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Team GFDA, along with four Great Falls community partners, hosted an engaging dinner meeting with leaders of Cheyenne, Wyoming and Kimball, Nebraska, diving into how they’re preparing for the upcoming Sentinel ICBM project. Exciting conversations about regional growth and collaboration!

1) Team GFDA represented the Great Falls Montana region at the International Economic Development Council annual conference in Denver. Rural prosperity took center stage, sparking excitement about sustainable growth in small communities. IEDC leaders announced that the first ever IEDC Rural Summit will be held in Great Falls in June 2025! This conference will attract hundreds of economic development professionals and rural leaders from around the world to our community. See the Great Falls Montana Region video we put together for the announcement. Stay tuned for more information.

2) Old Salt Meat Company won a $1,399,985 USDA grant to help fund its planned slaughter facility and expanded meat processing. GFDA is proud to have helped finance Old Salt's continued growth. The new facilities will enable Old Salt to add another 6 ranches to its processing and create 29 new full-time jobs. Check out Old Salt's delicious new restaurant, The Union, in downtown Helena.

3) What do manufacturing jobs do for our community? They provide great paying jobs with benefits and advancement opportunities. An entry level manufacturing position can pay over $55,000 annually whereas other entry level positions typically begin in the $30,000 range. This week we submitted a proposal to a potential manufacturer hoping they choose our site over the out-of-state competing sites and we can continue to grow our regional manufacturing base.

4) Dunham's Sports has opened in Havre; see Havre Weekly Chronicle. Suite Country Downtown has opened for guest lodging in Valier; see TheValierian. Longtime Realtor and broker from Fairfield, Jen Barnett, and six female colleagues have opened The Front Agency; see more info on this new business and other business news in TheElectric's Business Bites.

5) We are pleased to announce that the GFDA’s Small Business Development Center is now a Grow with Google partner! The Grow with Google Partner Program provides access to free resources, workshop materials and hands on help from the Google Team. Stay tuned for upcoming trainings and workshops. Please direct questions about this program to Deb McGregor. Deb can be reached at Deb@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-0314.

6) Our new Small Business Development Center Director Deb McGregor was awarded the Compass Award from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation. This award is presented to individuals , small businesses, entrepreneurs, and organizations who have created impact in Northwest Minnesota. This is an annual award and Deb was one of just three awardees for her commitment to community and entrepreneurship. Congratulations! We are excited to have her join Team Great Falls!  If you’d like to meet with Deb to talk about your business, e-mail her at Deb@GrowGreatFalls.org or give her a call at 1-406-750-0314.

7) Christian Nichols, part of GFDA’s Small Business Development Center, participated in facilitating Boots to Business at Malmstrom AFB. The program is a general business startup class designed for veterans, explaining the process of how to start a business and highlighting some of the benefits available to veterans embarking on this journey. Those looking to explore entrepreneurship, whether a veteran or not, are encouraged to reach out to Christian Nichols at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org or 406-788-9385 for more information and assistance in starting a business venture.

8) TheElectric published a great article about last month's Great Walls mural week in Downtown Great Falls and Photos of all nine new murals.

9) Our Great Falls Regional APEX is dedicated to adding value to small businesses in our region by guiding them through the process of acquiring set-aside certifications. Are you a small business seeking an advantage in government contracting? We can help you stand out from the competition by navigating the certification process for small business programs, including Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), 8(a) Program, HubZone, and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB). Let us help you unlock new opportunities and enhance your competitive edge! Contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184 for assistance.

10) GFDA team members Brett, Jolene, Jake, Christian, Anna, Nicki, and Jenn and four of our community partners hit the road on an aspirational trip to Denver, Colorado for the annual International Economic Development Council annual conference. There we engaged with industry professionals, made lots of meaningful connections, and participated in great sessions. Jolene and Brett led two different conference sessions. Thank you to Great Falls City Commissioner Dr. Susan Wolff, Great Falls Montana Tourism Executive Director Rebecca Engum, Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Ed Brown, and City of Great Falls Planning & Community Development Director Brock Cherry for joining us!

11) We are proud to announce that GFDA was awarded a Bronze Excellence Award from the International Economic Development Council for our Great Falls Housing Market Demand Assessment and a Silver Excellence Award for our Weekly Top Ten. Congratulations to Jolene Schalper, GFDA Executive Vice President, on being elected to the IEDC Board of Directors!

12) As part of our journey, Nicki connected with her peers from downtowns in Greeley, CO, and Cheyenne, WY. From her visits, she gathered valuable ideas to enhance downtown Great Falls. Now is the perfect time to invest in our downtown, and Nicki is ready to assist you. Feel free to reach out to her at 1-406-750-2099 or Nicki@GrowGreatFalls.org.

13) We stopped in Billings to meet with Big Sky EDA and share economic development strategies that have been successful in Montana. We were able to meet with prolific housing developers that have shown success in our state and excite them about the Great Falls market. If it’s time to get your housing project off the ground, contact Jake at 1-406-403-4937 or Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org.

14) At the IEDC Annual Conference in Denver, Christian Leinhauser connected with key site selectors who provided valuable insights on corporate location trends. They emphasized the importance of sustainability, workforce development, and the impact of authentic community storytelling during site visits. These discussions highlighted new strategies to position our region competitively. If you know of a business looking to start or expand in our region, call Christian Leinhauser at 1-406-836-0136 or CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFall.org.    

15) Meat processing is an essential piece of the cattle supply chain that GFDA is dedicated to supporting in our region. Team GFDA stopped in Greeley, CO to learn what it is like to have one of the largest JBS plants in the US in their backyard. In conversations with representatives from Greenley's Downtown Development Association, Library Board, City Planning, and Regional Economic Development, we discussed the effects of having a 4,000 head a day meat packing plant on the logistics, tourism, workforce, and city services. If you are a meat processor looking to expand or a rancher looking to start your own meat processing, please reach out to Anna for resources and guidance at 1-406-590-1301 or Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org

16) Value-added agricultural manufacturing remains a top opportunity for entrepreneurs in our region, but it can be a daunting industry to break into. To celebrate a successful local value-added ag entrepreneur, GFDA's Food and Ag Development Center hosted Tom Kropf of Eden Feeds for a webinar discuss the growth of his non-gmo chicken feed business which is now sells to customers all throughout the Western United States. Tom is a client of both GFDA's Food and Ag Development Center and the Small Business Development Center and we are excited to continue celebrating his success. To see his interview and previous interviews in our Tuesday Training series, please check out our youtube channel. To learn more about upcoming trainings, sign up to our Food and Ag Newsletter here.

17) The Montana Department of Commerce has opened a new round of STEP grants to small businesses to help boost exporting. Eligible Montana exporters can apply for 50% reimbursement of up to $10,000 for eligible marketing activities, like trade show exhibition, market research and U.S. Commercial Service programs and foreign language translation. Other eligible marketing activities include international compliance testing, intellectual property protection, digital marketing and travel stipends. Eligible applicants may receive up to $30,000 in STEP awards per year. Visit ExportMontana.com for more info or apply here. A free training webinar is being held on Wednesday, October 2nd at 9:00 AM; register here.

18) Are you looking for a Mentor Protégé or joint venture opportunity? Please join Montana APEX Advisors from across the state, along with Schoonover & Moriarty LLC, on September 26th at the Yogo Inn, located at 211 E Main St, Lewistown, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for "Subcontracting & Teaming Insights for Federal Contracts." You will learn about subcontracting/teaming and how to increase competitiveness utilizing programs like the Department of Defense (DoD) and Small Business Administration (SBA) Mentor Protégé programs and joint ventures. In this presentation, legal counsel from Schoonover & Moriarty LLC will discuss the importance of these programs, how you can apply, and why they make sense for your business. To Register, CLICK HERE! Great Falls Regional APEX can assist you in evaluating whether the DoD or SBA Mentor-Protégé programs and joint ventures align with your business needs and goals., contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org  or 1-406-590-1184.

19) In preparation for our upcoming Downtown Business Cohort, we sent out a survey to downtown businesses to get feedback on meeting days and times as well as topics business owners would like to see included. The Downtown Cohort will be titled Sips, Skills and Solutions and facilitated by our new Small Business Development Center Regional Director, Deb McGregor. Sips, Skills and Solutions is a 12-week program beginning the first week in October running through the 3rd week of December. The group cohort sessions will be every other week (a total of 6 sessions) and in between those weeks, participants will receive a 1/1 session with Deb (up to 6 sessions). The sessions can either be done at the place of business, the Great Falls Development Alliance office, Downtown Development Association office or via ZOOM. Our Fall Cohort will be limited to 12 small downtown business owners. Our six group meetings will be held at different businesses to increase awareness and inspire creativity. If businesses don’t offer sips, participants can BYOS. If you are a downtown business and did not receive the survey, please click here to complete it. There will be a small application process to join the Cohort. If you would like more information, please reach out to Deb McGregor at Deb@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-0314. Be on the lookout this winter and spring for additional cohorts throughout our Great Falls Trade Region.

20) We continue working on deals for what we expect will be the final competitive round of the Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 (SSBCI 2.0) low interest rate program opened. 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.

21) Have you opened a business in the Great Falls region of North Central Montana? Come celebrate with us! On the evening of November 20 at the Newberry. We will recognize those brave entrepreneurs who’ve created businesses in our region! Want to be recognized or recognize a business owner? Let us know here: Nomination Form

22) The Montana Indian Equity Fund Grant deadline has been extended to September 30th. If you are an enrolled member in a Montana based tribe and are interested in applying for the business grant, please contact Rich Gannon for more information and assistance at RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-2078.

23) Public comment is being sought for the Great Falls Long-Range Transportation Plan. Please submit comments by September 23rd.

24) Great Falls Area Community Foundation, The History Museum, and TDS Fiber proudly present the Nonprofit Board Excellence Fall 2024 Series: Elevate Your Impact. $20 Online Registration is Required. Spaces are Limited. Monday October 21st. Board Basics Morning Session: 9 - 11 AM Evening Session: 6 - 8 PM Tuesday, October 22nd Communication & Teamwork Morning Session: 9 - 11 AM. Register here. For Nonprofit Professionals (Executive Director, CEO, Marketing, Development, Operations). Monday October 21st. Executive Toolkit. Lunch Session: Noon to 2 PM. Cost is $60, includes lunch. Register here.

25) 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.

26) The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center is seeking a Business Advisor based in Great Falls to support manufacturers in the region. See description on Facebook.

27) Thank you to our valued team of investors and public partners for their support of GFDA's mission to drive regional growth and create more high-wage opportunities for our residents. Learn more about them by viewing this short video. Their continued commitment empowers us to advance innovative initiatives, attract new businesses, and enhance the overall economic vitality of our community. Together, we are building a stronger, more prosperous region, and we couldn’t achieve these goals without their partnership and trust. Thank you for being a crucial part of our success and for helping us shape a brighter future for all. If you’d like to learn about our work and how you can join the team, contact Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.

A very busy week!

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.

Subscribe to the Grow Great Falls Montana YouTube channel!

"Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine."

Chris Hadfield



Edition 651

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 5.762%; 20-year at 5.829%; 10-year equipment loan at 5.865%; and, 20-year refinance 5.859%; 25-year refinance 5.791%. 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.

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.

Jake's webinar focused on housing development opportunities in Great Falls in partnership with Urban Land Institute is now available online with the access code: E#aZ48D2. Additionally, Jake's interview with David Saslav on "Voices & Views V2.0" is also available to stream online. 

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.

Did you know that the SBA 504 rates have been dropping the last few months? Jill had a meeting with a banker and his client this last week who needed a solution for being short on the bank required down payment to start and construct their new business. We discussed the SBA 504 option that partners with the bank to allow the client to bring in as little as 10% equity and has the extra benefit of low interest rates that are fixed for up to 25 years. The client and banker are excited about this opportunity and the SBA 504 loan will also help the client preserve additional cash for working capital. If you have a project that needs a creative solution, please reach out to Jill Kohles at JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-4481.



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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 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 share their resumes (with their permission) on the Trailing Partner Email Group.

The Great Falls Population Economic Impact Report 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 Tracy@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.

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