Whether you're just getting started, looking for new customers, wanting to grow sales through e-commerce, or focusing on workforce.
We're here to help.

Check out the upcoming trainings below!
QuickBooks Desktop is designed to help entrepreneurs and business managers understand how to best manage their money. Register for this course here.

QuickBooks Payroll will train users of the Desktop platform how the program's Payroll functions work. Register for this course here.

QuickBooks 101 & QuickBooks Intermediate will be taught at the Choteau Library. Register here for those courses.
Join the Great Falls Procurement Technical Assistance Center(PTAC) for an updated transition overview of the System of Award Management(SAM). The agenda will cover the validation process and include the types of documents required. For more information contact Shannon Clancy at [email protected]. Register for the webinar here.
PeerSpectives Roundtable is a facilitated cohort of business leaders like you who want to learn through experiences, reduce stress, improve decision making, and enhance accountability. Visit the PeerSpectives section on our website and contact Jason Nitschke at 406-750-0314 to discuss if this is the right group for you.
Creating the Path for Business Transition Success
For every business that starts, the founder has to begin that journey with a plan to exit. For some businesses, the plan is to simply close up shop and be done with it. For others there is a desire to build something that someone else will want to buy. However, it takes work to prepare a business for sale and maximize its value to a potential buyer. Register here for this course.
Boots to Business
This is a pre-business workshop for transitioning military service members at Malmstrom Air Force Base as part of the Transition Assistance Program.

Modules 1-4: June 23
Modules 5-8: June 24

Active duty military, veterans, and military families are welcome. Please inquire about eligibility prior to registering at [email protected].

Find out more information about this course here.
Business Basics for Startups
Business Basics is now live! This pre-business workshop series is for early stage and pre-venture startups. This series is a self-paced, video-facilitated, online format. Click here to check out the new modules and resources. Please reach out to Rich at [email protected] with questions.
Micro Online Business Courses
Nine new online courses have been launched by our partners at the new Women’s Business Center (WBC) at the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Leadership Lab (W.E.L.L.) in Missoula.

Check out the nine new offerings here or contact WBC Business Advisor Marguerite Thordarson at [email protected]. 
How do I get the capital to grow?
How do I increase sales?
How do I solve workforce issues?

Connect with our business advisors to help you answer the BIG questions.

Jolene Schalper
Senior Vice President
(406) 750-4481
We help entrepreneurs realize their fullest potential.

Check out our Menu of Services
Our Mission
Grow diverse economic opportunities that enhance quality of life.

Great Falls Region Community Vision
The Great Falls Region will be a proud, positive, and vibrant community, which welcomes new people, new investments, and innovative opportunities while celebrating its authentic and diverse Montana culture. Our community will be a safe and inclusive place to raise families and will offer opportunities for individual growth and quality of life, which retains and grows our population.

GFDA Organizational Vision
Great Falls Development Authority will be a change agent, catalyst, and facilitator in the Great Falls region, fostering collaboration and partnerships to support diverse economic opportunities, innovation, and growth. Our economic development organization will be a high performing leader in attracting new investment and talent. Our work providing access to capital, consulting, training and resources for entrepreneurs, businesses, developers, and nonprofits will transform Great Falls and the surrounding 13-county trade area into a thriving regional economy that enhances the standard of living for our people.    

GFDA is a certified Community Development Financial Institution and a 501(c)3 charitable organization. High Plains Financial is a certified Community Development Corporation that offers SBA 504 loans statewide. GFDA and High Plains Financial are Equal Opportunity Employers and Lenders.

GFDA is proud to host a Montana Small Business Development Center, a Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and a Montana Food & Ag Development Center. We are also proud to provide office space for MSU's Montana Manufacturing Extension Center and an SBA Women's Business Center in partnership with the University of Montana and the Montana Native Growth Fund.

GFDA was the first economic development organization in the Rocky Mountain West to earn accreditation from the International Economic Development Council.

For more info, click to our website.