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1) Congratulations to NeighborWorks Great Falls which has exceeded its $2.5 million endowment goal, reaching $3.3 million! At its celebration event the affordable housing organization set a new $5 million endowment goal by 2030.
2) Great Falls attracted 1 million visitors in 2025 setting a new record; see KRTV. Congratulations to Great Falls Montana Tourism!
3) This is your final call to register for the FREE Destination Creation Workshop with internationally recognized business expert Jon Schallert, happening this week on October 6 in Shelby and October 7 in Great Falls. This hands-on workshop will give businesses and community leaders practical strategies to stand out, attract more customers, build loyalty, and become destinations people actively seek out. Choose the location that works best for you and register now at GrowGreatFallsMontana.org/destination. Questions? Contact Jamie at Jamie@GrowGreatFalls.org or +1-406-217-9210.
4) Wingstop opened in Great Falls. Lee Enterprises announced that it is buying the Great Falls Tribune; see KRTV.
5) Great work Great Falls! 50 community members took time to share thoughtful inputs and ideas on potential data center development in our region. GFDA will host another Data Center Task Force meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 5:00 – 6: 30 PM at Heritage Hall, Great Falls College MSU. The speaker will be Monical Tranel, an attorney who has practiced energy focused law in Montana for more than 25 years. All community members are welcome to attend, please register here. The Montana Chamber of Commerce and Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association also have resources and information on data center development in Montana.
6) Malmstrom AFB has reached initial operational capability of the new Grey WEolf helicopter; see TheElectric.
7) RSVP for GFDA’s annual Entrepreneur Celebration on November 10 from 4:30–5:30 PM at The Newberry in Downtown Great Falls. Join us as we celebrate all of the entrepreneurs from across our 13-county trade area whose ideas, determination, and investment create jobs, strengthen communities, and drive our regional economy forward. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business leader, partner, or supporter of local business, come help us celebrate the people turning ideas into opportunity. RSVP today at GrowGreatFallsMontana.org/entrepreneur-celebration/, and contact Jamie at Jamie@GrowGreatFalls.org or +1-406-217-9210 with questions or entrepreneur nominations.
8) GFDA's Board and Council heard update briefings from key partners Great Falls Public Schools, Kids Education Yes!, and Great Falls Montana Tourism.
9) Did you know Great Falls is home to one of only three Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) in Montana? Located at Great Falls International Airport, the FTZ offers businesses involved in international trade opportunities to reduce, defer, or in some cases eliminate certain U.S. customs duties on imported goods that are stored, processed, assembled, or manufactured within the zone. This tool can help strengthen the business case for companies looking to establish or expand U.S. operations, adding to Great Falls’ advantages as a location for foreign direct investment (FDI). If you’re an international company considering investment in the U.S. or know a business that should take a closer look at Great Falls, connect with Christian at +1-406-836-0136 or CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org to explore opportunities in the Great Falls region.
10) Calling all employers! We need your voice at the first 406 Jobs Employer Exchange October 21 at 11 AM at the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, 401 13th Ave S. Employers will identify shared workforce priorities, including hard-to-fill jobs, skills and credential needs, recruitment and retention challenges, training gaps, and barriers that affect labor-force participation. Your input will help shape practical, locally led workforce solutions under Montana’s 406 JOBS initiative. Questions, call Cassie Bergstrom, Department of Labor and Industry, 1-406-465-1184.
11) Great Falls Regional APEX hosted Montana APEX advisors from across the state in Great Falls and spent time at Malmstrom Air Force Base connecting with the 341st Contracting Squadron. These connections help government buyers reach capable businesses, strengthen the government industrial base and supply chain, and support Malmstrom’s warfighter mission. Become part of the federal supply chain and see where government contracting can take your business. Contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.
12) This week Jolene was a speaker at the Richmond Federal Reserve’s Investing in Rural America Conference. The conference brings rural stakeholders together to explore how to better leverage community assets and create space for rural residents and communities to thrive. Jolene presented strategies for small rural businesses to leverage technology. She shared examples of Montana rural businesses utilizing AI to create ideal customer profiles and where to reach them, growing e-commerce strategies to reach beyond their physical space to build brand and sales, and opportunities for rural communities/businesses to work together to make themselves destinations. To discuss further, reach out to Jolene at JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org.
13) GFDA SBDC Advisor Rich Gannon attended the annual conference of SBDC advisors, where sessions focused heavily on how small businesses are using AI to improve their operations. Regardless of your opinion of AI, it is increasingly becoming part of doing business. If you’re interested in how AI might fit into your business beyond writing social media posts, contact Rich Gannon at 1-406-836-2078 or RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org
14) The pre-application window for the Montana Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program opens October 6 and runs through November 9. GTA provides grant and loan funding through the Montana Department of Agriculture for projects that add value to Montana agricultural products and have the potential to create or retain jobs in Montana. Applicants will first submit basic project information through the online portal, with selected projects then invited to complete a full application. If you are an agricultural producer or operate an ag related business and have a project in mind, contact GFDA Business Advisor Rich Gannon at RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or call 1-406-836-2078 for assistance with the pre application process.
15) 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 Small Business Advisor who will help entrepreneurs to start, sustain and grow businesses in the region. Download our Career Opportunities. Please pass along to great candidates.
Getting this out early from the Amsterdam airport on way to participate in Montana Business Attraction Mission to India being led by Governor Gianforte.
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!
"If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success."
John D. Rockefeller
Edition 757
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