Jobs plan aims to unite valley

Montana West Economic Development kicked off a new approach to fostering jobs here with a “One Valley, One Vision” strategic marketing plan overview at its annual meeting and dinner Thursday night.

A private nonprofit organization, the economic development group formed a broad-based task force to devise a plan in consultation with Eric Canada, a marketing expert in Blane, Canada.

“It’s the most comprehensive plan I’m aware of for sure,” said Clint Walker, a task member who provided the overview. Walker, publisher of Flathead Living, focused on what it takes to implement strategies for competing with other areas rather than specific activities. He described it as a five-year plan with a two-year marketing phase to “soften up” targets to “create awareness that the Flathead Valley is open for business.”

Walker called the program not overly creative or expensive but crafted to brand this area to stand out against the landscape.

“That’s exactly what we are going to do,” he said. “We are competing against other states going after the same industries as we are and going after them hard.”

Those competing with big budgets to attract new industries include neighboring Idaho, North Dakota and South Dakota. Walker told about 150 people at the meeting that it takes money to get the message out along with commitment.

In developing the 60-page marketing plan, the task force followed a strategy of tapping strengths   such as the more than two million annual visitors to Glacier National Park and Whitefish Mountain Resort, while minimizing weaknesses, such as no major state thoroughfare, by promoting the rail service here.

Other organizations have touted the business climate in Montana.

“The U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation rate Montana as the No. 1 state for entrepreneurship and overall startup business activity,” Walker said.

The new marketing plan lists as assets the hundreds of seasonal residents in the valley who might launch a business, but not the beautiful environment, which may actually work against attracting businesses for reasons such as remoteness and limited suppliers.

Walker acknowledged the common saying “You can’t eat scenery,” but went on to add “I believe you can serve scenery as an appetizer.”

Retaining and expanding existing businesses is another part of the plan for fostering jobs in the Flathead. Some specific industries targeted include firearms, technology and wood products.

In an earlier interview, Walker pointed out that the Flathead Valley is home to some of the world’s best gunsmiths, an asset for firearms manufacturers. This area also has ample raw materials and craftsmen working in wood products, as well as innovative wood businesses, such as one that uses formerly wasted wood products for panelized construction.

“We know we have a great story to tell,” Walker said. “Our challenge is to condense it to make it palatable and relevant to businesses looking to move.”

The marketing plan would tap businesses that have moved here and thrived, such as Whitefish’s Total Label USA, for testimonials.

“We can tell our story through their story,” Walker said.

He repeated that other states are spending millions to put out the welcome mat for industries and asked for more businesses to invest in Montana West Economic Development’s marketing efforts.

The nonprofit will assume lead responsibility for executing the plan while working with community and strategic partners. Walker called it a long-range effort and said people should not expect results too soon.

Other speakers at the annual meeting and dinner included Ken Sugden, chairman of the board and general manager of Flathead Electric Cooperative, Don Bennett of the Flathead County Economic Development Authority, Larry Murphy of Applied Materials, Tom Ray of Plum Creek, Jon Sonju of Sonju Industrial and Tory Graham of TeleTech.

Sugden conducted the business portion of the meeting, presenting the budget and conducting the election of new board members. The other speakers presented positive developments within their organizations. For example, $3 million in cash has been accumulated by the development authority to work on new projects.

According to Murphy, the Semitool portion of Applied Materials expects record sales next year of $300 million. He said the business has added 200 employees.

“We have 40 openings,” he said. “We can’t hire quick enough with current demand.”

At Plum Creek, Ray said the downturn in housing has been brutal but the company has had significant successes behind the scenes by diversifying with high-value niche products.

These include a medium density fiberboard panel that replaces a hard board used in cars, a plywood product with a smooth surface for school furniture and cabinetry, and an exterior grade plywood with a camouflage surface used in the recreation industries.

Another plywood product is used for highway signs and on the backs of Ryder and similar trucks.

“This was a strategic directional change to diversity,” Ray said. “That’s how we are surviving.” 

Sonju announced that Sonju Industrial is looking into constructing a new building while Graham said TeleTech has added 100 employees and continues to hire people for new areas of work performed for its major client.

Kellie Danielson, president/CEO of the economic development organization, spoke briefly about economic development as not just national but global.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.