Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators

Making Montana, a FREE two-day event designed to inspire the next generation of innovators and highlight 21st century skills, features makers, manufacturers, and technology companies all under one roof.  This celebration of invention and creativity is a result of a collaboration between ImagineIF Libraries, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Job Service Kalispell and Montana West Economic Development.

Due to COVID-19 Making Montana has been discontinued in 2021.

Manufacturers & Tech Companies
Makers & Local Innovators
Flathead Valley Community College
Educators, Students & the Public

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Making Montana has been discontinued in 2021.  ImagineIF Libraries and their partners regret this change of events, but feel positive about the four years in which the team was able to bring Making Montana to the community. At Making Montana’s launch in 2017, the two-day event drew in 2,312 people in attendance. The project continued to draw in more people, with 2,934 total people in attendance in 2020.   

Students said:

"I'm surprised there are this many important jobs in Montana."

"It's great as a senior because it is motivating and gets the creative juices flowing."

"It's a great opportunity to learn about local jobs.""

75% of teachers surveyed at Making Montana felt they had a greater awareness of the skills that are important to manufacturing that are currently taught at most regional schools as a result of participating in the Making Montana event.

During Making Montana, teams from Code Girls United competed in "Minnow Tank," pitching the apps they had developed to solve real world problems to a panel of judges .