 100 people to share what they want Prairie County to be like in the future.

The first step will be a community survey which will be available to pick up at local Terry businesses November 21-December 11. The first 125 people who return their survey to Netzer Hardware, Prairie Unique, or Sassy One Clothing on December 4th or 11th during Chamber Holiday promotions will receive $5 in Chamber Bucks! Returning your survey will also enter you in a drawing for two prizes: $500 and $250 in Chamber Bucks. The drawing will take place on December 13th.

Horizons Community Visioning Survey for Terry-Prairie

December 13th is the date of the Prairie County Visioning Event. The evening will begin with a free community supper sponsored by Horizons at 5:30 p.m. at the Bolin Multipurpose Room. Following supper, visioning facilitators will help us decide how we can make Prairie County a thriving community. The last event of the evening will be the drawing for the two Chamber Bucks prizes!!

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