OPINION: Upturn is a welcome development

Flathead County is currently enjoying a construction boom that may rival or even surpass anything that has gone before.

At least in terms of the amount of development underway in the relatively short time frame of just the next year or two, it is almost staggering to consider the changes under way. Kalispell Chamber President Joe Unterreiner reported at the chamber luncheon last week on more than 650,000 square feet of expansion and renovation underway, representing an investment of $136.6 million.

Just in terms of new hotel space to support our tourism economy, we are looking at three new hotels opening in the next year, one in Kalispell plus two in Whitefish. That will add 10 percent more hotel rooms to the market, and we also have the prospect of another sizable hotel being built in Columbia Falls.

Or course, all those hotels will result in more visitors being able to stay longer, and that will create opportunities for restaurants and retail. There will be plenty more of both as well, starting with Buffalo Wild Wings, Popeye’s and Chick Fil-A on the restaurant side and Dress Barn and Discount Tires on the retail end. The Spring Prairie shopping development will also bring multiple new box stores and smaller retail into the mix next to Kidsports over the next few years.

As the valley’s economy grows and strengthens, the job base will also improve. Good jobs will be found at facilities like Nomad Global Communications, which is expanding, and Glacier Steel, which is building a plant in the Kalispell Industrial Park.

And on top of everything else that Unterreiner discussed at the Chamber luncheon, the Immanuel Lutheran Communities has just announced a $45 million expansion plan for its Buffalo Hill Terrace complex.

That increases by fully one-third the development investment in the Flathead expected in the coming few years, and reminds us: This is not just a good place to work; it’s a good place to retire, and getting better all the time.