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1) A UK-based manufacturer we met at SHOT Show is considering Great Falls for their U.S. headquarters. Their interest grew after attending the Montana Reception, where they connected with key state leaders, including the Department of Commerce Director and the Governor. We recently followed up with a video call to further explore opportunities and discuss a site visit this summer. Additionally, a national firearms manufacturer reached out for more information on expanding into our region—another direct result of our lead generation at SHOT Show. If you know of businesses exploring U.S. expansion opportunities, contact Christian Leinhauser at CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-0136 to help bring more investment to our region.
2) GFDA's Executive Committee voted unanimously to participate in the Montana Department of Commerce's new Opportunities in Rural Economies program which will offer low interest loan participations to help grow Montana businesses. This will be another tool in our financing toolbox to fill financing gaps and provide capital bridges for entrepreneurs, businesses, real estate developers, and nonprofits to get the capital they need. Contact Jill Kohles at JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1056. We have loan capital we are eager to put to work.
3) Calumet announced that Montana Renewables received the first tranche of the $1.44 billion federally guaranteed loan, another step forward toward the start of construction on the major expansion of its Great Falls Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Renewable Diesel refinery. See SAF Magazine.
4) Nominations are officially closed, and we are blown away by the incredible women nominated for this year’s Fire Within Awards! Winners will be contacted and announced early next week, and we can’t wait to celebrate them with you on March 6, 2025, at The Newberry. It’s going to be an unforgettable evening filled with inspiration, great company, and delicious food. Doors open at 5:00 PM, and the program begins at 6:00 PM. RSVP now! For questions, contact Katie Carvell at 1-406-217-7635 or Katie@GrowGreatFalls.org.
5) Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta will initially spend over $315 billion in the service of Artificial Intelligence (AI). That's roughly the equivalent of giving every man, woman, and child in Montana $315,000 each. It is also more than the market cap of Coca-Cola. Powering AI requires significant energy; a single AI search may require 10 times more energy than a normal web search. Companies are hungry to secure reliable sources of electricity. North Central Montana has exceptional solar and wind resources. Together, let's unleash the full potential of our energy services and supply chain capabilities! Contact Kristen Blue at 1-406-788-4989 or Kristen@GrowGreatFalls.org.
6) The Boards of Directors of Great Falls Tourism, Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, and GFDA gathered together for a Great Falls Growth Policy session with City Planning and Community Development leaders. It is important that the voices of the business community be heard in the growth policy process. Please take a few minutes to complete the Future of Great Falls Survey.
7) We enjoyed the visit this week of a CEO looking for land to purchase and continued working to find sites for another company that wants to invest in Great Falls. If you have not listed your property with one of our excellent local Realtors or if we don't know about your property, then our region could miss out on a project. Oftentimes we only have a few days to respond to inquiries.
8) GFDA seeks proposals from experienced firms to assist us in selecting at least five (5) brownfields sites suitable for impactful redevelopment, put together redevelopment visualizations and redevelopment roadmaps for these sites, and produce marketing packages for these sites that we can use to attract businesses or developers. The goal of this project is to demonstrate market-driven, financially feasible redevelopment concepts for sites in Cascade County that we can use to attract private investment in impactful redevelopment. Due Date: 5:00 PM MST on Friday, March 21, 2025. GFDA Brownfields Redevelopment RFP Final 2-9-25
9) One of our economic development tools is the power to convene. Jake met with leaders among our partner organizations: Great Falls Association of Realtors, NeighborWorks Great Falls, Home Builders Association of Great Falls, and City of Great Falls Planning and Community Development to evaluate our efforts to spur more housing development in Great Falls given the challenges we have identified as being unique to our city. As a result of this meeting, several opportunities and strategies were identified to collaborate and fill gaps in our aligned efforts. Want to get in the game to increase housing production in Great Falls? Reach out to Jake Clark at 1-406-403-4937 or Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org.
10) Cybersecurity is a top priority for the Department of Defense (DoD), and businesses involved in federal contracting must comply with new standards. Under FAR 52.204-21, “Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems,” companies handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI) must meet specific security measures. This week, Great Falls Regional APEX provided consultation and guidance to small businesses in our region, helping them understand and prepare for the cybersecurity measures needed to meet CMMC compliance. At a minimum, businesses must obtain Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1 to ensure they are safeguarding sensitive data. Don’t wait—get ahead of the game! Contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.
11) Lack of workforce housing is a common bottleneck for growing rural businesses. This week Jake and Anna met with IND HEMP to discuss the housing shortage in Fort Benton, MT and what tools could support the development of workforce housing. They then toured both Fort Benton to examine sites of future housing development and IND HEMP's fiber facility. IND HEMP is one of America's leading processors of hemp into food and fiber with a mission to produce and supply the natural materials to make products and industry more sustainable, while regenerating the earth with agriculture.
12) We responded to a Request For Information (RFI) to the Department of Commerce for a company in the aerospace sector, highlighting available sites in North Central Montana. Showcasing our region’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and business-friendly environment helps attract high-value industries and drive economic growth. Proactively responding to these RFIs strengthens our ability to bring new investment and job opportunities to the area. For more information on development opportunities, contact Christian Leinhauser at CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-0136.
13) Owning a business involves many components. Whether a business is just getting started or has been in operation for quite some time, there are always things to navigate. This past week, our GFDA Small Business Development Center Advisors assisted several clients in navigating staffing decisions, creating websites with subscription components, mapping out funnel strategies, expanding business locations, running financial projections and more. Our Business Advisors are equipped and ready to assist you. Our services are provided at no cost to you. Please reach out to Christian Nichols, CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-9385; Rich Gannon, RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-2078; and Deb McGregor, Deb@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-0314.
14) Some of the federal funds were unfrozen for the critical repairs to the St. Mary Diversion water system that parts of our region depend on so work did not need to stop; see Havre Daily and Hi-Line Today.
15) Last year eight Montana producers were awarded Value Added Producer Grants from USDA Rural Development for a total of 1.9 million investment in our state. If you are a producer in North Central Montana interested in selling or processing your own value-added agricultural products, reach out to Anna at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301 to learn what resources would be right for your project.
16) Montana ranked among the Top 10 Best States to Start a Business in 2025, according to Shopify, due to its zero sales tax, low 6.75% corporate tax rate, and business-friendly regulations. With over 136,000 small businesses, the state's economy thrives in agriculture, tourism, and energy, supported by workforce development and access to financial resources. Additionally, Montana’s strategic access to Canada enhances its appeal for trade and growth. Its natural landscapes and high quality of life make it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs. Looking to expand? Let’s connect! Contact Christian Leinhauser at CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-0136.
17) Jake and Nicki met with partners in downtown Great Falls to discuss opportunities for housing development on the upper floors. If you have upper floors you want to develop, reach out to Jake at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937.
18) The Small Business Administration continues to offer training and mentoring for experienced business owners through the T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined program. This research-based, executive-level program combines business fundamentals with the innovative tools and competitive strategies needed to deliver immediate results. This intensive program gives ambitious small business owners a challenging opportunity to accelerate their growth through training led by business experts, strategize with professional coaches, and develop connections with like-minded peers. The next session is scheduled to start in June of 2025. Get additional details and join the waitlist to be considered for the next session start date.
19) Testified in support of HJ 15, a proposed joint resolution urging state leaders to work together to increase electric transmission capacity to assure Montana has reliable and affordable power. Testified in support of HJ 16, a proposed joint resolution that encourages more energy development in the state. Continuation of expanded Medicaid, including Montana's unique work requirements, has been approved by the Montana House and cleared a key vote in the Montana Senate. GFDA and the Great falls Area Chamber have joined Governor Gianforte, the Montana Chamber, and many other state organizations in supporting this because it has produced great return on investment for Montana taxpayers, Montana businesses, and Montanans.
20) GFDA has commissioned a regional market assessment to explore market-driven opportunities for more recreation and entertainment offerings. We are building a list of existing businesses and future entrepreneurs in the Golden Triangle that already offer and/or may be interesting in expanding or starting new recreation and entertainment offerings in the region. Please contact Deb McGregor at Deb@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-0314. Our consultants, Hunden Partners, will be in the field the week of April 7th to meet with groups of businesses and entrepreneurs.
21) The federal Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting (BOIR) requirement has faced a rocky rollout with confusing deadlines, but it’s now back in effect. Most small businesses in the U.S. must file with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) by March 21st. Filing is free , takes only a few minutes and can be done directly here. Be cautious! Many companies are sending official-looking letters and emails, charging hundreds of dollars to file on your behalf. While not technically scams, these services profit from something you can easily do yourself for free. Carefully read and scrutinize any BOIR-related correspondence to avoid unnecessary fees or misleading offers.
22) The Great Falls Area Community Foundation, Montana Nonprofit Association, TDS Fiber, Alliance for Youth, and Great Falls Public Library invite non-profit Board members and leaders throughout the region to participate in Nonprofit Board Excellence trainings: Board Culture and Trust on Monday, march 10th 9:00 AM to Noon, Board Basics also on March 10th 6:00-8:00 PM, and Fundraising Planning and Methods, Tuesday March 11th 9:00 AM to Noon. Find all registration links on the Great Falls Area Community Foundation website. Space is limited so register today!
23) GFDA’s Investment Committee helps drive economic growth by securing resources, supporting businesses, and attracting investment to the Great Falls region. Want to make an impact? Join us and help shape our community’s future! Contact Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org to get involved.
24) Continued work with the International Economic Development Council and partners in preparation for hosting IEDC's first ever Rural Retreat in Great Falls June 23-25, 2025. The event is expected to attract over 500 economic development practitioners and site selection consultants to our region. Each day of the Retreat the participants will be traveling into rural communities in our region to learn and share, then returning to downtown Great Falls each evening to brainstorm the future of rural economic development. If you would like to be involved as a sponsor, please contact Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org
25) We're growing our GFDA Staff Team with a new Accounting Assistant position and a new Business Development Officer - Defense position, and we have an opening for a Business Development Officer - Downtown Great Falls. Download our Career Opportunities and please forward it to great candidates.
26) We held an Investor Coffee at the Great Falls Area Chamber office. Our investors make an impact! Every day, investors and public partners help drive growth in the Great Falls region. Learn more about them by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Advance Division—City Motor Company; Flagship Division—Great Falls Public Schools. Because of their continued partnership and support, we can keep helping businesses secure funding, bringing new projects to life, and strengthening our regional economy. If you’d like to learn about our work and how to get involved, reach out to Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
I flew to DC yesterday for the International Economic Development Council's Leadership Summit and to meet with congressional staff and others. Make it a great week!
Thanks!
Brett
Brett Doney
Great Falls Development Alliance
BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org
1-406-750-2119
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"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one."
Hans Selye
Edition 673
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