Great Falls economic development council meets to redefine its task and plan its future

A group borne of frustration over a perceived lack of communication and direction in the city’s economic development efforts now finds itself seeking direction.

By JAMES E. LARCOMBE Great Falls Tribnue

The Community Economic Development Council, is planning a two-day gathering this week in Great Falls to revisit, retool and come up with a renewed vision, says Susan Humble, council chairwoman.

"The question is where do we need to go now," she said.

Formed about three years ago, the council was made up of representatives from local government, higher education units, the Great Falls Airport Authority and the Business Improvement District. The Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce played a key role in its formation.

Frustration with the High Plains Development Authority and concern "that nobody knew what they were doing," was a key motive in the council’s formation, Humble said. The group began holding bi-monthly meetings in the Civic Center.

It eventually raised close to $75,000 from local investors. A chunk of that money was used to hire Public Technology, Inc., an economic development consulting firm. PTI led brainstorming sessions that helped develop priorities and spurred creation of a strategic plan in 2001. The council also produced a business retention and expansion survey in 2002.

During the same period, High Plains was reorganized as the Great Falls Development Authority and John Kramer was hired to lead the revitalized economic development agency. It became apparent that the community’s economic development leadership void had been filled, Humble said.

In ensuing months, the Community Economic Development Council began to drift.

"Like any effort like that, it began to lose energy," said John Lawton, the Great Falls city manager.

The council is now using its remaining money to bring PTI back to Great Falls to help it review and update its strategic plan and find new focus. The sessions on Wednesday and Thursday at the MSU College of Technology will also specifically address the role of the council, Humble and Lawton said.

While the Great Falls Development Authority has taken a strong development lead, it is properly focused on luring new business and jobs, Lawton says. There are other facets of economic development that need to be addressed, he noted.

Lawton and Humble agree that the Community Economic Development Council should have a future.

"I feel the group is necessary as a means of coordination and making sure we are all pulling on the rope in the same direction," Humble said.

"That’s just a few people saying that," added Lawton. "We need to see what other people think."

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