What's New

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March 6, 2009, from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the Blackfeet Community College in Browning.

This conference is a joint venture between our two Workin' It Out partners - Blackfeet Learning Academy and Opportunities, Inc. with the support of Opportunity Link, Browning School Districts and Blackfeet Community College.

Several job-readiness workshops will be offered on topics such as emerging career opportunities, resume writing, interview skills, job seeking skills, work ethics, communication with co-workers, etc. that are targeted to high school aged youth. The conference will also feature a Job Fair to allow students the opportunity to visit with potential employers.

For more information, please contact Nikki Hannon, Blackfeet Learning Academy at (406) 338-4380, Curt Campbell (406) 761-8462 or Opportunity Link at (406) 265-3699.

You can download the workshop agenda at www.opportunitylinkmt.org/downloads.php.

This is to notify all interested parties that Opportunity Link is applying for $61,060 through the capital assistance grant. The capital assistance grant is funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and administered by the Montana Department of Transportation. FTA funds will be used to purchase a 21-passenger vehicle for the general public transit services that are being planned for implementation July 2009.

In addition, Opportunity Link is applying for $176,218 under the Montana Department of Transportation’s Operating Grant Program. Funding will be used for operating expenses associated with providing transportation services to the general public (including elderly and persons with disabilities) within Hill and Blaine counties.

The application is on file at the Opportunity Link office at 2229 5th Avenue in Havre, MT. A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, February 4 at 1:00 pm at the District IV HRDC Building located at 2229 5th Avenue, Havre, MT. For more information, or for those who require accommodations for disabilities, contact Opportunity Link, Day Soriano, PO Box 80, Havre, MT 59501, 406-265-3699 or Department of Transportation, Helena at 444-4210 (voice), or 444-7696 (TTY).

Proposed routes and services of the Northcentral Montana Transit System (click to enlarge)

By Alan Sorensen

Blaine County Journal, January 14, 2009

The North Central Transit Authority got a vote of confidence two weeks ago when the Blaine County Commissioners unanimously approved a notice of intent to invest up to $30,000 in the system that would provide public transportation among communities in Blaine and Hill counties.

And while neither has funds available to become partners in the project to provide the free rides, the city councils of Chinook and Harlem each voted to write letters in support of the public transportation system.

The commissioners’ vote on Monday, Dec. 29, stopped short of committing the money outright by insisting that the authority, which is yet to be determined, come up with at least six other “partners” willing to commit “the same funding contribution” each to the endeavor.

The notice of intent specifies that the commissioners would “join forces with other local governments and agencies” to form the transit system and “are willing to work with Opportunity Link Inc. and other governments and agencies” in creating a transit authority.

The notice of intent also requires the creation of a formal plan and interlocal agreement acceptable to all the partners.

Hill County commissioners also approved a notice of intent, and Chouteau County has expressed an interest in joining, said Barb Stiffarm of Opportunity Link Inc. Other possible partners include but are not limited to Montana State University-Northern, Northern Montana Health Care, the city of Havre, Fort Belknap Indian Community, Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, Wal-Mart and other organizations and retailers. Benefis in Great Falls, which could benefit from once or twice weekly buses carrying north-central Montana residents to the hospital, has also been approached.

Opportunity Link is the lead agency in the attempt to establish the public transit system and has been working on the project for two years. The basic plan is to provide daily rides from Fort Belknap west through Hill County and south to Box Elder. Once or twice weekly rides to Great Falls, along with daily schedules around Havre businesses, are also considered.

The Sletten Hi-Line Cancer Center and the new Veterans Administration Clinic in Havre along with the Havre Amtrak depot are other possible destinations.

The system would network with the Fort Belknap transit system, which recently received more than $200,000 in federal funding to get up and running.

Stiffarm told the Harlem City Council on Jan. 5 that it is her opinion that bus routes should be established within Harlem, too, to ensure access to the through bus. A Harlem bus could also transport people around town, whether to the store for shopping, the senior citizens center or between Harlem and Fort Belknap.

The inability to kick in on the costs of operating didn’t stop the Harlem City Council from unanimously approving a Jan. 5 motion by Sondra Ashton to submit a “very strong” letter of support of the system.
Chinook council members voted to send a similar letter during their Jan. 8 meeting.

Barb Stiffarm of Opportunity Link Inc. said she needed commitment from governments within Blaine and Hill counties to convince the state that the transit authority has widespread local governmental support.

Council member John Chandler asked why the rides would be free instead of charging the riders fares.

Stiffarm said the federal program set up to support rural transit systems reimburses up to 70 percent of the costs of operating the system. Any money the system generates through fares has to be reported to the state, which handles the funding. The state then reduces its contribution by the amount raised. The system would have to install money boxes on the buses and vans, hire someone to empty the boxes and someone else to handle the books. The system would also have to pay for an audit. Besides having its contribution reduced by the amount of money it raised through fares and other charges, the system would have to part with funds to pay for the extra labor and bookkeeping.

Council member and chairman of the Harlem City/County Planning Board Bill Taylor said a transit system serving Harlem and the surrounding area would add to the community’s growth policy.

“Part of the community growth policy … is to sustain our communities,” Taylor said.

While the city has no money to contribute, Taylor suggested an in-kind contribution such as committing one of two bays currently available in the city hall garage to house a van or bus and coming up with a volunteer driver. Stiffarm said the state allows up to 15 percent in-kind contributions against the reimbursements.

Harlem City Clerk Lorri Williams suggested that the council could sponsor one or more fundraisers to come up with money for the system.

Stiffarm said eight partners contributing $30,000 each are needed to ensure that the system can get up and running.

A Feb. 2 deadline for submitting a plan and proof of funding was moved to March 1, she said, to enable Opportunity Link, one of three partners already committed financially to the project, to gather the necessary commitments. The state Department of Transportation has already set aside a $75,000 contribution to assist the authority, but it won’t release that money until the system’s plans and commitments are accepted by the state.

“We hope to get enough partners committed to show it has broad support,” Stiffarm said.
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To download the draft coordination plan, budget, proposed routes and services, go to www.opportunitylinkmt.org/downloads.php.

Saturday, January 17, 2009
General Session - 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Business Session – 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

MSU – Northern’s Student Union Building, Havre

Purpose - to consider amendments to the Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws. The proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws includes the dissolution of geographical designations that have been utilized to distinguish the 7 poverty reduction areas (PROs) that make up the 11 counties & 3 reservations served by the corporation. In addition, proposed Bylaw amendments provides for a nominating committee comprised of Opportunity Link, Inc. stakeholders who will annually review & nominate qualified persons for election to the Board of Directors. The Board would consist of 8 members, but may be comprised of 7-15 members. The intent of the amendments is to simplify the process of selecting directors & provide a mechanism for identifying & nominating persons who meet certain minimum qualifications, to serve as directors.

Complete copies of amendments to the Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws are available at the Opportunity Link, Inc. office, 2229 5th Ave. Havre, MT, on Opportunity Link’s website www.opportunitylinkmt.org, and at your local PROs.

The general session starts at 10:00 AM and includes presentations on Energizing the North Central MT Workforce. The session will focus on having a talented, trained workforce as a key strategy for growing local economies, which is a vital ingredient to sustainable economic growth.

The Annual meeting is free and lunch will be served. The Annual meeting is open to residents of Opportunity Link’s region & others interested in poverty reduction efforts. Contact Opportunity Link 877-332-3699 or visit above website.

PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING!


Revised bylaws, Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation, Seminar Invitation & Agenda, etc.

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Havre – The developer of the $500 million dollar Glacier Wind Farm project will be among the featured speakers at the annual meeting of Opportunity Link, Inc. in Havre. The meeting is scheduled for 10 am to 3 pm January 17th at the Student Union Building on the campus of MSU-Northern.

“A skilled workforce is a vital ingredient in sustainable economic growth,” said Barb Stiffarm, director of Opportunity Link, a regionally-based poverty reduction organization. “One focus of the day will be the importance of training a labor force for emerging industries in the region,” she said.

In addition to Bill Alexander, chief development officer for the wind farm parent NaturEnerUSA, LLC, scheduled speakers include James Lambert, president, and Scott Geda, CEO, of Allied BioEnergies, LLC. Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, Patrick Barkey, Ph.D., will present results of a comprehensive study on the available labor force to support business growth in northcentral Montana.

Rosalie Sheehy Cates, executive director of the Montana Community Development Corporation, will explain New Markets Tax Credits available to finance $40 million in innovative business and real estate in low-income areas of Montana.

“Business owners, entrepreneurs, civic and tribal leadership, as well as motivated residents, will receive valuable information,” said Stiffarm. Residents of the eleven-county area served by Opportunity Link and all interested parties are welcome to attend the meeting. Registration is not necessary.

The annual membership meeting of the non-profit organization will follow the speakers. An awards ceremony will be held to honor a community member who has aided efforts to improve quality of life in northcentral Montana.

A vote on revised bylaws for the five-year-old organization is also scheduled. A summary of the bylaw changes as well as an agenda for the meeting is available on the Opportunity Link web site. For more information, see www.opportunitylinkmt.org or contact the main office at 406-265-3699.

Meeting invitation and agenda, Revised bylaws, amendments to the Articles of Incorporation, etc.