Two Kalispell businesses receive state grant money

Two Kalispell businesses have received state grants for future projects, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced Thursday.

Montana West Economic Development facilitated the application process, leading to grants of $27,000 each for Stampede Packing Company and Kyladi Properties.

The funds are being awarded through the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund and Primary Sector Workforce Training Grant programs.

 Montana West President Kellie Danielson said the program is meant to help boost business development in cities across Montana.

“This program helps leverage local business investment,” Danielson said. “Typically, the grant award will ultimately provide more tax base and more jobs in the future from these businesses.”

Danielson also said the process to win these grant awards is competitive, usually including a thorough application and interview with the Montana Department of Commerce.

Katy Croft, of Kyladi Properties, said the majority of her company’s grant will be used for development and design costs to redevelop the Triangle Building on Sunset Boulevard.

“I was surprised to see that we got the grant,” Croft said. “We have a lot of design plans done, we’ve gone through the discovery phase and we’re planning on a complete remodel.”

The Triangle Building is the former Department of Corrections probation and parole office in Kalispell. Croft bought the building last August while looking for a new office building for her accounting firm, Eclipse Tax and Accounting. Croft, a Kalispell native, said she has noticed a need for professional office space in Kalispell.

“It was evident there is a high need for professional office space,” Croft said. “I thought this would be a good opportunity to have a space for my business and other businesses in Kalispell.”

Croft said she’s seeking tenants for the building before construction begins to allow future tenants to have input on the design. Dia Sullivan is working with Croft as a private architect. Morrison Maierle will do the mechanical engineering, Kingdom Builders has taken on the electrical work and Hammerquist Casalegno will handle the construction.

Stampede Packing Company, a meat processing plant known for its Redneck brand sausage, bacon and ham products, will use the $27,000 grant to help finance the design and development of a new processing facility.

Owned by T.S. Laurens since 1984, Stampede Packing employs 25 full-time and six part-time employees and is at capacity with its existing facility on Airport Road. A new building will allow the company to operate at higher volumes and to accept more orders.

“We are thrilled that our project has gained support from the state of Montana to make informed decisions about expanding our operations,” Stampede Finance Manager Lynmarie Maves said. “This grant will assist us in planning a facility that will provide stability for our business for years to come, and to protect the Montana employees and families who depend on us.”

Another $27,000 was awarded to the Lake County Community Development Corp., which will assist Aloha Noblehouse in Pablo with solar design and engineering documents to construct a 260,000-square-foot greenhouse and grow federally certified organic vegetables and herbs.

The grants come from a pool of $779,000, allocated to six Montana communities with the intention of creating 93 new jobs and bolstering plans for commerce expansion.

“After adding nearly 10,000 new jobs to Montana’s economy just last year, we’re not done yet,” Bullock said. “The Big Sky Trust Fund and Workforce Training Grant programs allow businesses in communities across Montana to create jobs and take our economy to new heights.”

Business projects in Billings, Bozeman, Miles City and Helena also received grants in this funding cycle.

More funding opportunities are still available. The deadline for submitting an application for consideration at the next grant/loan review committee meeting is April 13. For more information, contact Section Manager Annmarie Robinson at 406-841-.2250 or go to www.bstf.mt.gov or http://businessresources.mt.gov/WTG.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.