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1) Ponderosa Solutions has started construction of its expansion in the Great Falls AgriTech Park.
2) Congratulations to Savannah Calder on her successful acquisition of the Times Leader newspaper in Fairfield. We also wish Daryl Flowers a happy retirement and thank him for his many years of dedication to community journalism and the newspaper industry.
3) Help us find sites for future possible industrial development. Our first Industrial Park Siting Task Force will meet this Monday, November 16, 2:00 PM in Heritage Hall at Great Falls College MSU.
4) GFDA's Board and Council received a briefing on opportunities created by Montana's unique Right to Try law. Thank you to Steve Eror, Chair of the Montana Bioscience Alliance for a great presentation.
5) Touro Law Center is hosting a free virtual open house for prospective law students at 2:00 PM on November 18th when attendees can learn about J.D. programs, attend a mock law class and meet with admissions and financial aid. The event gives prospective students a chance to learn about Touro Law’s new Great Falls program, which welcomes its first cohort in August 2027 and brings in-person law classes to campus on Sundays. Register here. See The Electric's Business Bites.
6) Jake was in Billings meeting with developers, builders, landowners and partners interested in and currently working on housing projects in Great Falls. With 10 projects in construction and more eyeing 2027 we are actively working to attract, support, and track new housing. Let’s get your project on the radar, reach out to Jake Clark at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937.
7) Congratulations to Montana Renewables for delivering record high earnings this quarter. The $1.44 billion US Department of Energy loan guarantee awarded in October 2024 allows the Great Falls refinery to increase capacity of both sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.
8) Kristen Blue networked with energy professionals at the Montana Renewable Energy Association Energy Summit and the Montana Energy Business Alliance events in Bozeman this week. Energy topics will be front and center at the upcoming state legislative session. Connecting with regulators, legislators, and industry stakeholders continues to put North Central Montana on the map for potential energy and infrastructure development.
9) Get ready for Ignite 2027! On January 15, we’ll showcase exciting capital investments across our region that are breaking ground, expanding, or reaching completion in 2027. Have a project you’d like to announce or showcase? We invite businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits across Great Falls and our 13-county trade area to share their upcoming investments and developments. To learn more or secure a presentation spot, contact Shauni Seccombe at Shauni@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-6867.
10) A banker recently contacted GFDA about helping a client through our Brownfields Program, gathering information early in the process. The program helps address potential contamination, such as asbestos, lead paint, or petroleum, that can complicate redevelopment. Resources for environmental assessments and cleanup can help these properties return to productive use. Have a property or project in mind? Contact Lisa Andis at LAndis@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-0065.
11) Congratulations to NorthWestern Energy and Black Hills Energy on their merger approval by the Montana Public Service Commission. The new company, called Bright Horizons Energy, will serve 2.1 million electric and natural gas customers in Montana, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. For more details, see KRTV or the Daily Montanan.
12) The Great Falls College Early Learning Center was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Early Childhood Account Board. This grant will help the Early Learning Center expand its capacity to serve infants and toddlers. The Early Learning Center is open to Great Falls College students and the general public, and spots are starting to fill up. Learn more or contact the center at 1-406-315-8600 or earlylearningcenter@gfcmsu.edu
13) The next chapter of growth in Great Falls is going to take all of us. We have projects to get across the finish line, businesses to help expand, and opportunities we don't want to miss. Our investors and partners are the reason we can take on this work. Learn more about them by viewing this short video. Thank you for being part of the team that's helping build what's next. Contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org to learn how you can support the growth happening in our region.
14) We have started planning for the SelectUSA Roadshow to Singapore and India in February. Organized by the U.S. Commercial Service, the Roadshow will enable us to meet with targeted companies and to have follow-up meetings with companies we connected with in India during the Montana Business Mission in October.
15) Great Falls and our military community have grown together for generations. The Central Montana Defense Coalition builds on that relationship by bringing people and businesses together to support Malmstrom Air Force Base, the Montana Air National Guard, and the people who serve here. Thank you to the investors helping us continue this work. If you'd like to show your support for our defense community, contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
16) 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.
Have an awesome week!
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!
"The ability of a group of people to do remarkable things hinges on how well those people pull together as a team."
Simon Sinek
Edition 763
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