Grant will help rail park design

A Montana Department of Commerce grant will help the Flathead County Economic Development Authority design and engineer Flathead County Rail Park.

The $26,250 grant was announced Wednesday.

The money is coming from the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund. Seven other planning grants totaling $196,250 were awarded around the state.

The grant money will help pay for a concept plan and engineering for the 40-acre rail park east of Whitefish Stage Road just outside Kalispell.

“This means we can leverage the funds FCEDA set aside for this project, maximizing the resources we have so we can get the necessary plan and infrastructure put in there to attract businesses,” said Kim Morisaki, manager of client development and resources for Montana West.

The Flathead County Economic Development Authority is reviewing the qualifications of nine engineering firms that applied to design and lay out the rail park.

“We hope to decide which of those firms we will interview at our FCEDA board meeting June 6,” Morisaki said.

The goal is to have an engineering firm selected by midsummer and then complete phase one of the design process by December or February.

That phase will explore the construction of a new rail spur running into the park, road connections, utilities and other needed infrastructure — “How it all fits together and what part we want to do first,” Morisaki said.

Once developed, Flathead County Rail Park aims to offer shovel-ready building sites for businesses that need access to rail service.

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