Regional Economic Strategy

Shaping the next five years of growth across Lake, Sanders, and Mineral counties and the Flathead Indian Reservation. A community-informed plan for stronger local economies, better infrastructure, and resilient downtowns.

How to Take Part

About the Strategy

Planning the Region's Next Five Years

As the federally designated Economic Development District for our region, Mission West CDP leads a regional economic strategy that is refreshed every five years. It sets shared priorities for how we grow, what we invest in, and where we focus across Lake, Sanders, and Mineral counties and the Flathead Indian Reservation. The strategy is built on local input. Over the coming months, we will gather feedback from residents, businesses, and partners in every county so the plan reflects what our communities actually need.

01. Focus Areas

What the Strategy Covers

The plan looks across the building blocks of a healthy regional economy.

Jobs & Business Growth

Supporting local businesses, entrepreneurs, and the industries that anchor our regional economy.

Infrastructure

Identifying the roads, utilities, broadband, and facilities our communities need to grow.

Downtowns & Communities

Strengthening Main Streets, housing, and the places that make our towns worth living in and visiting.

Long-Term Resilience

Planning for lasting economic health so the region can weather change and seize new opportunity.

02. Our Team

Who Is Leading This

Brittany Simonich

Community Economic Development Program Manager

(406) 676-5919 brittany.simonich@missionwestcdp.org

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Taylor Lennox

Co-op Development Program Manager

(406) 676-5906 taylor.lennox@missionwestcdp.org

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Your Voice Shapes the Plan

This strategy is only as strong as the input behind it. Beginning this fall, we will open a community survey and hold public meetings in each county so residents and businesses can help set the priorities. We want to hear from every corner of the region.

What to Expect

Summer 2026. We lay the groundwork and prepare the survey and public-meeting schedule.

Fall 2026. The community survey opens and public meetings come to Lake, Sanders, and Mineral counties. This is where your input shapes the plan.

Following the input phase. We compile what we heard into the region's five-year strategy and share the results.

Help Shape the Region's Future

Community input opens this fall. Reach out to be notified when the survey goes live and when public meetings come to your county.

Have a question now? Get in touch →