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1) Eight census tracts in our region, including two tracts in Great Falls, tracts 7 and 8, have been designated as Opportunity Zone 2.0 zones. The Great Falls tracts comprise Downtown Great Falls and the Broadwater area. Census tracts in Browning, Lewistown, and Blaine County have also been designated. Investment in these tracts will benefit from significant capital gains tax savings. The designations become effective January 1st. See statewide list of the 25 Opportunity Zones 2.0.
2) This is your final call to RSVP for our FREE Entrepreneur Celebration on Tuesday, November 10, from 4:30–5:30 PM at The Newberry in Downtown Great Falls! Join us for an evening of food, drinks, gifts, and special recognition as we celebrate the entrepreneurs whose hard work, innovation, and investment make our region thrive. Whether you’re just getting started or have been in business for decades, this celebration is for you! Bring a fellow entrepreneur and help us recognize the people driving our regional economy forward. We hope to see you there! RSVP today at GrowGreatFallsMontana.org/entrepreneur-celebration/, or contact Jamie at Jamie@GrowGreatFalls.org or +1-406-217-9210 with questions.
3) The IRONMAN Race being brought to Great Falls next August by Great Falls Montana Tourism and many partners is already more than 60% sold out; see KRTV.
4) Our monthly Small Business Webinar attracted more than 20 participants this week- special thanks to our partners at MSU Extension Economics and the Montana Cooperative Development Center for helping host this monthly series. Briana Berg, a business valuation expert with North Kendrick Advisors, shared practical insights into understanding what a business is worth and the factors that influence its value. A recording and slide deck will be posted here soon. For those thinking about selling their business, we're continuing the conversation with an in-person workshop on the Basics of Selling Your Business on November 19th in Great Falls. Learn more and register here.
5) Planning to purchase a building, expand your space, or invest in equipment? SBA 504 financing can help Montana businesses take that next step. November rates are 6.574% for 25 years, 6.584% for 20 years, and 6.590% for 10 years, with refinance rates of 6.576% for 25 years and 6.587% for 20 years. With long-term, fixed-rate financing and down payments as low as 10%, the program can help business owners preserve working capital while investing in their future. To explore whether SBA 504 financing fits your plans, contact Shandi Gebhardt Jones at Shandi@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-9037.
6) Help us find sites for future possible industrial development. Our first Industrial Park Siting Task Force will meet on Monday, November 16, 2:00 PM in Heritage Hall at Great Falls College MSU.
7) At the Great Falls City Commission Work Session Lonnie Hill, Planning and Community Development Director, discussed the impact of the Montana Land Use Planning Act and potential code changes and Administrative Updates to streamline land use decisions. They also had a presentation from VenuWorks who will be presenting a contract for operating the Mansfield Event Center and Theater.
8) During the Great Falls City Commission Meeting the commission discussed several economic development focused infrastructure programs. Starting with the close of the second round of Strategic Capital Investment Reserve (SCIR). Four applications were received in the amount of $3.3m and are being evaluated currently. The Commission endorsed the city’s new Strategic and Economic Development Policy. The City Commission also updated our Special Improvement District (SID) policy that will impact development projects and infrastructure investments.
9) Could the government be your next customer? This week Great Falls Regional APEX helped fifteen businesses of all sizes and industries as they expanded their reach and prepared for upcoming opportunities in the government marketplace. The government buys everything! Let’s get you positioned to take advantage of opportunities that align with your business. Contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.
10) What are the jobs available in Great Falls? That’s the question the GFHS Career Exploratory Class hopes to help student answer. This week Jolene was able to lead an entrepreneurship exercise with the two classes. Students were asked what businesses are missing here and what would they open. Entertainment was the top response in various forms. If you’d like to be part of the Career Exploration Classes, email Anitra Hall, Anitra_Hall@gfps.k12.mt.us.
11) 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.
12) Jenn attended the Grant Professionals Association Annual Conference, where she participated in sessions on grant writing, funding opportunities, and strategies to secure more funding. She also connected with peers & grant professionals from across the country to share ideas and learn from their experiences. The skills and connections gained will help GFDA pursue more grant funding to support projects that create jobs and bring investment into our region.
13) Defense missions and funding aren't guaranteed, and communities across the country are working to attract them. That's why the Central Montana Defense Coalition is working to make sure Great Falls has a voice when decisions are made that could impact Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard. We appreciate the investors who are helping us stay engaged and advocate for our region. Want to help keep Great Falls competitive? Contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
14) The Montana Energy Business Alliance is hosting a dinner and discussion exploring how data center electricity demand is shaping energy development, infrastructure investment, and economic opportunity in Montana. Keynote speaker Betsey Hale of Cheyenne LEADS will share insights from Cheyenne, WY experience with data center growth. A panel discussion exploring what large energy users mean for new generation, grid reliability, and Montana’s energy future will follow. The event is Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 5:30 -7:30 PM at the Best Western GranTree Inn in Bozeman. There is no cost to attend, in order to have an accurate headcount please register here. Everyone is welcome to attend.
15) We are organizing the first Montana Defense Summit which we plan to hold annually in Great Falls. The event will work to strengthen and grow Montana’s defense missions, defense industry and defense research and development. The event will be held on March 2, 2027. We have begun looking for co-hosts and sponsors. Here is the Defense Summit Sponsor Form.
16) The Montana Renewable Energy Association is presenting a Clean Energy Summit in Bozeman on Nov. 10 from 8:00 am – 4:00 PM. There will be a summit kick off reception the evening of Nov. 9. The summit connects people who build projects, make policies, train the workforce, finance investments, and help communities navigate decisions. Detailed agenda and registration information is available here.
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.
18) There's no shortage of ideas or opportunities in our region. The challenge is having the resources and people to make them happen. That's where our investors and partners come in. Their support allows GFDA to take on the work, build relationships, and pursue projects that otherwise might never get off the ground. Thank you for helping turn potential into progress. Learn more by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Advance Division—Northrop Grumman; Leadership Division—Douglas Wilson & Company, P.C. Thanks you for your support! To learn how you can support our work, contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
Make it a great 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!
"If you’re not in the parade, you watch the parade. That’s life."
Mike Ditka
Edition 762
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