Flathead on the move.  That's the title for the plan set in motion this morning at the outlaw inn.  Leaders from all over the valley attended the conference to discuss what will be done to cope with rapid growth.  Kalispell Mayor Pam Kennedy said it's important to get started. "We in the Flathead Valley are one of the most diverse economies in the Pacific Northwest.  And I think that says a lot about our community.  So we need to be able to get ahead of that," she said.

The keynote speaker this morning was from the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West.  Dr. Larry Swanson said the Flathead would only get larger. "We kind of look at this growth to continue for at least another 10 to 15 years.  And part of what we're trying to figure out is how do we position ourselves for this growth, take advantage of it.  How do we make it better, how do we make these cities better in the process," he explained. With a canvas like this, it's no wonder why the Flathead Valley has been painted one of the fastest growing areas in the state.

Pam Kennedy said in order to deal with that growth, community leaders would play an important role. She added, "They all said Co-Operation between the governments.  So I think that it's real important, and we as elected officials need to be able to sit down and try to figure out how we can come together and work together as a co-operating community."

Those who attended the conference spent the morning discussing many important issues.  But Swanson was clear this is only the first step. "Out of that discussion, you just hope that it begins to feed itself into good choices and what are we doing with our schools, and what do we do with our streets, our infrastructures and what do we do in housing and transportation.  This is a long-term process; it's not something we can do tomorrow.  But it's something we're going to have to engage ourselves in steadily and go forward," he said.

Flathead on the move is part of a larger group called Montana on the move.  The next action will be a community leaders forum November twelfth.