GFDA Quarter Index 2025Q4 – Numbers that Drive & Inspire Us!
Numbers to Celebrate
Great Falls ranking in leading metro areas in Mountain region: 5th
New electric transmission development in progress in Montana: 420 miles
New battery storage built in Great Falls trade area: 75 MW
Housing projects in predevelopment for spring construction start in Great Falls: 8
Increase in scientific faculty of Weissman Hood Institute at Touro University in last four years: From 2.5 to 12
Touro College of Medicine Great Falls students who conducted research at the institute in 2025: 83
Touro Great Falls medical students who co-authored scientific papers in 2025: 25
Riverfront extended stay hotel rooms in new TownePlace Suites in West Bank Landing: 109
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Montana donation to Great Falls College: $1.4 million
Regional Community and business leaders named MAFB Honorary Commanders: 44
Capacity of new Treasure State Sires boar stud facility: 412 mature boars
Annual yield of genetic material from facility: 100,000+ litters
GFDA Quarter Numbers
New businesses opened in Downtown Great Falls: 2
Primary sector business attraction site visits to region: 2
Active housing developments we worked with clients on: 19
Rural communities GFDA is engaged with on housing development: 2
Number of national reporters who visited Great Falls as part of our new PR campaign: 3
Number of national news articles published about the Great Falls region: 3
Montana Business Development delegation that traveled to Japan and South Korea: 42
Montana Economic Development Excellence Awards won by GFDA: 3
Land purchased by GFDA for Great Falls AgriTech Park expansion: 42 acres
Site selection consultants networked with: 25
Brownfields clean-up subgrant approved by GFDA for local nonprofit: $266,664
Proposals submitted to state-generated primary sector leads: 3
Companies identified and added to GFDA CRM: 118
GFDA gap and bridge loans closed: $132,000
Additional private investment leveraged by these loans: $240,000
New loan capital GFDA secured: $1,250,000
Entrepreneurs and small business (SBDC) clients advised: 149
Rural clients advised: 55
Total client advising hours: 303
Rural client advising hours: 109
Capital secured by small business advising clients: $135,000
Entrepreneur and small business trainings: 8
Number of training participants: 39
New business start-ups by advising clients: 2
Government contracting (APEX) clients advised: 78
New government contracting clients advised: 10
Government contracting advising sessions: 190
Active government contracting clients at end of quarter: 314
Government contracts won by clients: $12,031,680
Government contracting trainings: 4
Number of training participants: 48
Most Recent Economic Data
Average annual wage increase in Cascade County in four quarters ending 2025Q2: 5.5%
Increase nationwide during same four quarters: 4.1%
Cascade County average annual wage in 2025Q2: $55,479
Increase in total wage earnings in Cascade County in four quarters ending 2025Q2: 6%
Total wage earnings increase in Cascade County for those quarters: $120 million
Record number of Cascade County business establishments in 2025Q2: 3,282
Interesting Factoids
Median age of U.S. first-time homebuyers in 1991: 28
Median age of U.S. first-time homebuyers in 2025: 40
Generative AI annual revenue in 2025: $153 billion
In 2021: $0
ChatGPT weekly users: 800 million
Average time lost by American commuters stuck in traffic in 2024: 63 hours
Wind development potential in Great Falls trade area: $11.5 billion
Year global energy demand is expected to more than double: 2050
Annual shortfall between U.S. skilled trades openings and qualified graduates: 1.7 million
GFDA’s cumulative loan principal loss over 30 years: 0.7%
Average annual loan principal loss of federally regulated banks: 0.5-1.5%
For more information, contact Jolene Schalper at JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-4481