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Students from Touro COM were treated to a fun-filled evening in Downtown Great Falls! Special thanks to Brush Crazy, Hi Line Climbing Center and Littles Lanes for generously welcoming and hosting these students as they settle into our community.

1) Congratulations to the artists, property owners, and sponsors of another amazing ArtsFest Montana Great Walls week in Downtown Great Falls! We'll start sharing photos of the murals next week. Thank you to the City of Great Falls for supporting this annual downtown improvement and to the Business Improvement District for organizing it. See KRTV and TheElectric.

2) Despite having a similar climate and city size to Great Falls, Lethbridge, Alberta and neighboring communities enjoy a larger thriving agri-food manufacturing sector. Anna and Christian Leinhauser joined Canadian business owners, elected officials, and other agriculture focused representatives on a day long tour of several regional manufacturing centers to learn more about our economic development partner’s success with the Canadian Premier Food Corridor. If you are an agri-food business interested in expanding or exporting into Canada, reach out to Anna at 1-406-590-1301 or Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org. Christian met with housing and advanced manufacturers and renewable energy companies, all of which plan to visit Great Falls later this year. We’re excited to host them and showcase what our region has to offer. If you know of any companies interested in North Central Montana, please contact Christian at CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org or call 1-406-836-0136.

3) The final competitive round of the Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 (SSBCI 2.0) low interest rate program opened. 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. If you have a business that can benefit from these funds contact Jill at JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1056.

4) Malmstrom AFB is holding Town Hall Meetings to update the community on the upcoming Sentinel Project. September 4th, 6:00 PM at the Fergus County Fairground in Lewistown and September 5th, 6:00 PM at CMR High School in Great Falls. There will be time at the end of the meeting for crowd questions or submit your questions in advance here. See TheElectric.

5) Congratulations to the motivated citizens of Shelby on working to restore and reopen their movie theatre; see Shelby Promoter. Up North Meats recently opened in Shelby. The new meat processing facility can process both domestic and wild game.

6) Have You Registered for "What Are the Processes AFTER I Win a Federal Contract"? Join Great Falls Regional APEX and Mr. Conn McKelvey, Infrastructure Flight Chief for Construction and Architecture-Engineering along with members of the 341st Contracting Squadron from Malmstrom AFB, on August 29th from 1:00-3:00 PM at Great Falls College's Heritage Hall. This in-person event will focus on construction and architecture & engineering companies that have won federal (DoD and/or civilian) contracts or have experience with submitting bids. Bring your capability statement! There will be a presentation followed by a networking session where you can engage with contracting officers and potential partners. To Register, CLICK HERE! If you need to create a new capability statement or just update an existing one, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

7) We participated in several of the first round of Growth Policy Stakeholder meetings held by the City of Great Falls. It was great to see so many engaged community leaders at all of these sessions!

8) Economic development is a team sport and so is our top priority, housing production. Luckily, we have a great team of partners, and municipal leaders all working towards the same goal as you can see in the Montana Free Press. Time to join the team? Reach out to Jake Clark about your housing project 1-406-403-4937 or Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org. 

9) Our freight logistics consultants, Moffat & Nichols, will present key findings of the Great Falls Region Freight Market Assessment and economic development strategy recomendations during the GFDA Board and Council meeting on Thursday, September 5th, 8:00 AM at Great Falls College in Heritage Hall or via Zoom. This comprehensive study offers valuable insights into the logistics industry and its potential in our region. For questions related to this market assessment or Zoom login info, contact Tyler Menzales at 1-406-217-7862, or TMenzales@GrowGreatFalls.org

10) Host a group of Touro students to dinner! Last year, over 40 community members stepped up and hosted small groups of students from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine to dinners at various restaurants around the community. This year, we are putting together another fun evening of dinners. We are seeking hosts to take a group of 2-5 students out to dinner on Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, at a restaurant of your choice. Deadline to sign up is Monday, September 16th. If you’d like to sign up as a host, register here. If you’d like to find out other ways you can support these new students in our community, reach out to Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.

11) I'm pleased to announce that Terri Clark will be joining our team as a Lending Specialist on September 16th. Terri brings over a decade of lending and accounting experience to GFDA. Please join me in welcoming Terri!

12) First Interstate Bank has provided GFDA with a $1 million line of credit that we will use if we ever have a cashflow need for our loan capital. Putting this line in place was one of the goals we set in the Financial Growth Plan we adopted in December. Thank you First Interstate!

13) The work we do is crucial for fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and building a vibrant community. This is only possible with the support of our investors and public partners. Learn more about them by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Pacesetter Division—Mitchell Development & Investments, LLC; Montana Specialty Mills; Supporter Division—BSpark Architecture. Their contributions provide the necessary resources to fund our programs, offer free services to businesses, and implement strategic initiatives that benefit the entire region. If you’d like to learn about our strategic priorities and how you can help drive progress in our region, reach out to Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.

14) We Are Growing Our Awesome Staff Team and have excellent career opportunities. Download a description of openings for Loan Officer, Lending Solutions Specialist, and Government Contracting Advisor -- APEX Accelerator. Contact Tracy for more info at Tracy@GrowGreatFalls.org.

School has started or is starting so its time to look at what we have planned for the fall, and it is a lot! We have the MAFB Contracting Squadron event this week. We also plan to release an RFP for a market assessment of demand for new recreation and entertainment offerings in the Great Falls area and begin to close on three AgriTech Park lot sales to enable three local companies to expand. The week of September 3rd we will release our new Freight Logistics economic development strategy, host a visit of our Lethbridge economic development partners and host Touro students and faculty at the Great Falls Voyagers. The next week we will travel to DC with Defense Alliance partners to hold meetings in support of MAFB and MANG. The week after that we are taking a GFDA and partner team to Denver to participate in the International Economic Development Council's annual conference, with stops in Billings, Cheyenne and Greeley. The last week of September I will be in Havre for the Montana Economic Developers Association fall conference and we plan to release the Downtown Great Falls market assessment and economic development strategy. Throughout the month we have a number of loan deals, prospect visits, and exciting client work and announcements. We'll continue work on the regional energy market assessment with our consultants, the Rocky Mountain Institute. We have two new team members scheduled to start work and will continue to interview candidates for new positions, release our FY2024 audited financial statement, and continue work on securing more loan capital.

I've enjoyed being home all July and August, getting some great walks in on the River's Edge Trail and taking advantage of many of the wonderful local summer activities, but soon it will be On the Road Again....

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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"The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do."

Kobe Bryant



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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

The 25-year loan effective rate (including all fees) is 6.041%; 20-year at 6.110%; 10-year equipment loan at 6.476%; and, 20-year refinance 6.140%; 25-year refinance 6.070%. 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.

Jake's webinar focused on housing development opportunities in Great Falls in partnership with Urban Land Institute is now available online with the access code: E#aZ48D2. Additionally, Jake's interview with David Saslav on "Voices & Views V2.0" is also available to stream online. 

Great Falls Regional APEX is assisting multiple businesses in preparing for the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and 8(a) Program certification processes. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will temporarily pause certification applications from August 1st to early September for necessary system upgrades. This presents an excellent opportunity to verify your Eligibility for certifications such as WOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB. To ensure you're prepared to apply for the certification that best suits your business when the portal reopens in September, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

Did you know that the SBA 504 rates have been dropping the last few months? Jill had a meeting with a banker and his client this last week who needed a solution for being short on the bank required down payment to start and construct their new business. We discussed the SBA 504 option that partners with the bank to allow the client to bring in as little as 10% equity and has the extra benefit of low interest rates that are fixed for up to 25 years. The client and banker are excited about this opportunity and the SBA 504 loan will also help the client preserve additional cash for working capital. If you have a project that needs a creative solution, please reach out to Jill Kohles at JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-4481.



The Preventative Control Qualified Individuals (PCQI) certification is required for Food companies reregister under section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) barring any exemptions or modified requirements that might apply. If you are a local food business who needs a certified PCQI on staff, please reach out to Anna. We are putting together a list for an upcoming training. You can reach Anna at 1-406-590-1301 or Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org. 

Cybersecurity is a top priority for the Department of Defense (DoD). Great Falls Regional APEX is helping small businesses by providing consultation and guidance on the new cybersecurity standards that will be mandated for federal government contracting. If your company handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI) not intended for public use, you must meet specific security standards. As a basic requirement, you need a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1, which demonstrates that your business has security measures in place to protect sensitive data. CMMC 2.0 is expected to start in 2025, with full integration into all Department of Defense (DoD) contracts by 2028. Get ahead of the game! Contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

The Montana Department of Commerce's Automation Loan Program is designed to extend financial assistance to Montana-based manufacturing enterprises seeking to upgrade, replace or expand their equipment. The program has extended the timeline for obligating funds through an executed commitment letter in this funding cycle to December 31st. Applicants are encouraged to work closely with participating lenders and program staff to ensure this deadline is feasible with the proposed project. Businesses, or lenders on behalf of a business, can apply on Commerce's website. Questions? Contact Patsy Rasch at Commerce at patsy.rasch2@mt.gov or 1-406-841-2748.

Registration opened for the first annual Montana Food & Beverage Manufacturing Summit being held in Missoula on October 15th. The summit is a one-day educational forum focused on essential topics to grow or improve your business, hosted by Montana Manufacturing Extension Center and the Montana Department of Agriculture. It will take place in conjunction with the Montana Food and Beverage Show on October 14. You will learn directly from industry experts and government officials about key steps in developing a successful food business. The program of workshops and speakers will cover the most frequently asked questions on packaging, labeling, fill control, process control, food safety, distribution, manufacturing efficiency, and more. Learn more and sign up on the Summit webpage.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Services has partnered with Cornell's Small Farms Program to offer 6 months of free introductory course for beginning urban farmers. If you are interested in beginning your own small farm in North Central Montana or would like to know how to sell your produce at your local Farmers Market, please reach out to Anna at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 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 share their resumes (with their permission) on the Trailing Partner Email Group. Contact Madysan for more info at 1-406-590-1539 or Madysan@GrowGreatFalls.org

The Great Falls Population Economic Impact Report 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. 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.

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.

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