Flathead Beacon: Tester Meets with Columbia Falls Business Leaders About Economic Future

COLUMBIA FALLS – With the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company’s decision to permanently close its plant and the Environmental Protection Agency taking steps to list the contaminated property as a Superfund site, it’s no surprise that business and civic leaders are concerned about the community’s economic future.

But a suite of new and innovative businesses are emerging, and as plans for continued economic growth get underway there’s an air of optimism about the city’s potential to capitalize on a groundswell of development.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, met with community and business leaders March 20 to address concerns about the proposed Superfund listing, which EPA officials announced earlier this month following news that the company was permanently closing.