HRDC Announces Retirement of Long-Time Board Member David Kack

Thursday Jul. 28th, 2022

BOZEMAN, MT — During the month of July, HRDC is honoring the years of contributions and lasting impact David Kack has made on the organization and the greater community at large as his retirement from his service to HRDC approaches.

For the past 20 years, Mr. Kack has served on HRDC’s Board of Directors, with 11 of those years as Board Chair. Throughout his association with the agency, he said he remained inspired by HRDC because of the tangible difference the organization makes in people’s lives, the community, and the region. Among numerous notable initiatives undertaken by HRDC duringMr. Kack’s tenure, the following made a significant impact on the lives of community members:

• HRDC’s West Edge Condominiums project resulted in the addition of 83 affordable housing units being added to the Bozeman area’s housing supply. All units were sold to households earning less than 120% Area Median Income (AMI); ¼ of units were sold to households earning less than 50% AMI. The average income of purchasing households was $25,000/year, with housing costs averaging $620/month.

• A 4-property building preservation project which included the acquisition and rehabilitation of Darlinton Manor and The Boulevards apartment buildings in Bozeman and The Miles and Sherwood apartment buildings in Livingston. A total of 240 affordable units were preserved for long-time renters, aging residents, and residents on fixed incomes.

• The introduction of Montana’s only pay-what-you-can restaurant in Bozeman, The Fork & Spoon, which provides everyone in the community a seat at the table regardless of how much money they have in their wallets.

• Several expansions of HRDC’s Warming Centers in Bozeman and Livingston which offer emergency shelter to anyone in need and continue to set usage records with area growth and the economic hardships faced so many of the people who power our community.

• The introduction of transitional housing and young adult services for 16-to-24-year-olds that provide youth-empowered, strengths-based, and solution-focused support to those experiencing either homelessness or housing instability.

Perhaps most notably, Mr. Kack functioned as the primary visionary for the creation of HRDC’s Streamline bus service bringing fare-free transit to Bozeman that today stretches to Belgrade and seasonally to Livingston, while also offering year-round connecting service to Big Sky.

HRDC launched Streamline with a mission to provide mobility services and alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles in southwest Montana. This mission has become increasingly more important with Gallatin Valley’s growth. Streamline benefits not just riders, but everyone living in Bozeman and the surrounding area with its zero-fare service and accessibility that helps those with disabilities, provides adequate workforce transportation, reduces parking pressure, improves air quality, and much more.

Heather Grenier, HRDC’s CEO, recently stated, “With Mr. Kack’s continued advocacy and stewardship over the years, HRDC’s ability to truly impact the lives of area residents has grown exponentially, and we will be forever grateful for his vision and unwavering commitment to serving on our Board. Most recently, Mr. Kack’s laser-focus on our transit system resulted in Streamline receiving the Federal Transportation Authority’s Connecting Rural Communities award. Now, with Bozeman’s population exceeding 50,000 residents, voters in Gallatin County will have an opportunity to weigh in on Streamline’s future as it relates to the potential formation of an urban transportation district designed to carry our community’s bus service into the future. Mr. Kack helped set the wheels in motion for each of these achievements and we wish him all the best on the next leg of his journey.”

As a private, not-for-profit Community Action Organization focused on building a better community through its nearly 50 initiatives, HRDC combats poverty in southwestern Montanaand believes everyone deserves a helping hand. Donors, volunteers, and community members can learn more at https://thehrdc.org/

HRDC Announces Retirement of Long-Time Board Member David Kack

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