Chamber poll finds brighter business outlook

A survey by the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce found what appears to be a decent business climate this summer.

More than 171 of the chamber’s 650 members responded to the survey. It was conducted over five days, starting June 27, and asked just two questions:

n Are you likely to add or lose employees through the end of the year?

n What do you predict as the business climate for your business through the end of the year?

In response to the first question, 29 percent of businesses said they plan to add employees this year while 61 percent said they plan to retain the same size work force. Only 9 percent said they plan to lose employees this year.

Nearly 70 percent of businesses said they expect the business climate to improve this year, while 30 percent said they expect to see it worsen.

“I think we’re enjoying a good summer,” Chamber President Joe Unterreiner said of the survey’s findings.

Tourism and hospitality sectors are having a stronger summer this year. That’s due at least in part to an earlier opening of Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, Unterreiner said.

“We’re hearing about some firming up on real estate activity that sounds good, some manufacturing hiring. We just had four gun companies sign up as members in the last 30 days, so those are positive signs.”

The bigger test will be to see how the sentiment of a decent business climate holds up. That’s something the Chamber will test again when it asks the same questions in its annual survey this September.

“It’s the summer, there’s lots of Canadian tourists, and things always look a little brighter,” Unterreiner said. “A key thing will be looking forward about the sustainability of this. We need to see how things play out going into the fall.”

The results of the chamber’s member survey will be shared during the seventh annual Mid-Year Update to the Economic Outlook seminar on Thursday at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Sponsored by the Kalispell and Whitefish chambers, the event starts at noon.

Economists Patrick Barkey and Paul Polzin from the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research will discuss energy development in Montana.

Representatives from the Montana Chamber of Commerce will discuss business conditions throughout the state.

For more information about the seminar, call 406-442-2405 or register online at montanachamber.com.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.