News
Great Falls Development Authority Quarterly Index – 1st Quarter 2014
Jobs created in Great Falls metro area January 2013 to January 2014: 1,056
Local number of job openings at Great Falls Job Service: 744
Number of jobs Moody’s predicted Great Falls metro area would lose 2012-2014: 200
Jobs gained so far: 1,241
Cascade County population growth 7/1/12-7/1/13: 600
Primary sector expansions/attraction deals announced during quarter: 4
Amount of GFDA loan commitments issued during quarter: $1,250,000
Investment that will be leveraged by GFDA loans: $16,650,000
GFDA delinquent loan rate: 0%
Number of small businesses coached: 114
Number of coaching sessions: 147
Business Start-up Kits given to budding entrepreneurs: 33
GFDA targeted industry trade show exhibits: 2
National site selection consultant events networked at during quarter: 4
Great Falls pitch presentations at national events: 2
Number of states visited to pitch Great Falls during quarter: 8 plus DC
States: CA, CO, FL, MO, ND, TX, UT and VA
Great Falls AgriTech Park lots put under agreement: 1
Percentage of land in phase 1 of AgriTech Park now sold or under agreement: 46%
Increase in participation in The Fire Within event celebrating women-owned businesses: 25%
The Fire Within Inspire award winners who have also won SBA Montana awards: 75%
Downtown Great Falls’ volunteer hours in 2013: 19,383
Number of new businesses opened in downtown Great Falls in 2013: 14
New jobs created by these businesses: 185 full-time, 35 part-time
Estimated number of construction workers that will be on site for Calumet Montana Refining expansion: 500
Annual property taxes paid by Montana Refining before $400 million expansion: $1.6 million
Energy related capital investment made or under construction in Great Falls trade area in last 6 years: $2.3 billion
Great Falls metro area manufacturing earnings growth 2010-2012: 7%
Cascade County median home sales price rise 2008-2012: 7.2%
Number of inches of snow at Showdown Ski Area this season: 291
Amount of Brownfield cleanup grant GFDA awarded to
Easter Seals Goodwill for 4400 Central Avenue renovation: $237,600
Weekly distribution of GFDA Top 10 at end of quarter: 2,162
Increase in distribution since beginning of quarter: 639
Increase since first Top 10 was emailed on 2/11/11 to 177 people: 1,985
University of Great Falls student enrollment growth in last 5 years: 59%
Number of countries represented in UGF student body: 17
Number of cities with direct flights to GTF this summer: 7
River’s Edge Trail system total miles: 57.5
Trail breakdown: 20.8 paved, 29.2 dirt and 7.5 gravel
Visitors to First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park 2009-2012: 50 states, 46 countries
Number of deployed nuclear warheads Russia increased from 9/1/13 to 3/1/14: 112
Number U.S. cut during same period: 103
Montana self-employment rate: 9.7% (2nd highest in U.S.)
Montana residents’ Achieving the American Dream survey ranking: 5th
Well being ranking: 1st
Healthy environment ranking: 2nd
Home ownership, job environment, freedom of expression, fruits of my labor and entrepreneurial spirit rankings: 3rd
Economic conditions ranking: 5th
Montana 8th grade math test scores ranking against 47 countries: 4th
Science test scores: 6th
Montana state ranking in highest % of high school graduates: 2nd 8th grade reading scores: 3rd
Montana University System graduates finding jobs within state in 2012: 78%
Montana increase in dry edible pea production in 2013: 64%
Montana ranking for states with lowest obesity rate: 1st
Montana ranking of most beer friendly states: 1st
Untame your entrepreneurial spirit!
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Brett Doney
httpz://www.GFDevelopment.org
1-406-750-2119
Economic Growth, Diversification and High Wage Jobs
GFDA and High Plains Financial are Equal Opportunity Lenders.
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