Housing in Kalispell Public Comment from Kali HolthausDear Kalispell City Councilors,
Applied Materials is a world leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce neatly
every new chip and advanced display in the world.Additionally,at Applied Materials we’re proud
to be a part of the Kalispell community,employing hundreds of workers in the Flathead Valley.
As an employer we see first-hand the challenges that the lack of affordable and desirable
housing is having on our ability to attract and retain our workforce.
Currently,we have employees commuting to Kalispell from Eureka,Troy,Libby,Rollins,and
Poison due to the lack of affordable housing in Kalispell.Of the 745 individuals working at
Applied Materials in Montana,approximately 45 percent of our full-time employees are in hourly
manufacturing operation roles and in technical and supporting roles.Factoring in the contractors
we utilize,that percentage rises to approximately 60 percent.Over the next several years,the
semiconductor industry is expected to grow exponentially and our ability to attract,hire,and
retain employees in Kalispell is essential to Applied Materials ability to meet that demand.
Recently,we have extended offers of employment to candidates who turned the position down
due to their inability to secure housing in the area.We are successful in attracting employees,
but our ability to hire and retain them is heavily impacted by the lack of housing options in the
community.
We encourage the City Council to continue taking steps to increase the housing supply in
Kalispell,particularly for workers with median incomes,who desire affordable housing that
meets their needs.
We support annexation and zoning change requests for the Tronstad Meadows and Whitetail
Crossing neighborhood.This project will provide 380 homes to the Flathead Valley with the
primary goal of making them available at or below the regional median housing price.
Thank you for your consideration of the Tronstad Meadow and Whitetail Crossing proposal.If
approved this will provide greatly needed,high-quality,affordable housing options in Kalispell.
Sincerely,
Kali Holthaus
HR Business Partner—Applied Materials