Commerce officials defend loan program

Ravalli Republic August 21, 2009 by John Cramer

In a contentious meeting Thursday with Ravalli County commissioners, Montana Commerce Director Tony Preite defended his department’s handling of a new federal and state stimulus program for the timber industry.

Preite also denied that his long-time friendship with Dick King, president of the Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation, was unduly influencing the DOC’s decision-making.

Preite told the commission he requested the meeting in response to their critical comments last week in a Ravalli Republic article, which he said prompted a flurry of calls to the DOC from across the state.

After an hour and a half, the meeting ended with neither side backing down but agreeing it had been wise to discuss their differences face to face.

“We did everything we could today,” Preite said.

The DOC’s decision making is “fundamentally flawed,” Commissioner Greg Chilcott said.

Preite repeatedly contended that his department is working diligently and fairly in distributing money from the Montana Distressed Wood Products Industry Recovery and Stabilization Program, or WPIRS.

The program is offering $11.3 million in revolving, low-interest loan funds to retain and create jobs in the state’s wood products industry, which has been battered by the recession.

“Our department has done a remarkable job,” Preite said.

But commissioners weren’t swayed, telling Preite that the WPIRS program has been poorly administered and that his relationship with King was creating a public perception of favoritism. [MORE > link to Ravalli Republic article]