1) GFDA’s Board of Directors voted unanimously (one abstention) to support the continuation of Montana’s very successful expanded Medicaid program which is so important to employers and Montana residents. The Board and Council heard a presentation from Calumet and Montana Renewables, and held lengthy discussions about potential updates to GFDA’s Economic Development Strategy. 2) We have several different options to help a business owner or developer with their project needs. Just one of these options is the Gap and Bridge financing tools that we offer. This week we received 5 loan approvals from the state SSBCI 2.0 program that will participate in financing 5 different businesses to help them grow and innovate throughout the Golden Triangle region. If your business needs assistance with financing to start, grow or innovate please contact Jill Kohles at 1-406-590-1056 or [email protected] — we also finance real estate development! 3) Attention Great Falls employers and recruiters; GFDA is hosting a Talent Attraction & Livability Launch Reception on Wednesday, May 15th from 4:00-5:00 PM at the Arc Apartment Homes clubhouse. Register here. This event aims to introduce and discuss various tools that can support your workforce needs. Pick up your copies of the 2024 Livability magazine, learn about our many talent attraction resources available to employers, and visit with GFDA staff to answer questions. Recruiters, HR directors, and individuals responsible for hiring within organizations; this event can offer valuable insights and strategies to enhance your recruitment efforts. Contact Tracy Heggem at 1-406-788-1192 or [email protected] for more information. 4) Congratulations to J & J Fuel and Water, LLC for receiving their Service-Disabled Veteran Small Business (SDVOSB) certification and Amy Rapp for receiving her Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification. If you would like more information on how Set-Aside and Montana State Certifications can give your business an edge in bidding on contract opportunities, please contact Shannon Clancy at [email protected] or 1-406-590-1184. 5) We have scheduled our first Angel Investor Networking Event for Wednesday, May 29 from 4:30-6:00 PM. We’re looking to connect accredited investors with entrepreneurs and developers who need cash investment. If you are an accredited investor, entrepreneur, or developer seeking cash investment, register here! For more information, including how to prepare for the event, please contact Tyler Menzales at [email protected] or call 1-406-217-7862. 6) Jill Kohles and Christian Nichols were in Denver meeting with EPA Brownfield leaders at the regional conference. This conference focused on how EPA funding can be used to help redevelopment projects that may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Are you looking at purchasing a commercial property, reach out to the team at GFDA to see how you can have an environmental assessment completed to determine if the property has any risk of contamination. After an assessment has been done, the great news is that GFDA has low interest rate funding that could potentially help with any environmental clean-up that may be needed. For any additional information in regards to the EPA Brownfield program please contact Christian Nichols at 1-406-788-9385 or [email protected] or Jill Kohles at 1-406-590-1056 or [email protected]. 7) Anna attended the Montana Meat Processing Association Convention where she networked with meat processors from across the state and informed them about the resources available not only at GFDA but with the Food and Ag Development Center Network across the state. If you are thinking of starting a meat processing business or have questions about farm to plate businesses, reach out to Anna at [email protected] or 1-406-590-1301. 8) Save the date for GFDA’s Annual Meeting: Tuesday, June 18th, 8:00-10:00 AM at the Newberry. Expect engaging presentations from our team, celebrate this year’s Ally Award winners, and network with fellow stakeholders and community leaders. Mark your calendars now. 9) Jake was in White Sulphur Springs coordinating meetings to support housing production in our region and learning about the exciting economic development challenges we can support as the Black Butte Copper project moves forward in Meagher County, Montana, creating over 200 jobs. Huge thanks to the Meagher County Stewardship Council for hosting! 10) We are preparing to welcome the next class of Touro COM students into our community. Last year, businesses and community members supported the students by donating items for gift bags, hosting small groups for dinners, sponsoring their white coats, and more. To find out how you can support this new class, reach out to Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or [email protected]. 11) Nicki is off to Birmingham, Alabama for the National Main Street Now conference, learning about best practices for downtown redevelopment and getting to know the other 8 members of the Great Falls, Montana delegation who work to make Downtown Great Falls thrive. 12) Unlock the Power of Understanding Your Customers: As entrepreneurs, understanding our customers is the key to driving sales and growing our businesses. Often, we don’t know enough about our customers’ preferences, challenges, and buying processes. This missing information (Gap) makes it difficult to initiate meaningful dialogue and present solutions that makes since to customers. The good news, there is a powerful way to bridge this gap – customer surveys. Surveys allow us to ask questions, gather insights, and understand customers without the pressure of an immediate sales pitch. By focusing first on learning about your customers, you establish trust and positively shape their perception of your business. There are several effective survey methods to consider: - Telephone interviews for quick 10-minute conversations.
- In-person interviews for deep-dive discussions and product demos
- Questionnaires sent by mail or online to reach a broad audience.
No matter which method you choose, three key tools will maximize your survey’s impact: - A solid survey protocol with questions spanning customer facts, needs, viewpoints, and purchase processes.
- A strong list of respondents across different customer segments
- A customer database for storing and accessing survey insights.
Don’t let emotional barriers like fear of overstepping or appearing pushy hold you back. Customers welcome dialogue with suppliers who care to understand their unique situations. Conduct customer surveys, follow up after a few weeks, and unlock a world of opportunity by becoming an expert on your customers’ needs. When you understand your customers, they’ll understand and buy into you. Want to learn more? Please reach out to Rich Gannon at [email protected] or 1-406-836-2078. For a no-cost business consulting from GFDA Small Business Development Center, please click here to sign up. 13) We Are Growing Our Awesome Staff Team. Download a description of openings for Director Regional Small Business Development Center, Lending Solutions Specialist and Communications & Marketing Specialist. Contact Tracy for more info at [email protected]. 14) I travelled to Columbia, Missouri for an accreditation visit to REDI, the economic development organization serving Boone County. I learned about their incubator, accelerator, shared commercial kitchen, business attraction, manufacturing council, and other efforts. Talked with their Chamber President about their workforce efforts — an impressive 5-star accredited Chamber. Met the head of a new Italian meat processing plant, learned about Mizzou’s Veterinary College, and peered into Mizzou’s nuclear reactor. Attended the always inspirational NeighborWorks Great Falls Annual Meeting. In 2023, NWGF constructed 14 affordable homes, helped 104 first time homebuyers, made 26 loans, had 262 homebuyer education graduates, supported 408 affordable apartments, and much more! Then I travelled to Billings to celebrate the SBA Montana Award winners with state leaders and SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman and toured Big Sky EDA’s impressive downtown incubator and shared work space. Capped off the week celebrating Great Falls College’s largest ever class of graduates. Congratulations! 15) A strong economy fosters social stability, enhances quality of life, and promotes equal opportunity for all. Support & collaboration from our investors and public partners is crucial to our work of bringing more high wage jobs, skilled workforce, & housing to our region. Learn more about our key stakeholders by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Advance Division—Central Plumbing, Heathing & Excavation. Their continued support fuels our ability to create lasting change in our region. To learn about our economic development strategy and how you can support our work, reach out to Investment Director Jenn Gallmeier at 1-406-781-9499 or [email protected]. Another productive week! Brett Brett Doney President & CEO 1-406-750-2119 [email protected] Connect with me on LinkedIn to network with the Great Falls Montana region. Forward the GFDA Top 10 to friends and colleagues. You can join our distribution list HERE or text GFDA to 22828. Subscribe to the Grow Great Falls Montana YouTube channel! “Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your project or service, and that bring friends with them.” W. Edwards Deming Edition 631 |