BUTTE – Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive Matt Vincent will announce two major contributions to the construction of an American Legion baseball facility at Copper Mountain Park during a press conference at 11 a.m. March 2, 2015 at the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives Auditorium.
The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Montana Resources, and NorthWestern Energy have made contributions to kick off a community partnership to complete the proposed $2.3 million facility.
The $1 million Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation contribution made in conjunction with Montana Resources will cover nearly half of the proposed $2.3 million project to build a first-class American Legion baseball facility at Copper Mountain Park.
NorthWestern Energy will contribute a total of $50,000 towards the project, with half of that amount in cash, and the remaining in the form of an in-kind labor donation to install the Musco lighting and base assembly for the field.
“We are pleased to be a partner in this community project,” said Rolin Erickson, President of Montana Resources. “Montana Resources is happy to be a part of this project and our employees will be excited to get involved to make this a model for success.”
“NorthWestern is excited about this project because it fills a community need,” said Bob Rowe, CEO and President of NorthWestern Energy. “Butte kids and their families deserve the same access to safe, modern sports facilities that other communities already enjoy. Just as we have supported those facilities in our service area over the years, we’re now proud to support the development of this one, and we commend Montana Resources and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation for taking the initiative to make this happen.”
In addition to these contributions, Butte-Silver Bow has allocated money from various capital improvement funds along with the use of equipment, labor and materials – including sod for the fields and a grant from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for trees. The Butte American Legion has already committed $50,000 in cash and a minimum of 2,000 volunteer hours.
“A huge thank you to Montana Resources, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, NorthWestern Energy, and Butte-Silver Bow for moving this field improvement forward,” said Mike Semmens, American Legion Manager. “We at American Legion stand committed to do our part to make this a great ball park. I would like to thank Butte-Silver Bow, Montana Resources, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, and NorthWestern Energy in helping with this project and youth development in our community.”
With roughly $450,000 to raise for completion of the project, Butte-Silver Bow, American Legion, and its partners are encouraging additional cash donations, materials, equipment, and in-kind labor.
“It’s a great day here in Butte to celebrate community partnership,” said Chief Executive Matt Vincent. “Montana Resources and NorthWestern Energy have tremendously stepped up to the plate for the kids and families of Butte-Silver Bow. We are excited at the opportunity to show our Butte pride and ability to work together to bring this project across home plate.”
Work has already begun at the park site and the field is slated for completion in August 2016.