Whether you're just getting started, looking for new customers, wanting to grow sales through e-commerce, or focusing on workforce.
We're here to help.

Check out the upcoming trainings below!
Great Falls Business Pitch
January 17
5:30-7:30 pm

Do you have a business idea, but unsure where to start? On January 17 at 5:30 at Fire Pizza in Great Falls we are holding a Business Pitch event. Business Pitch is a fun, informal event to share your business or project! Learn about valuable tools and resources to bring your business idea to life.
Blackfeet Small Business Pitch
January 28
11 am - 2 pm

Join us for this free, working lunch and pitch your business idea on January 18 from 11 am - 2 pm at Glacier Peaks Bingo Hall in Browning. Small Business Advisor Rich Gannon and Small Business Navigator Tony Peres will lead the event. This event will empower you to pitch your business in preparation for either the video contest that will conclude February 8th or the live pitch event on April 12th. Please register here.
Tiny Training Webinar Series for Childcare Providers
January 26
1:30 - 2:30 pm

The Tiny Training webinar series is offered by Zero to Five Montana and is targeted to childcare business owners, community members interested in starting childcare solutions, and anyone with interest in the topic of childcare as workforce infrastructure. The next webinar in this series will take place on January 12. Register here.
Beef & Beer, Pulse & Produce: How the State Can Assist with Grants
February 2
11-11:30 am

This session will look at several different grant programs offered to businesses and Ag producers by the Montana Department of Agriculture to help small and large businesses with expansion efforts. These programs include the Growth Through Agriculture Program, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, Business Acceleration Program and the Marketing Development Program. Aly will provide an overview of who is eligible for each program and what activities each program can support. Register here for this webinar.
Government Contracting with Northrop Grumman Corporation
February 9
8 am

February kicks off the first event in the quarterly series Strategic Teaming Alliance Roundtable. This series is designed to help businesses with navigating and benefiting from doing business with government agencies and large federal contractors. Join us in-person at the Great Falls Development Authority office or online. Register for the in-person event here. Register for the online event here.

Contact Lillian Sunwall at (406) 750-1253 or Shannon Clancy at (406) 590-1184 with questions.
Questions about our training and programs?
Connect with Tony Peres

Tony Peres
Small Business Navigator
(406) 750-2099
Our Mission
Grow diverse economic opportunities that enhance quality of life.

Great Falls Region Community Vision
The Great Falls Region will be a proud, positive, and vibrant community, which welcomes new people, new investments, and innovative opportunities while celebrating its authentic and diverse Montana culture. Our community will be a safe and inclusive place to raise families and will offer opportunities for individual growth and quality of life, which retains and grows our population.

GFDA Organizational Vision
Great Falls Development Authority will be a change agent, catalyst, and facilitator in the Great Falls region, fostering collaboration and partnerships to support diverse economic opportunities, innovation, and growth. Our economic development organization will be a high performing leader in attracting new investment and talent. Our work providing access to capital, consulting, training and resources for entrepreneurs, businesses, developers, and nonprofits will transform Great Falls and the surrounding 13-county trade area into a thriving regional economy that enhances the standard of living for our people.    

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 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.