Two grants give big boost to FVCC

Flathead Valley Community College has been on the receiving end of some very generous grants that are way more than just a financial shot in the arm. These grants are game-changers that will allow the community college to create even more cutting-edge curriculum.

Sen. Max Baucus helped secure a software licensing grant worth $46 million from Siemens PLM Software based in Germany. This money most likely will be used in the college’s new advanced manufacturing program, allowing students to take a product from conception through the manufacturing process and in the process become proficient in technology used worldwide.

Montana’s congressional delegation also helped pass legislation that will give Montana’s two-year colleges $25 million. FVCC’s portion is $3.5 million for improvements in the college’s occupational training programs. The purpose of the legislation is to help displaced workers find employment with a focus on energy and manufacturing jobs.

There’s no doubt that both of these recent grant awards will help our local economy. FVCC continues to step up to the plate with the perception to create training programs today that will fill tomorrow’s jobs.

Hats off to local heroes

Two Columbia Falls residents are alive today because their neighbors and a local police officer risked their lives to save them.

Kenneth Weaver, Daniel Herzog and Police Det. Steve Hughes recently were honored with Life Saving Awards for helping rescue two men trapped in the basement of a burning house in August. It took some quick thinking and teamwork to pull the victims to safety, and their recognition is well-deserved. What a wonderful example of community cooperation and camaraderie under the most dire of circumstances.

Church move fights blight!

The River is on the move.

The River Church is converting the long-abandoned Gateway Cinema into a new church and moving from its current location on West Reserve Drive.

This promises to be a beneficial change for the west side of Kalispell, since the theater building has been empty and unused for six years.

Interestingly, problems with a river helped lead The River Church on its new path. The Stillwater River has been eating away at the land on which the church sits and it might have cost $250,000 or more to stabilize the river bank — with no guarantee of a permanent fix.

Now The River is on its way to a more stable home.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.