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GFDA Quarter Index 2025Q4

 

Numbers to Celebrate

Great Falls ranking in leading metro areas in Mountain region: 5th

New electric transmission development in progress in Montana: 420 miles

New battery storage built in Great Falls trade area: 75 MW

Housing projects in predevelopment for spring construction start in Great Falls: 8

Increase in scientific faculty of Weissman Hood Institute at Touro University in last four years: From 2.5 to 12

Touro College of Medicine Great Falls students who conducted research at the institute in 2025: 83

Touro Great Falls medical students who co-authored scientific papers in 2025: 25

Riverfront extended stay hotel rooms in new TownePlace Suites in West Bank Landing: 109

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Montana donation to Great Falls College: $1.4 million

Regional Community and business leaders named MAFB Honorary Commanders: 44

Capacity of new Treasure State Sires boar stud facility: 412 mature boars

Annual yield of genetic material from facility: 100,000+ litters

 

GFDA Quarter Numbers

New businesses opened in Downtown Great Falls: 2

Primary sector business attraction site visits to region: 2

Active housing developments we worked with clients on: 19

Rural communities GFDA is engaged with on housing development: 2

Number of national reporters who visited Great Falls as part of our new PR campaign: 3

Number of national news articles published about the Great Falls region: 3

Montana Business Development delegation that traveled to Japan and South Korea: 42

Montana Economic Development Excellence Awards won by GFDA: 3

Land purchased by GFDA for Great Falls AgriTech Park expansion: 42 acres

Site selection consultants networked with: 25

Brownfields clean-up subgrant approved by GFDA for local nonprofit: $266,664

Proposals submitted to state-generated primary sector leads: 3

Companies identified and added to GFDA CRM: 118

GFDA gap and bridge loans closed: $132,000

Additional private investment leveraged by these loans: $240,000

New loan capital GFDA secured: $1,250,000

Entrepreneurs and small business (SBDC) clients advised: 149

Rural clients advised: 55

Total client advising hours: 303

Rural client advising hours: 109

Capital secured by small business advising clients: $135,000

Entrepreneur and small business trainings: 8

Number of training participants: 39

New business start-ups by advising clients: 2

Government contracting (APEX) clients advised: 78

New government contracting clients advised: 10

Government contracting advising sessions: 190

Active government contracting clients at end of quarter: 314

Government contracts won by clients: $12,031,680

Government contracting trainings: 4

Number of training participants: 48

 

Most Recent Economic Data

Average annual wage increase in Cascade County in four quarters ending 2025Q2: 5.5%

Increase nationwide during same four quarters: 4.1%

Cascade County average annual wage in 2025Q2: $55,479

Increase in total wage earnings in Cascade County in four quarters ending 2025Q2: 6%

Total wage earnings increase in Cascade County for those quarters: $120 million

Record number of Cascade County business establishments in 2025Q2: 3,282 

 

Interesting Factoids

Median age of U.S. first-time homebuyers in 1991: 28

Median age of U.S. first-time homebuyers in 2025: 40

Generative AI annual revenue in 2025: $153 billion

In 2021: $0

ChatGPT weekly users: 800 million

Average time lost by American commuters stuck in traffic in 2024: 63 hours

Wind development potential in Great Falls trade area: $11.5 billion

Year global energy demand is expected to more than double: 2050

Annual shortfall between U.S. skilled trades openings and qualified graduates: 1.7 million

GFDA’s cumulative loan principal loss over 30 years: 0.7%

Average annual loan principal loss of federally regulated banks: 0.5-1.5%


For info contact Jolene Schalper at JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org

or 1-406-750-4481


Download 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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