Local businesses more confident on economy climate

A confident mindset is a crucial driver in any business community, and Kalispell’s attitude seems to be overwhelmingly positive heading into the second half of 2013.

In a recent Kalispell Chamber of Commerce survey, 83 percent of the 141 respondents said they felt business would improve over the coming months. This is a solid advance from the 2012 survey, when just under 70 percent of respondents expected a better business year.

“Business and consumer confidence are often leading economic indicators, so hopefully this sentiment will become a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Brad Eldredge, director of Institutional Research at Flathead Valley Community College, said in a press release about the survey.

The survey also asked the approximately 650 Chamber members whether they are likely to add or lose employees through the end of the year. Twenty-five percent said they plan to add employees, 65 percent predicted that they will stay the same and 9 percent expected to lose workers. These answers did not change significantly from the 2012 response.

“Optimism is growing, but there’s still uncertainty in future taxation and government regulation and impacts of health- care reform,” Kalispell Chamber President Joe Unterreiner said.

About 300 jobs are expected to be added to the local economy in 2013 as compiled by the Chamber, Unterreiner said. A good percentage of these estimated positions, approximately 125 to 150, will occur with the opening of the new Cabela’s store in Kalispell.

The new Homewood Suites by Hilton will also offer a good number of new permanent jobs, with about 30 to be filled. Another source for a large number of jobs is the Flathead Lake Brewing Co. in Bigfork, which will be expanded when it moves into its new facility in Bigfork.

The survey also asked entrepreneurs to provide perspective on how they believe a number of factors will help or hurt their businesses in the upcoming year. The state and local economies were rated as the most likely to be helpful to local business, while respondents proved most wary of federal health care reform, government regulation and future taxes.

Concerns about federal effects on local business are relevant to today’s Economic Outlook Mid-Year Update seminar at the Red Lion Inn from noon to 1:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.bber.umt.edu.

Reporter Heidi Gaiser may be reached at 758-4439 or by email at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com.