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1) The Great Falls City Commission approved Annexation, PUD Zoning, and preliminary plat for the Good Medicine housing project of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. This 18-acre, 100+ unit development includes single-family, duplex, and multifamily units that will be built in phases, hopefully breaking ground in 2026; see KRTV and TheElectric. Let's get your project moving to the next step, reach out to Jake at 1-406-403-4937 or Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org.
2) GFDA’s Business Development team is preparing to meet with a renewable natural gas manufacturer interested in Great Falls. We will learn how a straw-based biofuels project could provide a secondary market for commodity producers and potential benefits of this opportunity. If you are a farmer with a straw-producing crop or a stakeholder in the ag, bio processing, or energy space, we want to hear from you! Reach out to Sara Niccum at 1-406-590-1301 or Sara@GrowGreatFalls.org.
3) This week our regional Great Falls SBDC used Jobs EQ to help a local business analyze regional wage data, giving them better information to prepare a competitive bid. Access to tools like JobsEQ, along with other professional market research databases, is one of the many benefits available to SBDC clients. If you need help researching wages, labor market trends, or other business data for your industry, reach out to Rich Gannon at 1-406-836-2078 or RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org, or Christian Nichols at 1-406-788-9385 or CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org. To learn more about becoming an SBDC client and accessing these resources, click here.
4) JobsEQ released preliminary economic results for 2026Q1. In the four quarters ending in 2026Q1, the Great Falls MSA (Cascade County) saw employment grow by 1.3%. The local average wage increased by 5.7%, higher than the Montana increase of 4.8% and the national increase of 3.6%. The Great Falls MSA average annual wage reached $58,453, and increase of $3,232 from a year earlier. Our local average annual wage has now reached 76% of the national average. We're making progress but have much more work to do! Manufacturing employment grew 2.7% with an average annual wage of $77,087. Total local wage earnings for the four quarters increased $98 million.
5) We hosted a productive virtual site visit with a company exploring expansion into North Central Montana. A sincere thank you to all of our local partners who participated and helped make the company feel welcome. Every conversation was positive and showcased the collaboration that makes our region stand out. We look forward to continuing the discussions and advancing the project through the next steps. If you know of a company considering expansion or relocation, contact Christian Leinhauser at CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-0136.
6) The Montana Department of Commerce's Export Team has secured $781,000 in federal grant funds to help Montana businesses access foreign markets and expand exports. On August 12, Commerce’s Export team will offer its “Grants for International Sales” training webinar on the STEP grant and international marketing activities. For more information about Montana’s STEP Program, visit exportmontana.com. To apply for STEP funding, visit the application site.
7) Is your business positioned to do business with the government? Great Falls Regional APEX helped ten businesses of all sizes and industries this week as they expanded their reach and prepared for upcoming opportunities in the government marketplace. Government agencies purchase everything from catering and construction to maintenance services and waste management. 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.
8) Touro COM has launched its annual White Coat Campaign, and our community has an opportunity to welcome the next class of future physicians to Great Falls. For a $50 tax deductible donation, you can sponsor a personalized white coat and include a note of encouragement that will be placed in a student's coat pocket before the White Coat Ceremony. It's a meaningful way to support the students who are choosing Great Falls for their medical education and who will help strengthen Montana's healthcare workforce. Learn more and support the campaign here: TouroCOM White Coat Notes Campaign.
9) Thank you to Annie's Tap House with Homestead 1909, Big Dipper Ice Cream, Brad Talcott, Celtic Cowboy, C.M. Russell Museum, Dragon Fly Dry Goods, Electric City Coffee, Fire Artisan Pizza, Five Falls Laundry Co., Great Falls Americans Hockey, Great Falls College, Great Falls Voyagers, Great Falls Clinic, The Hi-Line Climbing Center, The History Museum, KellerGeist Pub Theater, Great Falls Public Library, McDonald's, The Newberry, NeighborWorks Great Falls, North 40 Outfitters, Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, Pasta Montana, Pizza Ranch, The Press Club, Showdown Montana, Side Quest Arcade Bar, Sip n Dip with Atomic Lounge, Sletten Construction, Staybridge Suites Great Falls, Stockman Bank, Studio Montage, Teriyaki Madness, The Peak Health & Wellness, and Great Falls Montana Tourism for donating items for this year’s Touro student welcome bags. Because of your generosity, 175 future physicians and graduate students will receive a warm Great Falls welcome the moment they arrive, encouraging them to explore local businesses, and reminding them they are part of something bigger than a campus. Thank you for helping make Great Falls feel like home!
10) The SunZia project in New Mexico and Arizona is now fully operational. This project marks one of the largest clean energy transmission investments in US history. The 550 mile transmission line can deliver up to 3,000 MW of wind generation across the Southwest, enough electricity to serve over 1 million homes. SunZia’s total lifetime economic benefit is estimated at $20.5 billion dollars. As Montana considers its own generation and transmission future, large scale projects like SunZia provide a valuable example of how strategic infrastructure investments unlock economic growth. To explore energy opportunities in North Central Montana, contact Kristen Blue at 1-406-788-4989 or Kristen@GrowGreatFalls.org
11) I had the opportunity this week to join state leaders for a great lunch discussion with the new class of National Defense University International Fellows, foreign officers who visited Montana. I also enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Headquarters for a Day event of the Montana National Guard and Department of Military Affairs. These two provide over $1.25 billion direct and indirect annual economic impact throughout Montana and provide critical services to protect our country, provide emergency services, support veterans and support our state's youth.
12) Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard are among the region's most important economic assets. The Central Montana Defense Coalition helps ensure we're doing our part to support the missions, the people who serve, and the businesses that depend on them. Thank you to the investors making this work possible. Recent investments include: Titan Division—Western Office Equipment. Contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org to join the effort.
13) Visited with Montana Department of Transportation leaders who held an open house to update the community on the important Gore Hill Interchange project; see KRTV. GFDA has been supporting this infrastructure improvement for many years. We are excited that it is scheduled for construction start in 2027!
14) Welcome to our newest GFDA Council Member, Anthony Houtz, Principal and Director of Design Intelligence at Cushing Terrell. We're excited to have Anthony join our advisory Council and look forward to his insight and expertise. Welcome, Anthony!
15) Some people talk about growth. Others make it happen. Our investors and partners choose the second. Their support drives the work that turns plans into projects and projects into results. We are grateful for their commitment and the impact it creates every day. Learn more by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Leadership Division—Cushing Terrell; Community Division—Liberty Electric, Inc. If you want to move from watching to doing, this is where to plug in. Contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
16) The Great Falls International Airport is holding an Community Open House on Tuesday, July 28th from 6:30-8:30 PM. Come celebrate the Terminal's 50 year anniversary and learn about plans for the next 25 years. Free fun family activities and free parking in all airport parking lots.
17) Join the Montana High Tech Business Alliance for a High Tech Happy Hour in Great Falls on July 29, 4:00-6:00 PM at The Magpie. These informal events bring together startup founders, tech professionals, executives, investors, and community partners from across Montana’s innovation ecosystem. Hear an update on the Janicki Industries project in partnership with Montana Ambassadors. Register here.
18) Please join Touro University Montana on July 30 at 5 PM for an Open House Reception celebrating our community partnership and progress. The evening will start with an overview of the vision for Touro University Montana followed by an open house. RSVPs are required to Heidi Hockett at HHockett@Touro.edu.
19) Registrations are pouring in for our September 10-11 developer tour of opportunities for new projects in Great Falls in conjunction with the Urban land Institute. This event is focused on developers interested in the Great Falls market for housing and commercial development. We will tour available sites, meet the local building and permitting staff, visit demand drivers in the market, and more! If you have a potential project that you would like represented reach out to Jake at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937.
20) Central Montana Works and its community partners are hosting the fifth annual Worlds of Work (WOW) career exploration event on September 15th at Great Falls College MSU and the University of Providence from 8:00AM - 4:00 PM.WOW is a career expo – NOT a typical job fair, and this event opens new avenues of opportunity for stud ents they never knew were possible. Over 2000 8th & 10th grade students will navigate through 4 zones with 16 worlds (industry career clusters) amounting to 60-100 exhibitors. Exhibitors provide an experiential introduction to a specific business or industry cluster. All of these are hands-on opportunities to showcase well-paying, in-demand careers in our own community. Learn more and register your business.
21) GFDA has some great Career Opportunities!
Enjoy the Montana State Fair and have 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!
"I've accomplished more than I ever dreamed. But I'm hungry for more."
Lewis Hamilton
Edition 747
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