By Michael Howell
Highway 93 construction is having a devastating effect on some Victor businesses. Motivated to help, officials from the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority and the Job Service met with Victor businesses at the Entrepreneurship Center in Hamilton last week to assess the effects of the highway improvement project on Victor businesses and search for solutions.
Julie Foster, Director of the RCEDA, said that what she learned at the meeting was that businesses in Victor were being affected “in a big way.” Some, including the only gas station in town, have already closed their doors. Others are barely hanging on.
“I’m sure many of us have been focused on our communities and haven’t realized what is happening in Victor,” said Patti Furniss, Manager of the Bitterroot Job Service. She said that she heard from some business owners who were seeing a 40 to 90 percent reduction in sales.
Further meetings are planned at which Foster hopes to eventually include MDOT officials and some county commissioners to brainstorm and see if conditions can’t be improved before even more people go out of business.
Furniss said that when the highway was widened north of Missoula the affected communities were all incorporated towns. She said that those municipalities were able to muster officials to coordinate with MDOT and keep their community interests in front of the agency.
“Victor is unincorporated and as a result there are no officials to help coordinate community interests with the state’s transportation department,” said Furniss. She said the hope is that the meetings being scheduled will lead to the establishment of a working group that can have some effect and perhaps come up with ideas to provide some relief for affected businesses.
“One thing I’ve thought of,” said Furniss, “is simply getting the word out that Victor is still open for business. I’ve been about as guilty as anybody in avoiding the construction.” She said maybe everyone should ask themselves, “Did you go to Victor today?”
Furniss may be contacted at the Bitterroot Job Service, 375-6044.
Julie Foster may be reached at RCEDA at 375-9416.