Montana State University-Billings

Informational Item
March 21, 2002

Montana State University-Billings is working with the City of Billings, Yellowstone County, School District #2, and the Big Sky Economic Development Authority to attract a major employer to the City of Billings. This employer, Dell Corporation, would provide an additional 500 to 1,000 jobs for Montanans.

The Corporation might be interested in as much as 50,000 square feet of space to house the Dell Technology Support Services Center.

MSU-Billings is exploring financing from either a commercial financing company or an Intercap loan from the Board of Investments. If commercial financing was obtained, the lease payments from Dell would be used to repay the loan. If an Intercap loan was obtained, internal campus resources would be used to repay the loan.

The total cost of this project could be as high as $7,500,000. MSU-Billings is exploring the possibility of a portion of the financing coming from partnerships found with the City of Billings, Yellowstone County, School District #2, and the Big Sky Economic Development Authority. MSU-Billings will provide additional information to the Board of Regents once research and planning have been finalized and when Board approval is requested.

This project would be a major economic development commitment by Montana State University-Billings.