View as Webpage

Jake was in Philadelphia for the national Mainstreet Now conference along with our Downtown Great Falls partners from the Downtown Great Falls Association, the Business Improvement District, the City of Great Falls Planning and Community Development, and representatives from Mainstreet programs around Montana. Great Falls has the only accredited Mainstreet program in Montana where these organizations and others form the Downtown Development Partnership. GFDA's role is to focus on economic vitality, attracting and facilitating business and developer investment downtown. If you want to to get your project moving in Downtown Great Falls, reach out to Jake at 1-406-403-4937 or Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org

1) Benefis Health System has submitted permit application to the City of Great Falls to construct a Healthy Aging Center on 10th Avenue South. McDonalds has applied for permit to build a new restaurant in front of Walmart at the east end of 10th Avenue South. Homegrown Dental submitted an application to build a new building on 7th Street South in Great Falls. See TheElectric's Business Bites for more details.

2) We hosted a field visit by Hunden Partners, the consulting firm we hired to conduct a recreation and entertainment market assessment for the region. We toured much of the region from East Glacier to Fort Benton talking with local businesses about expanding and diversifying indoor and outdoor recreation and entertainment. Thank you to the many businesses and partners who participated in meeting with the team.

3) We had initial discussions with a multinational metals company specializing in critical materials that is exploring potential opportunities in North Central Montana. While still early in the process, this conversation highlights the continued interest in our region’s infrastructure, workforce, and access to key resources. We look forward to continuing the dialogue as they evaluate the potential for expansion. If you know of companies considering relocation or investment, contact Christian Leinhauser at CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-0136.

4) Congratulations to Maya Babish, owner of Artfull Motion Pilates on her recent move to Downtown Great Falls, 18 5th Street South. Maya hosted an Open House on Saturday April 12 from 3:00-6:00 PM to welcome clients, investors, colleagues and those who helped her transition and expand her business. If your business is looking at relocating or expanding, please reach out to our GFDA Small Business Development Center. Our services are provided at no cost to you. We have three Business Advisors ready to assist you: 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.

5) We published our GFDA Quarter Index 2025Q1.

6) We're proud to sponsor the Montana Economic Developers Association's Spring Conference in Livingston April 22-24. For more info and registration, click here.

7) The Montana Cooperative Development Center and the Montana Council of Cooperatives are hosting the inaugural Montana Cooperative Academy in Great Falls May 12-14. Designed specifically for the Montana Cooperative Community, the academy will focus on building cross-sector connections, learning how cooperatives of all shapes and sizes shape Montana's economy, lessons in cooperative leadership, and leaving with a stronger cooperative network and tangible items you can implement at home. Learn more and register here.

8) Christian Nichols, a GFDA Small Business Development Center Business Advisor, facilitated the Idea to Income class for future entrepreneurs to 8 attendees. During this training, Christian covered the general steps for starting a business including business plan writing, legal entities, EIN formation, basic accounting, and financial projections. We have several upcoming trainings. Thursday, May 1st, 11:00-11:30 AM-ONLINE: Building an On-Line Business through Amazon. To register, click here. Thursday, May 8th, 8:30 AM-12:00 PM: Springhill Suites: Business Blitz 2.0.  The event is structured around four focused modules designed to address critical aspects of business success: Building Time and Boundaries for Business Owners, Creating Your Digital Marketing Footprint, Understanding Business Financial Statements and Building a Storyboard for Business Branding. For additional information and registration, click here. May 13th, 8:00-9:45 AM: GFDA AE2S: Buying and Selling a Business: Key Considerations for a Successful Transition. Register by clicking here.  If you’re interested in starting a business, please reach out to Christian at 1-406-788-9385 or CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org.

9) Governor Gianforte signed HB 120, a bill we supported that expands C-PACE financing in Montana to include multi-family housing. This creates another financing tool for multi-family renovation and new construction. Contact our housing leader, Jake Clark at 1-406-403-4937 or Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or our energy leader Kristen Blue at Kristen@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-4989 for more info.

10) April SBA 504 Rates. The 25-year loan effective rate (including all fees) is 6.432%; 20-year at 6.450%; 10-year equipment loan at 6.337%; and, 25-year refinance 6.461%; 20-year refinance 6.480%. These rates are FIXED for the life of the loan and are inclusive of all fees. If you would like to find out how to get financing for commercial real estate and equipment at potentially lower rates than you're paying for your home mortgage, please contact Jill Kohles at 1-406-590-1056 or JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org.

11) Anna met with a local value-added food business this week to discuss project costs and funding strategies to assist their start up. We identified that the Montana Department of Agriculture's Business Acceleration and Marketing program (BAM) would be a good option to assist in food safety training and small equipment purchases. BAM can also assist businesses looking to attend out of state marketing trade shows, product and label design, or website development for e-commerce. If you are a food or ag business interested in seeing if your expansion or start up project would be a good fit for this program, reach out to Anna at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301.

12) Congratulations to the Shelby Safari on reopening! Under new management, the indoor playground celebrated with a ribbon cutting this week. Read the Shelby Promoter for the full story.

13) Spring proposals for NorthWestern Energy’s E+ Renewable Energy program are due May 1. This program offers a limited amount of funding for renewable energy installations on non-profit, government, and public buildings. Learn more about the program and application process here. To discuss energy projects and initiatives of all sizes, reach out to Kristen Blue at Kristen@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-4989.

14) We’re now preparing to welcome the third class of Touro University students and are looking for businesses willing to donate 145 items to help greet the new students and make them feel at home in our community. If you’d like to contribute this year, please reach out to Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org to coordinate the details.

15) JOIN US FOR THE MONTANA APEX GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING MATCHMAKING EVENT OF THE YEAR! Great Falls Regional APEX is proud to host the Montana APEX GovMatch 2025 event at the University of Providence on Wednesday, August 13th. This event is designed to connect suppliers with federal, state, and local government buyers, as well as prime contractors, fostering relationships and creating opportunities for government contracting success. Whether you're a supplier showcasing your capabilities or a buyer seeking qualified suppliers to meet contracting needs, this GovMatch event is for you!  Registration is now open to both buyers and suppliers: CLICK HERE! For more details or to prepare for this event, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

16) Congratulations to Pizazz for being contacted by the Food Network to assist in looking for and identifying sibling bakers for their next kids baking show. The current casting for the next season involves a nationwide search for kids ages 8-14 who love to bake! Pizazz’s reputation for unique kitchen utensils, incubator food businesses, corner market items and experimental/teaching kitchen have brought national attention to the store and Great Falls. For those who may be interested in a chance to audition, there is an application process. Insiders tell us to put down Madison where it asks how you heard about casting so your application can get flagged faster.

17) Mark you calendars, the Great Falls Association of Realtors is hosting a Housing Summit on Thursday, April 24 from 9:00-11:00 AM. Register here to join the solutions-focused conversation about housing production in Great Falls. 

18) We're booking meetings with businesses who will be participating in the SelectUSA Investment Summit in DC this May. We're also booking meetings with businesses and developers who will be participating in the annual ICSC commercial real estate show in Las Vegas in May.

19) Economic development is a team effort, and we’re grateful to have a strong, committed network of investors and public partners who share our vision. Learn more about them by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Community Division—Cascade County Tavern Association and Cogswell Insurance. Their support and collaboration make it possible to move quickly, think big, and work strategically to grow our economy and improve quality of life in our communities. To learn how you can join the team, reach out to Vice President of Investment Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.

20) Jolene discussed our economic development strategy with a local PEO group. Community engagement is critical to success and we want to meet with your team or group. We'd be happy to come and chat about our overall strategy or a specific topic. Reach out to Jolene to schedule an engagement, 1-406-750-4481.

21) Join GFDA’s investment committee! Help us secure the resources that power business expansion, job creation, and community transformation across North Central Montana. Contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.

22) In June, we will host the first ever International Economic Development Council's Rural Retreat. This gathering of 400-500 professionals will focus on growing rural communities we are excited to feature immersive experiences in White Sulphur Springs, Choteau, Conrad, Fort Benton, and Cut Bank. If you're interested in being part of the retreat or want to learn more, reach out to Jolene at 1-406-750-4481 or JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org. For unique sponsorship opportunities, contact Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.

23) Immediately following the IEDC Rural Retreat, RMI is hosting an Energy Bootcamp for Economic Developers in Great falls on June 26th. Click for more information.

24) 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.

Another busy, productive week helping move the Great Falls regional economy forward!

Brett

Brett Doney

Great Falls Development Alliance

BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org

1-406-750-2119

Connect with me on LinkedIn.

Forward the GFDA Top 10 to friends and colleagues. You can join our distribution list here or text GFDA to 22828.

Subscribe to the Grow Great Falls Montana YouTube channel!

“Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.”

William James

Edition 680

If your company needs a rail-served, BNSF-Certified, shovel-ready site with all municipal services at your door, we have lots available for immediate construction in the Great Falls AgriTech Park. Contact Jolene Schalper at 1-406-750-4481 or JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org

The 25-year loan effective rate (including all fees) is 6.432%; 20-year at 6.450%; 10-year equipment loan at 6.337%; and, 25-year refinance 6.461%; 20-year refinance 6.480%. These rates are FIXED for the life of the loan and are inclusive of all fees. If you would like to find out how to get financing for commercial real estate and equipment at potentially lower rates than you're paying for your home mortgage, please contact Jill Kohles at 1-406-590-1056 or JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org.

Starting and Owning a Business includes a lot of moving parts. It’s easy to get caught up in all of the day-to-day tasks and not take a step back to pause, evaluate, make adjustments and gain new perspective. Our GFDA Small Business Development Center Advisors are ready and equipped to help entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the many stages of owning a business. If you are ready to evaluate where you are at and where you want to be, set some business goals, get a snapshot of your current financial situation or review your marketing strategy, please reach out to one of our Business Advisors: 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.

The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) has a new advisor in our region. Carolyn Kelman joins the staff as a business advisor for the Great Falls Region and Northeastern Montana. She has a broad skill set in manufacturing operations with particular expertise in continuous improvement, supply chain optimization, logistics, and warehouse management. Learn more about her experience reading the MMEC newsletter, here. Welcome to the team Carolyn! You can reach her at Carolyn.Kelman@Montana.edu.

Inside each monthly edition of our new newsletter, Investing in Downtown Great Falls you’ll find a curated mix of news, updates, and resources designed to celebrate and support our downtown Great Falls businesses and building owners. If you are ready to invest in Downtown Great Falls, contact Jake at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937.

SAVE THE DATE! Get ready for Montana APEX GovMatch 2025, the government contracting matchmaking event of the year hosted by our Great Falls Regional APEX. This premier matchmaking event is where businesses meet with government agencies to build relationships and explore opportunities to secure contracts. This event is designed to facilitate introductions and connect agencies with quality leads while fostering impactful partnerships that benefit communities and drive economic growth. When: Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Where: University of Providence in Great Falls. For more information, contact SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-868-8343 and Mariah Liebing at Mariah@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-2174.

The Great Falls Business Improvement District has grants available for businesses and property owners located in the BID. Contact Kellie Pierce at 1-406-727-5430 or kellie@downtowngreatfalls.net. Stay ahead of the curve in Downtown Great Falls!

Are you hiring? Our Hot Jobs Program is the perfect platform for employers to share their job openings! By sending us your listings, your opportunities could be featured on our Hot Jobs blog and shared across our social media channels for maximum visibility. Relocating with a partner or family member? Our Trailing Partner Program ensures no one gets left behind. Many times, for someone to accept a position, their partner also needs a job secure – and we’re here to help! Send us their resume (with permission), and we’ll share it within our network. You never know who’s hiring! Let’s work together to make Great Falls the perfect place for new opportunities. For more information contact our Marketing and Communications Officer Katie Carvell at 1-406-217-7635 or Katie@GrowGreatFalls.org. 

Are you interested in exploring government contract opportunities but unsure where to start?  Great Falls Regional APEX provides the tools, knowledge, and guidance needed to navigate the government marketplace. We simplify the key steps of registration, research, and response, streamlining the process to ensure your business is prepared for contract opportunities. Whether you’re new to contracting or looking to expand your reach, we can help you identify opportunities, build valuable connections, and achieve your goals. To learn more, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-868-8343 and Mariah Liebing at Mariah@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-2174. 

If you’re looking to expand or start your business through purchasing a commercial building for your future location, make sure to talk to Christian Nichols, Brownfields Project Manager, so we can see if you qualify for an Environmental Site Assessment paid for by EPA. You don’t know what environmental conditions or possible contaminates exist until you have an assessment completed. With our help you could save thousands of dollars and have confidence in your purchase knowing all contaminates are identified and assessed. For more information, please call Christian Nichols at 1-406-788-9385 or email at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org.

Do you know the benefits of C-PACE financing for your multifamily housing project? Last Best PACE, Montana's program, brings value to Montana commercial building owners by improving their bottom line. Last Best PACE can cover up to 100% of eligible project costs and payments are repaid through a special property tax assessment with terms of 20+ years. Reach out to Jake to find out how this tool can help your project move forward Jake@GrowGreatalls.org or 1-406-403-4937. 

Are you planning any international marketing activities in 2025? The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) run by the Export Montana team at the Montana Department of Commerce has a host of export support services and federal grants available for businesses up to $12,000. They're awesome to work with! Our Small Business Advisor, Rich Gannon, can help too and he is also awesome! RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-2078.

Cybersecurity is a top priority for the Department of Defense (DoD)! Is your business prepared for the new cybersecurity standards in federal contracting? If your company manages Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI), you must comply with specific standards. For contractors working with the federal government, the minimum requirement is Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1. This self-certification verifies that your organization has implemented fundamental security measures to safeguard FCI. To begin your self-assessment journey, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-868-8343 and Mariah Liebing at Mariah@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-2174

Our freight logistics consultants, Moffat & Nichols, completed key findings of the Great Falls Region Freight Market Assessment and Economic Development Strategy Recommendations. This comprehensive study offers valuable insights into the logistics industry and its potential in our region. We have already begujn work implementing some of the recommendations. Others will need to wait until we work with our partners to secure more resources. Logistics are a key consideration for existing manufacturers in our region, and in attracting new investment in manufacturing operations.

The 2024 Great Falls Housing Market Assessment shows a need for 650 new housing units per year in the immediate Great Falls area. For assistance with housing development, contact Jake Clark at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937.

Great Falls Recruiters and HR professionals! Here is a link to our Talent Attraction Toolkit and the 2024 Great Falls Livability Magazine, part of our effort to help local businesses attract the talent they need for key positions. Join our Trailing Partner Email Group specifically for local employers to share resumes of trailing spouses/partners across the Great Falls region with other employers looking to hire. Visit our relocation website LiveInGreatFalls.com. JobsEQ for Workforce is a software tool that provides timely data on our local workforce and employers—including demographics, occupations, wages, certifications, and more. Contact Katie Carvell at Katie@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-7635.

Cybersecurity challenges for businesses continue to grow. The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) is offering an array of useful resources to help Montana businesses to protect themselves. MMEC has launched the Certified Manufacturing Associate Apprenticeship program. This one-year program combines on-the-job training with online technical classes on safety, math and measurements, manufacturing processes, and quality control.

Have you created or updated your Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) profile? A strong profile can significantly boost your contracting success by increasing your visibility to local, state, and federal agencies seeking goods and services. If you would like more information on how to create or update your DSBS profile, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

Zero to 5 has launched the Montana Child Care Business Connect website to help support the startup and expansion of early childcare businesses. The Great Falls Childcare Demand Assessment shows a need for additional childcare facilities to serve 580 children in Great Falls. For assistance with childcare facility business planning, contact Rich Gannon at RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-2078.

The Montana Innovation Partnership is offering a number of trainings and an accelerator program for companies interested in pursuing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants.

The best resource we scan daily to stay abreast of business and community innovation is MATR.net (Montana Associated Technology Roundtables), which we are proud to help sponsor. Sign up for their free newsletter.

Our Mission is to Grow diverse economic opportunities that enhance quality of life.

GFDA is a certified Community Development Financial Institution and a 501(c)3 charitable organization. High Plains Financial is a certified Community Development Corporation that offers SBA 504 loans statewide. GFDA and High Plains Financial are Equal Opportunity Employers, Lenders and Providers.

GFDA is proud to host a Montana Small Business Development Center, a Montana APEX Accelerator, and a Montana Food & Ag Development Center. GFDA is a certified Montana MicroBusiness Development Corporation.

GFDA was the first economic development organization in the Rocky Mountain West to earn accreditation from the International Economic Development Council.

Great Falls Development Alliance | GrowGreatFallsMontana.org