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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!

***

Brett Doney

[email protected]

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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Great Falls trade area. Competitive for food, ag, bioprocessing, energy, and support. Closest U.S. metro area to Calgary. Untame Your Entrepreneurial Spirit!

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