FLATHEAD VALLEY and SURROUNDING AREAS

Located in Northwest Montana, the Flathead Valley is defined by Glacier National Park, Big Mountain / Whitefish Ski Resort and Flathead Lake. Flathead County is comprised of more than 2 million acres of the country's most spectacular scenery and recreational playgrounds. "The Flathead," as its known, is also one of the
West's oldest regional trade centers and the most diverse economy in Montana.

West of Glacier Park are the three incorporated towns of Columbia Falls, Whitefish
and Kalispell. There is also Bigfork which is located to the south. Kalispell,
recognized among America's Top Ten Western Towns, is the county seat and
largest city in Flathead County. The 2004 Colorado College State of the Rockies
Report named Flathead County as the most diverse economy in the Rocky Mountain West. Capital investment in the Flathead continues to be strong. The area closed more than $1 billion in residential real estate sales in 2005 and 2006, in addition to active investment in commercial ventures, public spending and infrastructure development.

Flathead County is consistently one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. Its
diverse economic base is anchored by manufacturing, transportation, nonresident
travel, and federal government employement. Statewide, Flathead County makes up
nearly 15 percent of statewide manufacturing employment — a total second only to
Yellowstone County.

The fastest growing sectors in the Flathead Valley economy are health services, special trade contractors, business services, manufacturing, engineering and management services, real estate sale and development, general building, auto dealers, hotels, broker services, banking, recreation, food, retail and ag services.

Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) provides Northwest Montana with quality post-high school education, affordable instruction and strong career preparation.

Kalispell Regional Medical Center is a leader in healthcare, with a medical staff of 206 physicians and allied health professionals, 1,600 employees, and an annual budget nearing $250,000,000. It has been listed in U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 100 hospitals in the U.S., and boasts acquisition of the nation's first rural air ambulance, Montana's first MRI, and Kalispell's 116,000 square foot state-of-the-art health and fitness center, The Summit.