1) The University of Providence and Touro University have partnered to offer students the opportunity to earn two degrees in 5 years, a BS in Applied Mathematics and a MS in Data Analytics, both related to health care; see KRTV.
2) RMI will present the findings and recommendations of the Great Falls Trade Area Energy Market Assessment in five sessions next week. This Monday, October 14th we will hold three Deep-dive Sessions at the SpringHill Suites:
10:00-11:30 AM: Overall Energy Opportunity & Obstacle Landscape Assessment
1:00-2:30 PM: Transmission Opportunities, Obstacles & Strategy Recommendations
3:00-4:30 PM: Sustainable Fuels Opportunities & Strategy Recommendations
On Tuesday, October 15th, we will hold two sessions at Great Falls College in Heritage Hall:
8:00-9:30 AM: Overall Findings & Recommendations -- this will be a special GFDA Board & Council meeting which is always open to all interested parties.
12:00-1:30 PM: Deep-dive on Energy Efficient Buildings
3) Congratulations to Montana Valley Irrigation on their expansion and acquisition of Rocky Mountain Metal works. The business acquisition will enable the company improve its capabilities in the metalworking sector. Read the full story from the Choteau Acantha.
4) GFDA recently hosted an event for our investors and partners to unveil our Updated Economic Development Strategy for 2024-2026. See: The Electric. The event featured updates from local business leaders on several key projects that are shaping the future of our region. Special thanks to: Paul Herendeen from Clearwater Credit Union for updating us on the progress of their downtown Great Falls branch in the old Hardee’s building. Brian Marler of Ponderosa Solutions, who shared updates on the transload project in the Agri Tech Park and its benefits to regional transportation and logistics. Dr. Elizabeth Palmarozzi from Touro COM for discussing their experience opening the Great Falls campus and hinting at exciting future plans. Steve Laufenberg of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Montana, who spoke about the significant investments of the Glacier Battery Storage System and solar energy project, See: KRTV. Marlena Halko from Calumet for highlighting their success in hiring and recruiting using GFDA’s talent attraction tools. Robyn Brantner of Robyn’s Nest Daycare, who shared news about her recent expansion to 100 daycare slots, filling a critical need in our community. And finally, Ben Young from Economic Development Lethbridge, who discussed the new partnership between EDL and GFDA, See: KRTV. Each of these projects brings tremendous impact to our region, and we’re excited to keep the momentum going. If you’d like to join us at our next investor event, contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
5) The Electric's latest Business Bites details updates on the new Tony Roma's opening in Great Falls as well as several projects we have been working on. Tilleman Equipment has expanded into Cascade County, driven by diversification in crops being grown in the region; see KRTV. A new juice bar, The Press Club, is opening in Downtown Great Falls; see KRTV.
6) Value added ag processors or food manufacturers have until October 31st to submit their pre-applications for the Growth Through Agriculture Program that opened at the beginning of the month. This program from the Montana Department of Agriculture which allows up to $50,000 in grant funding and up to $100,000 in low interest loans is meant to support the development and diversification of Value-added Ag in Montana. If you want to check your eligibility or have any questions about the program, please reach out to Anna at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301.
7) Our Great Falls Regional APEX and SBDC advisors, Shannon Clancy and Christian Nichols collaborated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) team and presented to the 341st Contracting Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB). The presentation outlined how APEX, SBDC, and SBA support businesses in becoming contract-ready and navigate the government marketplace. Together, Great Falls APEX, SBDC, SBA, and the 341st Contracting Squadron are working to bridge the gap between government agencies and Montana businesses, providing resources, support, and opportunities for companies to navigate the contracting process and successfully compete for government contracts. Whether you're a new or seasoned contractor, to learn how to access bid opportunities at Malmstrom AFB and gauge your contract readiness, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.
8) Each year, around 200,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces transition to civilian life, bringing valuable skills and experience. The SkillBridge program allows employers to access this talent at no cost while the Department of Defense covers service members' salaries and benefits for up to 180 days. With virtual training options available, location is not a barrier. Don't miss the chance to connect with and support these exceptional individuals—partner with SkillBridge today! Register here for a New Partner Application Process Information Session on October 16th from 12:00-1:00 PM.
9) The GFDA Small Business Development Center had a wonderful Selling Your Business training in Shelby on Tuesday, October 8th. Training attendees had a lot of excellent questions and we look forward to assisting at least two of the businesses with selling and buying a business. Our next training, Buying a Business, will be held in Choteau on Tuesday, October 29th from 6:30-8:00 PM at the Teton County Annex. Anyone interested in attending can register here: Buying a Business-Choteau
10) Our first Downtown Great Falls Cohort started meeting on October 10th. We have 10 small business owners who have joined this cohort. The cohort is facilitated by Deb McGregor, GFDA Small Business Development Center Regional Director. This cohort will run through December 19th. Our winter cohort will begin on January 28th. Our 10 winter cohort slots have been filled but we are creating a waiting list in case a business that’s registered has to make a last minute change. In addition to the 6 group sessions, each participant will receive up to six 1/1 sessions with Deb.
11) If you haven’t registered for "Operational Federal Contracting: A Blueprint to Managing Federal Contracts” now is the time! Join Great Falls Regional APEX and Ms. Colleen Goad, the 341st Contracting Section Supervisor for the Construction/Architect and Engineer Flight at Malmstrom AFB, on Wednesday, October 16th, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Great Falls College Heritage Hall for an informative in-person event. Businesses will gain valuable insights into roles and responsibilities, regulations, contract types, and payment methods essential for managing federal contracts. Don’t forget to bring your capability statement! After the presentation, take advantage of our networking session, where you can connect directly with contracting officers from the 341st Contracting Squadron and potential partners. To Register, CLICK HERE! If you need to create a new capability statement or just update an existing one, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184. We look forward to seeing you there!
12) The Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and the Great Falls International Airport announced a $250,000 capital campaign to raise funds to attract a discount airline to offer new direct air service between GTF and Los Angeles. Download two-page partner letter for more details.
13) Save the date for the Downtown Great Falls Market Analysis release, November 13th from 8:30-10:30 AM. Leland Consulting Group will present the market analysis, implementation strategy and host a Q&A session. More information will be sent out this week. For more information, contact Nicki at Nicki@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-2099.
14) The transition from farmers market to permanent food business can be a difficult, but rewarding journey. To inspire fellow food entrepreneurs, Brittany Hopkins of Great Falls Mac Attack joined GFDA's Food and Ag Development Center for a Tuesday Training to discuss her transition from teacher to food entrepreneur, share successes and challenges she has faced over the past year and a half, and discuss the next steps for her home made macaroni and cheese business. You can watch the webinar here and see all our past training webinars on our youtube page. If you are interested in learning more about upcoming trainings, sign up for our newsletter here.
15) Have you opened a business in the Great Falls region of North Central Montana? Come celebrate with us! On the evening of November 20 at the Newberry. We will recognize those brave entrepreneurs who’ve created businesses in our region! Want to be recognized or recognize a business owner? Let us know here: Nomination Form
16) Please be on the lookout for a survey that will be coming out next week from the GFDA Small Business Development Center and the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. We will be starting an Entrepreneurial Series in January and the survey will assist us in identifying the topics that are most important for small business owners. The Entrepreneurial Series will run from January-May of 2025, with one training session taking place each month. We are excited to have a strong collaboration in service of our amazing entrepreneurs. Stay tuned for updates and to get registered!
17) The City of Great Falls is seeking applicants to serve on the Planning Advisory Board and the Board of Adjustments/Appeals. See TheElectric for more details.
18) I am very pleased to announce that Jake Clark, our Vice President of Business Development, has been promoted to a leadership role managing our business development team. Jake will lead our business and real estate investment attraction and expansion efforts, and help develop our outstanding business development officers as we continue to increase our mission impact.
19) We are excited to announce that Kristen Blue has joined our team as a Business Development Officer focused on energy and related industries. Kristen is an entrepreneurial leader who founded Blue Flame Innovation and co-founded Flora for Fauna in Bozeman. She earned a BS in Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Science & Engineering Management from Montana State University. Welcome Kristen!
20) We are excited to announce that Jennifer Goodover will be joining our team as our new Lending Associate starting October 28th. Jennifer comes from a background in mortgage financing and has skills in coordinating programs and proposals while maintaining excellent client relationships.
21) We're thrilled to welcome Shauni Seccombe to the GFDA team as our new Resource Associate. Starting November 4th, Shauni will assist Jenn with fundraising and grant writing, helping to secure the necessary resources required for our mission. With her experience as a trained facilitator, she has worked with diverse stakeholders, building strong relationships, and navigating complex projects. Shauni’s passion for helping businesses and communities thrive aligns perfectly with our mission. Join us in welcoming Shauni as she brings her skills and dedication to support our community!
22) We Are Growing Our Awesome Staff Team and have excellent career opportunities. Download a description of openings for Marketing & Communications Officer, Loan Officer, and Government Contracting Advisor -- APEX Accelerator. Contact Tracy for more info at Tracy@GrowGreatFalls.org.
23) The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center is seeking a Business Advisor based in Great Falls to support manufacturers in the region. See description on Facebook.
24) None of this would be possible without the dedication of our investors and public partners. Their support doesn’t just fuel our work—it multiplies our impact. By leveraging every dollar they invest, we’re able to unlock even more funding for loan capital and grants, driving greater growth and transformation across our region. You can learn more about them by watching this short video. Recent investments include: Community Division—Arvon Block, LLC; Demski Group. Economic development is powered by strong community partnerships, and we are grateful for the continued support of those who believe in our mission. If you’re inspired to learn more about our economic development strategy or want to be part of this powerful momentum, contact Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
Thank you to Rebecca Engum, leader of Great Falls Tourism, for going above and beyond this week helping us bring a major event to Great falls! We have fantastic partners!
Brett
Brett Doney
Great Falls Development Alliance
BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org
1-406-750-2119
Connect with me on LinkedIn to network with the Great Falls Montana region.
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"I am building a fire, and everyday I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match."
Mia Hamm
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