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The City of Great Falls and Malmstrom AFB celebrated the opening of the Scheels Aim High Big Sky Aquatic and Recreation Center! The center features an 8 lane lap pool, recreation pool with water slide, lazy river, full court gym with basketball, volleyball and pickle ball, weight and cardio equipment, fitness rooms, party and programming spaces, and a lounge with fire place. Congratulations and THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this great addition to our community a reality! See TheElectric and KRTV.

1) GFDA closed a loan to Midvale Properties LLC, in the amount of $350,000 that will help expand tourism in East Glacier. Currently the business is operating Rising Wolf Outfitters LLC and is expanding to include dining options as well. We were able to help the client secure the necessary funds while utilizing the State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 (SSBCI 2.0) low interest rate funding. If your business needs assistance with financing to start, grow or innovate please contact Jill Kohles at 1-406-590-1056 or JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org


2) Congratulations to Bob Quinn on opening the Quinn Institute in Big Sandy! Anna attended the ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of this new research facility dedicated to promoting more sustainable ways to farm, cook, and live and to network with other producers and processors dedicated to this vision. See KRTV.


3) The State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 (SSBCI 2.0) low interest rate program announced another round of funding. If you have a project that could move forward with the benefit of low interest rate funding, start talking to GFDA now as these funds are very limited. State priorities this round are Native American owned businesses, Veteran owned businesses, and businesses located in rural areas. If you have a business that can benefit from these funds contact Jill at JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1056.


4) Have you registered for the Northrop Grumman virtual session 'What’s the Flow & Where Does it Go?' taking place on Wednesday, July 24th, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. Join our Great Falls Regional APEX and Tracy Jerman from Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector Strategic Deterrent Systems to learn what happens after Northrop Grumman receives your capability statement. Other topics will include Northrop Grumman Portal and Doing Business with Large Federal Contractors. To Register CLICK HERE! For assistance with creating an impactful capability statement or updating an existing one, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or at 1-406-590-1184.


5) Cushing Terrell has acquired Eclipse Engineering, a structural engineering firm, with offices in Colorado, Oregon, Montana and Washington. See TheElectric's Business Bites. Congratulations to Karen Schaefer on opening a Sign Gypsies franchise in Cascade County.


6) We assisted an entrepreneur looking to buy an existing business in gaining a better understanding of the industry as a whole. Using two sources, BizMiner and Vertical IQ, we provided the client with industry financial benchmarks and trends. Our Small Business Development Center has access to these tools and other resources free of charge for our clients. If you're interested in gaining industry insight, contact Rich or Christian at our Small Business Development Center, or contact Rich directly at 1-406-836-2087 or RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org


7) We approved providing a Phase I on the Union Bethel A M E Church. This environmental assessment will assist in the renovation of the church including external masonry repair and making the church ADA accessible, including disabled bathrooms and a ramp into the church. If you’re looking to redevelop a current facility or purchase a commercial building for a new business, please contact Christian Nichols at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-9385 prior to redevelopment or purchase to ensure there are no contaminates.


8) Touro University of Osteopathic Medicine is planning a Vendor Fair for students on Tuesday, July 30 from 3:30-6:00 PM on the Great Falls campus. The idea of the event is to have tables with businesses/organizations in the local area that may be of interest to the students. For example: gyms, voter registration, Medicaid/SNAP Benefits, cell phone companies, insurance companies, salons, spas, mental health resources, internet companies, shopping, the list goes on! Reach out to Alaina Ingram, Assistant Registrar/Student Account Representative at 1-406-401-8103 or aingram3@touro.edu if your business would like to join the fair.  


9) SBA 504 financing is a great tool that an entrepreneur may be available to use to help start, innovate, or expand by providing fixed, low interest rate financing for up to 25 years. We secured approval from the SBA for an SBA 504 loan for a small manufacturer that is looking to expand. The loan was in the amount of $3,877,600 and will leverage an additional $6,134,000. Does your project have a financing gap? Please reach out to Jill Kohles at 1-406-590-1056 or JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org to discuss your options.


10) Is your SAM.gov registration due to renew in the next few months? 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 1-406-590-1184 or SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org for assistance. 


11) Congratulations to Bradley Lopez of Calumet Montana Refining and Montana Renewables and Tina Nolevanko of Pacific Steel and Recycling on being selected to take part in the sixth class of Montana State University Extension's REAL Montana program offering in-depth education and training in the agriculture and natural resource industries. Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership (REAL) Montana is a comprehensive two-year program featuring eight in-state seminars, a weeklong national study tour in Washington, D.C., and a 12-day international trip. 


12) Feddes Family Meats in Manhattan and Glacier Processing Cooperative in Kalispell won $250,000 each from the USDA's Local Meat Capacity Grant to purchase new equipment and better serve their local economies. If you are considering starting a meat processing facility or looking to upgrade or expand your current one but would like assistance in navigating the process, reach out to GFDA's Food and Ag specialist, Anna Flies. You can reach her at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301. 


13) The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has recently announced that it will temporarily pause accepting applications for federal small business certifications beginning August 1st through September as it performs system upgrades to its certifications portal. If you’ve been working on your certification application, we recommend completing your submission before August 1st. If you aren’t in a rush to certify (or re-certify) your business, the SBA plans to re-open its certification portal and continue accepting applications in early September. Contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.


14) Congratulations to GFDA team member Christian Leinhauser for completing the JobsEQ FIT certification program through Chmura Economics! This achievement enhances his ability to leverage JobsEQ analytics effectively, enabling him to craft data-driven strategies for promoting economic development, fostering regional talent, designing educational programs, and maximizing the use of JobsEQ.


15) We are preparing to welcome the next class of Touro COM students into our community and we need your help! Last year, businesses and community members supported the students by hosting small groups for dinners, sponsoring white coats and more. See KRTV. If you’d like to join us in welcoming this new class, reach out to Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.orgClick here to sponsor a white coat for an incoming student.


16) We participated in the kickoff of the City of Great Falls Growth Policy steering committee as well as the new cohort of Equitable Lending Leaders, focused on improving lending to Native-owned businesses. We also filed a subdivision in the Great Falls AgriTech Park that creates lots for three local businesses looking to expand.


17) We are excited to announce the addition of five outstanding community leaders to our board. Welcome to the GFDA Board of Directors: Heather Hoyer of Great Falls Public Schools, Kyle Herda of First Interstate Bank, Dale Nelson of Nelson Architects, Brett Harris of Farmers Insurance, and Jayson Olthoff of First Call Computer Solutions. They bring a wealth of diverse expertise and a shared commitment to our mission, which will help us continue to grow and serve our community. We look forward to their contributions and are excited about the fresh perspectives they will bring to our organization. Welcome to the team!


18) We Are Growing Our Awesome Staff Team. Download a description of openings for Director Regional Small Business Development Center, Lending Solutions Specialist, and Business Advisor -- APEX Accelerator. Contact Tracy for more info at Tracy@GrowGreatFalls.org.


Stay cool and have a great week!


Brett


Brett Doney

Great Falls Development Alliance

BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org

1-406-750-2119


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.


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"Forget not on every occasion to ask thyself, is this not one of the unnecessary things?"

Marcus Aurelius



Edition 641

DOWNLOAD OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
DOWNLOAD OUR GFDA SERVICES AND STAFF TEAM HANDOUT
DOWNLOAD 2024Q1 QUARTER INDEX

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 JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org

DOWNLOAD AGRITECH FLYER

July 2024 SBA 504 Loan Interest Rates

The 25-year loan effective rate (including all fees) is 6.201%; 20-year at 6.270%; 10-year equipment loan at 6.476%; and, 20-year refinance 6.300%; 25-year refinance 6.230%. 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 1-406-590-1056 or JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org.

Events, Business Trainings & Opportunities

The Montana Indian Equity Fund is now open for applications. The Indian Equity Fund (IEF) is a competitive business grant available to enrolled members of Montana-based tribes. Our Small Business Development Center will be hosting two workshops to assist applicants with the grant application process. The first workshop will be held on July 30th in Great Falls, and the second will be on August 6th in Browning. To register for the Great Falls workshop, click here. To sign up for the Browning workshop, click here.   If you have any questions about the IEF, please contact Rich Gannon, our small business advisor, at 1-406-836-2087 or RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org.


The second annual Montana Child Care Business Connect Summit will be held August 7-8 in Helena.


The 2024 Great Falls Housing Market Assessment shows a need for 650 new housing units per year in the immediate Great Falls area. For assistance with housing development, contact Jake Clark at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937.


Great Falls Recruiters and HR professionals! Here is a link to our Talent Attraction Toolkit and the 2024 Great Falls Livability Magazine, part of our effort to help local businesses attract the talent they need for key positions. 


We released a Population Economic Impact Report that documents an $88 million positive impact on the local economy from population growth in the last five years, and estimates economic impact of population growth over the next 10 years.


Manufacturers, if you don't get the monthly newsletter from the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center you are missing out on great training and other resources.


The Montana Department of Agriculture is partnering with the USDA and the Agricultural Marketing Services to help strengthen the resiliency of Montana food systems. Is your food company focused on middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, or distribution of targeted agricultural products? If so, there is a new funding opportunity for your projects. Discuss this new opportunity and check your eligibility with Anna by reaching out at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301.


Are you planning any international marketing activities in 2024? The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) run by the Export Montana team at the Montana Department of Commerce has a host of export support services and federal grants available for businesses up to $12,000. They're awesome to work with! Our Small Business Advisor, Rich Gannon, can help too and he is also awesome! RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-2078.


Have you created or updated your Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) profile? A strong profile can significantly boost your contracting success by increasing your visibility to local, state, and federal agencies seeking goods and services. If you would like more information on how to create or update your DSBS profile, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.


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 RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org 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 Nicki at 1-406-750-2099 or Nicki@GrowGreatFalls.org. 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 Jake Clark at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937 to be connected with a JobsEQ-trained Business Advisor today. To learn more about GFDA's other talent attraction tools, visit our website


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

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

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


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.


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, lower operating costs, or install renewable energy systems. Quarterly competitions will be held through June 30th. For for help applying, contact Anna Flies: Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301


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



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 Christian Nichols at 1-406-788-9385 or CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org. We also have some small business or nonprofit startup/expansion loan funds available for Glacier and Blaine counties.


Do you have open government contracts? Is your SAM.gov registration 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 1-406-590-1184 or SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org 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.


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.

Our Mission is to 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 APEX Accelerator, and a Montana Food & Ag Development Center. GFDA is a certified Montana MicroBusiness Development Corporation.


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

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