August 2017
KALISPELL CHAMBER NEWSLETTER Our Debut on the National Stage From July 16-19 we attended the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The three-day conference was packed with sessions demonstrating how chambers are igniting positive change in communities, providing members with stronger benefits, and developing strategies to attract and retain talented workforces. The last night of the conference was a large-scale awards ceremony. This year was the first time we have been recognized for any national awards through ACCE and we were fortunate to be selected as a top three overall chamber among organizations our size, in the top ten for membership accounts and revenues, and as a Grand Award winner for the Award for Communications Excellence (ACE). Furthermore, our project for ACE, an out-of-home advertising campaign directed toward attracting San Francisco visitors to take advantage of the new FCA-SFO flight this winter, was announced as one of only three Best in Show winners out of over 120 different projects.
EVENTS COMING UP August 18
NWMT Fair & Rodeo Parade
10:00 - 11:00am on Main Street - Kalispell Registrations due Friday, August 11
August 19
4-H/FFA Market Livestock Sale
8:00am - 2:00pm at the Fairgrounds Trade Center Building
August 22
Glacier Rail Park Dedication Ceremony 10:00am at the Glacier Rail Park
August 22
Last Best Outdoor Fest
4:00 - 8:00pm at the The Coop in CFalls
August 24
Luncheon - Kalispell’s Billion Dollar Tour
11:45am - 1:15pm at the Red Lion Hotel Kalispell *please note this luncheon is on a Thursday
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We intend to use this recognition as the motivation to continue driving forward to grow as a regional trade center, strengthen manufacturing and innovation, build on infrastructure momentum, and increase non-resident tourism growth. - Joe Unterreiner, President/CEO
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CHAMBER BRIEFS State revenue shortfalls generate $97 million in automatic spending cuts: SB 261, enacted in this past legislative session, established triggered spending reductions if the state failed to hit their revenue targets. As a result, $97 million of automatic spending cuts will be implemented in this fiscal year. More details will be available during our next Government Affairs meeting on Monday, August 14. To attend this meeting, please contact our office at (406) 758-2803 or info@kalispellchamber.com.
Chamber supports Downtown Plan, comments on challenges and opportunities of downtown redevelopment: “The Downtown Plan does a good job of laying out a vision for Main Street improvements and character, the couplet, parking, financial tools, potential for city lots, and more. In the long term, this vision will serve Kalispell well”, said Joe Unterreiner, chamber president. “Attracting private investment downtown is substantially different and more challenging than in undeveloped areas north of the city or in unincorporated areas of the county”. Learn more at https://kalispellchamber.com/initiatives/
Mid-year economic update: Growth has shifted west. Economists at the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research provided a mid-year economic update on July 28 in Kalispell. “Growth in western Montana is again taking over as the dominant economic driver for the state and the Flathead Valley has developed into a regional trade center, spurred by new retail and professional jobs", said economist Paul Polzin. Wages in Flathead County have grown 6.7% between 2014 and 2016. Read the full article at: http://flatheadbeacon. com/2017/07/29/state-economic-forecast-growth-shifts-west-ag-producers-worry-drought/
Education and Communications committee set luncheon agenda and plans Manufacturing Day: The committee has set the luncheon agenda for the balance of 2017: Aug 24
Tour of major commercial and residential real estate projects
Sept 19
Manufacturing Month panel of high-performing manufacturers and their products
Oct 17
Big Thinking for Small Businesses
Flathead Valley Chambers partner to support integrated trail system promotion: Flathead Valley chambers, tourism, and economic development organizations have agreed to work cooperatively to support the promotion of an integrated trail system for Flathead County. With more people visiting the Flathead Valley, an integrated trail system offers the opportunity to extend the length-of-stay for visitors and added recreational choices for residents.
Montana Dragon Boat Festival - No Experience Necessary and We Provide The Boats! You can be a Dragon Boater! All experience levels are welcome. Dragon Boat teams are made up of 20 paddlers and a drummer, and an expert steerer will accompany your team on each race. New paddlers quickly fall in love with the thrill, teamwork, adrenaline, and interaction in the boat, plus Dragon Boating is a great teambuilding activity for businesses, clubs, churches, families. Boats, paddles, and personal flotation devices are provided. No team? No problem. There are opportunities for individual paddlers as well. For more information, contact Vonnie Day at 406-758-2809 or by email at vonnie@discoverkalispell.com. Register: www.montanadragonboat.com.
Kalispell’s Billion Dollar Tour THURSDAY, August 24th | 11:45am - 1:15pm | Red Lion Hotel - Kalispell Between the new buildings going up at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, the huge piles of dirt moving to make way for the construction at Kalispell North Town Center, and the large pieces of equipment that are making their way into the Glacier Rail Park, it’s near impossible not to notice all of the growth taking place across Kalispell and the entire Flathead Valley. You’re invited to join us for a special August luncheon event where we will detail out the billions of dollars (yes, billions with a b) of construction happening across our valley and what that all means for the future of the Flathead. Major contributors to the luncheon will include: development at Glacier Park International Airport, Downtown Kalispell, FVCC’s student housing, Kalispell North Town Center, Marriott Townplace in Whitefish, and more than 20 major projects. This event is on track to be a record breaking luncheon. Please register no later than Friday, August 18th. Registrations received after the 18th cannot be guaranteed lunch. Register at: https:// business.kalispellchamber.com/events/calendarcatgid/6
Glacier Rail Park Dedication TUESDAY, August 22nd | 10:00am | Glacier Rail Park The Glacier Rail Park, a project that landed a $10m TIGER grant in Kalispell in late 2015 is ready to begin construction at the end of this month. Please join us, Montana West Economic Development, Flathead County Economic Development Authority, the City of Kalispell, the Evergreen Chamber, Sen. Tester, Montana DOT, BNSF, and others for a groundbreaking celebration.
Last Best Outdoors Fest TUESDAY, August 22nd | 3:00pm - 8:00pm | The Coop - Columbia Falls Business for Montana’s Outdoors (BFMO), the Montana Brewers Association, and Senator Tester's Office will be hosting the Last Best Outdoors Fest in Columbia Falls to celebrate the jobs and businesses that power Montana’s robust economy. The event is free and open to the public and will feature networking opportunities for Montana business owners, new research on the economic impacts of Montana’s public lands, a Montana craft-beer garden, local food trucks, live music, and activities for kids. To RSVP for this free event, please visit www.lastbestoutdoorsfest.com.
Espresso Yourself with Sen. Tester’s Office Wednesday, August 23rd | 8:00am - 9:00am | Colter Coffee, Kalispell Sen. Tester’s office wants to hear from our young professionals! Join us for a morning conversation with Tester’s representative Justin Folsom, covering topics from taxes and health care to public lands and anything else you want to share. Free for FAYP members, $10 for non-members. Please RSVP by Monday, August 21 with us at fayp@kalispellchamber.com.
Volunteer for the Montana Dragon Boat Festival It takes a strong team to paddle a boat, but it takes an even stronger crew of volunteers to put this event on the water! Volunteers are needed Friday, September 8 through Sunday, September 10. To see where you could help, visit our volunteer page at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c4bafa82da5fe3volunteer1
THE BEST OF THE AMALFI COAST & ROME
ITALY MARCH 14-21, 2018 FROM $3,249/PERSON*
8 DAYS, 6 NIGHTS INCLUDING HOTELS, MEALS, DAY TRIPS, AND AIRFARE FROM KALISPELL, MT
Please Join Us at One of Our Informational Meetings August 8th
5:30-6:30pm Hilton Garden Inn-Kalispell
September 12th
October 17th
5:30-6:30pm Kalispell Chamber
5:30-6:30pm Kalispell Chamber
November 14th 5:30-6:30pm Kalispell Chamber
The Amalfi Coast’s mixture of history and nature are yours to discover from the Cathedral of Amalfi to the villas in Ravello, and the numerous churches built during the historical period of Amalfi’s Republic. With two-thirds of the world’s historical artistic heritage in Italy, this is a country for lovers of all that is good in life, and the Amalfi Coast will capture you with its warmth and beauty. *Plus an optional, two-day extension to Rome ($649)
Highlights of this trip will include: •
6 Nights in Sorrento, Italy
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Tour the Sistine Chapel
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Experience the Vatican Museum
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Breathtaking Amalfi Coast drive, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Isle of Capri
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Terraced Gardens of Augustus
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Guided tour of The Colosseum Stop by the Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus, the Great Synagoge, Isola Tiberina and Castel Sant’Angelo
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Salerno, the site of the Allied landing in WWII Ample leisure and free time
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Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
(406) 758-2803
info@kalispellchamber.com
www.kalispellchamber.com
The Kalispell Convention & Visitor Bureau hosted a family and travel writer in early June for a cycling trip. See the story on the Adventure Cycling blog: https://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/blog/the-ultimate-family-cycling-adventure-in-kalispell-montana/. They enjoyed their time in Kalispell and on three fantastic cycling adventures. Thank you to our local businesses for providing a memorable experience for our visitors!
Summer is in full swing and the valley is busy with locals and visitors enjoying the Flathead. If you’re heading to Glacier Park keep up-to-date on every parking lot and road status on Twitter, @GlacierNPS. Also, remember there are lots of trails, lakes, and rivers to explore in the Flathead National Forest - @FlatheadNF.
Bring it Home! Where will your next meeting or seminar be held? Why not bring it home! Call Dawn Jackson, Group Sales Manager for our Convention and Visitor Bureau, and refer a meeting or event that would be a success here in Kalispell. Let us do the ground work so you can plan every available moment you have enjoying our warm weather and longer days. Call Dawn at 406-758-2820.
Help Us Welcome 7 New Chamber Members This Month!
Larry’s Tractors, Trailers & More
LulaRoe Angela Ream’s Mobile Clothing Boutique
Advertise With Us! •
Advertising packages on www.kalispellchamber.com start at just $348/year
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Market to visitors by purchasing an ad on the official Kalispell & Flathead Valley travel map
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Sign up as a member, or increase your membership to the Silver Level, and receive an additional $500 ad credit with the Daily Inter Lake
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In addition to your benefit ads, you can now advertise in this newsletter
Do you manufacture, process, pack, or hold food as part of your business? If so, you are required to register with the FDA as a food manufacturing facility. Here’s a training that is a FDA requirement falling under the Food Safety Modernization Act, requiring you to have Preventitive Controls Qualified Individual prepare and oversee your food safety plan. http://www.cvent.com/events/preventive-controls-qualified-individual-pcqi-training-august-2017/event-summary-1b3953ee31d646769cfc91a096e86f76.aspx