Montana's 21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."

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GFDA Quarter Index 2026Q2 Numbers to Celebrate

Our Mission

Grow diverse economic opportunities that enhance quality of life.

GFDA is a certified Community Development Financial Institution and a 501(c)3 charitable organization. High Plains Financial is a certified Community Development Corporation that offers SBA 504 loans statewide. GFDA and High Plains Financial are Equal Opportunity Employers, Lenders and Providers.

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Montana Sees Surge of Young Adults Moving to the State for Jobs

Young adults aged 18 to 24 are leading in-migration to Montana, driven by strong economic growth and expanding job opportunities in areas like Great Falls. This influx could reshape local labor markets, though challenges remain with many youth still disengaged from work or education.

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Montana places near the bottom in new national ranking for childhood education – “The State With the Best Education Wins!”

WalletHub recently conducted a study on early education and ranked each state using 12 key metrics. Montana ranked 45th overall.

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Federal Cuts Threaten Rural Maternal Healthcare Access and Safety

Rural mothers face higher mortality rates and hospital closures worsen care access. Federal policies raising costs and cutting Medicaid risk deepening these critical healthcare disparities. Care will be in shorter supply, travel distances will stretch farther, and high-risk situations will more likely result in tragedy.

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Montana SMART Manufacturing Roadshow – 8/26 – Helena

WHO should Participate? Manufacturing Leads, Supervisors, Managers, and Leaders who want to discover potential applications of advanced technologies and data integration across all aspects of manufacturing operations.

Event

2026 MEDA Fall Conference – Sept. 22-24 – Sidney, Montana

Join us in Sidney, Montana, for two days of networking, collaboration, professional development, and engaging discussions focused on strengthening economic development across Montana. Connect with colleagues, community leaders, and industry partners while exploring innovative ideas, sharing best practices, and building valuable relationships.

Event

MEDA is currently accepting speaker proposals for the Fall 2026 Conference Sept. 22-24, Sidney, Montana!

We’re looking for speakers who can share real-world experiences, practical strategies, and ideas that can help strengthen community and economic development across Montana.

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When the AI Bubble Bursts What Industry Will Be San Francisco’s Next Great Economic Engine?

The ingredients are already here. The talent. The institutions. The innovation. The leadership. Now is the time to turn those strengths into San Francisco’s next great economic engine.

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Bogotá Transforms Housing and Transit for 34,000 Families By Putting Housing, Transit and Public Space First

In addition to a Department of Transportation or a Department of Housing, the Colombian capital of eight million people has a Sector Habitát, or Habitat Department, that combines urban renewal, transit-oriented development, civic works, and affordable housing into community-first development that centers public transit. Nearly 4,000 housing subsidies are linked to transit stations, supporting a comprehensive urban development strategy.

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The U.S. Government is “Selling the Seed Corn” of research and development of our future.

Last year, the Secretary of Health and Human Services cancelled half a billion dollars of mRNA research and called it savings. To understand what he actually cancelled, you need to hear about a physicist who never once thought about medicine.

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