Great Falls Economic Development Top 10 for 2-7-21

The City of Great Falls is making infrastructure and community amenity improvements citywide in 2021, continuing to enhance our 57 parks, 54 miles of recreation trails, 36,000 trees, two 18 hole golf courses, water park, swimming pools, 300 acres of conservation land and 140 acres of land for additional 9 undeveloped parks.

1) 20 new businesses opened in Downtown Great Falls in 2020! That tops the 13 new businesses opened downtown in 2019. Building permits in 2020 totaled $7.7 million. Downtown volunteers donated over 21,000 hours! Downtown business investment is gaining momentum. In just the 4th quarter of 2020, 14 new businesses opened downtown! Contact our Downtown Business Development Officer, Christian Leinhauser, for help making the next projects happen, [email protected] or 1-406-836-0136.

2) Met with two target companies. Our business attraction industry targets are focused on Food/Ag/Bioprocessing, Advanced Manufacturing and Steel Fabrication, and Backend Office Operations. January has had more inquiries than we typically get in six months! Part of that is because of the economic environment and part is because of our strategic business attraction initiative. Check out our marketing micro-site. Questions? Call Jolene 406.750.4481.

3) The Great Falls City Commission approved a five year lease of the former visitor center on Flag Hill to Great Falls Tourism. The Commission held a work session to discuss three new downtown tax increment financing programs. Bear Paw Development, in partnership with island Mountain Development Group, has issued an RFP to assess the feasibility of a mobile livestock processing facility; see on MATR.net.

4) We closed a $500,000 working capital loan to CCPet in Black Eagle for their primary sector manufacturing business. CCPet LLC is one of the only U.S. companies to make products that include reptile caves, dishes, aquatic decoration, and bottled water for pets. The owners fell in love with the Great Falls community and relocated their business here in 2014. It is exciting to see them innovate and grow their company! If your business needs assistance with financing to start, innovate or expand, please contact Jill Kohles at 406-590-1056 or [email protected].