Kalispell may build new facility for Cable Tech

The city of Kalispell has tentative plans to bond for $2 million to construct a building at the municipal airport to house a local technology company.

The city is considering building a 20,000-square-foot building at Kalispell City Airport that it would lease Cable Technologies http://www.cablemt.com , a Creston company that manufactures and assembles wiring harnesses for aerospace industry clients such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

"The airport [possibility] is just fantastic," said Ed Buttrey, company chief executive officer and president. "A lot of our customers fly in and it’s the perfect spot for our employees."

Cable Technologies needs a new building to accommodate a planned expansion that would add 57 jobs and more than double its work force. The company has pursued options in Great Falls and Missoula where city governments have offered assistance such as tax increment fund money and guaranteed loans.

The company has pursued options in Great Falls and Missoula where city governments have offered assistance such as tax increment fund money and guaranteed loans.

But the company would prefer Kalispell since most of its employees live in or near the city, Buttrey said. His customers also love the area and some have bought property here, so Kalispell is the company’s first choice.

By CAMDEN EASTERLING
The Daily Inter Lake

Full Story: http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2005/02/20/news/news02.txt