Gathering designed to capitalize on park's 100th

Government, business and cultural leaders will join for a roundtable discussion Friday on how to help the Flathead economy grow while waiting for traditional industries to recover.

Kalispell Mayor Tammi Fisher will host the Flathead Valley Economic Summit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Hampton Inn in Kalispell.

Formal participation is by invitation, but the public is welcome to sit in and listen to the proceedings.

Fisher came up with the idea of the economic summit to focus on tourism opportunities surrounding Glacier National Park’s centennial celebration this year.

But she said she is open to other initiatives that would capitalize on economic growth opportunities while the Flathead waits for its “long-term economic stabilizers.”

Speakers are scheduled throughout the morning from Glacier Park Inc., National Park Service, Flathead Travel and Rocky Mountain Bank.

Those invited to take part in the afternoon roundtable discussion include representatives from the Kalispell Downtown Association and Business Improvement District, local art and history museums, tourism directors, and city council and Chamber of Commerce members from Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Kalispell.

Fisher will facilitate the discussion.

Although speakers will offer up presentations from their perspectives, Fisher said. “I want to get the community together to maximize on interim opportunities, … what are the immediate things we can do?

“We’re now in a niche market with the 100th anniversary of Glacier. How do we draw people from Glacier Park back into the valley?”

She’s looking for a coordinated effort to maximize tourism dollars as an eventual outcome of this effort.

“It will be very informal,” she said. “We need to do something. If this stirs up discussion, that would be great. If it motivates all of us to look forward, that would be great.”

Seating is limited for Friday’s summit, so participants need to respond by 5 p.m. today (Feb. 16) by calling Mickey Lapp at 890-1275 or e-mailing bidcaller65@hotmail.com.

Fisher said she, County Commissioner Jim Dupont and commissioner candidate Pam Holmquist are covering summit expenses, including a catered lunch by Aunt BeBe’s Kitchen.

Reporter Nancy Kimball may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com