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1) The Great Falls City Commission unanimously approved the Conditional Use Permit for Ponderosa Solutions LLC, a transload facility, in the Great Falls AgriTech Park. We’ve been working towards a transload facility since 2014 and specifically with Ponderosa since 2018. Welcome to the AgriTech! Click here for The Electric article.
2) We released the 2024 updated Housing Market Demand Assessment for Great Falls prepared by the Concord Group at our 2024 Great Falls housing summit; see KRTV, TheElectric and KFBB. The assessment validates an unmet market demand of over 600 units of housing per year through 2034. It's time to get moving on that housing project you have been considering! Call Jake at 1-406-403-4937 or email Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org to get the ball rolling.
3) We reached record 4th quarter employment in 2023Q4 according to data released by JobsEQ. In the Great Falls labor market there are 3,031 distinct job postings active in the last 30 days.
4) Congratulations to MVD Express on their grand opening in West Bank Landing; see KRTV. Offering convenient walk-in licensing and vehicle title services, owner and founder Janice Lucero expressed her enthusiasm about expanding to Great Falls after being in Montana since 2018. Welcome to Great Falls and thank you for investing in our community.
5) Coming up on Wednesday April 24, The Great Falls Civic Center will host a Hiring Fair & Career Exploration event from 11am until 6pm. Whether you're a seasoned professional, recent graduate, aspiring entrepreneur, or currently unemployed this event is your gateway to success. For more information, call Job Service Great Falls at 1-406-791-5800.
6) Congratulations to Grady Costello who is now the new owner of Fire Artisan Pizza in Downtown Great Falls. Grady has been running the Great Falls location for the past few years as the location Manager and has worked towards owning the location. Congratulations Grady!
7) Have you registered for the Malmstrom Industry Day yet? Come join APEX at Great Falls College in Heritage Hall on Wednesday, April 24th from 10:00 AM -1:00 PM to engage with the 341st Contract Squadron Construction flight and Services from Malmstrom AFB. This is an in-person event only! Discover valuable insights on conducting business with the U.S. Air Force followed by an interactive Question and Answer Session. Bring your capability statement to share with contracting officers and potential partners. To Register, CLICK HERE! For assistance with creating a capability statement or updating an existing one, contact Lillian Sunwall at1-406-750-1253 or LSunwall@GrowGreatFalls.org or Shannon Clancy at 1-406-590-1184 or SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org
8) Community leaders celebrated completion of the Civic Center renovations in Downtown Great Falls; see KRTV.
9) Attention Great Falls employers and recruiters; GFDA is hosting a Talent Attraction & Livability Launch Reception on Wednesday, May 15th from 4:00-5:00 PM at the Arc Apartment Homes clubhouse. Register here. This event aims to introduce and discuss various tools that can support your workforce needs. Pick up your copies of the 2024 Livability Great Falls magazine, learn about our many talent attraction resources available to employers, and visit with GFDA staff to answer questions. Recruiters, HR directors, and individuals responsible for hiring within organizations; this event can offer valuable insights and strategies to enhance your recruitment efforts. Contact Tracy Heggem at 1-406-788-1192 or Tracy@GrowGreatFalls.org for more information.
10) This week marked the launch of The Great Falls APEX Government Contracting Strategic Series! Participants gained insight on how to register as a vendor with Northrop Grumman and given the tools to create an impactful capability statement using six key elements. Approval as a vendor with Northrup Grumman for the upcoming Sentinel Project can take up to two years. Take this opportunity to start early. If you would like details on initiating the vendor registration process and prepare your capability statement for upload to the Northrop Grumman vendor portal, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.
11) We have scheduled our first Angel Investor Networking event for May! The purpose of the event is to connect those seeking investment capital to those looking to invest capital in the region. If your project is seeking equity, OR if you are an investor looking to diversify your portfolio by investing in the Great Falls region, we want to hear from you. For more information, please contact Tyler Menzales at TMenzales@GrowGreatFalls.org or call 1-406-217-7862.
12) We responded to two new requests for information from companies considering bases of operation and manufacturing in Great Falls in partnership with the Montana Department of Commerce.
13) GFDA utilized Brownfields funds to pay for a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment for Robyn’s Nest Daycare. This will add an additional 50 daycare spots and more jobs to the Great Falls community. The Assessment was critical for this building housing future childcare services. Ensuring the building is clear of recognized environmental contaminants, including petroleum, lead-based paint and asbestos is essential for the safety of the children and staff. If you’re looking to purchase a commercial property for your business, prior to signing, please reach out to Christian Nichols at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-9385, or schedule a meeting CLICK HERE!!
14) Why Employee Retention Matters for Small Businesses. In today's competitive business landscape, employee retention is a critical factor that can make or break a company's success, especially for small businesses. High employee turnover rates can be a significant drain on resources, impacting productivity, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Low employee turnover offers many benefits for small businesses. It ensures continuity in operations, reducing the time and costs associated with recruiting, hiring, and training new employees.
Experienced employees possess valuable knowledge about the business, its products, and services, enabling them to make informed decisions and provide better customer service. Losing them due to turnover would deplete the company assets over and over.
Creating a positive work environment is key to retaining valuable employees. This can be achieved by offering competitive compensation and benefits packages, providing opportunities for professional development and career growth, and fostering a culture of open communication and recognition.
Small businesses can make effective use of technology to gather data on employee turnover and identify patterns or areas that require attention. By analyzing this data, managers can develop targeted strategies to address issues, streamline processes, and increase employee engagement.
Encouraging team building and fostering strong relationships among colleagues can also contribute to a positive work culture. When employees feel a sense of belonging, they are more likely to stay with the company for the long term.
While larger companies may have more resources to invest in employee retention, small businesses can still create a positive work environment by closely mentoring employees, providing opportunities for increased responsibilities through delegation and group leadership, and promoting an inclusive culture that values job satisfaction.
Reducing employee turnover should be a priority for businesses of all sizes. The rewards of improved retention include increased productivity, better customer service, and a stronger competitive edge. By investing in employee retention strategies, small businesses can create a loyal and engaged workforce, positioning themselves for long-term growth and success.
Want to learn more about employee retention? Have questions in general? please reach out to Alan Gohary at AGohary@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-0314. For a no-cost business consulting from GFDA Small Business Development Center, please click here to sign up.
15) We are pleased to announce that the contract to conduct an Energy Market Demand Assessment has been awarded to the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). Over the next several months, RMI will be conducting a region-wide energy market demand assessment to produce an economic development strategy that will allow GFDA to pursue market-driven opportunities to attract more energy investment to the region. If you have questions regarding this initiative, please reach out to Tyler Menzales at TMenzales@GrowGreatFalls.org or call 1-406-217-7862.
16) Anna completed her Rural Grocery Transition Specialist certification through Kansas State University. She is now the only one to hold this certification in the state, Congratulations Anna!
17) Our three small business advisors, Christian Nichols, Al Gohary, and Rich Gannon attended a statewide meeting of small business advisors in Helena this week. This gathering brought together business advisors from across Montana who specialize in providing guidance and support to entrepreneurs and small business owners. The advisors shared tips and insights specific to the Montana business landscape, addressing the unique opportunities and obstacles faced by local entrepreneurs. Have questions regarding your business or thinking of starting a business and need a road map? please reach out to Alan Gohary at AGohary@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-0314.
18) We Are Growing Our Awesome Staff Team. Download a description of openings for Loan Officer and Communications & Marketing Specialist.
19) Economic development thrives on the support and engagement of the community. We are thankful for such a large and diverse team of investors and public partners that understand the importance of our work and continue to support our efforts. Learn more about them by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Advance Division-First Interstate Bank; Leadership Division-Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Montana; Community Division-Montana Milling, Inc; and Tim & Johnna Lightbourne. Their continued support enables us to drive positive change, unlock potential, and build a brighter future for all who call our region home. If you’d like to learn about our economic development strategy and how you can support or efforts, contact Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
We're making progress!
Brett
Brett Doney
President & CEO
1-406-750-2119
BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org
Connect with me on LinkedIn to network with the Great Falls Montana region.
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"Celebrate your successes. Find some humor in your failures."
Sam Walton
Edition 629
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