Construction is making great progress on the Great Falls Aim High Big Sky Recreation Center & Natatorium; see KRTV.

1) Great Falls hosted three exciting business attraction prospects last week in the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and aerospace industries. In addition, Brett and Jolene hit the road to visit a successful out-of-state business considering expansion into our market. It appears Great Falls is on the map for a variety of exciting businesses. If you think Great Falls is the future home of your business or expansion, reach out to Jake at [email protected] and we will connect you with the information you need to move your project along here.

2) A Kids Nest Childcare has opened at 908 8th Ave. South in Great Falls; see The Electric. The American Bar re-opened in Stockett; see KRTV. Shelby Nails & Spa opened; see Shelby Promoter.

3) Last chance to register for the GFDA Annual Meeting & Awards event Tuesday, June 27, 8:00-9:30 AM at The Newberry in downtown Great Falls. It's free but please register so we have a good count for room set-up. REGISTER HERE.

4) Katesha traveled to Omaha, Nebraska for the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW ‘23) to gather industry resources and contacts supportive of renewable energy growth in our region. If you have a project involving renewable energy systems or energy upgrades and/or are an agricultural producer or a rural small business, we can help! Contact Katesha at 406.788.0860 or [email protected]. 

5) Great Falls Montana Tourism's Annual Meeting is this Thursday, June 22, Noon - 1:00 PM at the Hilton Garden Inn. Lunch will be served. Register here.

6) Congratulations to the 2023 NeighborWorks Great Falls' Most Improved Property Awards! Best New Commercial Building -- Independence Bank. Best New Residential Building -- Arc Apartment Homes. Best Interior Re-Adaptive Use of Space -- The Commons. Most Improved Commercial -- The Wild Hare.

7) The Montana Department of Commerce has extended the application deadline to December 31st for the Montana Cybersecurity Program will provide up to $8,000 reimbursement for your cybersecurity expenses. And don't forget about funds available for your workforce through the Incumbent Worker Training Program and the Primary Workforce Training Grant. We can help you access these programs if you run into snags.

8) I flew to DC to participate in the ICSC Fly-in to discuss issues affecting commercial real estate with congressional staff and network with commercial developers and investors. Commercial real estate marketplaces represent 37.9% of Montana's GDP with 130 marketplaces, 5,172 tenants, 118,256 jobs (16.3% of state jobs), and $24.7 billion in sales in 2022, according to ICSC. Montana Marketplaces paid $107.5 million in property taxes in 2022

9) The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Great Falls is set to begin classes at the end of July; see the Great Falls Tribune. 83 million people in the US live in areas in which access to a primary care physician is scarce. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the US could see an estimated shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034.

10) The Gibson Hotel is opening this month in downtown Great Falls. The décor of the 44-room boutique hotel is Great Falls inspired and ready for summer visitors. Learn more about the redevelopment of this historic property in our Announcement of the Week.

11) We partnered with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry on their Assistance for Business Clinics in Cut Bank and Great Falls. Tony traveled to Cut Bank and presented on solutions for small businesses and startups. Jake presented on talent attraction and other economic development tools available to employers in our region. Do you have an idea for a business? Do you need information on how to start a business? Perhaps you are looking for ways to make your business more efficient. Reach out to Tony at [email protected] to see what resources we have to help get your business or idea on the right track. 

12) Congratulations to Life in Bloom for celebrating 2 years in Downtown Great Falls. They are just one example of the success your business can have Downtown and now is the time to expand or open your business in Downtown Great Falls. If you are interested in investing in Downtown Great Falls, call Christian at 406.836.0136.

13) Please join NeighborWorks Great Falls, the Great Falls Development Authority and Hygienix on Monday, June 26th, 6pm at the NeighborWorks Great Falls Meeting Room, 509 1st Ave S, Great Falls, for a Public Meeting about the Hazardous Waste cleanup of the Baatz Building located at 400 2nd Avenue South in Downtown Great Falls.  Will be speaking on the scope of the project, the nature of Brownfields program, the role of the redevelopment in the community, environmental hazards, and hazard mitigation. GFDA will also present the draft ABCA (Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives) for public review.

14) The State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 (SSBCI 2.0) low interest rate program is accepting new applications. These funds are limited and will be put to work very quickly to help our economy recover and come back stronger than ever. If you have a business startup or expansion planned that could benefit from a loan participation, contact Jill at [email protected] or 1-406-590-1056.

15) Mark your calendars! As part of our effort to increase housing production in Great Falls, GFDA is partnering with the Montana Facility Finance Authority to offer a free interactive presentation on the C-PACE program and how this and other tools can be leveraged to get housing projects off the ground. The event will be held on Thursday, July 20, at 10:30 AM at Great Falls College MSU in room B101. Registration will be live soon! Contact Jake with questions, [email protected].

16) We extend our gratitude to our INVESTORS and public partners, as the work we do would not be possible without their unwavering support. Discover more about these remarkable contributors HERE. They serve as catalysts for change, playing a vital role in our efforts to grow and diversify the regional economy. Recent investments include: Pacesetter Division-- Kelley Aline, Edward Jones; Community Division-- Shumaker Trucking & Excavating. Their continued dedication and support are crucial to our success. We recognize that without them, our achievements would be limited. If you are interested in joining our team of investors and becoming part of the exciting development unfolding in our community, please reach out to Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 406-781-9499 or [email protected]. Together, let's create a thriving future for our community.

Enjoy a great, profitable week!

Brett

Brett Doney

President & CEO

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!

"Don’t wait until conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes conditions perfect."

Alan Cohen

Edition 587

Download our GFDA Services and Staff Team handout or our GFDA 2023Q1 Quarter Index. View the We Are Great Falls video!

GFDA Staff Openings

We have two great career opportunities to join the GFDA staff team. Download info on Business Development Officer and Small Business Advisor -- Director Regional Small Business Development Center. GFDA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer!

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; download AgriTech Park Flyer. Contact Jolene Schalper at 1.406.750.4481 or [email protected]

June SBA 504 Loan Rates

The 25-year loan effective rate (including all fees) is 6.329%; 20-year at 6.381%; 10-year equipment loan at 6.036%; and, 20-year refinance 6.400%; 25-year refinance 6.347%. 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].

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.

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 Christian at 406.836.0136 or email [email protected] and 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 Lyndsay Bruno at [email protected] or at (406) 590 – 1539 to be connected with a JobsEQ-trained Business Advisor today. To learn more about our talent attraction tools visit our website. 

Central Montana Works announced the Worlds of Work (WOW) career expo will be held on Tuesday, September 26th at Great Falls College MSU and University of Providence. To register your company for the event go to: Worlds of Work (WOW) 2023. If you need to edit your existing participant profile, need assistance with registration, or additional sponsorship information, please reach out to Alyssa at [email protected] or call 761-4434.

We launched the new Livability Great Falls Magazine. Find and share Livability Great Falls online or contact Lyndsay Bruno at [email protected] or (406) 590 – 1539 for hard copies of the magazine. 

Recruiters are you hiring for a job position that is a:  

• High level position 
• High salary position 
• Out-of-the-box/unique/creative position? 

Help us attract workforce to move to Great Falls - send us a one sentence description of the job, 3-5 of your company's top employee benefits, salary (if listed), and link to apply for your job to [email protected] to be included in the Hot Jobs in Great Falls blog post.  

The 2023 Montana Food and Beverage Show, hosted by the Montana Department of Agriculture, is scheduled for October 16 in Missoula. The show allows Montana businesses ro showcase their food and beverage products to professional buyers from restaurants, hotels, bars, retailers, and more.

Navy Week - Doing Business with the Department of Navy & GovMatch Event (Billings Depot on Montana Avenue) - Join the Montana APEX Accelerator (formerly known as Procurement Technical Assistance Center - PTAC) August 9th from 9 AM – 5 PM as they welcome Mr. David E. Walz to Billings. Mr. Walz is the Deputy Small Business Program, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport. He serves as the principal advisor and advocate to the commander, senior management, contracts, and the technical department on all matters pertaining to small business program. During this event, businesses will receive information on the following topics: 1. Department of the Navy (DON) Office of Small Business Programs' Achievements and Goals 2. The DON OSBP Mentor-Protégé Program 3. Preparing for the DON procurement process 4. Resources and assistance to help businesses 5. GovMatch event in the afternoon. You will be able to meet with various other federal agencies in the afternoon. To register, click here. If you have any questions, contact Shannon Clancy [email protected].

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 to lower operating costs or to install renewable energy systems. Quarterly competitions will be held through September 30th. See MATR.net for more info. Contact Katesha Campbell if you would like help with applying; [email protected] or 1-406-788-0860. 

The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center has launched an apprenticeship program. The Certified Manufacturing Associate Apprenticeship is a one-year program that combines on-the-job training with online technical classes on safety, math and measurements, manufacturing processes, and quality control.

Are you in the planning and development phase of expanding your agricultural product or adding value to Montana agriculture by expanding your product into new markets? Montana’s Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) Business Acceleration Program (BAP) and Market Development Program (MDP) grants could help! Funds are available; click here for more information or contact Katesha at [email protected].

The 341st Contracting Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB), is contemplating a solicitation for a multiple award contract (MAC) and is looking for responses to this Sources Sought Notification. Awarded MAC indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts would be for the construction of structures and facilities, repair, maintenance, and alteration of real property assets within the confines of Malmstrom AFB, Weapons Storage Area (WSA), and Missile Alert Facility (MAF) and Launch Facility (LF) sites located within the Missile Complex throughout Montana. This is a great opportunity to Introduce your company to the Contracting Wing at Malmstrom AFB. Do you have a Capability Statement prepared that you can provide with your Sources Sought reply? If not, contact us at [email protected]. For more information on the Notice, click here.



ArtsFest Montana will return to downtown Great Falls August 11-18. The Business Improvement District is looking for property owners who would like to have a professionally painted mural installed on their building. Contact Kellie at [email protected] or 1-406-727-5430. See TheElectric for more details.

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 Tony Peres at 1-406-750-2099 or [email protected]. We also have some small business or nonprofit startup or expansion loan funds available for Glacier and Blaine counties.

Employers, are you aware of the Incumbent Worker Training program, Trades education & Training Tax Credit, and other resources available at the Montana Department of Labor & Industry? Check out their latest resource newsletter.

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.

Do you have open government contracts? Is your SAM.gov registered due to renew in the next few months? SAM.gov continues to have issues with the transition of the new validation process. 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 [email protected] for assistance. 

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.

Montana STEP grants can pay for 75% of your international export marketing efforts up to $10,000. The Montana TechLink Center at MSU is offering a new round of workshops on how to win Small Business Innovation Research funding.

We have migrated our pre-business workshop for early stage and pre-venture startups to a self-paced, video-facilitated, online format. Business Basics for Startups is now live and ready for beta testing. If you’d like to check out the content and provide feedback, we’d appreciate it. Click here to check out the new modules and resources. Please direct feedback to Rich at [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected] or 1-406-836-2078.

Join the Trailing Partner Email Group specifically for 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 will be sharing their resumes (with their permission) on the Trailing Partner Email Group.

The Great Falls Housing Market Assessment shows a need for over 450 new housing units per year in the immediate Great Falls area. For assistance with housing development, contact Jake Clark at [email protected] 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. The Great Falls At-A-Glance two-pager is a great complementary resource that highlights Great Falls for people unfamiliar with our community.



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].

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.

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 Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and a Montana Food & Ag Development Center. We are also proud to provide office space for MSU's Montana Manufacturing Extension Center and an SBA Women's Business Center in partnership with the University of Montana and the Montana Native Growth Fund.

GFDA was the first economic development organization in the Rocky Mountain West to earn accreditation from the International Economic Development Council.

For more info, click to our website.