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Next Step in Glacier Rail Park Development to Start in Kalispell, Montana

Flathead County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is happy to announce that it has signed agreements with Cenex Harvest States (CHS), a Fortune 100 company. Under the agreements CHS will lease 10.9 acres in the new Glacier Rail Park – a rail-served industrial park on the northeast edge of Kalispell with an additional half acre for a fueling center. The site for grain elevators, a fertilizer facility and new local corporate offices will allow CHS to consolidate their three distinct business locations in the center of Kalispell to one central location zoned for heavy industry.

Additionally, CHS will construct a new fueling station at the intersection of Montclair Drive, East Oregon Lane and Flathead Drive. Included in the agreements between the two entities is FCEDA’s plan to buy the three properties in the center of Kalispell from CHS after the company’s new facilities are built and the company has relocated to the Glacier Rail Park. This is expected to take place in early 2019.

The agreements are one more step toward the Kalispell Core and Rail Redevelopment vision that was initiated by the City of Kalispell in partnership with FCEDA to develop a rail-served industrial park for Flathead County and move the City of Kalispell closer to the goal of removing the train tracks from the center of downtown Kalispell. The project was first launched in 2012 and is partially funded by a $10 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the US Department of Transportation. Overall the project is expected to bring approximately $40 million in direct infrastructure and new facility construction over approximately three years. Additional new development in the Kalispell Core Area is expected once the rail is removed and the new pedestrian trail and linear park are constructed. In the summer of 2018 the City of Kalispell will begin community outreach as the design for the trail and linear park begins in earnest.

The Glacier Rail Park is currently under construction. Road and utility improvements throughout and around the Rail Park are underway, including a new traffic signal and turning lanes at the intersection of US Highway 2 East, Woodland Park Drive and Flathead Drive. All surrounding roads will be built for heavy truck traffic. These upgraded roads and utilities will benefit not just Glacier Rail Park, but also the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses. Road improvements on Highway 2 will allow for left hand turning lanes in all directions smoothing the flow of traffic.

In addition to the new CHS Facility, Northwest Drywall and Building Supply will be located there as well. FCEDA will work with Mission Mountain Rail to provide team track services within the Rail Park to companies located throughout NW Montana that require the ability to load or unload materials from rail cars on an occasional basis. FCEDA is actively searching for one more company requiring up to 10 acres and rail service to lease or purchase property in the Rail Park. For more information about the Glacier Rail Park project can be found on its website at http://www.kalispellcoreandrail.com.

Questions concerning the development of Glacier Rail Park can be addressed to Jerry Meerkatz, President/CEO of FCEDA at 406-257-7711 x 4 or [email protected].

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