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GFDA Quarter Index 2024Q4

 

Wind energy private investment potential in Great Falls trade area by 2035: $11.5 billion

Percentage of roofs in Cascade County that are solar viable: 84%

Number of rail cars Ponderosa Solutions can handle daily at its new transload facility in Great Falls AgriTech Park: 10

New childcare spots created by new Robyn’s Nest Daycare facility: 40

Malmstrom AFB construction projects authorized by Congress during quarter: $258 million

Federal loan guarantee secured by Montana Renewables for expansion: $1.44 billion

Sustainable aviation fuel annual production increase from Montana Renewables’ planned expansion: 150 million gallons

Babies delivered at Benefis Health System in 2024: 1,347

Federal infrastructure funding announced for major regional water projects during quarter: $14 million

Great Falls trade area GDP growth from 2022 to 2023: 7.45%

Dollar amount of one year growth: $711 million

Total Great Falls trade area GDP in 2023: $10.25 billion

Cascade County GDP growth from 2022 to 2023: 6.31%

Dollar amount of one year growth: $318 million

Total Cascade County GDP in 2023: $5.35 billion

Per capita personal income growth in Cascade County in 2023: $2,969

Increase in average annual wage in Great Falls MSA in the four quarters ending 2024Q2: $584

Average annual wage in Great Falls MSA in 2024Q2: $52,871

Capacity of events center announced by Little Shell Tribe: 9,700 people

Size of indoor water park announced for Little Shell Event Center & Resort in Great Falls: 30,000 square feet

Hotel rooms: 200

Number of new businesses that opened in Downtown Great Falls in 2024Q3: 5

New private investment downtown in 2024Q3: $1,954,500

Downtown Great Falls tax increment project support approved in 2024: $1,481,420

New project leads we secured and started work on during quarter: 30

Previous client projects we worked on during quarter: 34

Companies and entrepreneurs we provided services to during quarter: 367

Total activities we recorded with these companies during quarter: 1,617

Estimated value of projects in our pipeline: over $3 billion

Number of prospect site visits to Great Falls during quarter:  5

Land we optioned to purchase during quarter for Great Falls AgriTech Park: 42 acres

Land we sold in Great Falls AgriTech Park for local business expansion: 22 acres

GFDA gap and bridge loans closed during quarter: $1,220,000

Additional investment leveraged by these loans: $220,000

Additional GFDA gap and bridge loans approved during quarter: $1,795,935

Loan participations with Montana SSBCI program during quarter: $610,000

New loan capital secured during quarter: $3,839,285

Entrepreneurs and small business clients advised during quarter: 181

Total client advising hours: 555

Capital secured by small business advising clients during quarter: $736,000

Entrepreneur and small business trainings during quarter: 10

Number of training participants: 54

Businesses graduated in our first Downtown Great Falls Entrepreneur Cohort: 10

Number of participants in our first annual Entrepreneur Celebration: Hundreds!

Government contracting clients advised during quarter: 66

New government contracting clients advised during quarter: 14

Government contracting advising sessions during quarter: 106

Active government contracting clients at end of quarter: 228

Government contracts won by clients: $14,817,805

Government contracting trainings during quarter: 1

Number of training participants: 34

Number of food and ag business touch points this quarter:  314

Number of unique food and ag businesses contacted in the quarter:  79

Businesses in our region making first cut for Growth Through Agriculture funding: 7

Food/Ag conferences we networked at during quarter: 5

Percentage of Montana’s GDP generated by outdoor recreation adjacent businesses: 4.6%

Montana annual GDP generated by outdoor recreation: $3.4 billion

Number of states with larger percentage of GDP generated by outdoor recreation: 2

Number of Montanan’s who have participated in expanded Medicaid: 78,847

Number of Cascade County residents who have participated: 17,977

Number of Teton County participants: 1,445

Chouteau County: 902

Participants statewide who are working or in school: 76%

Estimated number of jobs Medicaid expansion has created in Cascade County: 293



For info contact Jolene Schalper at JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-4481



PDF of Quarter Index


Our Mission

Grow diverse economic opportunities that enhance quality of life.


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, Lenders and Providers.


GFDA is proud to host a Montana Small Business Development Center, a Montana APEX Accelerator, and a Montana Food & Ag Development Center. GFDA is a certified Montana MicroBusiness Development Corporation.


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.

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