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Our Great Falls Regional APEX in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) brought 46 businesses throughout the region together to explore exciting contracting opportunities with USFS! 

1) The Station District Bar & Eatery opened its doors at 119 River Drive North, offering four unique restaurant concepts under one roof: Yama - Asian Kitchen, Barrio Cantina, Cascata, and Big Sky Grill. With diverse menus, a full bar, arcade games, and a spacious dining area, this new hotspot is a must-visit for Great Falls residents and visitors! Check out the video from KRTV for a look inside.

2) Montana has over 150 business in the firearm industry. Christian and Jolene spent the week working over 40 targeted companies at SHOT Show 2025 alongside Governor Gianforte who brought leadership and teams from Commerce, Revenue, and the Attorney General’s Office. SHOT Show, the largest trade show for hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor industries, provided an excellent platform to connect with industry leaders and promote Great Falls and the State of Montana, as a hub for business growth. The event featured more than 2,800 exhibitors from over 100 countries. These shows provide great opportunities, but the real work happens before and after. Now we’ll work the business leads gathered.

3) Ocean Star Seafood restaurant opened in Great Falls; see KRTV. Casa del Gringos restaurant opened in Fort Benton; see KRTV. Benefis Health System has made upgrades to the Gift of Life Housing facility for patients and families traveling to town for healthcare; see KRTV. TheElectric reports in its Business Bites that Winco and Panera affiliated companies have purchased properties in Great Falls.

4) Continued work with a national technology company prospect, as well as several manufacturing and logistics prospects. Moving deals through the pipeline! Chose the cover for the 2025 Livability Great Falls talent recruitment magazine that we public each year in partnership with Livability Media, taking advantage of the exposure the Great Falls market gets through Livability.com.

5) The Union restaurant in Helena owned by Old Salt Co-op, a GFDA loan client, made the semifinalist list for the 2025 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in the country (one of 30 at this stage). Our lending tools helped this innovative company bring their vision to the market, what can we do for you? Reach out with your idea to start, grow, or bring your business to the Great Falls region and go eat at the Union!

6) Jake met with an investment group that has identified Great Falls as their next investment opportunity. This group has responded to the market data we have provided to see promise for various potential projects in Great Falls and highlighted the positive collaboration between City Staff, GFDA and other resources as being attractive to groups like theirs for breaking into a new community. This is a team sport, reach out to Jake and let's get Team Great Falls working for you: Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937. 

7) Congratulations to Smoot Honey in Power on being awarded a Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops grant from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Montana is the fourth largest honey producer in the United States and we are excited when our local producer’s hard work is recognized. 

8) We approved providing another Phase I environmental assessment for the potential purchase of a local business in Cascade County.  If you’re looking to redevelop a current facility or purchase a commercial building for a new or existing business, please contact Christian Nichols at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-9385 prior to redevelopment or purchase to make sure there are no recognized environmental contaminates.

9) Congratulations to A&R Construction, LLC on being awarded the contract for the Great Falls Animal Shelter remodel with the City of Great Falls! f you’re pursuing government contracts on the local level, now is the perfect time to explore the opportunities available, build your past performance, and position your business for success, contact SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-868-8343 and Mariah Liebing at Mariah@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-2174. 

10) Nicki and Jake had a productive meeting with a downtown Great Falls building owner and discussed exciting possibilities for upper-floor development. This type of revitalization is key to continue creating vibrancy in the downtown core. We look forward to continuing the conversation and exploring how we can support this project. To learn more about investing in downtown Great Falls, contact Nicki at Nicki@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-2099.

11) The Montana Air National Guard has projects in the works to accommodate new C-130's Hercules aircraft headed to GTF; see KRTV and KFBB.

12) The annual Economic Outlook Seminar of the University of Montana's Bureau of Business & Economic Research will be in Great Falls this Wednesday, January 29th. This year's title is Montana’s AI Future: Rethinking How to Staff and Run Your Business. Register here. See you there!

13) Our Great Falls Regional APEX in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) brought 46 businesses throughout the region together to explore exciting contracting opportunities with the USFS. Attendees had the chance to network, present their capability statements, and connect directly with USFS and AIMS (At-Incident Management Support) representatives. The event provided valuable insights into upcoming projects and fostered connections that could lead to future contracting opportunities. As we prepare for the 2025 season, this event was a key step in getting businesses ready for what's ahead. Discover how you can maintain a competitive edge in the government marketplace, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-868-8343 or Mariah Liebing at Mariah@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-2174. 

14) Great Falls Tourism announced 20 new partnership opportunities for area businesses. Check our their Friend with Benefits details. Registration for the Montana Department of Commerce’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism is open through April 1st. The event will feature a wide variety of sessions focusing on a "The Road Ahead" theme. Hear from industry leaders and get the inside scoop on what tourism is looking like in Montana.

15) As the Growth Through Agriculture deadline approaches, Anna has worked with five local companies to complete their full application - answering questions, reviewing responses and helping them craft the best narrative possible to showcase their exciting projects. If you are a food or value-added ag business and would like assistance identifying resources or funding opportunities to support your growth, reach out to Anna at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301.

16) We were proud to join and sponsor breakfast for the Tribal Employment Rights Office of the Montana Department of Labor and Industries showcase and work session at Great Falls College. Industry partners and tribal leaders were able to connect and share best practices and ideas for developing workforce to meet the needs of industry in Montana. 

17) The Montana Department of Commerce awarded $7 million in federal HUD funds to help make possible affordable housing development including $ 641,683 for the City of Great Falls and $156,508 for Lewistown; see press release.

18) Inside each monthly edition of our new newsletter, Investing in Downtown Great Falls you’ll find a curated mix of news, updates, and resources designed to celebrate and support our downtown Great Falls businesses and building owners. If you are ready to invest in Downtown Great Falls, contact Nicki at Nicki@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-2099.

19) How does your business measure up against industry standards? Whether you're running an established business or starting out, understanding industry benchmark data is essential for evaluating your performance and making informed decisions. Our Small Business Development Center provides access to powerful tools like Vertical IQ, Bizminer, and ProfitCents to help you compare your business metrics to industry averages all at no cost to our clients. Reach out to our regional Great Falls Small Business Development Center today to gain valuable insights and take your business to the next level!

20) The City of Great Falls is holding Growth Policy sessions the week of January 27th. It is important for the business and development community to be heard so please plan to attend. Download flyer with details. The City has also posted a survey seeking input. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.

21) SAVE THE DATE! Get ready for Montana APEX GovMatch 2025, the government contracting matchmaking event of the year hosted by our Great Falls Regional APEX. This premier matchmaking event is where businesses meet with government agencies to build relationships and explore opportunities to secure contracts. This event is designed to facilitate introductions and connect agencies with quality leads while fostering impactful partnerships that benefit communities and drive economic growth. When: Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Where: University of Providence in Great Falls. For more information, contact SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-868-8343 and Mariah Liebing at Mariah@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-2174.

22) Worked with the Association of Defense Communities and partners to put together a half day forum, Exploring the Defense Community Role in US Strategic Nuclear Forces Modernization to open the annual Defense Communities National Summit in DC March 31st.

23) We held a project kick-off meeting on the regional Recreation & Entertainment Market Assessment we are undertaking. Our consultants, Hunden Partners, will be in the region later this quarter to meet with businesses currently offering, or interested in offering, indoor and outdoor recreation and entertainment. Please email me if you are interested in participating, Brett at BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org.

24) In December 2023 we completed a financial growth plan that set a goal to increase our loan capital by $8.175 million and put in place a $1 million warehouse line of credit within five years to meet demand for bridge and gap financing in the region which enable businesses and development projects to move forward. By the end of December 2024, we had increased our loan capital by $6,096,840 and put in place the line of credit. That represents a 19% in GFDA loan capital in one year, reaching $38.3 million. However, the need for larger amount of loan capital, particularly to support housing development in the region, has grown in the past year so we continue efforts to secure more capital. Thank you to our GFDA Investors and partners for making this possible!

25) Interested in joining GFDA's Investment Committee? Work with a dedicated team to grow our resources and build connections with businesses, helping drive economic growth in the Great Falls region. Contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org to learn more and get involved!

26) Thank you to all GFDA investors and public partners for making our work possible. Their support drives economic growth, connects businesses, and creates new opportunities for the Great Falls region. We invite you to learn more about these incredible contributors by watching this short video. Recent investments include: Community Division—IND Hemp, Supporter Division—River Drive Properties, LLC. Join us in making an impact. Contact Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org to learn how you can be part of this important work.

You can feel the positive momentum in the Great Falls region and it feels fantastic. Let's keep our feet on the gas pedal!

Brett

Brett Doney

Great Falls Development Alliance

BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org

1-406-750-2119

Connect with me on LinkedIn.

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"The difference between the greats and the legends is their ability to focus for longer periods of time."

Jordan Burroughs

Edition 669

If your company needs a rail-served, BNSF-Certified, shovel-ready site with all municipal services at your door, we have lots available for immediate construction in the Great Falls AgriTech Park. Contact Jolene Schalper at 1-406-750-4481 or JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org

The 25-year loan effective rate (including all fees) is 6.512%; 20-year at 6.581%; 10-year equipment loan at 6.642%; and, 20-year refinance 6.611%; 25-year refinance 6.541%. These rates are FIXED for the life of the loan and are inclusive of all fees. If you would like to find out how to get financing for commercial real estate and equipment at potentially lower rates than you're paying for your home mortgage, please contact Jill Kohles at 1-406-590-1056 or JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org.

The Big Sky Film Grant is open and closes Feb. 7, 2025. This grant program aims to build and support partnerships with filmmakers and production companies to create Montana film industry jobs. Up to $1.5 million in awards is available to filmmakers.

Our GFDA Small Business Development Center has been onboarding the Downtown Great Falls Winter Cohort Participants. The Winter Cohort runs January 28th - April 8th. During this three-month period, the Cohort meets every other Tuesday from 8:30-10:00 AM. The group sessions include connection around business topics, business skills trainings and a time for solution think-tanks where the Cohort participants assist fellow small business owners in problem solving while applying skills and strategies. There is no charge to be a part of the Winter Cohort. If you are interested in learning more about our Cohorts, please reach out to Deb McGregor, GFDA Small Business Development Center Regional Director at 1-406-750-0314 or Deb@GrowGreatFalls.org. We look forward to starting additional Cohorts in Spring 2025 and Fall 2025.

Zero to Five Montana is offering a one-time grant opportunity for Montana employers to develop employer-sponsored child care programs. Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000; applications are due February 7th Apply Here. Great Falls Public Schools is holding a Job Fair on January 22nd. See more details on both and much more in The Electric's Business Bites.

Are you a specialty crop (ie anything not wheat, barley, oilseeds, or soy) producer or processor? Or do you work with specialty crop producers or processors? If so, please not that the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant is now opened. Applications are due by Feb 28th at 5:00 PM. If you would like to discuss your project or find other funding opportunities for your value-added ag project, reach out to Anna at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301.

The Great Falls Business Improvement District has grants available for businesses and property owners located in the BID. Contact Kellie Pierce at 1-406-727-5430 or kellie@downtowngreatfalls.net. Stay ahead of the curve in Downtown Great Falls! Our new monthly newsletter, "Investing in Downtown Great Falls," delivers monthly insights and opportunities for business and building owners downtown. Sign up today! Questions? Contact Nicki at Nicki@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-2099.

Are you hiring? Our Hot Jobs Program is the perfect platform for employers to share their job openings! By sending us your listings, your opportunities could be featured on our Hot Jobs blog and shared across our social media channels for maximum visibility. Relocating with a partner or family member? Our Trailing Partner Program ensures no one gets left behind. Many times, for someone to accept a position, their partner also needs a job secure – and we’re here to help! Send us their resume (with permission), and we’ll share it within our network. You never know who’s hiring! Let’s work together to make Great Falls the perfect place for new opportunities. For more information contact our Marketing and Communications Officer Katie Carvell at 1-406-217-7635 or Katie@GrowGreatFalls.org. 

Are you interested in exploring government contract opportunities but unsure where to start?  Great Falls Regional APEX provides the tools, knowledge, and guidance needed to navigate the government marketplace. We simplify the key steps of registration, research, and response, streamlining the process to ensure your business is prepared for contract opportunities. Whether you’re new to contracting or looking to expand your reach, we can help you identify opportunities, build valuable connections, and achieve your goals. To learn more, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-868-8343 and Mariah Liebing at Mariah@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-2174. 

If you’re looking to expand or start your business through purchasing a commercial building for your future location, make sure to talk to Christian Nichols, Brownfields Project Manager, so we can see if you qualify for an Environmental Site Assessment paid for by EPA. You don’t know what environmental conditions or possible contaminates exist until you have an assessment completed. With our help you could save thousands of dollars and have confidence in your purchase knowing all contaminates are identified and assessed. For more information, please call Christian Nichols at 1-406-788-9385 or email at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org.

Do you know the benefits of C-PACE financing for your multifamily housing project? Last Best PACE, Montana's program, brings value to Montana commercial building owners by improving their bottom line. Last Best PACE can cover up to 100% of eligible project costs and payments are repaid through a special property tax assessment with terms of 20+ years. Reach out to Jake to find out how this tool can help your project move forward Jake@GrowGreatalls.org or 1-406-403-4937. 

Are you planning any international marketing activities in 2025? The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) run by the Export Montana team at the Montana Department of Commerce has a host of export support services and federal grants available for businesses up to $12,000. They're awesome to work with! Our Small Business Advisor, Rich Gannon, can help too and he is also awesome! RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-2078.

Cybersecurity is a top priority for the Department of Defense (DoD)! Is your business prepared for the new cybersecurity standards in federal contracting? If your company manages Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI), you must comply with specific standards. For contractors working with the federal government, the minimum requirement is Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1. This self-certification verifies that your organization has implemented fundamental security measures to safeguard FCI. To begin your self-assessment journey, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-868-8343 and Mariah Liebing at Mariah@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-2174

Our freight logistics consultants, Moffat & Nichols, completed key findings of the Great Falls Region Freight Market Assessment and Economic Development Strategy Recommendations. This comprehensive study offers valuable insights into the logistics industry and its potential in our region. We have already begujn work implementing some of the recommendations. Others will need to wait until we work with our partners to secure more resources. Logistics are a key consideration for existing manufacturers in our region, and in attracting new investment in manufacturing operations.

The 2024 Great Falls Housing Market Assessment shows a need for 650 new housing units per year in the immediate Great Falls area. For assistance with housing development, contact Jake Clark at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937.

Great Falls Recruiters and HR professionals! Here is a link to our Talent Attraction Toolkit and the 2024 Great Falls Livability Magazine, part of our effort to help local businesses attract the talent they need for key positions. Join our Trailing Partner Email Group specifically for local employers to share resumes of trailing spouses/partners across the Great Falls region with other employers looking to hire. Visit our relocation website LiveInGreatFalls.com. JobsEQ for Workforce is a software tool that provides timely data on our local workforce and employers—including demographics, occupations, wages, certifications, and more. Contact Katie Carvell at Katie@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-7635.

Cybersecurity challenges for businesses continue to grow. The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) is offering an array of useful resources to help Montana businesses to protect themselves. MMEC has launched the Certified Manufacturing Associate Apprenticeship program. This one-year program combines on-the-job training with online technical classes on safety, math and measurements, manufacturing processes, and quality control.

Have you created or updated your Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) profile? A strong profile can significantly boost your contracting success by increasing your visibility to local, state, and federal agencies seeking goods and services. If you would like more information on how to create or update your DSBS profile, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

Zero to 5 has launched the Montana Child Care Business Connect website to help support the startup and expansion of early childcare businesses. The Great Falls Childcare Demand Assessment shows a need for additional childcare facilities to serve 580 children in Great Falls. For assistance with childcare facility business planning, contact Rich Gannon at RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-2078.

One of the many tools we have for renovating your building in Downtown Great Falls is the City's Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Grant. This 50% match grant can help with Façade, Building Code Compliance, and Safety & Security. One of the biggest uses of this grant is Fire Suppression and updating the face of your building. To find out more about this grant, call Nicki at 1-406-750-2099 or Nicki@GrowGreatFalls.org. Let's discuss how TIF and other tools can help you change the face of Downtown Great Falls. 

The Montana Innovation Partnership is offering a number of trainings and an accelerator program for companies interested in pursuing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants.

The best resource we scan daily to stay abreast of business and community innovation is MATR.net (Montana Associated Technology Roundtables), which we are proud to help sponsor. Sign up for their free newsletter.

Our Mission is to 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.

Great Falls Development Alliance | GrowGreatFallsMontana.org