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Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Great Falls Montana Class of 2028 at the White Coat Ceremony. Welcome and congratulations!

1) We're excited to announce the release of the Great Falls Region Freight Market Assessment completed by Moffatt & Nichol. This comprehensive study offers valuable insights into the logistics industry and its potential in our region and will be followed by an Economic Development Strategy identifying market opportunities for GFDA to pursue in the next three-to-five years. To learn more about these findings and what they mean for future development in our region, we invite you to join us for a special presentation by Moffatt & Nichol on Monday, August 19 from 1:00 – 2:00PM MST. Be sure to register to receive the Zoom link! For questions related to this market assessment, contact Tyler Menzales at 1-406-217-7862 or TMenzales@GrowGreatFalls.org

2) Congratulations to James Talcott Construction, Inc. on winning multiple contract awards with Malmstrom Air Force Base and to Geranios Enterprises, Inc. for securing a contract for the installation of utilities at the 819th Red Horse Squadron cantonment facility at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

3) Christian Leinhauser had 1-on-1 meetings pitching the Great Falls region with eight industry Site Selection Consultants at the Logistics Development Forum in Colorado. The Logistics Development Forum is the only national gathering of site selectors with a focus on the importance of the supply chain and logistics in the site selection process.

4) There's still time to register for our Indian Equity Fund Grant workshop in Browning. The Montana Indian Equity Fund is a competitive grant program offered by the State of Montana, designed to support for-profit businesses owned by enrolled tribal members. Our small business development team and NACDC Financial Services  (Native American Community Development Corporation) will be hosting a workshop to help applicants craft competitive grant proposals. The workshop is on Tuesday August 6th in Browning – to register click here.

5) In just a few days the final competitive round of the Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 (SSBCI 2.0) low interest rate program will open. If you have a project that could move forward with the benefit of low interest rate funding, start talking to GFDA now as these funds are very limited. If you have a business that can benefit from these funds contact Jill at JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1056.

6) The Preventative Control Qualified Individuals (PCQI) certification is required for Food companies reregister under section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) barring any exemptions or modified requirements that might apply. If you are a local food business who needs a certified PCQI on staff, please reach out to Anna. We are putting together a list for an upcoming training. You can reach Anna at 1-406-590-1301 or Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org. 

7) Cybersecurity is a top priority for the Department of Defense (DoD). Great Falls Regional APEX is helping small businesses by providing consultation and guidance on the new cybersecurity standards that will be mandated for federal government contracting. If your company handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI) not intended for public use, you must meet specific security standards. As a basic requirement, you need a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1, which demonstrates that your business has security measures in place to protect sensitive data. CMMC 2.0 is expected to start in 2025, with full integration into all Department of Defense (DoD) contracts by 2028. Get ahead of the game! Contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

8) Jake will take to the airwaves to broadcast the demand and opportunities for housing development in Great Falls through the Urban Land institute network on August 6 in a webinar (register here) solely focused on the Great Falls housing market, and on Voices & Views V2.0, KGPR-FM airing soon. Both will be recorded and available to listen and share. If you are working on a housing project in the Great Falls region and could use some help, please reach out to Jake for information and support, Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org 1-406-403-4937. 

9) Restoration of the historic Union Bethel A M E Church in Great Falls received a boost winning a major grant; see The Electric. We have been able to support the project by providing both phase 1 and phase 2 environmental assessments. If you or someone you know is looking to redevelop a commercial property, we may be able to help with a free hazardous material assessment and low-interest clean-up loan funds. Reach out to Christian Nichols at CNichols@GjrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-9385.

10) Host a group of Touro students to dinner! Last year, over 40 community members stepped up and hosted small groups of students from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine to dinners at various restaurants around the community. This year, we are putting together another fun evening of dinners. We are seeking hosts to take a group of 2-5 students out to dinner on Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, at a restaurant of your choice. Deadline to sign up is Monday, September 16th. If you’d like to sign up as a host, register here. If you’d like to find out other ways you can support these new students in our community, reach out to Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.

11) The USDA Agricultural Marketing Services has partnered with Cornell's Small Farms Program to offer 6 months of free introductory course for beginning urban farmers. If you are interested in beginning your own small farm in North Central Montana or would like to know how to sell your produce at your local Farmers Market, please reach out to Anna at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301. 

12) I am very pleased to announce that we have recruited a new Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Regional Director. Deb McGregor brings 15 years of SBDC business advising experience to our team. A successful small business owner, Deb earned a BA from Concordia College and an MA from North Dakota State University. Prior to becoming a small business advisor, she held leadership positions working for Public Television and the Girl Scouts. And, she is a Great Falls native moving home after being away 30 years! Deb will start work August 26th.

13) Congratulations to team member Christian Leinhauser on earning certification as a Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) from Grow America. EDFP Certification is a professional credential given to individuals who successfully complete Grow America’s intensive economic development finance training series. The training provides individuals working in the field of economic development with instruction in business credit analysis, real estate financing, loan packaging, deal structuring and negotiating and the creation and implementation of development programs. Christian joins Brett, Jill, Jolene, and Jake as the 5th member of the GFDA team to achieve this milestone. 

14) The GFDA Board of Directors elected Mark Cappis of Cappis Consulting and Tax, LLC to serve a second term as our Board Chair, Johnna Lightbourne of Cogswell Insurance Agency to serve as Vice Chair, Forrest Ehlinger of Benefis Health System to serve a second term as Treasurer, and Andreas Geranios of Geranios Enterprise, Inc. to serve as Secretary. Joe Briggs, Cascade County Commissioner, Rebecca Engum of Great Falls Montana Tourism, Toby Malsam of Culligan Water System, Dr. Renee Reijo Pera of McLaughlin Research Institute, Dave Smith of Sletten Construction, Len Watkins of Gusto Distributing, and Nate Weisenburger of AE2S were appointed to our Executive Committee along with the officers. Josh DeVos of Dick Anderson Construction, Jennifer Fritz of The Wendt Agency, and Janna Yuhas of Blue Cross Blue Shield Montana were appointed to the GFDA Council.

15) Our work relies heavily on the commitment and support from our investors and public partners. Their contributions provide the essential resources needed for our strategic initiatives and projects. Learn more about them by viewing this short video. The support we receive enables us to advance our mission and make a meaningful impact in the community. If you’d like to learn more about our work and how you can help support our mission, contact Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.

16) We Are Growing Our Awesome Staff Team and have excellent career opportunities. Download a description of openings for Loan Officer Lending Solutions Specialist, and Government Contracting Advisor -- APEX Accelerator. Contact Tracy for more info at Tracy@GrowGreatFalls.org.

Thank you to our investors and partners for making everything we do possible!

Brett

Brett Doney

Great Falls Development Alliance

BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org

1-406-750-2119

Connect with me on  LinkedIn to network with the Great Falls Montana region.

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

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"The keys to brand success are self-definition, transparency, authenticity and accountability."

Simon Mainwaring



Edition 644

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 6.201%; 20-year at 6.270%; 10-year equipment loan at 6.476%; and, 20-year refinance 6.300%; 25-year refinance 6.230%. 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.

The Montana Indian Equity Fund is now open for applications. The Indian Equity Fund (IEF) is a competitive business grant available to enrolled members of Montana-based tribes. Our Small Business Development Center will be hosting two workshops to assist applicants with the grant application process. The first workshop will be held on July 30th in Great Falls, and the second will be on August 6th in Browning. To register for the Great Falls workshop, click here. To sign up for the Browning workshop, click here.   If you have any questions about the IEF, please contact Rich Gannon, our small business advisor, at 1-406-836-2087 or RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org.

Jake is presenting the demand for housing in Great Falls to the Idaho/Montana Urban Land Institute network via webinar on August 6th. Jake will be presenting our recent Housing Market Demand Assessment and answering questions from housing developers, builders, and funders looking for opportunity in Montana. Jump in and join the conversation, register for the webinar here.  

The second annual Montana Child Care Business Connect Summit will be held August 7-8 in Helena.

Great Falls Public Schools is holding a Job fair on Wednesday, August 21st, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Paris Gibson Education Center.

Great Falls Regional APEX is assisting multiple businesses in preparing for the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and 8(a) Program certification processes. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will temporarily pause certification applications from August 1st to early September for necessary system upgrades. This presents an excellent opportunity to verify your Eligibility for certifications such as WOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB. To ensure you're prepared to apply for the certification that best suits your business when the portal reopens in September, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

The Montana Department of Commerce's Automation Loan Program is designed to extend financial assistance to Montana-based manufacturing enterprises seeking to upgrade, replace or expand their equipment. The program has extended the timeline for obligating funds through an executed commitment letter in this funding cycle to December 31st. Applicants are encouraged to work closely with participating lenders and program staff to ensure this deadline is feasible with the proposed project. Businesses, or lenders on behalf of a business, can apply on Commerce's website. Questions? Contact Patsy Rasch at Commerce at patsy.rasch2@mt.gov or 1-406-841-2748.

Registration opened for the first annual Montana Food & Beverage Manufacturing Summit being held in Missoula on October 15th. The summit is a one-day educational forum focused on essential topics to grow or improve your business, hosted by Montana Manufacturing Extension Center and the Montana Department of Agriculture. It will take place in conjunction with the Montana Food and Beverage Show on October 14. You will learn directly from industry experts and government officials about key steps in developing a successful food business. The program of workshops and speakers will cover the most frequently asked questions on packaging, labeling, fill control, process control, food safety, distribution, manufacturing efficiency, and more. Learn more and sign up on the Summit webpage.

Is your SAM.gov registration due to renew in the next few months? It is recommended that businesses start early to renew their registration to keep from going inactive. If you are having trouble getting through the process, contact Shannon Clancy at 1-406-590-1184 or SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org for assistance. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has recently announced that it will temporarily pause accepting applications for federal small business certifications beginning August 1st through September as it performs system upgrades to its certifications portal. If you’ve been working on your certification application, we recommend completing your submission before August 1st. If you aren’t in a rush to certify (or re-certify) your business, the SBA plans to re-open its certification portal and continue accepting applications in early September. Contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

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. 

We released a Population Economic Impact Report that documents an $88 million positive impact on the local economy from population growth in the last five years, and estimates economic impact of population growth over the next 10 years.

Manufacturers, if you don't get the monthly newsletter from the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center you are missing out on great training and other resources.

The Montana Department of Agriculture is partnering with the USDA and the Agricultural Marketing Services to help strengthen the resiliency of Montana food systems. Is your food company focused on middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, or distribution of targeted agricultural products? If so, there is a new funding opportunity for your projects. Discuss this new opportunity and check your eligibility with Anna by reaching out at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301.

Are you planning any international marketing activities in 2024? 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.

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.

USDA has launched a new online tool to assist small businesses in identifying procurement opportunities; see USDA's Procurement Forecast.

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.

One of the many tools we have for renovating your building in Downtown Great Falls is the City's Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Grant. This 50% match grant can help with Façade, Building Code Compliance, and Safety & Security. One of the biggest uses of this grant is Fire Suppression and updating the face of your building. To find out more about this grant, call Nicki at 1-406-750-2099 or Nicki@GrowGreatFalls.org. Let's discuss how TIF and other tools can help you change the face of Downtown Great Falls. 

Employers, are you looking for timely data on our local workforce? 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 Jake Clark at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937 to be connected with a JobsEQ-trained Business Advisor today. To learn more about GFDA's other talent attraction tools, visit our website. 

Recruiters, are you hiring for a job position that is:  

• High level 
• High salary 
• Out-of-the-box/unique/creative? 

Help us attract workforce to move to Great Falls - send a one-sentence description of the job, 3-5 of your company's top employee benefits, salary (if listed), and a link to apply for your job to TMenzales@GrowGreatFalls.org to be included in the Hot Jobs in Great Falls blog post.  

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.

USDA opened a new round of Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants and loans. Rural small businesses and agricultural producers can use the funds to make energy-efficiency improvements, lower operating costs, or install renewable energy systems. Quarterly competitions will be held. For for help applying, contact Anna Flies: Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301. 

The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center 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.



If you are trying to redevelop a property that involves an environmental cleanup (including lead paint and asbestos) and you have a gap in your financing, your project may qualify for our low-interest brownfield redevelopment loan funds. We can make loans anywhere in Cascade County or within 100 miles from the borders of Cascade County, which covers much of the region. We're eager to help make your project move forward. Contact Christian Nichols at 1-406-788-9385 or CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org. We also have some small business or nonprofit startup/expansion loan funds available for Glacier and Blaine counties.

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.

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. “Your (Live in Great Falls) website is very impressive and helpful! Great Falls looks amazing, and we love what we've seen real estate-wise, and business-wise.” This quote was from an email sent to us from a couple considering relocation to Great Falls. We will be sharing their resumes (with their permission) on the Trailing Partner Email Group.

Visit our relocation website LiveInGreatFalls.com. This website was the #1 request we got from local recruiters and HR professionals for aiding in attracting talented workers to Great Falls.

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