One stop for social services
Agencies plan center at Gateway West Mall
Organizers have unveiled a plan to centralize many of the Flathead Valley's far-flung human service agencies into the now largely vacant Gateway West Mall.
Between 15 and 18 human service agencies of differing sizes are expected to eventually occupy the Kalispell mall's empty storefronts, many by the end of the year.
"Not only will it help the clients they have, but it will help the agencies themselves," said Mark Johnson, board president of the newly formed nonprofit Gateway Community Center Inc., which announced Tuesday it had finalized an agreement to lease more than 55,000 square feet of space in the mall.
"It's exciting at this stage because we know how dynamic it will be," said Janet Cahill, director of the Violence Free Crisis Line, which moved its offices into an empty storefront in July. "It's great. We love it here. It's very accessible for our participants."
Organizers predicted Cahill's experience would be equaled or exceeded by other agencies that join the new Gateway Community Center.
"The existing Gateway West Mall facility provides a unique opportunity to bring together nonprofit and county service providers to better meet the needs of clients who currently have to search for services which are scattered throughout the greater Kalispell area," said local United Way Executive Director Sherry Stevens Wulf. "This agreement is a win-win for the agencies, their clients, and for our community."
Agencies intending to join the Violence Free Crisis Line and Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) - which relocated to the mall as a pilot project about two years ago - include the United Way and the United Way Volunteer Center, Flathead Food Bank, Summit Independent Living, Montana Conservation Corps and Glacier Institute.
Eight other non-profit and government organizations are in the process of making plans to move into the human service complex.
"This truly is a community activity," said Susan Moyer, a board member of the United Way.
The agreement between the Gateway Community Center and American Capital Group, the company that owns of the property, calls for a 10-year lease of the mall with the option to purchase the building at any time.
Board members of the community center said they intend to purchase the building - with the exception of the space now occupied by Teletech, which is owned by the city and county - within the next three years.
"To us, this represents a logical conclusion to what started when we bought the building," said American Capital Group Chairman Jim Taylor. "Once we acquired the mall and went in that direction, which was to 'de-mall' it, if you will, we've been waiting for a user or users who can take advantage of the quality space here. It's a great recycling of a building that has a lot of useful life left in it and we're very proud of it."
The building's current tenants - New West Insurance, Midas Muffler, the Mail Room, and Teletech - will remain in the mall, even if the building is sold.
Organizers plan to re-open the food court area, and non-profit agencies will operate food vendor businesses as sources of revenue for their agencies. Immediate plans call for a pizza and sandwich shop, See's Candy and Gift Shop, and an espresso bar.
"The concept is to make the Gateway Community Center truly a location where people of all income levels, backgrounds and needs can access services and participate in the work and activities of the non-profit community," Wulf said.
The site is adjacent to the newly built Department of Health and Human Services facility - which includes the Food Stamp and Welfare to Work related programs, Child and Family Services, Vocational Rehabilitation and the Montana Highway Patrol offices.
The Samaritan House, a local homeless shelter, and the American Red Cross offices are also located within a six-block radius.
Eagle Transit is already making hourly stops at the southeast entrance to the mall on weekdays, making the location ideal for "one stop shopping" at the Flathead's human services agencies, said Carol Nelson, a member of the Gateway Community Center board.
Organizers are asking local businesses and service clubs to volunteer their time and expertise to help non-profit agencies modify the empty storefronts at Gateway Community Center to meet their needs. Contractors can "adopt" an agency to help them remodel space.
For more information on the Gateway Community Center, or to volunteer to help with the project, call the United Way Volunteer Center at 752-7266.
Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com