New coalition details effort to support Kalispell’s downtown

Kalispell’s Downtown Forward Coalition has identified parking and walkability as some of its long-term goals to strengthen the business district.

The organization was launched last year by the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce to advocate for downtown businesses and the surrounding neighborhood. It comprises six organizations that represent 3,500 businesses in Kalispell, according to Chamber of Commerce President Lorraine Clarno, who introduced a panel of speakers from its leadership team at the Kalispell Business Luncheon on March 17.  

She said the coalition is not a single project, but a coordinated effort with long-term goals.  

 “We’re making sure the dialog from property owners, business operators and owners and our organizations all feel heard and a part of where we go forward. The goal is simple: a vibrant, resilient, thriving downtown Kalispell,” Clarno said.  

The panel included Blacktail Ski Area General Manager Jessi Wood, GL Solutions CEO Bill Moseley, senior vice president of Glacier Bank Pete Akey and Iron Star Construction owner Kisa Davison. Akey, Wood and Moseley serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors, and Davison serves as the chair of the Kalispell Business Improvement District.  

Parking and downtown walkability emerged as top issues for Downtown Forward’s infrastructure and design team. Through talking with downtown business owners, Moseley said they’ve identified some “easy wins.”  

He said they will try to expand parking by looking at 12 major points, including opening the Valley Bank lot to public parking, moving employee parking off Main Street, and enforcing fines and penalties for being parked on Main Street for too long. Some of these action points will require approval from the Kalispell City Council, he said. 

“I couldn't say enough about the cooperation and support that we're receiving from Jared and his crew over city hall, as there's been a group of us trying to figure out what to do about parking,” Moseley said. “... I really think by the end of the year, customers will be able to drive up and park on Main Street in front of the businesses that they're seeking to go to.” 

There are also plans to address long-term issues, such as the division of utilities on opposite sides of Main Street, which makes building in the area difficult. And there will be discussions about the four-lane highway, which Moseley said creates a feeling of vulnerability while walking around downtown.  

“You've got this large expanse of large trucks going by and it doesn't create a sense of place — where you can actually feel like it’s a home to take your kids, your family. So long term, I think that's probably that we're going to have to wrestle with that issue at some point if we want to commercially vibrant downtown,” he said.  

Talks with the Montana Department of Transportation have been eye-opening, as Moseley said the agency has different goals for the stretch of highway downtown. He said they see it as a means of getting people from one location to another as efficiently as possible, and, in keeping with their mission and scope, don’t really have a vested interest in an economically vibrant downtown. 

“It's not that they would wish Kalispell harm in any way, but there's some conflicts in the different kinds of needs that the stakeholders have. So that was kind of surprising,” Moseley said.  

Akey, who heads Downtown Forward’s business and advocacy committee, agreed that parking was the main concern for downtown businesses. He spoke to many during a business walk, going door-to-door and speaking with stakeholders.  

The second most important concern for business owners was rising costs, such as taxes, rent, or the cost of owning a downtown building.  

"In addition to that, one of the things that we're looking at right now is just barriers to being a business. Are there governmental barriers to being a business or governmental barriers to using some of our public spaces?” Akey asked.  

Capitalizing on programming and events in Kalispell is another course of action for the coalition. Wood, who chairs their culture and activation committee, said their focus is on increased engagement and the walkability of downtown.  

She said there are large events that come to mind, like the holiday stroll or Frosty the Brewfest. But there are also small events happening all the time, particularly during the summer.  

“Parks and Recreation have a full day of programming on Wednesdays all summer. So how can your business engage in that program and lean into what's already happening and make Kalispell the place that somebody who lives in Rollins wants to be on a Wednesday?” Wood said.  

Clarno said they also plan to amplify events from downtown businesses.  

“My friend Kyle is one of the owners of Princess and Buck. He and Beth have been doing some remarkable events completely on their own, but we as the coalition can hopefully amplify that promotion to get more people through your doors,” she said.  

Wood said they are planning to expand on already popular events and also look into drawing on downtown’s history and the “fantastic art culture” found in the area. While those are long-term goals, she said they are currently creating a community calendar and focusing on monthly events.  

The coalition is also putting out a monthly e-newsletter called “Downtown Digest,” which will go out on the first Thursday of every month, starting in April.  

Davison, who chairs the communications and engagement committee, said it will be an important tool for people to keep up with their work.  

“’Downtown Digest’ will feature deep dives on topics like parking, but we'll also have an update for the events that are coming up, and opportunities for you to speak up and become involved in other ways,” she said.  

Davison said they also want to hear from people via a new email address, [email protected], about their ideas for downtown and the time they spend there. 

Borrowing an analogy from former Kalispell Mayor Pam Carbonari, she said she thinks of downtown as “Kalispell’s front porch.”  

“If my front porch is covered in cobwebs or there’s no stairs or address — people don't know how to get into my house,” Davison said. “Having a front porch that not only is beautiful and accessible, but also having a front porch that people know about.” 

Organizations involved include the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, the Kalispell Business Improvement District, the Tourism Business Improvement District, the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors, and the Flathead Builders Association. 

The long-running Kalispell Downtown Association announced in February that it was dissolving and would fold its operations into the Kalispell Chamber.  

At Tuesday’s luncheon, former association board member and Bias Brewing General Manager Gabe Mariman said there is excitement about the new coalition.  

“We're engaging stakeholders, community members, and most importantly, we're engaging decision makers,” Mariman said.  

Learn more at kalispellchamber.com/programs/downtown-forward/.  

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.