Positive attitude about economic development

Despite the downturn in the economy and drop in the stock market earlier this week, attitudes were positive during the Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce monthly economic development meeting Tuesday morning at the Back Room.

Don Bennett of Freedom Bank said the German flooring company that is considering Columbia Falls for the site of a new operation will be making a decision on a location soon. The firm is taking a close look at the industrial park in town, since railway access is needed, as well as other possible sites.

According to Bennett, the German firm is working with Montana West Economic Development on the project. He said that MWED President and CEO Mike Strotheide has stepped down, and Lyle Phillips is serving in an interim position.

Chamber President Lyle Mitchell of State Farm said the Capitol Christmas Tree, which will be cut in the Bitterroot National Forest, will make a stop in Columbia Falls on Nov. 5 while en route to Washington, D.C. The tree should arrive at Glacier Discovery Square around 5 p.m. First Best Place Task Force Executive Director Barry Conger said that in conjunction with the arrival of the national tree a ceremony will be held the evening of Nov. 5 to dedicate what will be Columbia Falls' own annual Christmas tree — to be planted on Discovery Square grounds.

Conger reported that the conceptual design of Discovery Square is being completed. The local library will be relocated to the facility, probably next summer. It remains to be seen how the City of Columbia Falls will utilize the area of City Hall where the library is currently located.

Conger said the second phase of fundraising for Discovery Square is about to begin, and the Task Force is seeking partnerships with local groups and organizations.

City Manager Bill Shaw said the city budget will be for a total amount of about $7 million. Unrelated to the city, Shaw said the Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country's new home in Columbia Falls opened late last week. It's located in the former Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church, on Fourth Avenue. Hats off to School District 6 and Glacier Gateway Elementary for the use of the school for Boys and Girls Club activities. The Club is a great asset to the community.

Former city manager Mert Webb attended the economic development meeting to promote the $10 million Flathead County Land and Water Conservation Bond that will be on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. Webb said the county is 5,000 square miles in size, the second largest in Montana. He said 80 percent of Flathead County is public land, and some of it needs to be preserved — "to protect water, access and family farms," as well as wildlife habitat. Webb said it's important to "zero in on those really critical areas to protect."

Bill Dakin of RE/MAX Mountain View said access to recreational resources in the Flathead is under more and more pressure. He said, "This is a quality of life investment," and at the same time we must be positioned for growth in the county.

In speaking of real estate, Dakin said sales are down 25 to 30 percent locally — most of that in areas that have been "over-inflated," such as Whitefish. He said he expects the national downturn in the housing market to last through next year, but it's "not dire times" in the Flathead. Dakin said the "slow spots" are vacant land, and there is much less "spec construction" going on.

Dee Brown of Canyon RV and Campground said visitors to her facility was down this summer compared to last year, primarily due to high fuel prices — although visitors stayed at the campground longer, on average. Brown said she saw more Canadian traffic this season, a huge boost to the local economy. However, traffic to Alaska in late spring and return in early fall was down.

Carol Blake of North Valley Hospital reported that the facility is still seeking a permanent CEO. The interim CEO is leaving Oct. 3 to accept another position elsewhere. Blake said $45,000 was raised for the facility's Birth Center during the MASH BASH in August.

Chamber Executive Director Carol Pike spoke about the expansion of the Pamida store in Columbia Falls, which lends to more shopping choices in town. A new clothing store, Redd'z, is featured in this week's Hungry Horse News.

The national economy might not be so bright, but we're holding our own in the Flathead. It helps to have a positive attitude.

Joe Sova is managing editor of the Hungry Horse News.