FedEx Ground planning to move to new facility

Fed Ex Ground service has outgrown its current building near the Coca-Cola plant south of Kalispell and plans to move to a new facility at Old School Station.

Another local FedEx facility, FedEx Express in Evergreen, is staying right where it is - at 2033 U.S. 2 East.

The Kalispell City Council this week approved an agreement with DCP Kalispell to reimburse special improvement district fees on the lot that it is developing for FedEx Ground in Old School Station.

The development firm, headed by Ron Buchanan of Roswell, Ga., builds facilities across the nation and leases them to FedEx. Kramer Construction of Kalispell is a partner on this project.

Andy White, senior manager for FedEx Ground in Kalispell, said the FedEx parent company has seven divisions that receive and ship freight in different ways and on varying time frames. Express goes by air. Ground ships in containers that roll across the railways and roads.

FedEx Ground, FedEx Express and a third facility, FedEx Freight on U.S. 93 South across from Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply, all have a presence here to service local deliveries. Billings is the shipping and receiving hub for this region.

White said FedEx Ground started its service here in 1996, but has seen enough of an increase in business volume that it needs to move out of its current facility at 444 South Complex Drive.

DCP Kalispell is developing Lot 2 in Old School Station, which is covered by a technology tax increment finance district. Special assessment district fees apply there, with developers paying to install infrastructure used by technology-based businesses. FedEx Ground not only ships but electronically tracks packages from its local facility.