Sidney Montana recently experienced a catastrophic blow to their economy. Their sugar beet processing plant recently shut down after two parties could not come to an agreement. Aside from the over $100 million in direct economic impact there is another devastating loss.
Leslie Messer the executive director of the Richland Economic Development Corporation explains that loss.
“One of the most amazing things that happened was they collaborated with the Tribal Employment Rights Office, and they bussed workers from the Fort Peck Reservation to work in this factory and it was successful for many years. So, the loss of these jobs is not only in Richland County and Western North Dakota but it’s also on the Fort Peck Reservation and so it is definitely going to be felt.” –Leslie Messer
