Governor Greg Gianforte visited Kalispell on April 7 to tour the city’s new water tower, which is intended to support housing development and address the needs of a growing community.
The visit highlights efforts by state and local officials to expand infrastructure that enables new residential construction. Officials say reliable water service is essential for building homes in expanding neighborhoods.
“Across Montana, we’ve been working to make it easier to build and access housing, and that starts with infrastructure,” Governor Gianforte said. “You can’t build homes without reliable water. Projects like this help unlock new housing opportunities, support growing communities, and ensure families have a place to call home.”
The newly constructed tower stands 170 feet tall and has a capacity of one million gallons. It serves Kalispell’s north side, an area experiencing significant growth as more homes are built. Construction began in 2023 as part of long-term planning efforts aimed at expanding water storage capacity and improving system reliability for both residents and businesses. The project is designed to provide additional capacity for two decades and support up to 2,800 dwelling units.
Funding was provided through a combination of local resources and state investments administered by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. These funds aim to help communities upgrade critical water infrastructure needed for expansion.
Kalispell Public Works Director Susie Turner commented on the significance of the project: “This water tower is a key piece of infrastructure that allows us to support continued residential growth in north Kalispell,” Turner said. “It increases capacity, improves reliability, and ensures we can provide the level of service our residents expect as more homes are built in the area.”
Governor Gianforte has also prioritized increasing housing opportunities statewide by launching a bipartisan Housing Task Force in 2022 tasked with identifying solutions for supply shortages and high costs. Following its recommendations, he signed pro-housing reforms into law in 2023 designed to reduce barriers for builders, expand options for homebuyers, and streamline zoning processes.
