|
Whether you're just getting started, looking for new customers,
wanting to grow sales through e-commerce, or focusing on workforce.
We can help in your success!
Check out the upcoming trainings below!
| |
Nonprofit Board Excellence: Elevate Your Impact
February 23-24
The Great Falls Area Community Foundation, in partnership with The Newberry, TDS Fiber, Montana Nonprofit Association, and the Montana Community Foundation is proud to present Nonprofit Board Excellence Winter 2026 Training Series. The classes are on February 23rd and 24th at The Newberry in Downtown Great Falls. Cost for each session is $20 and preregistration on Eventbrite is required. Our community foundation exists to serve local nonprofits with education, grants, and support. All proceeds go to our endowment fund which funds our annual granting each summer.
Leadership Launch + Board Basics
9 am to Noon
$20
This class provides actionable advice for seasoned volunteers and greenhorns alike. Learn how to become a better board member by improving your governance, fundraising, and storytelling abilities. Understand principles and practices to elevate the impact of your organization.
State of the Non Profit Sector in Montana
Noon to 2 PM
$20
Join Adam Jespersen, Executive Director of the Montana Nonprofit Association, for the State of the Sector presentation.
Board Basics Workshop
7-8 PM
$20
This class provides actionable advice for seasoned volunteers and greenhorns alike. Learn how to become a better board member by improving your governance, fundraising, and storytelling abilities.
Tuesday, 2/24
Financial Leadership Workshop
9 am to Noon
$20
Join us to get an in-depth look into the world of nonprofit financial leadership. Topics include Understanding Nonprofit Financial Statements, Financial Leadership for Nonprofit Staff, and Financial Leadership for Boards.
Compliance Workshop
Noon - 2 PM, lunch provided
$20
This unique workshop is an opportunity to share your progress and refine best practices for your organization. We will begin with an “elevator pitch” exercise with each attendee taking the mic to share why you serve with your organization.
Link to Register on Eventbrite: GFACF Eventbrite
| |
|
Where's the Profit? How to (actually) make money selling your beer in 2026
We’re co-hosting a free webinar with Small Batch Standard [sbstandard.com], a team of financial experts that has helped 285+ craft breweries increase profit over the past 15 years! It’ll take place on Tuesday, February 24 at 10 am MT, and I’d love for you and your team to join us.
As the craft industry has plateaued, running a profitable brewery has become more and more challenging each year. This presentation will provide craft business owners a deep dive to understand why this is and, more importantly, the strategic changes owners need to make in order to sell the right beer, to the right consumers, at the right margins, to generate cash and finally get ahead.
We will cover:
- Why the 2015 playbook for successfully growing and running a profitable brewery no longer works like it used to
- The different implications for profit, cost structure, and finance
- How to use this information to create an action plan for what needs to change in your brewery
We’ll keep it actionable, straightforward, and specific to the challenges breweries are facing right now.
- Tuesday, February 24, 2026
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (MDT)
- Virtual
- Free
| |
U.S. Forest Service Fire Contracting: Rumors, Reality, and Changes
Join Montana APEX and U.S. Forest Service Contractor Liaison Brian Webber for an informational, fact-based session on U.S. Forest Service solicitations, hosted by Great Falls APEX. This session will highlight what has changed, what remains the same, and what is still evolving, while separating rumor from reality. Attendees will leave with clear, reliable information and a better sense of what to expect as things continue to evolve.
Why Attend?
Hear directly from the U.S. Forest Service on solicitation updates. Separate rumors from reality with clear, fact-based information. Understand what has changed, what hasn’t, and what’s staying the same. Register here: https://mtapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/41674
- Wednesday, February 25, 2026
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (MDT)
- Virtual
- Free
| |
Smarter Marketing, Not More Marketing: The Top 10 Basics for Small Businesses
Small business owners are constantly told to do more. More platforms. More posts. More tools. More trends. This seminar is about doing less, but doing it better. Smarter Marketing, Not More Marketing is a 90-minute, seminar-style training designed to help small business owners understand where marketing actually delivers value—and where it quietly drains time with little return. Instead of chasing every platform or tactic, this session focuses on building a clear, sustainable marketing foundation that fits your business, your audience, and your capacity.
- Tuesday, March 3
- 3-5 PM
- Virtual through Prospera
- $100 non-members/$75 members
|
SEO Made Simple: Optimize Your Website for Better Rankings
Can't find your business on Google? This training breaks down search engine optimization (SEO) into clear, actionable steps so you can improve your rankings on Google without the guesswork. You'll learn the right way to choose your keywords, optimize your website, and track your progress using free and paid tools. Whether you're new to SEO or looking to refine your strategy, this training will help you create a website that ranks higher and attracts more customers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptop so they may work directly on their site during this training.
Key Takeaways Attendees Can Expect:
- SEO Fundamentals: What SEO is, how it works, and why it’s a long-term strategy.
- Keyword Research: How to find and use the best keywords for your website.
- Website Optimization: The right ways to structure your site, write better content, and use internal links.
- Content Ideas: Best practices for blogging and creating content that establishes expertise and authority.
- Tracking SEO Success: Tools to measure performance.
Details
- March 11
- 4-6 PM
- Virtual - through Prospera
- $100 for non-members/$75 for members
| |
ATA Carnets are your passports for moving goods between countries.
Learn the ins and outs of moving goods across foreign borders with this webinar. Save money on your temporary exports and expand into new markets.
Save money on your temporary exports and expand into new markets. Join us for a free webinar on the Ins and Outs of the ATA Carnet, a unified, internationally accepted customs document for temporary exports.
- Do you move goods temporarily, across foreign borders for display or exhibition at international trade shows?
- Do you move equipment across foreign borders for repair or testing?
- Do your technicians ship tools internationally for installation purposes?
- Do personnel at your company hand-carry items abroad?
- Do you temporarily export goods, merchandise, or equipment (including livestock in trailers)?
If you answered YES to any of the questions, this program is for you! Learn from ATA Carnet Specialist, Kiel Ursin, Boomerang Carnets, how to make the most of the carnet’s many benefits, acceptable carnet merchandise, and the savings you can expect.
- March 11
- 12-12:45 PM
- Free
- Virtual
| | |
What Happens After SAM? Unlock New Business Opportunities!
Please join the Montana APEX Accelerator for a strategic VIRTUAL training on how YOU can sell your company's products/services to federal and state agencies. Topics include: - Federal and State of MT purchasing thresholds - Conducting market research - Federal purchasing vehicles (methods) - Where to find opportunities and how to get automatic notices - Marketing your business to government agencies - Tips on finding subcontracting opportunities - Government Innovation Programs - Q & A session Who should attend? Any business in any industry that is interested in developing a focused market strategy for the government segment. It is not a requirement to already be registered in SAM or eMACS to attend the training. However, we will not be going over the registration process in this training.
Who Should Attend?
Any business in any industry that is interested in developing a focused market strategy for the government segment. It is not a requirement to already be registered in SAM or eMACS to attend the training. However, we will not be going over the registration process in this training. Register here: https://mtapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/41675
- Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- 11:30 AM (MDT)
- Virtual
- Free
| | |
Building a Story Brand to Drive Business
Join us for an introduction on how using a Story Brand framework can grow your business by clarifying your message, positioning the customer as the hero, and your brand as the expert guide. By focusing marketing on solving specific customer problems rather than promoting features, you foster deep connection, increase trust, and drive sales.
- March 19 at 8:30 AM
- Great Falls Association of Realtors
- 401 13th Avenue South Great Falls, MT
- Free
- In person
|
Meta Business Suite: Cracking the Code of Facebook & Instagram
Meta tools change fast, but good marketing fundamentals do not. This stand-alone Meta Business Suite training is designed for small business owners who want clarity, not constant platform stress. Rather than walking through every new feature or interface tweak, this session focuses on what materially impacts your Facebook and Instagram performance and what is optional, over-hyped, or safe to ignore. We’ll break down how Meta Business Suite actually works today, how AI is being integrated into the platform, and how small businesses should be thinking about content, consistency, insights, and engagement moving forward. The goal is not to chase the algorithm, but to build a smarter, more sustainable social media approach using the tools that matter most.
- Wednesday, March 25
- 9 AM to Noon
- Online through Prospera
- $100 for non-members/$75 for members
| | |
Boost Your Business in 2026
Level up your business skills and stay ahead of the curve with Boost Your Business, a FREE in-person training series designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals across all industries.
Each month, we dive into a new topic—marketing, leadership, finance, operations, technology, and more—to give you practical tools you can use right away.
Click here to register for individual sessions. Feel free to register for one or all!
| | |
Cybersecurity Readiness
Join the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and APEX Advisors for a one-hour webinar focused on cybersecurity for small businesses. This session will be divided into two parts.
In Part One, the SBDC team will cover cybersecurity basics and provide a brief overview of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, helping businesses understand key steps to protect their operations.
In Part Two, the Great Falls APEX team will discuss the importance of cybersecurity in government contracting and outline practical ways to assess your organization’s cyber readiness when pursuing government contracts.
- Wednesday, April 29
- 11 AM to Noon
- Online
- Free
|
| | | Grow diverse economic opportunities that enhance quality of life. | | |
Our Mission
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.
| | | | |
