New building at airport would allow Creston firm to add 57 jobs

A Creston technology firm and the city of Kalispell are one step closer to constructing a $2 million building at the city airport to accommodate the company's expansion.

The Kalispell City Council on Tuesday night gave city staffers the go-ahead to pursue the project that would house Creston's Cable Technologies in a 20,000-square-foot building at the airport.

The city anticipates issuing bonds for $2 million and applying for grants to further help the company.

"They need to be at our air park," City Manager Jim Patrick told the council.

Cable Technologies manufactures and assembles wiring harnesses for aerospace industry clients such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, so the airport is a logical location for the company.

Many of the company's clients fly small planes to Kalispell, which would generate business at the airport, Community Development Director Susan Moyer said.

The company plans to add 57 jobs once it moves into a new building. Cable Technologies had considered relocating to Great Falls or Missoula, but its preference is to stay in the Flathead Valley.

The city would construct the building, then lease it to Cable Technologies at cost for five years. The company could then buy the building and lease the land.

Kalispell also will look at applying for grants that would help the company invest in new equipment and employee job training, much as the city did when Stream International's call center came to town a few years ago.

The $2 million for the building project is separate from $1.9 million in bonds the city is planning for other airport work.

The $1.9 million would pay for purchasing land, constructing a ramp and taxiways, installing utilities and an automatic vehicle security gate, and putting in an internal access road.

The council will hold public hearings on both bond issues at its regular meeting on March 7.

Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com