U.S. funding bill includes money for area projects

The Daily Inter Lake

At least $6 million in appropriations are proposed for Northwest Montana in a bill making its way through Congress.

The Omnibus Appropriations Bill was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday and now is before the U.S. Senate.

The bill is expected to pass both the House and the Senate, according to the offices of U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, both D-Montana.

The proposed appropriations are:

n $2.85 million to continue design work and right of way purchases for the U.S. 93 Bypass around western Kalispell.

n $750,000 to the city of Kalispell to help build a new testing and training center for law enforcement.

n $381,000 to the Libby School District to support academic programs as the district saves for a new elementary school.

n $2 million to the U.S. Forest Service's land acquisition efforts in the northern Swan Valley.

n $190,000 to the Center for Asbestos Related Disease Clinic in Libby.

n $404,000 to the North Valley Hospital Foundation to upgrade facilities and equipment.