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Chase Wright performed at the Downtown Summer Jam on Thursday. The Downtown Summer Jam is a music festival for three nights in June, July and August on Central Ave and 5th Street in the heart of Great Falls. The Downtown Summer Jam was started in 2018 by The Enbär Craft Cocktail Lounge, Fat Tuesdays Casino, and The Mighty Mo Brewing Co. 

1) Another new business is opening this fall at West Bank Landing! Greater Good Health will open its first primary care clinics for adults on Medicare in Great Falls this fall. They are holding a hiring event to meet you and share more about their senior-focused primary care model and opportunities to join their team! The event will be Tuesday July 11th 5 – 7 PM at the SpringHill Suites 421 3rd St NW Great Falls, MT. 

2) 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.

3) We approved an $85,000 loan to help a rural business open a new location in Glacier County. We provide gap and bridge loans to help business startups and expansions and real estate developments throughout the Golden Triangle region. If you can't get all the capital you need from your bank or credit union, contact Tony at 406-750-2099 or [email protected]. We are still accepting applications for the low interest State Small Business Credit Initiative program in which we participate with banks and credit unions. Especially looking for rural, minority and tribal entrepreneurs and small businesses for this limited opportunity.

4) 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.

5) We presented a APEX Accelerator webinar on how to “Influence Federal Agencies With A Compelling Capability Statement”. A dynamic capability statement is the perfect tool to showcase your business and highlight your unique strengths and qualifications. If you would like more information on how to put together your capability statement for maximum impact, contact [email protected]. 

6) Congratulations Benefis Teton Medical Center as being identified as one of the top 20 critical access hospitals in America among 1,353 candidates! Also, congratulations to Linda Michaels Salon and Day Spa on your Backing Small Business Grant! The grant will allow them to expand. Congratulations to The Gibson Hotel at 621 Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls on their grand opening! We're happy to be a part of this fantastic deal. If you need help with your next renovation or reconstruction project give Tony a call, 406.750.2099.

7) We hosted our quarterly Site Selector call in collaboration with the State Department of Commerce Business Attraction team and several other Montana communities. These are an opportunity to introduce these site selection specialists to our community assets. 

8) Are you a Meat or Poultry Processor wanting to GROW or EXPAND? You can apply for funding that can be used to start up, expand, or purchase land or equipment, or make energy efficient upgrades for your processing operations. Get in contact with Katesha at 406.788.0860 or [email protected] for more information. 

9) Congratulations to Cut Bank's Reimagining Rural group on being recognized with a Community Partnership Award by the National Extension Association of family Consumer Science Agents! See Cut Bank Pioneer Press. Furtnerity Pet Resort and Daycare is now open in Conrad. Opening her own pet-related business has been a dream of Mandy Wood's for years. Mandy worked with our Small Business Development Center to realize her dream. Learn more in our Announcement of the Week.

10) We partnered with Big Sky Economic Development Authority of Billings in hosting a company looking to bring their business to Montana in order to help electric companies improve their services throughout our rural communities. Are you looking to start, grow, or expand your business, contact Katesha at [email protected].

11) More new businesses opened in Great Falls, including Raud Dogz Gym (see KRTV) and Silhouette Bridal Studio (see KRTV). See more in TheElectric's Business Bites.

12) The International Economic Development Council's Research Partners, of which GFDA is a proud member, published a new report, download Live, Work and Play: Retaining and Attracting Tomorrow's Talent.

13) Kudos to Montana's Rural Employment Opportunities who was 1 of 4 career services and training non-profits in the nation chosen as "Super Recruiters" (aka, high performing case managers) for the National Farmworkers Job Program! If you are a farm, ranch, or migrant worker looking to take advantage of educational opportunities in order to increase your economic base, contact Katesha at [email protected] or 406.788.0860. 

14) Central Montana Works!’s second annual Worlds of Work™ (WOW™) will be held in Great Falls on September 26th. WOW™ is not your typical job fair, but a hands-on career exploration event which opens new avenues of opportunity for middle school and high school students they never knew were possible. The goal for this second year is to have approximately 100 businesses spread across sixteen “worlds,” each of which represents one of the sixteen nationally recognized career clusters. If you are a business interested in being an exhibitor at Worlds of Work™, please click here. If you need to edit your existing participant profile, need assistance with registration, or are interested in sponsorship information, please reach out to Alyssa Larkey at [email protected] or call 761-4434.  

15) Julie Curtis of Great Falls owns and operates Nosh MT Catering, a small business which focuses on sustainable, locally-sourced cooking. Her latest venture? Applying herself to the “Favorite Chef” Competition, a national contest involving hundreds of chefs; See KRTV for voting. See our earlier Announcement of the Week on Nosh MT Catering.

16) Tony has been on the road again this week traveling the region meeting with businesses and community organizations in preparation for a new educational series we will be rolling out. Business Focus will bring monthly topics delivered by specialists to communities in the region that will focus on the life blood of business and the resources available to all in any stage of business. If you'd like to know more or if your agency would like to partner in this series please reach out to Tony at [email protected] or 406-750-2099.

17) The GFDA Board has recently made a leap forward by appointing the GFDA Council—an endeavor designed to foster engagement and involvement from influential community members who, due to various reasons, may not be able to serve on the board. These council members will play a crucial role in enriching our discussions through their valuable input and active participation. Please join us in extending a welcome to these esteemed founding members of the GFDA Council: Amber Plant of TC Glass; Brad Talcott of James Talcott Construction; Brandon Rosten of Pacific Steel & Recycling; Colleen Hill & Gerald Gray of the Little Shell Tribe; Dan Rooney of ADF International; Jana Cooper of TD&H Engineering; Jeremiah Johnson of Jeremiah Johnson Brewing; Keith Cron of Hygienix, LLC; Mike Hallahan of Enbar/The Block; Ron Nelson of Front Range Law, PLLC; Spencer Woith of Woith Engineering; Tim Peterson of LPW Architecture/The Newberry; and, Zach Huber of Action Plumbing & Construction. We are truly grateful for the unique perspectives they offer and the invaluable insights they will contribute.

18) Are you an agribusiness looking for help with cost related to international or domestic trade shows including international product labeling, advertising, translation, and more?  WUSATA and the Montana Department of Food and Agriculture provide up to 50% reimbursement on eligible international trade expenditures for small-medium sized agribusinesses to promote U.S. food and agricultural products around the globe. Register for a FREE FundMatch informational webinar September 18, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM HERE or contact [email protected].

19) I was back on the road participating in the Opportunity Finance Network's CDFI Small Business Finance Forum in Chicago which gave me the opportunity to exchange ideas with peers, meet with loan capital sources, and meet with federal leaders. Then I was in DC to participate in a special Association of Defense Communities meeting with USAF and federal leaders to discuss next steps in partnering to protect national security in regard to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Real estate transactions involving foreign owned companies or companies financed by foreign entities within 99 miles of MAFB and its missile fields fall under the jurisdiction of this US Treasury review. We will be holding trainings on this throughout the region.

20) We extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of our INVESTORS and public partners for their support and commitment to our mission. They have been instrumental in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and creating opportunities for success in our community. Learn more about them HERE. Their ongoing investment and involvement play a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of our community and building a prosperous future for all. Together, let us continue to drive innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and create a vibrant business ecosystem in our region. If you’d like to join our team of investors, reach out to Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 406-781-9499 or [email protected].

More exciting things in the works!

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!

"We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success."

Henry David Thoreau

Edition 588

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!

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]

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].

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].

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.

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 [email protected] 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 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. 

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 to showcase their food and beverage products to professional buyers from restaurants, hotels, bars, retailers, and more.

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.

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.

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. All of our recorded monthly business strategy webinars are available online for viewing anytime, check them out here. 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Great Falls Development Alliance | GrowGreatFallsMontana.org