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1) GFDA closed a $250,000 gap loan to Deshner Capital, LLC to support the purchase of the building that Jake Deshner’s business Total Nutrition and Tanning has leased for many years. This tenant-to-owner transition secures a permanent location for the business while also providing stability for four other longtime tenants: Warehouse Flooring, Gilbert Chiropractic, Action Cards & Comics, and Mountain View Access & Mobility. A special thank you to our bank partner, Aaron Morse of Citizens Alliance Bank, for their invaluable role in this project supporting the retention of local small businesses. If you or your organization need gap or bridge financing to keep a project moving towards the finish line, contact Shandi Gebhardt Jones directly at 1-406-590-9037 or Shandi@GrowGreatFalls.org.
2) 70 local employers and over 2,000 students from 27 area schools participated in the 5th annual Worlds of Work; see KRTV. Big Sky Beads and Western Grace Boutique opened and Saibeen's Kitchen opened its new location in Downtown Great Falls; see TheElectric's Business Bites and KRTV. River and Range Bistro expanded in the Columbus Center in Great falls; see KRTV. Great Falls College MSU opened its Early Education Center; see KRTV.
3) Ed Brown, President & CEO of the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, and Brett travelled to DC to participate in the 15th Annual Task Force 21 Nuclear Triad Symposium. While in DC we met meet with Montana Congressional staff, agency and trade association leaders, and representatives of some key clients. Speakers at the symposium included General Dale White, Director of Critical Major Weapons Systems, Lt. General Jason Armagost, Deputy Commander Air Force Global Strike Command, Lt. General Brandon Parker, Deputy Chief of Staff Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Lt. General Michael Lutton, Deputy Commander U.S. Strategic Command, Vice Admiral Douglas Williams, Director Portfolio Acquisition Executive Strategic Systems Programs, and Brig General Michael Walters, Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application National Nuclear Security Administration.
4) 30 businesses registered to take their government contracting efforts to the next level as Great Falls Regional APEX hosted What Happens After SAM?, a virtual training designed to help businesses move forward with confidence. This training equipped businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the government marketplace with greater clarity and purpose. To take your government contracting efforts to the next level and capitalize on your capabilities, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.
5) We were awarded a $881,000 Financial Award from the Community Development Financial Institution Fund of the US Treasury! We will use these funds to grow our loan capital base to enable more housing production. Thank you to our fantastic GFDA Investors for providing the 1:1 required match and thank you to the Montana Congressional delegation for supporting the CDFI Fund! Special thanks to Sen. Daines' excellent DC staff!
6) Save the date! GFDA will facilitate another community installation of the Data Center Task Force, focused on findings from previous meetings and organizing priorities the region would seek from any future data center developer considering investment in North Central Montana. The meeting will be on Monday, Sept. 28 at 5:30 pm, at Great Falls College MSU in Heritage Hall. Attendance will be in person, register here. For any questions on the Data Center Task Force, contact Jolene at JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-4481.
7) Kristen Blue engaged with regional energy leaders at the Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition annual meeting, connecting on the forces shaping the region’s energy future. New generation, transmission expansion, evolving power markets, and governance changes all have implications for energy affordability and reliability. As western energy systems become increasingly interconnected, decisions made across state and market boundaries will impact investment and economic development in North Central Montana. Contact Kristen Blue at Kristen@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-4989 to talk about how North Central Montana fits into the western energy puzzle.
8) Want to attract more customers and make your business a place people go out of their way to visit? Join nationally recognized business expert Jon Schallert for the FREE Destination Creation Workshop, October 6 in Shelby and October 7 in Great Falls. Learn practical strategies to help your business stand out, attract customers from near and far, and increase sales. Businesses of all types are welcome. Register today. Learn more by contacting Jamie at Jamie@GrowGreatFalls.org or +1-406-217-9210.
9) Two national defense milestones were announced this week with local impact. The Air Force announced that is has erected an inert version of the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM at Vandenberg Space Force Base. USAF confirmed that it expects to finish the restructuring of the Sentinel program by year end and conduct a first test launch in 2027; See Air & Space Forces Magazine. Westinghouse announced that it achieved zero-power high-temperature criticality on its eVinci microreactor. The Westinghouse eVinci has been selected for installation at Malmstrom AFB; see BusinessWire.
10) Visit Great Falls and the Montana Department of Commerce hosted the Montana Governor’s Conference on Tourism, bringing professionals from across the state together to connect, share ideas, and experience our region firsthand. GFDA team members helped lead tours showcasing our rural communities and giving tourism professionals a firsthand look at the places, people, businesses, and experiences that make North Central Montana a compelling destination. These connections help strengthen statewide awareness of our region while creating new opportunities for collaboration and tourism growth in our rural communities. Two local leaders were recognized with Montana Tourism Awards. The Montana Department of Commerce’s Film Office named journalist and TV producer Norma Ashby Smith as the recipient of the 2026 Excellence in Cinema and Cultural Heritage Award. Avery Hughes, tourism director of Central Montana Tourism was named the 2026 Tourism Rising Star. Congratulations!
11) Thinking about finally starting that business, or expanding the one you have? You'll need a plan and financial projections. Clients of our Small Business Development Center get free access to LivePlan, a best-in-class business planning tool, plus an advisor who builds the plan with them. Contact business advisor Rich Gannon to get started at 1-406-836-2078 or RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org
12) NeighborWorks Great Falls and Great Falls Public Schools held the ceremonial groundbreaking for the 49th High School House in Great Falls; see KRTV and KFBB. The program, active in Great Falls since 1998, provides high school students the opportunity to build a home from the ground up for credit. Each student learns hands-on each step of the homebuilding process. When the home is sold, the proceeds directly benefit the program making way for the next home to be built. NeighborWorks Great Falls is seeking past participants in the program and class to reach out to start preparing for the 50th house groundbreaking and celebration next fall, if you have participated call 1-406-761-5861.
13) Jenn attended the Annual Montana Nonprofit Association Annual Conference. It provided an opportunity to connect with nonprofit leaders from across the state, exchange ideas and approaches, and bring back information that can support GFDA’s fundraising, investor engagement, partnerships, and organizational work. The conference also reinforced the value of building connections across Montana’s nonprofit sector and learning from organizations facing many of the same funding and capacity challenges.
14) Considering an alternative energy or energy efficiency project for your business? The Department of Environmental Quality, Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program is opening its next application window October 1. The program offers financing for qualifying projects at a fixed 3.5% interest rate. For details on the program and application assistance, reach out to Meranda Bass at 1-406-444-6586 or msikes@mt.gov.
15) Supporting Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard means supporting an important part of our community and economy. The Central Montana Defense Coalition gives businesses and community leaders a way to work together, advocate for these missions, and demonstrate the support they have here at home. Thank you to the investors who are putting resources behind this work. Recent investments include: Titan Division—PowerGas Corp. Contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org to learn how to support the coalition.
16) Discover authentic Made in Montana products at the 2027 Made in Montana Trade Show April 16-17, 2027 in Helena. The trade show is a unique selling opportunity for Made in Montana businesses, incorporating a wholesale day as well as a public retail day. Registration for the 2027 Made in Montana Trade Show opens October 1st and closes October 31st. It is NOT first come, first served.
17) We published our Somewhat Quarterly Investor Letter. Megan Clayton started work as our new APEX Accelerator Advisor to help businesses navigate government contracting. Contact Megan at Megan@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-2174.
18) There is a lot of work between having an opportunity and making it happen. GFDA helps businesses navigate that space with financing, advising, training, connections, and hands on support. Our investors and partners give us the resources to show up, solve problems, and keep projects moving. Learn more about the people behind our work in this short video. Recent investments include: Community Division—Flying S Title & Escrow. Join the team helping us do more. Contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
19) We have a career opening for a Business Development Officer who will focus on growing and diversifying the region's food, ag, and bio processing industries. Download our Career Opportunities. Please pass along to great candidates.
Make it a great week!
Brett
Brett Doney
Great Falls Development Alliance
BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org
1-406-750-2119
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
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"It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer."
Albert Einstein
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