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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!
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Small Business Webinar- Build Smarter, Pay Less:
The Power of C-PACE
Date: 3/5/2026
Time: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM (MST)
Join us for our monthly Small Business Webinar featuring Seth Lutter of the Montana Facility Finance Authority. As administrator of Montana’s statewide C-PACE program, Seth will explain how businesses can access long-term, low-cost financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water efficiency, and building improvements. Discover how C-PACE could support your next project and get your questions answered live.
And the registration link
https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/6100
- Thursday March 5, 2026
- 11:00 AM (MDT)
- Virtual
- Free
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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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
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| | | 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.
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