Growing our Regional Economy through Accessible Public Transportation
Opportunity Link led a 2007 planning effort that established four new rural transit systems and expansion of one existing system: North Central Montana Transit (NCMT, in Hill and Blaine Counties), Fort Belknap Transit (at Fort Belknap Indian Community), Rocky Boy’s Transit (at Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation), Northern Transit Interlocal (NTI, in Toole, Pondera and Teton Counties) and Blackfeet Transit (Blackfeet Indian Reservation) to expand its service area. OL secured technical assistance from Western Transportation Institute, as well as local community match and/or start-up funds to help establish these systems. OL currently administers NCMT, which coordinates fixed-route bus services with Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s shuttles across 100 miles of frontier terrain.
In July 2010, Opportunity Link is the recipient of two 2010 Transportation Planning Excellence Awards by the Federal Highways Administration and the Federal Transit Administration for Planning & Leadership and Tribal Transportation Planning. In May 2010, Opportunity Link/North Central Montana Transit received a Letter of Commendation for Outstanding Innovation for Public Transport by the International Association of Public Transport.
Sub-Projects:
Making Homeownership Affordable
Homeownership is one of the most attainable means of wealth creation for low-income rural households while helping to build community assets. Opportunity Link is committed to supporting the Mutual Self-Help Housing program and other affordable housing programs (IDA Housing programs, 1home) that help make homeownership a reality for our rural families.
Sub-Projects:
Developing our Northcentral Montana Workforce
Guided by a study on our available labor force, Opportunity Link is focusing its efforts on developing our workforce's employability and retention through work-readiness and preparation programs and increasing access to training for the emerging green jobs economy in the state.
Sub-Projects:
Developing Markets for Montana Biodiesel
Opportunity Link actively promotes the use of locally-grown and produced biodiesel to possible markets that could lead to Northcentral Montana's growth and development.
Opportunity Link's North Central Montana Transit buses have been using 5 to 20% biodiesel blends since January 2010. Biodiesel being used is produced in Havre by Montana State University Northern Bio-Energy Center from oilseeds grown in Malta and crushed in Chester.
Opportunity Link continues to advocate the use of biodiesel in all state public transportation vehicles as well as all state-owned, off-road vehicles and maintenance equipments.
In July 2010, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, the second largest user of diesel fuel in the nation, started to use biodiesel in a switcher locomotive engine. Biodiesel being used is produced by Earl-Fisher Biofuels located in Chester, MT. BNSF was encouraged to take this first step through the North Central Montana Transit's very public use of biodiesel in its fleet of buses.
This demonstration project is a partnership with BNSF, MSU Northern Bio-Energy Center, Earl-Fisher Biofuels, Bear Paw Development Corporation and Opportunity Link. The project is supported by the Montana Department of Agriculture's Growth through Agriculture Program.
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