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1) Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine held its White Coat Ceremony for the Montana Class of 2029, marking the start of medical school for 135 students. This symbolic “cloaking” ceremony represents their official entry into the field of medicine and the beginning of their four-year journey at Touro. Congratulations to the new class, and welcome to Great Falls!
2) Touro University continues to invest in Great Falls. Medical school students provided over 5,000 volunteer hours over the last year. The University is working on expansion plans to include a suite of health sciences programs, and they are working with the local legal community to address the need for more legal services in the region. We are very excited to be working with Touro and partners on these initiatives.
3) Congratulations to Precision Clean MT, LLC on their recent contract award with the Malta National Guard Readiness Center, and to Boland Well Systems, Inc. on their award with the Bureau of Land Management! It’s exciting to see our Montana businesses succeeding in the government marketplace, and Great Falls Regional APEX is proud to celebrate these milestones with them. Past performance is a cornerstone of government contracting. Each successful contract strengthens your credibility, enhances your company’s reputation, and paves the way for greater opportunities. No matter your industry or business size, building a strong performance record can give you the edge to explore new pathways in the federal market. To learn more, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.
4) Housing development progress! On Thursday, August 7th at 10:00 AM we are presenting a Housing Projects Update event hosted by our partners, the Great Falls Association of Realtors. Hear about projects underway for Great Falls and one NEW project being announced. Do you have a housing project moving forward in Great Falls? Reach out to Jake Clark at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937. The event will also have a zoom option for attendance. Register here!
5) Hometown Dental is under construction on 9th Street in Great Falls. Big Sky Bungee and More is also under construction. See info on these new businesses and more on ABC Fox Business Buzz.
6) The Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) 2.0 Loan Participation Program has reopened for tranche three funds with a firm deadline to apply by August 1st. This limited window offers small businesses a final opportunity to access the low-interest rate funding. Businesses interested in applying should begin conversations with GFDA immediately as this may be the last chance to secure financing under the current tranche. If you know of a business looking to start or expand who has a financing need, please contact Jill Kohles at 1-406-590-1056 or JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org.
7) One of our loan clients, Wink Advertising, has launched a digital billboard that offers great advertising opportunities in West Helena Valley. Download flyer or call them at 1-406-410-5128.
8) Spread the word. Great Falls Public Schools is holding a Job fair on tuesday, August 19th from 11:00 Am to 1:00 Pm at the Paris Gibson Education Center. For more information or to fill out an application visit www.gfps.k12.mt.us or call 1-406-268-6010.
9) The Government Buys Everything! Great Falls APEX is proud to host Montana APEX GovMatch 2025. This one-day, in-person event is offered at no cost and welcomes businesses of all sizes and industries. Whether you’re a supplier ready to showcase your capabilities or a buyer seeking qualified suppliers, you don’t want to miss this opportunity. Join us on Wednesday, August 13th, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the University of Providence in Great Falls to connect with key decision makers and build relationships that can lead to contract awards and business growth. To Register: CLICK HERE! For more information or if you need help preparing for GovMatch, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.
10) Zero to Five has grants available for employers to help their employees with childcare. See ABC Fox.
11) Montana Renewables (MRL), the leading independent producer of renewable fuels in the United States, announced that they intend to build additional water treatment capacity at their Great Falls, Montana facility. The planned addition to existing onsite water treatment will deliver sustainable, science-based water solutions that comply with regulatory standards while keeping the natural resources and economic benefits in Montana. MRL was previously shipping wastewater to an out of state, third party location for treatment and processing. A loan from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is enabling MRL to expand domestic renewable fuel production and create high paying jobs in the North Central Montana region. See KRTV.
12) We seek properties across Cascade County—including Great Falls, Belt, and Cascade—that have the potential to spark catalyst redevelopment and transform surrounding neighborhoods. We are specifically looking for sites suitable for a state-of-the-art sports complex, modern market-rate housing, or a conference hotel, each of which can serve as a powerful driver of economic growth, investment, and community revitalization. These high-impact projects have the potential to attract new talent, support workforce needs, and energize both urban and rural areas. If you know of a property that fits this vision, please contact Christian Nichols at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-9385. Let’s work together to unlock the next major opportunity for growth in our region.
13) Our GFDA Small Business Development Center met with many entrepreneurs and small business owners, each at different stages of business ownership. Our team of Business Advisors are trained in all aspects of owning a business-from Research and Development to Start Up to Expansion to Selling a Business as well as all stages in between. It can be overwhelming at any stage so we take time to understand where the business owner currently is and what steps are needed in each situation to keep things moving forward. Often times, just bringing in a new set of eyes, research data or financial analysis provides a picture and direction while giving framework for a solid plan. Our services are provided at no cost to you. You are not alone. You don’t have to figure out everything yourself. This is what we do every day. Pick up the phone or e-mail 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.
14) Save the date! The Montana Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is hosting the 14th annual Montana Clean Energy Fair in Great Falls, Montana on Saturday, August 23rd. There will be workshops on solar, clean energy careers, energy efficiency, and more. The fair will also feature an electric vehicle car show and kids activities. Admission is free.
15) We’re seeing strong interest from companies across all sectors looking to expand into North Central Montana, and many of them have specific site needs. Recent requests include sites with access to 3-phase power, natural gas, rail infrastructure, and proximity to major transportation routes. We’re also hearing consistent interest in 20–100+ acre parcels, shovel-ready sites, and existing industrial buildings with high ceilings and dock access. These needs reflect the types of projects seriously looking at our region. If you know of sites that meet these specs—or want to better understand what companies are looking for—reach out to Christian Leinhauser at CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-0136.
16) For the past two years, community members have welcomed Touro students by hosting small group dinners at local restaurants. We’re excited to bring this tradition back again this year! We’re looking for volunteers to host a group of 2–5 students for dinner at a restaurant of your choice. The date is still being finalized, but if you’d like to be added to the host list, contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
17) Last call for Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Fund applications. The application deadline is July 31, 2025. This program offers fixed-rate, low-interest loans for qualifying alternative energy and energy efficiency projects. Small businesses located in Great Falls and North Central Montana receive competitive application scoring preferences. For more information or to apply, contact Montana DEQ or reach out to Meranda Bass at 406-444-6586.
18) We are at a juncture a where maximizing every available energy resource is crucial. Do you know a business that would be a great fit for our region to keep growing our energy industry sector? Do you need help figuring out next steps and available resources for implementing energy related projects in our region? Kristen Blue wants to talk to you. Please contact her at 1-406-788-4989 or Kristen@GrowGreatFalls.org
19) We’re excited to share that Opportunity Finance Network, our national CDFI trade association, has approved GFDA for a $1 million loan for loan capital and a $150,000 grant. These funds will help us support more business startups, expansions, and job-creating projects across the region. If you're exploring financing options for your business, contact Jill Kohles at 1-406-590-1056 or JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org.
20) We're looking for people who live in our region but work remote! We have launched a national PR Campaign, in partenrship with Visit Great Falls Montana, with the intent of getting people to visit here and live here. Each month we are publishing curated media releases. The next one will be focused on remote workers. If you are or know someone who is a resident of our region but working remote - please reach out to Katie Carvell, Katie@GrowGreatFalls.org.
21) Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine is hosting a Community Vendor Fair on Thursday, July 31, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on its Great Falls campus.This event will help kick off the new academic year and is a great opportunity to introduce your business, organization, or services to over 100 medical students, as well as faculty and staff. Whether you’re a local shop, restaurant, nonprofit, healthcare provider, or service-based business, Touro would love to connect you with its campus community. There is no cost to participate, and they will provide a table and chairs for your setup. You’re welcome to bring promotional materials, coupons, giveaways, or samples to share. Here is the RSVP link for interested businesses.
22) The City of Great Falls has issued a draft stormwater management master plan and is seeking comments. This is a very important infrastructure plan to protect and support existing buildings and proposed developments throughout the city. See TheElectric for more info. A public meeting will be held on Thursday, August 14th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Gibson Room of the Civic Center. The comment period closes on August 15th.
23) Jobs are being created, businesses are expanding, and Great Falls is growing. GFDA’s work, powered by our investors and public partners, is helping turn vision into opportunity across our region. Learn about our investors and why they support us by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Community Division—Great Falls College; New Dea Property Managers. Interested in getting involved? Reach out to Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
24) Katie Carvell is moving into a new role with our team! She will now be the Downtown Business Development Officer focused on working with developers and building owners. We are looking for three dynamic team members, an Accounting Assistant, a Business Development Officer focused on food, ag and bio processing industries, and a Business Development Officer focused on online lead generation. Download our updated Career Opportunities and please forward it to great candidates.
Enjoy the Montana State Fair right here in Great Falls!
Brett
Brett Doney
Great Falls Development Alliance
BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org
1-406-750-2119
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"So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don’t sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we’ve satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late."
Lee Iacocca
Edition 695
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