WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $14.89 million in funding for projects throughout the state, including $150,000 for the Bozeman Main Street Historical District Restoration following the March 5 natural gas explosion.  The funding was included by the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee for Fiscal Year 2010.

          “Bozeman’s downtown district is one of the most unique and historic in Montana.  It’s at the heart of everything happening in Bozeman,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “So when the explosion rocked the city to its core, we lost a lot more than bricks and mortar.  This funding will help restore the cultural history of some of the damaged buildings, and go a long way toward restoring the vitality of Bozeman’s downtown.”

          Bozeman’s historic downtown has served as its center of economic activity since the city was first established. The historic core is a hub for retail, dining, banking, and professional services.

          On March 5, 2009, a natural gas line explosion in Bozeman’s historic downtown.  The explosion and subsequent fire destroyed four historic buildings, and significantly damaged three others. All buildings were in the Bozeman Main Street Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

          “We greatly appreciate Representative Rehberg’s work on this,” said Chris Kukulski, Bozeman’s City Manager.   “The historic buildings on three sides of the explosion were significantly damaged in the explosion, but not destroyed.  I know those owners are struggling to come up with the resources to save those historic sites, which will benefit the community by restoring jobs.”