Page 8 - Flathead Beacon // 1.28.15

8 | JANUARY 28, 2015 NEWS FLATHEADBEACON.COM Large Hotel with Convention
Just
Sayin’...
“They’ve decided that today was the day that they were going to declare war on Alaska. Well,
we are ready to
engage.”
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and chair of the Senate energy committee, responding to President Barack Obama’s proposal to designate the vast majority of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a wilderness area.
“This will most likely be one of the largest blizzards in the history of New York City.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio, warning residents of an approaching blizzard that was expected to bring as much as three feet of snow by Jan. 27. All drivers were ordered off New York City streets by late Monday amid a state of emergency declaration.
“It’s scary. I don’t know how they’re going to take care of this.”
Glendive resident Mickey Martini, 79, who first noticed a smell similar to diesel fuel coming from her tap water last week after about 30,000 gallons of crude oil was spilled into the Yellowstone River, contaminating a water system serving 6,000 eastern Montana residents.
Space Planned for Polson
Red Lion Inn & Suites to develop 80-room hotel with attached MacKenzie River Pub and Grill
By DILLON TABISH of the Beacon
Boosted by growing tourism and a fed- eral tax credit investment program, Polson is gaining a new large hotel and restaurant.
Red Lion Inn & Suites has announced its plans to develop a three-story, 80-room hotel with an attached MacKenzie River Pub and Grill. The site will include 3,000 square feet of meeting space for conven- tions and special events, as well as com- munity gatherings.
The announcement is the latest major development news to surface on the south end of Flathead Lake. In November, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes unveiled plans to invest $4 million into renovating the KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino in the heart of Polson.
The redevelopment was paired with a proposal to build a $27 million re- sort and casino in Evaro, replacing the Gray Wolf Peak Casino and Hotel with a 40,000 square foot facility aimed at being a regional destination similar to North- ern Quest Resort & Casino near Spokane. CSKT officials said construction is slated to begin in 2015, although the CSKT Trib- al Council is currently debating the merits of the resort and casino in Evaro.
The prominent developments are poised to further raise Polson’s profile as a scenic resort community tucked along the shores of Flathead Lake.
“There’s some great momentum and a lot of stuff happening right now,” said Mayor Heather Knutson. “Hopefully that will continue to open doors and provide new jobs for our community as well as ad- ditional service and entertainment op- tions.”
Knutson said the city is focused on
Vehicles cross the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge into Polson. BEACON FILE PHOTO
CLASS IS ALWAYS
Speakeasy Hour 4-6pm Late Nite 9-11pm
supporting business growth in Polson, in- cluding continuing to support the down- town area.
Recent development has centered on the Ridgewater Development on the south end of town. Super Walmart opened in a new 120,000-square-foot store at 36318 Memory Lane in the fall of 2013.
The new hotel and restaurant will open nearby in the Ridgewater Develop- ment near the Mission Valley Aquatics Center.
Both the hotel and aquatic center ben- efitted from new market tax credit financ- ing through the Montana Community De- velopment Corporation. The CDC provid- ed $11.4 million in tax credit allocation to the Red Lion project, while the U.S. Bank Community Development Corporation
provided a tax equity investment.
New market tax credits are part of a federal program designed to encourage private investment for projects that de- liver community benefits in low-income
communities.
“Polson’s new hotel will create jobs,
promote tourism around Flathead Lake and boost Lake County’s economy for years to come,” stated Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.
Fellow U.S. Sen. Steve Daines added, “This new hotel will serve as a key com- ponent in the continued growth of Polson, creating jobs and providing new economic opportunities for folks in Lake County. I’m excited to see this important project underway.”
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