New Regional Task Force Works to Protect $80 Million of Local Economic Activity
Launch of Drive Our Economy signals collaboration of local business, contractor, agriculture, and community organizations
MISSOULA, Mont., Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, local business, contractor, agriculture, and community organizations launched Drive Our Economy, a regional task force dedicated to promoting Montana's economy and protecting our roadways for commercial use. Recently outside groups have attempted to interfere with local control over Idaho and Montana's roads, putting at risk tens of millions of dollars in economic activity and threatening Idaho and Montana's jobs.
"Idaho farmers and businesses rely heavily on our roadways to move our products and to keep Idahoans employed. That's why the Drive Our Economy task force includes such a wide range of area business groups, agriculture groups, and interests," announced Pat Richardson, Clearwater County President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation. "We're working to ensure that our businesses can continue to freely use local roadways. Outsiders like the Natural Resources Defense Council are using scare tactics around these 'mega-loads' to drown out a productive discussion about what's best for Idaho and effectively take this debate out of local hands."
Cary Hegreberg, Executive Director of the Montana Contractors' Association, said, "We've joined this task force to protect not only the $67 million in economic activity the Kearl project will bring to Montana, but also to protect commercial trucking for all industries in our state. If outside agitators and environmental extremists have their way, oversize trucking will shift from a straightforward, administrative process to a regulatory nightmare that could haunt all sorts of businesses, including construction companies that routinely move large equipment and structures by truck."
Cary Hegreberg, Executive Director of the Montana Contractors' Association, and Pat Richardson, Clearwater County President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, are members of the Drive Our Economy task force. For additional information about the task force, visit: www.DriveOurEconomy.org.
A project of the Montana Contractors' Association and the Motor Carriers of Montana, Drive Our Economy is a task force of community, union, business, and agricultural leaders who have joined together to promote economic strategies that benefit Idaho and Montana.
SOURCE Drive Our Economy
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