JLDC hosts annual meeting, awards

The Jefferson Local Development Corporation hosted their Annual Meeting on August 29th at the Boulder Fairgrounds. The event was a celebration of the non-profit organization's 20th anniversary. Guests from all over Jefferson County attended from Montana City to Boulder to Whitehall and everywhere in between.

The JLDC Annual Meeting is an opportunity for members and the public to come together and celebrate the economic and community development in Jefferson County. Members of the organization also get the opportunity to vote for their Board of Directors, and most notably, JLDC recognizes and rewards outstanding businesses in the county.

The recipient of the 2018 Community Improvement Award was Jeff Hansen of Whitehall for his personal efforts to remodel the Roper's Lounge building to help improve the Whitehall downtown vitality. The downtown has had challenges sustaining vitality over the years as a result of blight and a downtown fire that destroyed four buildings in the heart of the business district. The time and effort dedicated to redoing this portion of the very visible Main Street stands out as a significant downtown improvement. Jeff continues to remodel the apartments, and perhaps one day the attached bowling alley will be in operation again.

The Heritage Center in Boulder was awarded the 2018 Innovative Business of the Year Award. The Heritage Center preserves, promotes, and shares Jefferson County genealogy, history, and culture with an emphasis on the education of the youth of Jefferson County. They collect and preserve materials to illustrate the history and culture of the area and of its people, catalog materials, educate the community, assist with genealogical research, and ensure public access to their historical and genealogical collection.

The 2018 Business of the Year Award went to Tri County Disposal, a locally owned family business that was started in 1966 by Donna Tenneson. The company is now owned by Donna, her son Doug Sparrow, and daughter Deanna Linkenbach. With 52 years in business, the company has grown from a one-truck, one-person operation into a company with fourteen trucks, twenty employees, and Valley View Landfill located in Jefferson County at 300 US Highway 518. They developed the County Line Commercial Subdivision as part of a public-private partnership with Jefferson County as part of a Tax Increment Financing Industrial District. Working closely with Dave Duffy, the area saw infrastructure improvements such as roads and high speed internet to help facilitate business development. There has been considerable activity in the district resulting in increased employment opportunities and tax base. Business development has included a recycling business, tower business, pre-cast business, weed control, landscaping business, greenhouse operation, well-drilling, concrete, and the future development of an equipment rental company. Remaining lots are being negotiated for potential sale that could result in more business development. Tri County's forward thinking strategy to develop the County Line Commercial Subdivision in conjunction with Jefferson County has been a positive county economic development enhancement.

The JLDC also recognized Whitehall resident John Brower for nine years of service on the JLDC Board of Directors. John has lived in the Pipestone area for many years. He has a PhD in Mining Economics and has worked around the world before retiring from Montana Tech as an Associate Professor. John has been involved in several projects with JLDC over the years as a dedicated volunteer. His personal devotion and service has been instrumental in helping to improve economic development opportunities throughout Jefferson County that helped to improve the overall quality of life for our residents.

Chris Rehor of Montana City was also recognized for nine years of service on the JLDC Board of Directors. Chris owns and operates the Montana City Grill, Montana City Store, and the Elkhorn Mountain Inn. He's been around the food business since high school when he started at Burger King, and today he operates the upscale Montana City Grill restaurant.

Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine and the Jefferson County Commission were both awarded Certificates of Appreciation for their continued outstanding support to the JLDC.

The JLDC would like to thank everyone who attended the Annual Meeting with a special thanks to Elkhorn Café of Boulder for the excellent food, the Windsor Bar of Boulder for the beverages, and Homemade Jam of Whitehall for the live music. We are looking forward to another excellent year of growth within Jefferson County.