Business View Civil and Municipal | April 2021

51 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL APRIL 2021 communities. Anaconda is also centrally located, equidistant from three of Montana’s largest cities – Missoula, Bozeman, and Helena – making it a prime spot for businesses and entrepreneurs to locate. It’s also easily accessible off of I-90, which is just four miles from the community. “Our location is a benefit in many ways,” says Everett. “And I think it’s going to continue to be as the world keeps moving to that distanced workplace. We are going to be extremely attractive.” Having its own Job Corps Center that provides skills and workforce training for county residents is another draw for business. The Center trains a variety of different trades, including Level 2 welding, painting, construction, and culinary. There has also been a big investment in the county’s infrastructure in recent years. Everett states, “We are probably in better shape than any other community I know of in the state of Montana. In the last three years, we’ve installed antique street lights, replaced conduit, and put in a brand new wastewater treatment plant to the tune of about $5 million. We have just re-done our whole water line system throughout the community. In the last three years, we have done complete reconstruction of 86 blocks and we are going to do another 24 blocks this summer.” They are also working on turning reclaimed former Atlantic Richfield land into a substantial solar farm. “The west coast states of Washington, Oregon, California have all passed laws mandating that their electric power supply comes from green energy,” Everett explains. “And a good part of that comes from Montana. The huge power line that goes through the state of Montana is only about 15 miles from us, so this solar farm will basically light up that grid.” And Anaconda’s benefits as a sought-after place to live and do business will keep growing. As part of the Superfund, the county received a $28 million settlement that is to be used on Serving Anaconda since 1950 Anaconda Disposal Service is Deer Lodge County’s locally owned family disposal service. We take pride in our commitment to providing the county with first rate disposal services. (406) 563-5111 | anacondadisposal.com ANACONDA-DEER LODGE COUNTY , MONTANA