This was considered by some analysts to be the year when the first signs of economic turnaround would arrive. After a difficult start to 2011, that hopeful prediction began taking shape, albeit slowly.
Flathead County saw several signs of improvement in the last 12 months, but not until hitting a new rock bottom for unemployment. In January the jobless rate hit 14.1 percent, breaking the previous record high of 13.8 percent set in March 2010.
Since then the figures have improved, reaching 10.4 percent in June, a full 1 percent better than a year ago, and 10.6 percent in November, 1.2 percent lower than the previous year.
The slow, steady growth is reason for optimism in a region hit hard by the recession in recent years, and several positives emerged in 2011 indicating the turnaround might be real.
The county’s largest employer, Kalispell Regional Medical Center, continued its rapid expansion with a $42 million renovation of its surgical sector. A $4 million private donation from the Broussard family helped Flathead Valley Community College move forward with the planned addition of a nursing building, which has an expected completion date of 2013. The construction of the Kalispell bypass reached its halfway point. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway hired 41 new employees in Whitefish and 415 across the state. And the firearms industry continued strengthening its presence in the valley.
Here are some other economic highlights from 2011:
Watch out Bozeman, the Flathead Valley is quickly becoming one of the state’s new bastions for technology. Several companies have popped up locally, while others that were already established are touting their growth.
Torrent Technologies, a flood insurance provider, won an award from the U.S. Commerce Association in Seattle and continues to increase staffing at its Kalispell headquarters.
NXGEN Payment Services, based in Whitefish, has become a global company processing credit card payments and in March the company signed a deal estimated to be worth $1.5 billion in transaction volume that will extend services to 16 countries worldwide.
In October, the first test flight of an FAA-approved experimental unmanned aircraft, or drone, made in Montana took place outside of Columbia Falls. Local engineers working for Unmanned Systems Inc., a company based in Nevada, developed the drones and the Whitefish-based Center for Remote Integration is championing the development of an industry estimated to be worth $30 billion.
Zinc Air, headquartered near Columbia Falls, has begun developing grid storage systems – essentially batteries – that could be a solution for storing large amounts of electricity with cost-effective efficiency.
Applied Materials, previously Semitool, furthered its reputation as a global innovator in tech software and equipment. The company recently announced the development of a new state-of-the-art image sensor used in smartphones, tablet PCs and cameras. Avail-TVN, a digital media services company, unveiled its new location in Kalispell and continues to grow its list of clients and staff.
New restaurants brought an array of new flavors to the valley, specifically in Kalispell, in 2011.
Two popular destinations evolved: Rising Sun Bistro moved from Whitefish to a larger building in Kalispell and Capers Restaurant and Pizzeria changed up the menu and became Hop’s Downtown Grill.
ScottiBelli’s Ristorante replaced the Kalispell Bar and Split Rock Café opened in the old KM Building. Pizza Hut added a WingStreet and Applebee’s expanded with a new restaurant. Panda Express is also opening soon in Hutton Ranch. The Apple Barrel Country Market expanded with a new winery, Glacier Sun.
Whitefish’s downtown welcomed some new tenants, including Red Caboose Frozen Yogurt + Coffee, which is not exactly a restaurant but still pleasing to the taste buds, and Cooper’s Eatery and Drinkery right next door.
Adventurous start-ups can lead to some of the best success stories. In the last year, Hurraw! lip balm, made in Whitefish, swept the country in American Apparel stores and has been raved about in the pages of Oprah Magazine and the New York Times. Since its inception in Dec. 2010, 5 Sparrows has grown into a class of its own. This summer the Kalispell business, which makes specialty chocolate, chai and frappe mixes, developed one of the first café industry blends that uses stevia, an all-natural sweetener.