East Helena, Butte out of the running for $200M manufacturing plant, company says

While Great Falls could still see a new $200 million manufacturing facility, East Helena and Butte are out of the running for a company’s possible Montana debut, Washington-based Janicki Industries announced Friday.

Janicki specializes in design and construction for industries including aerospace, defense, space, marine and architecture. Beyond its home state, it has locations in Utah and was considering either Idaho or Montana for its next home.

The new plant, wherever it lands, is expected to be a 100,000-square-foot building dedicated entirely to manufacturing or assembly, Brian Obert, executive director of Montana Business Assistance Connection, previously told the IR.

Janicki expects to expand that plant over the next decade, scaling out $800 million to grow it as large as 2 million square feet, the company said in the press release. It could bring more than 1,000 manufacturing and engineering jobs to whatever community it lands in.

East Helena was scouted for its proximity to trade schools and its airport, the IR previously reported. East Helena and Helena city officials led Janicki representatives on a tour in January.

Great Falls is competing against the south-central Idaho cities of Twin Falls and Jerome, Janicki marketing manager Erin Hurley said.

Janicki representatives met with Montana and Idaho officials, including Gov. Greg Gianforte, this week as it nears its final decision in May.

“We see great opportunity in these communities; however, the scale of upfront investment required to build a campus of this size means that competitive tax and infrastructure support will be a key factor in where we ultimately build,” Janicki community relations manager Nick Lavacca said in the Friday press release. “We are not looking for special treatment, but we are looking to use the available options to maximize our impact.”