Local RC&D to hold annual meeting

The North Central Montana Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc. (RC&D) will hold its annual dinner on Thursday, Jan. 18.

The dinner will take place at the Duck Inn in Havre, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The tentative guest speaker is Phyllis Leonard, mayor of Havre. Paul Tuss, executive director of Bear Paw Development Corporation will be master of ceremonies. The dinner will be a time to celebrate another successful year for the RC&D, which supports several important projects in the area.

The RC&D assists first-time homebuyers with down payment and closing costs. They offer homebuyer education classes which give prospective homebuyers

the tools needed to successfully own a home. Last fall, the RC&D completed a dry hydrant project which installed water access to rural fire departments.

The RC&D also assists communities in developing long term endowments for future needs. The RC&D is a member of the Montana Carbon Offset Coalition which is ready to contract reforestation on private lands in order to help mitigate worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently the RC&D is working to establish a five county Economic Development District (EDD) through the U.S. Department of Commerce Development Administration (EDA). The five counties involved are Cascade, Glacier, Pondera, Teton and Toole. They are also working to establish an alternative freight service in Shelby.

The January RC&D Board meeting will be held at the Duck Inn on the 18th beginning at 4, with the dinner to follow at 6. To attend the dinner and learn more about the RC&D's plans for 2001, RSVP by Jan. 10 at 434-9161.