Acadia Montana to close, dealing ‘devastating blow’ to Butte economy

Acadia Montana, the troubled residential psychiatric treatment facility for children that has operated in Butte under several different names and owners over the past 31 years, announced Tuesday it will close.

It was not immediately clear how many jobs would be lost, though Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive Dave Palmer said the number could be more than 100.

Palmer called the closure “a devastating blow” to Butte’s economy. He said Acadia Montana informed county officials of the impending closure Monday evening.

“It’s not just bad for Butte, it’s bad all the way around. It’s over 100 good paying jobs that are going away,” Palmer said. “Somedays you wish you could get ahead. You bring in a place that brings 10 jobs or 15 jobs, and then you lose 100. It’s like one step forward and two steps back.”

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