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1) Great Falls Tourism is bringing the Ironman Competition to Montana starting in 2027! See The Electric and Press Release. Check out Ironman's excellent video posting on Facebook. Thank you to our great tourism partners and the many agencies and organizations helping to make this happen.
2) We hosted a Montana-based developer group to Great Falls looking for opportunity in our market for new projects. Opportunities for housing, commercial, and industrial development were highlighted. Looking to bring your project to Great Falls? Reach out to Jake Clark Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937.
3) Join us for the Meadowview Village home ribbon cutting and public open house on Thursday, November 5th from 2:00-6:00 PM. RSVP Here for the event. Special incentive for the first six buyers: The first six qualifying buyers will receive up to $10,000 per home in eligible buyer incentives!
4) Sierra Trading Post is opening a store in Great Falls; see TheElectric's Business Bites. The Great Falls City Commission approved a right of way for the important Gore Hill Interchange infrastructure project that MDT hopes to get into construction next season; see TheElectric. We published our GFDA Quarter Index 2026Q3.
5) Great Falls College MSU and Great Falls Public Schools invites you to Career & Technical Education: Refining Your Passion this Tuesday, October 27, 6:00-7:00 PM in Heritage Hall at the college. This session will explore the value of Career & Technical Education and the opportunities available to students as they identify interests, develop skills, and prepare for future careers. Attendees will learn about educational pathways, workforce needs, and the role Career & Technical Education plays in helping students achieve their academic and professional goals. KRTV ran a great story about local Skilled Trades training programs.
6) Join us for GFDA’s Entrepreneur Celebration on November 10 at The Newberry in Downtown Great Falls from 4:30-5:30! We’re celebrating the entrepreneurs and business owners whose hard work, innovation, and investment strengthen our regional economy. Help us spread the word and encourage business owners across North Central Montana to join us for this special event. RSVP today at GrowGreatFallsMontana.org/entrepreneur-celebration, or contact Jamie at Jamie@GrowGreatFalls.org or +1-406-217-9210 with questions.
7) GFDA hosted our seventh Data Center Task Force, with over 50 engaged community members participating in the conversation. The notes and slides from the presentation are available here. Notes from all previous meetings are available on the GFDA website here. A final report will be available in December. For any questions on the Data Center Task Force, contact Jolene at JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-4481.
8) GFDA Business Advisors worked with a young entrepreneur this week on the steps involved in acquiring a small business. Business buying and selling is quickly becoming a major focus of our advising work. We have two upcoming opportunities to learn from experts on the subject. On November 5, Briana Berg of North Kendrick Advisors will present a webinar on understanding business valuation. Information and registration.
9) On November 19, GFDA's newest business advisor, Andrew Burr, will lead an in-person workshop covering key considerations for business owners preparing to sell or exit their business. Information and registration. If you're considering selling your business, working with an advisor can help you navigate the process and prepare for a successful sale. Reach out to the Great Falls Small Business Center, or call or email Rich Gannon at 1-406-836-2078, email Rgannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or reach out to Andrew Burr at 1-406-217-7738, or Andrew@GrowGreatFalls.org.
10) Montana DPHHS has opened a round of grants to support childcare providers across the state. Deadline to apply is October 28th. See DPHHS factsheet and story on KTVH.
11) In the 1950’s 70% of the food on Montanans plates was from Montana. Today it’s roughly 3%. We joined the Department of Ag this week for the third annual Governor’s Summit on Montana Food and Agriculture. The goal is to move to 33% of Montanan's food consumed from Montana by 2033. Jolene spoke on a panel about scaling up food businesses. Her main message - surround yourself with a team of advisors who can connect you to the people and resources to make your project happen. You’re first stop - call us and we’ll connect you. Jolene at 1-406-750-4481.
12) Are you spending too much time searching for government contracts? Great Falls Regional APEX can show you how to create saved searches in SAM.gov to streamline your searches. You can target specific agencies and receive email notifications when they post new contract opportunities. Stay informed, find the right opportunities, and position your business to compete for and win government contracts. Contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.
13) Brett and Jenn attended the Opportunity Finance Network Annual Conference, bringing together over 2,000 CDFI professionals, lenders, investors, and funding partners from across the country. They attended sessions on lending strategies and capital opportunities while connecting with potential funders to pursue new sources of loan capital and strengthened relationships that support GFDA’s existing lending programs.
14) Save the date for August 10, 2027 for the second annual USDA Rural Development Montana Rural Impact Forum. We co-hosted the first this past September here in Great Falls and will co-host the second annual. For more information, reach out to Jolene at 1-406-750-4481.
15) The impact of Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard reaches far beyond the base gates. From local jobs and businesses to families and community organizations, our entire region benefits from their presence. The Central Montana Defense Coalition works to protect that economic impact and advocate for continued defense investment in our region. Thank you to the investors who recognize what's at stake and are helping fund this effort. Join them by contacting Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
16) Every community has people who are willing to step up and invest in its future. We're fortunate to have hundreds of businesses, organizations, and individuals who have made that commitment to the Great Falls region. They invest in GFDA and their support allows us to keep projects moving, respond to new opportunities, and focus on building a stronger economy for everyone. We simply couldn't do this work without our investors. Learn more by viewing this video. Recent investments include: Community Division—REIC Rentals; and Jerry Hood. To learn how you can be involved, reach out to Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
17) We have a career opening for a Business Development Officer who will focus on growing and diversifying the region's food, ag, and bio processing industries and for a Business Attraction Specialist who will help us attract business investment to the region. Download our Career Opportunities. Please pass along to great candidates.
Arrived in Tampa this afternoon to join a fantastic 13-member Central Montana team participating in the Association of Defense Communities' annual Installation Innovation Forum!
Brett
Brett Doney
Great Falls Development Alliance
BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org
1-406-750-2119
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
Subscribe to the Grow Great Falls Montana YouTube channel!
"Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking."
William Butler Yeats
Edition 760
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