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GFDA Top 10 for 7-31-17

GFDA Top 10

It’s been far too long and I know you’ve missed it. The GFDA Top 10 is back. We’re Hungry to Grow the Great Falls region! Here are some highlights from June and July:

1) FCR opened its new call center in downtown Great Falls. The Oregon-based company plans to have 100 employees downtown by the end of the year and over 300 in the future. John Stadter, FCR co-founder, stated, "We are really looking forward to bringing new jobs to the community of Great Falls, and FCR is excited to be a part of this great community. We’re confident we’ve chosen a great place to expand the company." Thank you to FCR and the many partners in TEAM Great Falls who helped make this happen!

2) We exhibited and networked with over 1,600 business leaders from 64 countries seeking to expand their companies into the U.S. at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in DC. Thank you to GFDA Directors, Superintendent Tammy Lacey and Commissioner Joe Briggs, for joining us to work the event.

3) Hobby Lobby and PetSmart opened stores in Great Falls. Cypress Creek Renewables started construction on the Black Eagle Solar project, a 35-acre generation station that will include over 10,000 solar panels. Wines by Wednesday opened its new downtown events center. The Cory Block Bakery and Klover fashion opened downtown. Cut Bank Creek Brewery opened in Cut Bank. For assistance in starting, growing or expanding your entrepreneurial venture, contact our SBDC Small Business Coach, Jason Nitschke at [email protected]

4) Great Falls Public Schools broke ground on the Roosevelt replacement school, our first new public school in over 40 years. The University of Great Falls changed its name to the University of Providence, Great Falls. The university announced new and updated academic programs, a new career readiness program, four-year graduation guarantee, student loan repayment assistance and more.

5) We loaned $94,776 in gap-financing funds to help Ox and Son Towing to expand their business, and $22,500 to Sharon Altschwager, LCPC to purchase a building on 17th Street South. Secured three SBA 504 loan commitments totaling $582,650 to help a local company expand in Great Falls and Missoula. Secured a $478,000 SBA 504 loan commitment to help finance a new events center business in Kalispell. If your business has a financing gap, or if you want to lock in long-term low-interest SBA rates, contact our Loan Officer, Mike Archer, [email protected]

6) Networked with targeted food and agricultural processing companies at the IFT Food Expo in Las Vegas and at Pulses 2017, an international pulse crop industry event in Vancouver. See are new Food & Agri-processing marketing flyer http://files.constantcontact.com/3e765937001/d27c6b5f-344f-47fc-8f56-22fb5936f60c.pdf for the Great Falls region. We networked with companies and provided mentorship support at the Innovate Montana symposium in Billings, and supported the Montana Young Professionals Summit in Billings.

7) Started three more brownfield assessments to support potential redevelopment of commercial properties across the City. EPA awarded GFDA another $500,000 in Brownfield loan capital, one of only 11 awards nationwide. If your potential development project is being held up by potential contamination, our Brownfield expert Lillian Sunwall may be able to help, [email protected]

8) Eagle Beverage started construction on its Great Falls expansion warehouse. Great Falls Airport secured $3.35 million from the FAA to build a new taxiway that will increase capacity for business and recreation travel, and help the Montana Air National Guard. Mountain View Coop began work on a new gas station and convenience store on 9th Street North.

9) GFDA and High Plains Financial held our annual meetings. GFDA investors unanimously re-elected 4 incumbent Directors for new 3 year terms: Nate Weisenburger of AE2S; Ron Nelson of Church Harris Johnson & Williams PC; Glenn Lambert of Cascade Farmers Mutual Insurance; and, Travis Neil of Dick Anderson Construction, and elected eight new Directors: Rebecca Engum of Great Falls Tourism, Tristen Dodd of the Great Falls Tribune; Heidi Hockett of Northwestern Energy; Mark Striepe of US Bank; Dwight Holman of Holman Aviation; Mike Tobacco of Guy Tobacco Construction; Mark Cappis of Anderson ZurMuehlen; and, Steve King of Montana Federal Credit Union. High Plains Financial elected two new Directors: Jon Von Eschen of Stockman Bank; and, Joe Von Stein of US Bank.

10) Pacific Steel & Recycling will host our monthly investor Development Coffee this Friday, August 4, 7:00 AM. If you are Hungry to Grow the Great Falls region and want to learn how to support our public/private economy development work, contact Brett Doney at [email protected]

More great news to share as we catch up in the next Top 10.

Brett Doney
President/CEO
Connect with me on LinkedIn to network with the Great Falls region.

"Take action. Success is not guaranteed, but inaction will guarantee failure."
Ken Poirot

Congratulations
To the Montana Air National Guard on its 70th anniversary here in Great Falls!

To the Great Falls Clinic on its 100th anniversary!

To Deb Evans, President and CEO of Embark Credit Union, on being named the 2017 Montana Credit Union Professional of the Year!

To Gary DeGooyer, Great Falls Public Schools Athletic Director, on being named the National Athletic Director of the Year by the National High School Athletics Association!

To Sheila Rice, Executive Director of NeighborWorks Great Falls, on being recognized with the 2017 Paris Gibson Award!

To Russell Motschenbacher, Nursing Program Director at Great Falls College MSU, on being awarded the 2017 Outstanding Nurse Educator Award by the Montana Center to Advance Health Through Nursing!

Cost-Effective 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 Brett Doney at 1-406-750-2119 or [email protected]

Vision
Hungry to Grow the Great Falls region

Mission
Grow and diversify the Great Falls regional economy.
Create higher wage career opportunities.
Improve market competitiveness.

The first economic development organization in the Rocky Mountain West to earn accreditation from the International Economic Development Council.

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 Lenders.

For more info, click to our website http://www.gfdevelopment.org/

Great Falls Development Authority, 300 Central Avenue, Suite 406, PO Box 949, Great Falls, MT 59403

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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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