Economic development experts threw their support behind the bill that would create a special fund dedicated to spawning new jobs and aiding local economic development organizations.

Billie Lee of the Lake County Regional Development Corp. said the measure creates the opportunity for the state to have a long-term program of sustained economic development.

Evan Barrett, who heads the governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, emphasized that the program in House Bill 249 is intended to be around for a long time "Economic development is not for the impatient and faint-hearted," he said. "To make economic development happen, you have to be in it for the long term."

The bill is among several Schweitzer administration requests for improving the state's economy, a recurring theme that dominated the governor's race last year. The administration also has proposed spending $500,000 to support economic development efforts on Indian reservations, restoration of a program to promote Montana-made products, and $500,000 for the governor's office to recruit businesses to the state.

The bill would set aside a $20 million piece of the nearly $700 million coal tax trust fund as seed money for the Big Sky Economic Development Trust fund. Each year, a fourth of the deposits into the coal trust would be placed in the new account, from which interest would be used for economic development projects. The bill does not call for spending money already in the coal tax trust fund, Barrett said.

In the first year, deposits are expected to be $3.9 million and, coupled with the $20 million transfer, will generate $1.4 million in interest for distribution.

Barrett said 75 percent of the annual interest would go into programs that create jobs, but the openings must pay either the statewide average wage or the local county's average salary.

"You can't have cheapo jobs using up these funds," he said.

The remaining 25 percent annually would be available to bolster local economic development groups' efforts to attract new industry. All the money is allocated by the state Commerce Department.

Rep. Monica Lindeen, D-Huntley, said the goal of her bill is to create good jobs, help existing businesses grow and offer "long-term, stable growth in the state."

Officials from regional economic development groups throughout the state applauded the measure.

House Democratic Leader Dave Wanzenried, D-Missoula, called the bill a landmark step by government.

"This provides ongoing resources to ensure that we're in this for the long term," he said. "For the first time the state is saying here that economic development, economic growth, really is a public purpose."