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Students, faculty, partners, & community leaders celebrated the opening of the new CORE School, a Public Charter School at Morningside Elementary, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

1) The Bureau of Reclamation broke ground in Babb on the $90 million St. Mary's Diversion Dam Replacement Project, part of the Milk River water project; see KFBB.

2) Students, faculty, partners, & community leaders celebrated the opening of the new CORE School, a Public Charter School at Morningside Elementary, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This is the first teacher prep charter school in Montana. See: KRTV, The Electric. The school, a partnership between the University of Montana Western and Great Falls Public Schools, offers college students a hands-on teaching experience alongside experienced elementary educators. This approach is set to enhance educational quality, foster local talent retention, and provide valuable hands-on learning for future educators. This school’s unique program promises to elevate our community’s educational standards, strengthen our workforce, and serve as a model for future schools across the state.

3) Pasta Montana added an additional processing line while celebrating their 20th year in Great Falls (read more at the Electric). This week, Tracy and Anna toured this exciting new expansion and learned how the increase in processing capacity will benefit both our local pasta company and the greater region of North Central Montana. If you are a food manufacturer looking to expand or celebrate an expansion, reach out to Anna at Anna@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301.

4) I joined several local elected leaders and Ed Brown, President of the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce for a dinner with Under Secretary oif the Air Force Melissa Dalton and her Sentinel leadership team to discuss how we can support next steps in the project. See TheElectric.

5) Great Falls College has launched a new Future Build Carpentry Program; see KRTV.

6) 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.

7) Cost of living in the Great Falls metro continues to be competitive versus other metro areas of the country according to 2024Q2 data released by the Council for Community and Economic Research. Our cost of living was 89.8% of the national average compared to Billings at 99.5%, Boise at 103.2%, Cheyenne at 109.4%. However, we need to do everything we can to get more housing into construction to avoid losing our affordability.

8) 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 KRTV and TheElectric.

9) Deb McGregor started work as our new Small Business Development Center Regional Director. Connect with Deb at 1-406-750-0314 or Deb@GrowGreatFalls.org

10) Havre and Cut Bank both got nice mentions recently in a travel piece from the New York Times.

11) Jake was in Boise, Idaho meeting with developers that have expressed interest in the Great Falls, Montana market. Several companies have noted that Great Falls presents opportunities similar to "Boise 20 years ago." Whether or not that is true, Great Falls is now on the map for companies and development teams that have the capacity to execute significant investments in the Great Falls housing market as well as other types of development projects. If you are ready to get your project going reach out to Jake Clark at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937. 

12) 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 Zoom login info, contact Tracy Heggem at 1-406-788-1192, or Tracy@GrowGreatFalls.org

13) Our Great Falls Regional APEX and Mr. Conn McKelvey, Infrastructure Flight Chief for Construction and Architecture-Engineering with the 341st Contracting Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, teamed together for a special in-person event where Construction and Architect & Engineering companies that have won federal (DoD and /or Civilian) contracts or have experience submitting bids, learned about their responsibilities AFTER they’ve won a federal contract. Great Falls College's Heritage Hall served as a dynamic platform where businesses across the state were able to present their capability statements to contracting officers from the 341st Contracting Squadron and engage with potential partners. If you’re interested in learning more about doing business with Malmstrom Air Force Base and other federal agencies, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1184.

14) Cascade and Teton Counties have selected NeighborWorks Great Falls to be their Community Reinvestment Organization (CRO). If your county has not already opted into a CRO, NeighborWorks Great Falls would like the opportunity to speak to your commissioners about Montana HB819 and the advantage of working with NeighborWorks as a CRO. Please feel free to contact Sherrie Arey, Executive Director of NeighborWorks Great Falls at sarey@nwgf.org or 1-406-216-3512 or Karen Cleveland, Director of Lending for NeighborWorks Great Falls at kcleveland@nwgf.org or 1-406-216-3505 for further discussion. 

15) Participated in a tour and discussion with a local non-profit organization that wants to expand their operations but are hindered by the hazardous materials asbestos and lead based paint. GFDA does have funding abilities to either assess your clean up needs or to provide low interest funding to help a project move to the redevelopment stage by cleaning up those hazardous material. If you would like more information on having a property assessed please contact Christian Nichols at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org or at 406-788-9385 or if you want to know more about the low interest rate clean up funding please contact Jill Kohles at JKohles@GrowGreatFalls.org or at 406-590-1056.

16) The Montana Indian Equity Fund Grant deadline has been extended to September 30th. If you are an enrolled member in a Montana based tribe and are interested in applying for the business grant, please contact Rich Gannon for more information and assistance at RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-2078.

17) Providing over 24,000 jobs and $7.1 billion input into the state economy, co-ops form an unrecognized backbone of the Montana Economy and are often overlooked when people consider starting a new business. To promote the role that co-ops have in the world of food and ag, GFDA's Food and Ag Development Center (FADC) partnered with Tracy McIntyre of the Montana Cooperative Development Center to host a webinar as part of GFDA's FADC training series. To view past webinars, please check out GFDA"s YouTube channel. To learn about upcoming webinars, sign up for our monthly Food and Ag newsletter here.

18) 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.

19) Public comment is being sought for the Great Falls Long-Range Transportation Plan. Please submit comments by September 23rd.

20) Our investors and public partners are the driving force behind the impact we make in our region. Their support and collaboration allow us to create meaningful change, promote economic growth, and build a stronger community. Learn about them by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Community Division—Geranios Enterprises, Inc. Their contributions enable us to pursue our mission and achieve our goals, ultimately enhancing the quality of life in our community. If you’d like to learn about our work and how you can join the team driving positive change, contact Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.

21) 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.

22) The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center is seeking a Business Advisor based in Great Falls to support manufacturers in the region. See description on Facebook.

Hope you have enjoyed a wonderful Labor day Weekend!

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.

Subscribe to the Grow Great Falls Montana YouTube channel!

"It's not necessary to go far and wide. I mean, you can really find exciting and inspiring things within your hometown."

Daryl Hannah



Edition 648

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 Madysan@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