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Want to Entice New Residents to Rural Communities? Offer Cash, for a Start.
“Why put all our focus on businesses when we can just recruit people, go after families?” Ms. Gourley said. “They’ll bring their jobs with them, which means income that is coming in from everywhere else into our county.”
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GFDA Top Ten for 9/20/26
Thinking about finally starting that business, or expanding the one you have? You’ll need a plan and financial projections. Clients of our Small Business Development Center get free access to LivePlan, a best-in-class business planning tool, plus an advisor who builds the plan with them. Contact business advisor Rich Gannon to get started at 1-406-836-2078 or [email protected]
Sip ’N Dip Lounge “No. 1 bar in the world worth flying for.” Thrives with Mermaids and Nostalgia in Great Falls, Montana
For 35 years, Sip ’N Dip Lounge has captivated visitors with live mermaids and a unique tiki bar experience. Its long-term staff loyalty and retro themes create a cultural landmark that draws tourists from beyond Montana.
Positively Montana – The Best of Montana Making a Difference In Your Community
Do you know somebody who is doing good or making a difference in their community? Our Positively Montana team would like to hear about them. Please fill out the form to let us know about positive things happening in Montana.
New Tyrannosaurus Rex Fossil Challenges Century-Old Dinosaur Anatomy Views
The discovery of Rex Junior, a nearly complete sub-adult T. rex skeleton, offers unprecedented insights into the dinosaur’s structure. This find could reshape how paleontologists interpret Late Cretaceous fossils, including those in Montana.
Great Falls Development Alliance
“Anything Business – Think GFDA. The Great Falls trade area offers a strategic location, competitive operating costs, and strong industry advantages in food and agriculture, value-added processing, bioprocessing, energy, and advanced support services. As the…
Bobcat Ventures – Investment Fund
Bobcat Ventures is a Montana State University student-led venture fund that leverages its unique position within the Montana entrepreneurial ecosystem to source and support early-stage startups across the 406.
What should I ask my candidate? Register for our September 28 Webinar!
When a candidate comes to your door asking for your vote, what will you ask them? Join us to get ideas on what you can ask candidates about healthcare, school funding, taxes, and more.
Missoula Talent Available – Successful technical leader with over twenty years of experience in innovative research, development, design, manufacturing, testing, and management
Technical leader and PhD mechanical engineer with 20+ years of product development, process development and optimization, designing products, executing verification and validation (V&V) programs, and independently assessing technology and manufacturing readiness across highly regulated, multi-domain environments — medical devices, in-line pipeline inspection, X-ray imaging systems, diagnostic instrumentation, and biomass processing.
Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
The purpose of regional rail authorities in Montana is to preserve and improve abandoned rail services for agriculture, industry, or passenger traffic and to preserve the abandoned railroad right-of-way for future transportation uses, when determined…
Montana’s ‘Check This Out’ – Text your guests. Keep your seats full.
New restaurants are closing at record rates, and waiting for walk-ins is waiting to fail. We make filling seats quick, easy, and profitable. Check This Out lets you send texts to your guests in seconds, offer smart incentives, and grow your guest list—without constantly managing it.
$45,000 grant helps Eastern Plains Economic Development begin work on next five-year economic development strategy
According to Terra Burman, executive director for EPEDC, the funding will aid the organization’s effort to create its 2027-32 comprehensive economic development strategy document — or CEDS — by allowing it to hire a consulting firm to handle the compiling of data. Although Prairie County is named as the recipient of the $45,000, Dawson, Wibaux, Carter and Fallon counties will also benefit from the award.
$5M STEM Grant to Boost Graduate Student Education at University of Montana
UM graduate programs are poised to address this need for workforce growth by helping low-income students – who make up a quarter of Montana’s university population – succeed in their pursuit of advanced degrees by providing financial support, as well as structured mentoring to address barriers faced by students in rural areas.
Montana’s Bridger Photonics – Industry-Leading Emissions Data You Can Act On
Bridger delivers the most accurate, audit-ready data in the industry—trusted by top energy producers worldwide.
Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
The purpose of regional rail authorities in Montana is to preserve and improve abandoned rail services for agriculture, industry, or passenger traffic and to preserve the abandoned railroad right-of-way for future transportation uses, when determined…
Microsoft Expands Nature-Inspired Designs to Over 20 Datacenters
Microsoft is scaling its biomimicry approach to datacenter design across the U.S. and Germany, integrating ecological research and community input to create sustainable habitats. This shift redefines how technology infrastructure can coexist with and support the environment.
Montana Career Opportunities – Senior Strategic Finance Analyst, Senior Legal Counsel, Senior PR Manager and More… – onXmaps
At onX, we believe unique perspectives make us stronger. Different experiences, ideas, and ways of thinking help us build better products and move our mission forward. We’re working to awaken the adventurer in everyone, and…
Montana Career Opportunity – Vice President, Legal – Submittable
At Submittable, we are transforming how organizations create social impact. Our platform empowers thousands of mission-driven organizations, from nonprofits to government entities, to make a difference in their communities and beyond. In 2024, our innovative…
Stellantis Unveils Driverless Electric Delivery Vehicle Concept
The idea is aimed at the last mile, but Stellantis is also looking at places where the autonomous vehicle can operate in a more controlled environment. Factories, hospitals and airports are among the possible applications.
High Plains Financial
“High Plains Financial (HPF) is a Montana-based Certified Development Company and SBA 504 lender affiliated with the Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA). HPF provides SBA 504 loans statewide, helping businesses access long-term, fixed-rate financing for…
J. Vader Consulting – Helping nonprofits, small businesses, and startups untangle operational challenges and build practical systems
You started this for a reason. Somewhere along the line, the day-to-day got in the way.
Montana State to present research at Red Lodge community event Oct. 6
“This is an inaugural event to bring research happening on campus and in our research facilities around the state to communities throughout Montana,” Veselik said. “We look forward to engaging with cities, towns and communities around the state to have conversations about MSU research and how we are impacting the lives of Montanans.”
High Plains Financial
“High Plains Financial (HPF) is a Montana-based Certified Development Company and SBA 504 lender affiliated with the Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA). HPF provides SBA 504 loans statewide, helping businesses access long-term, fixed-rate financing for…
Cryogenics boot camp at Montana State’s QCORE provides students with intensive training
The camp was developed in response to a growing need for professionals experienced in operating, maintaining and troubleshooting the ultra-low temperature, low-noise environments in which quantum technologies operate.
Nearly 75% of Montana voters oppose new AI data centers due to electricity and local concerns.
A recent poll shows nearly 75% of Montana voters oppose new AI data centers due to fears of rising electricity costs and environmental impacts. This opposition is influencing legislative efforts and could shape the future of AI infrastructure in the state.
Carroll College Inaugurates Jennifer Glowienka as 20th President
Carroll College formally inaugurated Dr. Jennifer Glowienka as the school’s 20th president, marking a historic milestone as she becomes the first woman fully appointed president in the college’s history.
Montana State to host expansive career fair in Bozeman on Sept. 30 – Career Events from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1
Montana State University is hosting an expansive university career fair on campus this fall, upholding an annual tradition that showcases both student talent and the many employers from industries across the state seeking to employ Bobcats.
Trillium Cooperative – A Native-led, women owned cooperative helping communities and organizations
Trillium Cooperative is built on the foundation that stronger communities are created when people come together. As a worker-owned team, each of us brings unique experience and equal voice to our work, ensuring collaboration, equity, and accountability at every step.
Prospera Business Network
Prospera Business Network is the lead non-profit organization advancing and supporting community-centered economic development in southwest Montana. Our focus is helping people start and grow their business – in turn strengthening our region’s economy and…
Your coffee adventure(s) start here. Treeline Coffee
Enjoy a damn fine cup of coffee, gear up with our top of the line brewing equipment, or style your next quest with our custom swag.
Montana State University will host a free, public lecture focused on school funding in rural states on Monday, Sept. 28, on the MSU campus.
The free event is open to the public and will begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28. An online viewing option will be available.
City reaffirms contract with Missoula Economic Partnership
“MEP has been a crucial partner for the city as we have created a much more diverse economic base in our city compared to decades ago, when it was not diverse and recessions could hit the city very hard,” said council member Gwen Jones.
GFDA Somewhat Quarterly Investor Letter
With Labor Day behind us, we’re quick-marching forward. Our window of opportunity is wide open. We are determined to make the most of it and keep opening new windows of opportunity for the Great Falls region.