KALISPELL, Mont. – A new Amazon distribution center is coming to Kalispell, confirmed by the city. The facility is under construction on the south side of town, near Highway 93 and United Drive. 

PJ Sorensen, Assistant Director of Development Services for the city, confirmed that Amazon has obtained a building permit for the site. The facility is the first development on the Gardner/Anderson Ranch plot, an area the city has been considering for annexation and zoning since last year. While job numbers for the facility are not yet disclosed, it looks to be a valuable community resource.

Sorensen highlighted the benefits of having Amazon in the area, stating, “Clearly it’s another service that’s going to be available to the community that we don’t have now… And will certainly be something that the community will be able to take advantage of.”

Discussions about developing the south side of Kalispell began about a year ago, with the Amazon project recently coming to light. The city is focused on analyzing growth in utilities like sewer and water, as well as the relationship between growth and the private sector.

Sorensen added, “One of the things that you see out of the private sector would be how the economy develops. Certainly, something that Amazon offers with those types of deliveries, while it’s something that we have right now… You know would step that up in a way that you wouldn’t have seen as an available option 20 or 30 years ago in the community.”

Amazon’s new facility in Kalispell will be its fourth location in Montana, joining sites in Missoula, Billings, and Belgrade. The company confirmed they have purchased and leased the land in Kalispell. Sorensen expressed optimism for local consumers and their ability to utilize Amazon’s services.

The news comes as Amazon also plans to open another facility in the Bozeman area in April.