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Clearwater Credit Union broke ground on their new location in downtown Great Falls. We are so excited for the redevelopment of this property and are looking forward to having them in the heart of our community. Welcome and thank you for investing in Great Falls!

1) We held a Housing Projects update event for a packed room at the Great Falls Association of Realtors highlighting the Bay View 92-unit Multifamily development on Broadwater Bay which will start construction this month, the Meadowview Village currently in their capital raise phase of predevelopment for their 163-unit homeownership project, and announced a new East End project including 10 acres devoted to a new multifamily project as well as 10 acres for commercial and retail development! See KRTV. More details to come for each of these projects. We recorded the meeting and will post to our Youtube channel soon. In the meantime, let's get your housing project closer to completion, reach out to Jake Clark 1-406-403-4937 or Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org. 

2) We hosted a site visit of a high energy user business prospect interested in an expansion to the Great Falls region. The visit highlighted the advantages of North Central Montana with respect to power generation and our pro business environment. Follow up visits are in process. If your company is interested in the energy landscape and opportunities in North Central Montana, contact Kristen Blue at Kristen@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-4989 to discuss potential projects, tour sites, or dig into energy infrastructure opportunities.

3) Our Great Falls Regional APEX is excited to be hosting the Montana APEX GovMatch event this week on August 13th. Registration closed Friday with 40 government agencies and 658 scheduled one-on-one matchmaking meetings! GovMatch is designed to connect businesses of all sizes and industries with key decision makers from federal, state, and local agencies, as well as prime contractors. During the registration process, businesses submitted meeting requests to agencies that aligned with their products and services, which were then accepted by participating agencies and prime contractors. The event facilitates introductions between business owners and government buyers to explore future contracting opportunities, featuring agency spotlights, targeted networking, and matchmaking sessions to help businesses win government contracts. To grow your business through government contracting, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

4) We were able to visit Vacom headquarters in Germany and have an incredible tour with Marcel Kleßen, Information Technology Officer and the General Manager for VACOM Montana. VACOM is a global leader in vacuum technologies founded in 1992 in Jena, Germany. In July they opened their first facility outside of Germany, in Lewistown, Montana. This state of the art, sustainable manufacturing center is inspirational and we look forward to their growth in Montana! 

5) 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 on the evening of September 11th. Contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org if you’d like to participate.

6) Congratulations to Big Sky Café in Cut Bank on their upcoming feature from America’s Best Restaurants – see full story here in Cut Bank Pioneer Press.   And congratulations to Destiny Carlton Fey on her two new business ventures also based in Cut Bank – see full details here.

7) Christian Nichols and Shandi attended the National Brownfields Training Conference in Chicago, where they connected with fellow Brownfields and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) partners from across the country. The conference provided valuable insights into Tactical Assistance for Brownfields (TAB), Grow America, EPA’s ACRES reporting system, and featured a wide range of training sessions focused on best practices in Brownfields redevelopment. This professional development opportunity strengthened our ability to help transform underutilized and potentially contaminated properties into revitalized assets for future generations. If you're considering the purchase of a commercial property, we encourage you to contact Christian Nichols at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-9385 or Shandi at Shandi@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-9037 before finalizing your purchase. We may be able to assist in identifying potential environmental concerns and help you save money through available assessment resources.

8) The Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) would like to invite Montana based artists to join us for a fun and informative lecture-style workshop and Q&A on the history and technique of street art. The workshop will be presented by internationally known artist Cameron Moberg on Tuesday, August 12th from 9 AM to 12 PM at NeighborWorks Great Falls. Artists will leave the workshop with the tools they need to create murals on a large-scale – our goal is that artists who participate in the workshop will be eligible to be considered for future ArtsFest events. In addition, up to 10 artists will be selected to participate in a hands-on, can-control workshop that will immediately follow the in-classroom lecture session. Artists who wish to be considered for this portion of the day are invited to request an application from kellie@downtowngreatfalls.net. Applications will be reviewed, and artists will be notified of their selection so they can plan, and dress, appropriately. Lunch is included in the non-refundable registration fee of $25. Space is limited for this workshop, so register early!

9) We continue to 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 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.

10) Deb and Rich had an interactive, productive meeting with Lauren Storeby, Co-Owner of the On-Line Restaurant Academy. We are always striving to seek the best resources and guidance for business owners. The restaurant/hospitality industry often has unique needs in addition to regular business ownership. We look forward to bringing these best practices to our clients. If you own a restaurant, are thinking about starting a restaurant or are an entrepreneur within the hospitality industry, please make sure you are utilizing the services of our Business Advisors which 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.

11) You are invited to the most electric event of the summer! The Montana Renewable Energy Association 14th annual Montana Clean Energy Fair will be in Great Falls on Saturday, August 23rd. Adjacent to the Saturday Farmer’s Market at the Civic Center, check out an electric vehicle car show, kids’ activities, solar education and more. Admission is free.

12) Did you know that nearly 98% of cyber-attacks involve social engineering? These scams target human behavior, not systems, making awareness your best defense, or the biggest liability. This past week our GFDA Small Business Development Center team completed the CyberMontana/University of Montana Missoula College Security Awareness Training on Social Engineering. We will continue to integrate this knowledge into our work with clients.

13) Lock in today’s low SBA 504 fixed rates and give your business long term savings. All in rates, including fees, are 6.233 percent for 25 years, 6.250 percent for 20 years, and 6.174 percent for a 10-year equipment loan. Refinance at 6.262 percent for 25 years or 6.280 percent for 20 years. These rates stay fixed for the life of your loan, providing stability and peace of mind while you invest in commercial real estate or equipment. Contact Jill Kohles at 1-406-590-1056 or JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org to get started today.

14) Last chance to give input. 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.

15) We can still do low interest loan participations for businesses but there are limited funds. The Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) 2.0 Loan Participation Program remains open 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 Shandi at Shandi@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-9037.

16) GFDA's Board and Council met this week to review the first draft of updates to our Economic Development Strategy. Our Investors, Directors, Council members, partners, clients, and staff have given great input into sharpening our strategy and launching new efforts based on in-depth market assessments we commissioned over the past year. Our Board is scheduled to vote on the final updates at its September 4th meeting, then we will release it at a special GFDA Investor event on September 7th, 4:00 PM at Touro University in Great Falls.

17) 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.

18) I am proud to announce that we have promoted Rich Gannon to Senior Business Advisor and Lisa Andis to Senior Lending Associate. These well-earned promotions reflect the productivity and great value that these team members bring to our clients and organization!

19) 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.

20) I enjoyed teaching the Designing RLFs part of the Intro to Revolving Loan Funds professional development course along with the Acting RLF Coordinator of the U.S. Economic Development Administration during the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) online Summer Institute. Jolene has been selected to lead a presentation at the International Economic Development Council's annual conference in September and I've been selected to lead an interactive workshop at the CDFA's annual conference in October. The GFDA team loves giving back through these volunteer efforts and we always learn new things and make new contacts that help us make things happen in our region.

21) Everything we do is possible because of the continued support of our dedicated team of investors and public partners. Without their strategic and financial support, we wouldn’t be able to continue being the high-performing leaders in attracting new investment and talent to the region. Learn more about our team of supporters by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Pacesetter Division—McDonalds. If you’d like to learn more about what we are doing to grow the economic and how you can help, reach out Vice President of Investment Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org. 

Postive things are happening!

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!

"It’s not the will to win that matters – everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters."

Paul "Bear" Bryant

Edition 697

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 6.233%; 20-year at 6.250%; 10-year equipment loan at 6.174%; and, 25-year refinance 6.262%; 20-year refinance 6.280%. 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.

Zero to Five has grants available for employers to help their employees with childcare. See ABC Fox.

Data helps drive decisions in business. Our Small Business Development Center assists clients dig into real numbers using powerful tools like Profit Cents, Vertical IQ, and Bizminer for industry financial benchmarks. We help clients tap into wage data using Jobs EQ,  a labor market analytics platform loaded with up-to-date wage, employment, and industry trend data for our region. From startup research to expansion planning, we’ve got the data to back your business decisions—all at no cost to you. Need insights for your industry? Contact the Small Business Development Center today.

The 2025 Livability Great Falls magazines are here! This is a great tool for employers to use to recruit talent to relocate to the Great Falls region. Hard copies will be distributed this week -- the digital version is now live—with interactive links perfect for showcasing all that Great Falls has to offer. Last year’s digital magazine saw 24.3K views and over 200.3K social impressions—proof that people are looking at Great Falls and liking what they see. Help us spread the word about the lifestyle, opportunities, and energy of Great Falls. Contact Katie Carvell for support and ideas on how to make the most of this resource at 1-406-217-7635 or Katie@GrowGreatFalls.org.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is offering an upcoming energy auditor training pilot program. DEQ is covering the costs for lodging, pre-requisites, class, and testing. For more information contact Sam Hall at 406-444-4960 or Sam.Hall@mt.gov

USDA announced that the first grant application window for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) will open on October 1, 2025. USDA is using the remaining time in FY25 to implement the Secretary’s direction to disincentivize solar panels on productive farmland for future application windows. Read the full STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT. We can help you prepare to apply. Contact Kristen Blue at 1-406-788-4989 or Kristen@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.

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 1-406-590-1184 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 1-406-590-1184 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 2025 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