North America’s top producer of Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Calumet Montana Renewables in Great Falls Investment in The Gibson, downtown Great Falls’ second boutique hotel: $7 million Number of rooms in The Gibson: 44 New apartments under construction in three development projects in Great Falls: 625 High School House construction completed by Great Falls Public Schools and NeighborWorks Great Falls student-built program: 45th house Total wage earnings increase in Cascade County (Great Falls MSA) in 2022: 10.54% or $233 million Average annual wage in Cascade County in 2022Q4: $51,568 Increase in average annual wage in Cascade County in 2022: 9.6% National average annual wage increase in 2022: 5.0% Average annual wage in Cascade County compared to national in 2022Q4: 74.9% Average annual wage in Cascade County compared to national when GFDA was formed: 63% Employment growth rate in Cascade County in 2022: 3.3% Cost of living in Great Falls MSA: 86% of national average Great Falls MSA housing cost: 65.5% of national average Bozeman cost of living: 121.4% of national average Bozeman housing cost: 157.3% of national average GTF ranking of Montana airports lowest average domestic airfares for 2022: 2nd Individuals reached through our Live in Great Falls social media efforts over the past year: 1.6 million Number of impressions: 4.9 million Individuals the campaign engaged with page actions: 234,069 Individuals engaged with link clicks: 44,326 GFDA 2023 Ally Award honorees: 14 Total activities with companies we recorded during quarter: 406 New companies we started working with during quarter: 167 Existing companies we continued to work with: 267 New target companies during quarter: 15 New project leads generated during quarter: 25 Total projects in our pipeline at end of quarter: 179 Activities with downtown Great Falls companies we recorded during quarter: 42 Montana meat processors we engaged with during quarter: 64 Meat processing training and advising sessions during quarter: 15 Specialty crop processors we engaged with during quarter: 74 Food and ag businesses served during quarter: 29 Entrepreneurs and small business clients advised during quarter: 69 New advising clients during quarter: 39 Entrepreneur and small business trainings during quarter: 3 Government contracting clients advised during quarter: 73 New government contracting clients advised during quarter: 36 Active government contracting clients at end of quarter: 184 Government contracting trainings during quarter: 4 Number of training participants: 86 Local businesses that participated in MAFB Meet with Industry event we hosted: 72 Government contracts won by clients: $4,104,277 GFDA gap and bridge loans closed during quarter: $3,080,000 Additional private investment leveraged by these loans: $7,869,757 More gap and bridge loans approved by GFDA during quarter: $4,630,000 Additional private investment that will be leveraged by these loans: $13,631,205 New loan capital awarded to GFDA during quarter: $2,688,534 SBA 504 loans approved during quarter: 1 Brownfield assessments provided during quarter: 3 New EPA brownfield assessment funds GFDA won during quarter: $500,000 GFDA team members who earned Economic Development Finance Professional designation during quarter: 2 Total companies we worked with in Fiscal Year 2023: 1,181 Total activities recorded with these companies: 9,694 Best state to start a business: Montana Montana’s rank for cheapest state to start a business in: 4th Montana’s rank for best economy in nation: 6th Daily gallons of water from Giant Springs in Great Falls: 156 million U.S. population that will be over 65 by 2030: 20% American homes that are aging-ready: 10% Year people over 65 will outnumber children 17 or younger in U.S.: 2034 Mimosas served during downtown Great Falls Mimosa Showdown: 15,000+ For info contact Jolene Schalper at [email protected] or 1-406-750-4481 PDF of GFDA Quarter Index 2023Q2 | 
