Whitefish invests in safety net

Fundraising is under way for another wonderful community facility in Whitefish, this time a new food bank.

North Valley Food Bank, an independent agency that has fed the hungry in the North Valley for more than three decades, is working to raise $1.5 million so it can build a new distribution center and create an endowment fund that will help fund the operation into the future.

It was refreshingly forthcoming for the board and fundraising organizers to acknowledge some public criticism that the design of the new building is too fancy. The bottom line, food bank supporters said, is that the city of Whitefish’s architectural review standards require certain design features.

Exterior rock work, one of the “fanciest” elements, is being donated by community members. And in every way, volunteer help and in-kind donations will shave costs so that every extra penny can go toward the endowment fund.

Once again, Whitefish is a shining example of how community collaboration can accomplish great things.

KALISPELL SCHOOLS got some good news recently when voters overwhelmingly approved a $3.35 million bond request.

The money will go toward dual purposes: adding eight classrooms and a multipurpose room to two schools and building a new central kitchen.

It’s a welcome sign of support for our schools and confidence in the future that taxpayers agreed to spend a little more for our children.

CONGRATULATIONS to Flathead Valley Community College for winning federal grants totaling more than $3.6 million to develop short-term, innovative job-training programs and an entrepreneurship center to help grow small manufacturing in the region.

These types of responsive programs are what we already expect from FVCC, based on the college’s exemplary track record of working with the local business community, so we are confident the money will be well-spent.

We understand that some people will question the wisdom of the federal government spending money it doesn’t have, and we agree, but at least this is money that is being spent on jobs — and that’s stimulus spending that might actually pay off.