WGM Group

WGM Supports the Clarkfork Coalition and Missoula Realtors

2010-07-23T20:19:46Z

WGM Group is a proud sponsor of Living Near Streams: A Continuing Education Course for Missoula County REALTORS

What: A workshop on the ecology of streams, wetlands, and floodplains, including field trips to subdivisions with riparian areas. Topics include: avoiding flood risk, property damage, and water pollution; navigating regulations for riparian areas, water quality, and floodplains; stream-friendly landscaping and livestock maintenance; and resources for restoring and managing streamside property.

When and Where: Friday, September 24, 10am-3pm at the Doubletree Hotel, with field trips to streamside subdivisions in the afternoon

Credits: 4.0 approved by Board of Realty Regulation

Cost: $50.00 (includes field trips and lunch)

Sponsors: Clark Fork Coalition, Geum Environmental Consulting, WGM Group, Missoula County Water Quality District

Registration: Register online or call 406-542-0539, ext. 213

Silvertip Housing Project Out To Bid

2010-07-20T15:36:30Z

The former Missoula Athletic Club's real estate on the Clark Fork River facing Hellgate Canyon was vacant for years until Rocky Mountain Development Group saw an opportunity to build affordable housing. WGM Group provided site-civil engineering for architectural firm Gavin-Hanks-Encompass, who designed the 115 unit building. Demolition is now near completion and the project was put out to bid for contractors last week. Click here for the Legal Advertisement.

The developers partnered with the City to receive a $5 million Neighborhood Stabilization Grant. The funds, which were from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), were allocated through the Montana Department of Commerce. The nature of the grant makes Silvertip Apartments unique because it will not have restrictions against students and other demographics that, although in need, are typically ineligible for housing assistance.

Missoula leaders working with the Office of Planning and Grants, the Missoula Housing Authority, and the Missoula Organization of Realtors have been searching for answers to the housing dilemma. Home prices are already inflated, making them just out of reach for middle-income families. This, coupled with an expected drastic rise in growth over the next few decades, creates an unprecedented situation. Innovative private-public partnerships like Silvertip Apartments may be one solution.

Click here to learn about the Missoula Housing Summit

Click here for more about Silvertip Apartments

WGM Group to Take Whitefish Improvements All The Way

2010-07-15T17:22:34Z

In February 2010, WGM Group received news that a $3.5 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant, which we wrote on behalf of the City of Whitefish, had been awarded. On July 9th WGM Group was selected by the City to design the improvements.

The long awaited project will include signal improvements at the intersection of U.S. Highway 93 and Baker Avenue in Downtown Whitefish as well as reconstruction of U.S. Highway 93/ 2^nd Street between Spokane and Baker Avenues.

WGM Group recognized the need for these enhancements several years ago and we are excited to continue to have a hand in realizing this vision. TIGER funding is available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which requires awards to be spent immediately as part of the stimulus effort. Design is scheduled to begin this fall and construction will begin in September 2011.

Visit the Whitefish Public Works Department here

View an article about the TIGER Grant here

Second Public Meeting for Lewiston-Clarkston Downtown Circulation Study

2010-07-02T17:50:22Z

Several interested residents attended a second public meeting to learn more about the Downtown Circulation Study in the Lewis Clark Valley, held on June 30^th at the Old Lewiston City Hall at 0207. The intent of the meeting was to present information developed to date and preliminary improvement options. Click here for a copy of the presentation.

The Lewis Clark Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (LCVMPO) is preparing a Downtown Circulation Study to address deficiencies and identify improvements in the roadway network serving downtown Clarkston and Lewiston, focusing on US Highway 12 and major connecting streets. The study will provide transportation planning and analysis, short-term and long-term recommendations for improvements, as well as design principles and guidelines for implementation.

]]> Lewiston and Clarkston experience significant traffic volumes and congestion on their primary arterials, including US Highway 12 (Main Street & Bridge Street). This condition detracts from the quality of life and visitor experience. To address these issues the study will consider origin/destination patterns, traffic circulation and signal timings, bridge approach congestions, parking, pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, streetscape guidelines, and the impact of growth and redevelopment.

Topics, which were addressed on June 30^th, included Land Use Projections, Traffic Analysis, Origin Destination, Trails, Streetscaping, and Improvement Projects. For a copy of a recent article about the project click here.

For further project information or to schedule and inteview with Mark Bancale, P.E., please call WGM Group Inc. at 406-728-4611 or email mbancale@wgmgroup.com.

Facts To Know About TIGER II Grants

2010-05-13T14:45:21Z

The US Department of Transportation recently announced that it has $600 million available in grants for local governments. TIGER (Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery) II Grants are the second round of funding available for transportation projects as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). WGM Group wrote a $3.5 million grant that city of Whitefish was awarded this winter in the first round. Lake County was the only other recipient in Montana.

Facts to know about TIGER II Grants:

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· Tribal, state and local governments are all eligible applicants for TIGER II Grants as well as transit agencies, other political subdivisions of State or local governments, and multi-state or multi-jurisdictional groups applying through a single lead applicant.

· $35 million will be allocated for Planning Grants.

· Up to $150 million may be used to pay the subsidy and administrative costs of the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) credit assistance program if it would further the purposes of the TIGER II Grant program.

· $140 million of the funds provided are to be used for projects in rural areas.

o Urban clusters are considered rural.

· Projects located in rural areas do not require matching funds.

o However, rural areas can increase their competitiveness by demonstrating significant non-federal financial contributions.

· Projects in urban areas (Missoula, Billings, Great Falls) require a 20% match.

· Projects in rural areas require a $1 million minimum per project.

· Projects in urban areas require a $10 million minimum per project.

· Projects that minimize life cycle costs, contribute to economic competitiveness, foster livable communities, improve energy efficiency, improve safety, use innovative strategies, and/or demonstrate strong collaboration will be given priority.

· Priority will be given to projects completed by 2/17/2012.

· Pre-applications must be submitted by July 26, 2010, by 5:00 p.m. EST.

· Final applications must be submitted by August 23, 2010, by 5:00 p.m. EST.

WGM Hosts Office Warming and Friendraiser for United Way

2010-05-10T17:50:46Z

We Moved-We Unpacked-We Want to Share Our Space

Bring on the sunshine at WGM Group's Office Warming & United Way of Missoula County Friendraiser. This first-class celebration promises to kick your summer off right with live music, beverages overlooking the river, sunshine, snacks, and lawn games.

Who: Everyone

What: WGM Group's 'Office Warming & United Way Friendraiser'

Where: 1111 E. Broadway

When: 5:30pm June 9, 2010

Why: We love our new office and the United Way of Missoula County

*Contributions to UWMC accepted

RSVP on Facebook!

Stay in touch for more details!

Visit United Way of Missoula County here

WGM Group Celebrates Opening of the Garden District Apartments

2010-05-03T20:48:58Z

WGM Group, Inc. is proud to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Garden District Apartments, on Russell Street this spring. WGM provided land use planning, surveying, and engineering for the 37-unit Missoula Housing Authority project, which flipped the former vacant Intermountain Lumber site into an affordable housing neighborhood, featuring spacious apartments, solar energy panels, a park, and bike/pedestrian trails.

WGM negotiated the acquisition of easements on the north side of the Garden District property and is now in the process of designing an extension of the popular River Front Trail. WGM's LEED certified environmental engineers will also design a trail through the property along the Old Milwaukee Railroad. The trails provide a connection for residents and safe passage for the general public on bike or foot.

In addition to the Garden District, WGM has contributed significantly to the redevelopment of this region of Missoula by providing services to the new Home Resource facility, Silvercrest Retirement Home, Sussex School, Western Montana Mental Health and Rocky Mountain Development. Not to mention the Old Sawmill District, which is less than a half-mile away.

Click here to read the Missoulian article about the Garden Districts Grand Opening

Click here for the Missoula Housing Authority

Context Sensitive Solutions

2010-04-15T14:52:56Z

Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) is a design philosophy that WGM Group, Inc. has practiced for 45 years that is currently changing the landscape of engineering nationally. In many communities contentious projects that have stalled are now back on the planning table. One long standing transportation dilemma that Missoula will see addressed using the CSS philosophy is the intersections of 5^thand 6^thstreets with Arthur Avenue, on the southside of the Madison Street Bridge near the University. Discussions about a solution were shelved in 2005 when the community came out strongly against a proposal to widen Arthur, making it less pedestrian friendly for students. WGM has recently been chosen to re-address the problem; the firm's reputation for ensuring that stakeholders are heard and considered was certainly a factor in the selection process of this touchy venture.

To learn more about Context Sensitive Solutions check out April's Engineering, Inc. magazine here.

Stay abreast of the 5^th/6^th/Arthur project on WGM's website at wgmgroup.com

WGM Group Inc. Expands to Include Industrial Design Division

2010-02-23T18:15:50Z

WGM is expanding to include an Industrial Design Division with three engineers formerly employed by the vacant Smurfit-Stone Container Mill (SSC). The 2010 closure of the SSC Mill in Frenchtown, MT resulted in hundreds of talented employees, contractors and consultants abruptly finding themselves jobless. Among the unemployed are experienced engineers who have expert knowledge related to operations, resources, and potential for the facility. The Mill is a high value asset that is likely to be included in the final settlement of the Smurfit-Stone bankruptcy proceedings. Current discussions being held by potential buyers will ultimately play a significant role in shaping Missoula's economic landscape.

While the closing has devastated the economy of Missoula and surrounding areas, WGM Group believes that there is great opportunity, if action is taken quickly, to take advantage of the new cellulose economy. Cellulose from trees has traditionally been used to manufacture paper and linerboard at the SSC Plant. New processes are being developed to convert cellulose to sugar. These sugars could replace corn and petroleum as a low cost input for the manufacture of many products. This will potentially create a market for a sustainable and renewable source of cellulose, a plentiful natural resource in Montana. The new Industrial Design Division seeks to bring large and small cellulose conversion industries into Montana.

]]> The innovative use of wood fiber to manufacture high value products and bio-fuels has the potential to generate countless jobs and create an export market for the state. Former SSC engineer knowledge is priceless to any organization looking to purchase, retool and operate the mill. WGM Group is certain that retaining chemical and mechanical engineering resources is necessary to attract a variety of industries not only in Missoula, but also throughout Montana. WGM Group, Inc. is now positioned as a forerunner for emerging markets and a premier provider of industrial design services.

North Higgins Streetscape Improvements Advertised for Bids

2010-02-01T19:51:27Z

Sealed bids will be received at the office of the City Clerk, 435 Ryman Street, Missoula, Montana, until 1:00 p.m., on Monday, February 22, 2010 for construction of the North Higgins Bike/Ped-Msla project. Electronic versions of the construction plans, specifications, and project overview are available for download. Official contract documents may be examined or obtained at the WGM Group office, 1111 E. Broadway, Missoula. Bidders must obtain an official bound set of the contract documents. Prospective bidders are encouraged to attend a pre-bid conference at the Missoula Redevelopment Agency Conference Room, 140 West Pine Street, Missoula, MT 59802 at 11:00 a.m. on February 8th, 2010.

]]> The project consists of sidewalk improvements, enhanced street crossings, protected bike lanes, period street lighting, and landscaping on three blocks of North Higgins Avenue between West Broadway Street and Railroad Street. The City of Missoula received authorization from the Montana Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration last week to advertise the North Higgins Streetscape Improvements project for bids. The project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 through the MDT CTEP Program.

Project Info

Project Overview

Construction Plans

Project Manual

Miller Creek Road Improvements Advertised for Bids

2010-01-19T16:48:39Z

Construction plans were released this week for prospective bidders on the Miller Creek Road Improvements project in Missoula. The project consists of reconstructing approximately 3,400 feet of Miller Creek Road from Briggs Street to Mockingbird Way, including approximately 500 feet of Lower Miller Creek Road. A roundabout will be installed at the intersection of Upper and Lower Miller Creek Roads, as well as new curb and gutter, sidewalk, bike lanes, lighting, storm drainage, sanitary sewer, signing, striping and landscaping.

]]> The project is funded by the City of Missoula and Missoula County through developer impact fees. Bids will be opened on February 8, 2010. Utility relocation work is currently underway. Construction is expected to begin in the spring and will take six to eight months.

Electronic plans and additional project information may be obtained at:

http://www.wgmgroup.com/miller_creek_road/

Official contract documents may be obtained with a non-refundable fee of $50.00 at the following location:

WGM Group, Inc.

1111 E. Broadway

Missoula, MT 59802

For more information, please contact Cody Thorson, Construction Project Manager, at cthorson@wgmgroup.com or 406.728.4611.

WGM Group Inc. Finds New Home

2010-01-07T23:15:29Z

With the help of the Small Business Association and their Historically Underutilized
Business Zone (HUBZone) program, WGM Group Inc. purchases new office building.

Brent Campbell, president of WGM Group, Inc., has announced that WGM recently purchased a new office building. WGM will be moving January 18th from its current location to 1111 East Broadway in Missoula. WGM is an locally owned and operated, community-centered land use planning, engineering, and surveying firm that has been building better communities, safer roads, and healthier places to live, work, and play in the Northwest for over 40 years.

Enduring the same economic climate as its fellow community members, WGM employees appreciate tough economic times. However, with the help of the Small Business Association (SBA), WGM has taken advantage of the tremendous funding opportunities to acquire much needed space.

Click the following links to view this story's news coverage:

Missoulian Article
KPAX Article
KPAX Interview]]> WGM's board of directors decided to purchase its new building after a three year search for office space that could support the unique functions of this multi-disciplined firm. WGM was able to take advantage of an SBA secured loan provided through stimulus funding as well as special provisions under the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) project. WGM's new building is located in an SBA HUBZone. This federal program is designed to stimulate economic development and to create jobs in communities with statistically proven economic need by providing federal funds to businesses operating in these areas.

According to Campbell, "the new location of the firm's headquarters is a great opportunity for WGM to acquire the type of expandable, efficient space that it needs in an environment that is easily accessible by employees and by clients."

For further related information or to schedule an interview with Brent Campbell, President/CEO, please call WGM Group, Inc. at 406.728.4611 or email bcampbell@wgmgroup.com.

Lewiston-Clarkston Downtown Circulation Study Underway

2009-12-04T18:25:07Z

Second Public Meeting

Lewiston and Clarkston experience significant traffic volumes and congestion on their primary arterials, including US Highway 12 (Main Street & Bridge Street). This condition detracts from the quality of life and visitor experience. To address these issues the study will consider origin/destination patterns, traffic circulation and signal timings, bridge approach congestions, parking, pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, streetscape guidelines, and the impact of growth and redevelopment.

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First Public Meeting

The first Public Open House for the Lewiston-Clarkston Downtown Circulation Study was held December 3rd, 2009, in Clarkston, Washington. The study will address deficiencies and identify improvements in the roadway network serving downtown Clarkston, WA and Lewiston, ID focusing on U.S. Highway 12 and major connecting streets.

To view the Public Open House presentation click here. To view and print the Public Open House comment sheet click here. Please submit your comment sheets using the contact information listed on the form.

To view this project's recent, local, news article click here and click here.

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Study Elements Include:

Transportation planning and analysis
Short-term and long-term recommendations for improvements
Design principles and guidelines for implementation

A second Public Open House is planned for Spring 2010. For more information, please contact Mark Bancale by telephone at 406.728.4611 or by email at mbancale@wgmgroup.com.

Season's Greetings Valued WGM Group Clients, Friends, and Colleagues

2009-12-03T21:40:03Z

Valued WGM Group Clients, Friends, and Colleagues,

WGM Group extends our warmest wishes to you during this holiday season.

We see the real effects these tough economic times have had on families and the local organizations and businesses that help support them. Thus, we have thought long and hard about how to show you our appreciation while helping communities at a time when it is needed most. That's why, in lieu of mailing you a Christmas card, we have made donations to worthy causes in communities throughout Montana and Idaho under the name "Valued WGM Group Clients, Friends, and Colleagues," These contributions have gone to the Montana Food Bank Network, Missoula Poverello Center, and Idaho Food Bank to help provide food and shelter to needy families. We are proud to have served you in the past and look forward to working with you in the future.

All of us at WGM wish you happiness throughout the holiday season and the New Year!

North Higgins Streetscape Improvements Moving Ahead

2009-12-03T15:57:31Z

The North Higgins Streetscape Improvements project is part of the first phase of implementation of the Missoula Greater Downtown Master Plan. The project consists of sidewalk improvements, enhanced street crossings, protected bike lanes, period street lighting, and landscaping on three blocks of North Higgins Avenue between West Broadway Street and Railroad Street.

Advertisements for bids will be released in January 2010. The project award will be announced February 2010 and construction with take place March through September 2010.

To view the Final Design presentation click here. To view the North Higgins Streetscape Improvements project information sheet click here.

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To learn more about this project please contact Rod Austin, Director of Operations for Downtown Business Improvement District of Missoula by telephone at (406) 728-1140 or by email at raustin@missouladowntownbid.org.