Apr 01, 2009

Billings to get $80 M extra!

New federal courthouse to be built

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By: Billings Gazette

The federal government plans to spend nearly $80 million to build a new federal courthouse in downtown Billings, and the money is all coming from the recently passed stimulus bill.

U.S. Sen. Max Baucus' office announced Tuesday afternoon that the General Services Administration, which is in charge of constructing and operating federal buildings, set aside $79,989,000 to purchase land downtown and to build and run a new federal courthouse. Baucus' office said the $80 million is in addition to the $880 million in federal stimulus money that Montana will receive.

The GSA is expected to award a contract in April to build the four-story, 71,500-square-foot courthouse. It will house the federal courts and the U.S. Marshals Service. The GSA could own the downtown property by June.