December 9 - Further to our previous reports, in the USA, as the Idaho Transportation Department meets this week to discuss applications to ship equipment loads along a U.S. 12 route through the state, members of Drive Our Economy task force warn that con

"Unnecessary delays will cost much more than time," explained Barry "Spook" Stang, executive vice president of the Motor Carriers of Montana and co-chair of the Drive Our Economy taskforce. "Governor Schweitzer rightly described the stakes of these Kearl shipments as "jobs, jobs, jobs."

"The port alone stands to gain approximately USD1 million from these projects, meaning more jobs for our region," continued Todd Maddock, president of the Port of Lewiston. "We should encourage the Department to embrace oversized shipping projects and the investments they bring to our states. The economic consequences of inaction are too great to ignore."

In the short-term, direct and indirect economic benefits would bring a total estimated USD80 million for the region, including USD13 million for Idaho and USD67 million for Montana, claims Drive Our Economy. Though the shipments are not uniquefalling in the same range as other "megaloads" like grain silos and wind turbine bladesthis project is the first to help to upgrade existing highway and waterway infrastructure without taxpayer money, it adds.

Drive Our Economy is a task force of community, business, and agricultural leaders who have joined together to promote economic strategies that benefit Idaho and Montana. For additional information, visit: 
www.DriveOurEconomy.org.

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