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Chef/Owner Matt Black of Harvest Craft Kitchen, downtown Great Falls' newest restaurant. Excavation work for two new downtown houses.
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Here is our Top 10 for this week celebrating work and successes to grow and strengthen the Great Falls regional economy -- Montana's Golden Triangle.
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1) Congratulations to Chef/Owner Matt Black of
Harvest Craft Kitchen
, Great Falls' newest farm to table restaurant, who opened his doors April 8th for take out and curbside service. Located downtown at 220 Central Ave across from DA Davidson. Check out what's happening on the 200 block of 2nd Ave N downtown! Excavation has started on two houses being built by real estate developer, Andreas Geranios. We are very exited to see this project start and see some innovative infill residential development happening in downtown Great Falls. If you have interest opening a business or development downtown, contact Christian Leinhauser at 406.836.0136 or
[email protected]
.
2) For the ninth year in a row, Great Falls has been named a Top 100 Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants; see
KRTV
.
3) As plans progress for re-opening businesses, we're hosting a Business Virtual Meetup this Tuesday at 2:00 PM to discuss what your business may need to re-open. Montana may be able to reopen in some fashion before many other states; see
GeekWire article.
Topic: Re-Opening
Time: Apr 21, 2020 02:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 944 8106 8868
Password: 069778
While we recommend using computer audio, you can dial by phone here:
+13462487799
94481068868#
069778# US
4) We remain confident that the PPP loan window will re-open. What capital do you need to get through the shutdown and position your business for re-opening and future success? Join Jolene Schalper for a Business Capital Virtual Meetup this Thursday at 9:00 AM.
Topic: Capital Meet Up
Time: Apr 23, 2020 09:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 914 8554 3788
Password: 046598
While we recommend using computer audio, here is the phone dial in:
+13462487799
91485543788#
046598#
5) We published a Business Resiliency Guide offering some ways to make your business tougher and able to recover more quickly. Download the Resiliency Guide, or our Business Crisis Toolkit or Business Hibernation Toolkit, and lots more COVID-19 related resources on our
website
. Our Cut Bank-based Business Advisor, Rich Gannon, will present a webinar on the Business Resiliency Guide this Friday, April 24h at 11 AM.
Register
and/or get the recording sent to your inbox.
6) We hosted two webinars this week with 74 participants.
GFDA's Food and Ag Development Center Director, Barnett Sporkin-Morrison, presented a
Business Hibernation webinar. View the webinar or any of our
Small Business Development Webinar Series
whenever you have time.
Jason and Jolene presented a webinar on SBA and GFDA Disaster Loan Products, view the Zoom recording
here
. For more information on any of GFDA's crisis tools, contact
GFDA's business advisors
.
7) The US Chamber of Commerce Foundation is offering $5,000 grants to businesses with 3-20 employees who have been harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic and are located in select zip codes across the country, including our region. The grant applications go live at 1:00 PM MST this Monday, April 20, 2020.
Click here
to learn more. We don't know how many grants will be given out, but may be worth a shot.
8) We're working with a number of amazing small businesses in the Golden Triangle to help fill their immediate cash gaps due to COVID-19. EIDL loans are slowly rolling out with new applications currently frozen, and PPP is frozen, at least for now. Some of the smallest businesses in our region including self-employed entrepreneurs, as well as developers and nonprofits, are financially stretched.
GFDA's Business Stabilization & Recovery Loans are evaluated on a case by case basis. Call or message Jolene to talk about your needs, 406.750.4481 or
[email protected]
. We provide gap and bridge loans to entrepreneurs, businesses, nonprofits and developers in Blaine, Cascade, Choteau, Fergus, Glacier, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, Pondera, Meagher, Teton, Toole and northern parts of Lewis & Clark counties. And, we have a number of financing partners in the region and elsewhere to help.
9) Through last Thursday, 13,456 Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans had been approved in Montana totaling $1,470,300,136. There have been complaints elsewhere that banks focused on larger businesses. Not here. Montana has the lowest average loan amount of any state or territory in the nation at $109,267. According to
Bloomberg, these loans represent 72.2% of Montana's eligible payroll. Montana ranks 10th highest state in percentage of eligible payroll included in approved PPP loans. Let's hope the program re-opens soon so the remainder of our businesses and self-employed entrepreneurs can get some help.
10) Ballots for the
Great Falls Public Schools elementary schools operating levy will be mailed this week. PLEASE VOTE and VOTE YES in this all-by-mail election. The school funding structure in Montana is that the state pays 80% and local taxpayers decide whether to pay the expected 20% local portion to fund teachers and school operations. Here in Great Falls we have not been funding our full 20% share. This has led to cuts over the last 10 years, cuts that have gone too deep. Federal CARES Act funds can only be used for COVID-19 related expenses, not regular operating expenses, so we need the levy more than ever. The Great Falls Development Authority's Board, representing over 100 leading local businesses and organizations, urges support for this critical vote. If you have time to make get-out-the-vote phone calls, sign up at
KidsEducationYes.com
. Here is a great
KEY video
to share. Also check out
KEY's Facebook page
.
11) If you are hiring right now, please let us know. We are sharing job links and employer career pages on our
website
to get the word out about open positions. Contact our Talent Attraction Director, Soren Chargois, at
[email protected]
or (406) 836-0147 about your open positions. Feel free to take a look if you or someone you know is looking for work. See below for a great career opportunity with GFDA.
13) GFDA's Executive Committee approved a brownfield clean-up grant of up to $12,000 to Cascade County to conduct an asbestos materials survey of the Old Cascade County Jail downtown. For info on our brownfield redevelopment services, contact Lillian at 406-750-1253 or
[email protected].
14) Although the pandemic downturn has negatively affected many businesses, there's still economic opportunity lingering out there. Consumers nationwide are purchasing more food online than they have before and some speculate the trend could continue post the current downturn. If you've thought about developing a food brand or currently have one, now might be the time to try to sell more and capture subscription sales online. If you want to brainstorm or explore ideas, contact Barnett at 406-750-3285 or
[email protected]
.
15) Want to double your voice and power in DC? The Montana Census count is way behind. If we end up being undercounted, we could lose our chance to get back a second seat in the House of Representatives. Last year's Census estimate placed Montana with the highest population per House seat at 1,068,778. The lowest population house seats are the two in Rhode Island at 529,681 each. Let's be sure everyone in Montana is counted so we have the best chance of grabbing that seat! It only takes a few minutes online at
16) In the last month we've called over 400 businesses across the Golden Triangle to listen, connect, and advise. We know there are so many more businesses that need assistance, but we don’t know how to reach them. Please help us connect with more businesses. They can contact Jolene at 406.750.4481 or
[email protected].
18) Hosted our weekly Golden Triangle Resource Provider discussion. This is a great opportunity for partners to share resources and ask questions of each other. These occur each Thursday at 2 PM. Let us know if you’d like to be part of the discussion, contact Nathan Reiff at
[email protected]. These partner discussions sprung out of an effort led by our Food & Ag Development Center last year, part of our efforts to improve the Golden Triangle's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Read about it
here.
19)
An innovate grass roots solution to small business funding is taking shape in Toole County. A group consisting of the
City of Shelby,
City of Sunburst
,
and
Toole County
officials and local business owners have initiated Toole County Forward. The group’s goal is to create a lending/grant pool from private and public investment to sustain Toole County businesses. In the last few weeks private business in Toole County have raised over $50,000 that will go to help businesses in Toole County. See
KRTV story
.
Look for more information about Toole County Forward to be released soon.
20) Thank you to this week’s Investor in Economic Development,
Wells Fargo
, for their Advanced Division investment. As an economic development organization, GFDA has a crucial role to play in supporting the region’s recovery. This investment is vital to support ongoing project implementation, redevelopment, and business resiliency efforts. GFDA remains adaptable as we assess, plan, and leverage resources throughout the region. To discuss investment, contact Teresa Schreiner at 406.781.9499 or
[email protected]
.
We are HUNGRY to Grow the Great Falls regional economy, create higher wage jobs, build our tax base, improve our market competitiveness, and enhance the quality of life and economic opportunity for residents of Great Falls, Cascade County, and the entire 13-county Great Falls trade area.
Brett
Brett Doney
President & CEO
Connect with me on
LinkedIn
to network with the Great Falls region.
Forward the GFDA Top 10 to friends and colleagues. You can join our distribution list
HERE
or text GFDA to 22828.
"Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation."
Michael Jordan
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GFDA Career Opportunity -- Commercial Lending Operations Specialist.
Experienced, self-motivated lending operations professional sought for two-person lending team within 15-person nonprofit economic development Community Development Financial Institution. Help us to continue to grow our gap and bridge financing efforts to support entrepreneurs, businesses, developers and non-profit organizations throughout the Great Falls trade area and across Montana. Responsible for working with borrowers to put together thorough and accurate loan application packages, preparing loan documents, coordinating loans closings, managing our loan portfolio, maintaining digital loan files, preparing reports to public and private loan capital sources, and maintaining excellent relationships with clients and bank partners. Requires working familiarity with commercial loan documents and recording, insurance, appraisals, and lending practices. Requires the ability to maintain accurate records, work with a wide variety of clients and bank partners, and excellent computer and communication skills. Must be detail-oriented and organized with the flexibility to help achieve our overall team mission. Experience with EDA, USDA, CDFI, EPA and/or SBA 504 loans a plus. Live on the Missouri River along the Rocky Mountain Front and work with a great team! Salary range $45,000-55,000+ with excellent benefits, professional development, growth opportunities, and flex-time work environment. EOE. Cover letter and resume to Brett Doney,
[email protected]
. Open until we find a great candidate.
Economic Development Services
See our updated
Great Falls Economic Development Menu of Services
which includes our expanded staff team. We provide award-winning and internationally-accredited economic development services throughout Montana's Golden Triangle, and SBA 504 loans statewide.
Cost-Effective Rail-Served Industrial Sites Available
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
[email protected]
April SBA 504 Loan Rates
The 25-year loan effective rate came in at 3.029%; 20-year at 2.955%; and, 10-year equipment 2.839%. 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 406-590-1056 or
[email protected]
.
Invest in Great Falls Regional Economic Development
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Events, Business Training, and Opportunities
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If you don't have a cybersecurity plan, you may not be able to win a federal government contract. On April 27th, we're hosting a special training for businesses currently or planning to do business with federal agencies.
Evolving Federal Contractor Cybersecurity Requirements
, presented by nationally recognized contracting expert Adam Austin, will help contractors meet new cybersecurity planning benchmarks.
Register here
. Enter code "GFDA" at checkout to receive a $50 discount off the registration fee.
The Montana Department of Agriculture is offering a round of mini Growth Through Agriculture Grants.
Projects will need to demonstrate how they expand Montana agriculture, but given the current public health situation with COVID-19 special attention will be paid to projects that strengthen and expand local food offerings, distribution, and infrastructure. Grant application deadline is May 22. See
GTA website for more info. Contact Barnett Sporkin-Morrison-Morrison for assistance at
[email protected] or 406-750-3285.
The
Great Falls Livability
relocation magazine is a new tool to help you recruit talent from out of town to relocate to the Great Falls trade area. Here is the
online link
to the magazine. For printed copies, and to have a conversation about best practices for recruiting employees, email Soren at
[email protected]
. Let's talk Talent Attraction!
We have
Brownfield Clean-Up
money that we want to put to work! Our low interest Brownfield Loans can be used to clean up hazardous materials including but not limited to lead paint, asbestos, etc. Are you working on a project that could use some clean up? Call Lillian today to discuss eligibility 406.750.1253 or
[email protected]
.
USDA has open grant rounds for the Value-Added Producer Grant, Rural Business Development Grant and Renewable Energy for America Programs. Visit
www.rd.usda.gov/mt
or contact Lea McGiboney for more info, 406-770-4291 or
[email protected]
. Let us know if we can help!
The Montana Department of Commerce's
State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
is offering grants to help businesses pay for translation of marketing materials to boost exports. The program also offers trade show grants and assistance. MDOC's Film Office is offering powerful new incentives to promote filming and production in Montana.
Click here
for details.
Of our online business planning tool, LivePlan, one said: "LivePlan is Awesome!" The
LivePlan tool
is helping her streamline her strategy in preparation for presenting to bank partners. We offer LivePlan licenses for free to active clients. Learn more about LivePlan on our
website
.
All of our recorded monthly
business strategy webinars
are available online for viewing anytime, click them out
here
.
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Vision
Hungry to Grow the Great Falls region
Mission
Grow and diversify the Great Falls regional economy.
Create higher wage career opportunities.
Improve market competitiveness.
The first economic development organization in the Rocky Mountain West to earn accreditation from the International Economic Development Council.
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 and Lenders.
GFDA is proud to host a Montana Small Business Development Center, a Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and a Montana Food & Ag Development Center. We are also proud to provide office space for the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center of MSU, and to be part of the Montana Cooperative Development Center network.
For more info, click to our
website
.
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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