Project moving forward
<p>A project that has been in the developmental stages for a decade is nearing the last few steps of completion. </p>
SUPERIOR – A project a decade in the making that could provide one local business and a county facility with desperately needed utility infrastructure is closer than ever to becoming a reality.
If the application for a community development block grant to provide the Mineral County Airport and Superior Meats with three phase power is approved, the utility service would allow light industrial businesses to locate at the airport and the meat processing facility to increase production and hire more employees.
Montana State University Extension Office Agent Kevin Chamberlain has been working on the project for years and despite several setbacks over the years, he feels the utility project has a good chance of being approved.
He said while it may take some time for the community to see the benefit of the project in terms of light industrial development, Superior Meats would be able to take advantage of the utility immediately.
“Superior Meats will be able to benefit from the access to the three phase power,” Chamberlain said. “We have been able to find ways around the roadblocks we’ve been hitting over the years.”
According to information supplied by Chamberlain, Superior Meats’ production is currently hampered by the lack of three phase power. The information states, at this time, Superior Meats’ current largest expense is labor and time because they are not able to operate at capacity. The reason is equipment that could increase efficiency is not being fully utilized because it requires three phase power to operate.
Superior Meats owner Jerry Stroot said, currently, he and his employees have to use special convertors to use some of his heavy equipment. The convertors are expensive and are hard on equipment but with three phase power running nearby that he can tap into, Stroot said it would help his company achieve their true potential.
“Right now, we are constantly plugging and unplugging equipment into these convertors,” Stroot said. “It takes time and it’s not efficient. The new power would allow us to increase production. In the meat industry, most of the equipment runs on three phase.”
Stroot said, if the project is approved, he would remodel the existing buildings, expand his retail operation and be able to run equipment that currently sits idle. Chamberlain said if the Montana Department of Commerce signs off on the project, Superior Meats could retain four full time employees and one part-time employee and could, within two years, hire four to five additional employees.
Chamberlain said he expected the application for the grant to be submitted in the next few weeks. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $349,707. Missoula Electric Cooperative, who would be laying the 1.1 miles of underground electric cable, is contributing $75,000 to the project.