Past Events

Have your sales been affected by COVD19? If you could would you increase your revenue, sales, traffic, and profitability?  The Destination Creation Course helps businesses do just that. You will define your unique positioning statement about products and services you do better than anyone else. You will pinpoint your most profitable customers and reach more people like them. The proven 14-point business success strategy developed by internationally-known business consultant Jon Schallert teaches techniques to increase your ability to attract customers who are…

Please visit https://growgreatfallsmontana.org/about/governance/board-of-directors/ for the agenda and Zoom meeting information.

In this webinar, we'll discuss addressing the challenges, barriers, team-building, resources, and mindset it will take for entrepreneurs to navigate reopening a business during Covid-19. Presenters Dena Johnson and Kevin Scharfe will discuss how the right state of mind and pivoting your business model can help build consumer confidence and employee buy-in during this challenging time.

Developers, investors and business professionals throughout the Golden Triangle: join us Friday, July 10th at 7 AM as we continue our virtual installment of Investor Development Coffee. Come share and learn from other members with questions, concerns and updates about projects throughout the region. Now more than ever, keeping in touch and discussing how we find opportunities in the trade area is crucial. Join us via Zoom. If you would like to attend the meeting, email TSchreiner@GrowGreatFalls.org or call 406.781.9499…

Please visit https://growgreatfallsmontana.org/about/governance/executive-committee/ for the agenda and Zoom meeting information.

Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before,…

Please visit https://growgreatfallsmontana.org/about/governance/board-of-directors/ for the agenda and Zoom meeting information.

This brief 30-minute webinar will walk attendees through the best practices, reporting procedures, and forms to maximize the forgiveness of your Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.

Developers, investors and business professionals throughout the Golden Triangle: join us Friday, August 7th at 7 AM as we continue our virtual installment of Investor Development Coffee. Come share and learn from other members with questions, concerns and updates about projects throughout the region. Now more than ever, keeping in touch and discussing how we find opportunities in the trade area is crucial. Join us via Zoom. If you would like to attend the meeting, email TSchreiner@GrowGreatFalls.org or call 406.781.9499…

Join us for a day with KRose Marketing & Consulting where we will be talking about design, content crea-tion, digital marketing, and social media management for Facebook, Instagram, e-mail marketing and web-sites.

Please visit https://growgreatfallsmontana.org/about/governance/executive-committee/ for the agenda and Zoom meeting information.

Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before,…

The State of Montana purchases a wide array of products and services from private businesses each year. Procurement staff from the State of Montana will be presenting on how to do business with the State of Montana. Topics covered include: Contracting with the State of MT – Who buys what? – Goods & Services vs. Construction Contracts – Disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE program) – Where to find useful sources eMACS: – How to register as a vendor in eMACS –…

Tools, Grants, Loans, Marketing, Financials an hour discuss focused on helping your small business. NACDC Financial Services along with Great Falls Development Authority and SBDC will be hosting a virtual coffee meeting discussing various grants and programs available to small businesses on the Blackfeet Reservation at 10AM on Wednesday August 26th, 2020.  RSVP with Nathan Reiff (Great Falls Development Authority) in order to receive a link to the zoom call and a coupon for a free coffee at Hinman Coffee House in…

This short 30-min discussion will focus on businesses capital needs and how to access State COVID relief sources. RSVP for Zoom information.

Does your business need a website?   Are you intimidated or confused by the process?  Would you like to learn how to create and manage your own business  website?  Then join us for an in depth online training course we are calling our Website Bootcamp.  This three session course will teach participants how to create, build and maintain a business website from start to finish including the creation of an online store.  In this course our business advisor Rich Gannon will…

Come see how we accomplished a tough environmental project. This complex project took a lot of partners and resources but the team keeps it moving forward.

This short 30-min discussion will focus on businesses capital needs and how to access State COVID relief sources. RSVP for Zoom information.

The new challenges of working remotely can present daily stress that effects your staff. On September 25 at 8 AM GFDA is partnering with Stop the Stigma in a work force focused session on COVID-19 and Survival of the Quarantined: Workplace Stress and Wellbeing. This session, presented by Erin Butts, will increase your strategies and tools to aid your employees. Erin Butts was born and raised in Bigfork, MT.  She graduated from Carroll College, Helena and attained her Masters of Social Work…

Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before,…

Topic: Steve Robertson from the Missoula City-County Health Department will discuss communication strategies business owners may need to utilize when working to implement mask-wearing procedures with their employees and customers. This is a 30-minute webinar from 11-11:30am Mountain Time. Presenter: Steve Robertson Liaison Officer – Covid Response Incident Command Staff Missoula City-County Health Department

Now is the time to Invest in Downtown Great Falls! Registration is open for our virtual Invest in Downtown Great Falls event on October 13 at 9 AM. Learn what made some of our most popular downtown businesses succeed; hear about new development opportunities; and explore the vision our community has for the future of Downtown Great Falls. Are you a developer, entrepreneur, business owner? This is for you. We want you in Downtown Great Falls!

There’s no way around it—the past year has been rough for retail. It’s about a little company in Seattle called Amazon, which is steadily eating the world of retail. And when I say eating, I mean in one bite. What does the future hold for retailers large and small? The tea leaves point to three major developments. Changing demographics are a key driver here Enhanced retail experiences and the journey Understanding, and designing to support the customers’ behavior Register here…

Which kinds of shopper experiences create trust, and what falls short in terms of customer expectations.   Win consumers over and gain their trust by anticipating their behavior, preferences and engaging on the consumers' terms. If they can do this, they have the opportunity to develop a new generation of brand fanatics and harness the influence of today's dynamic and empowered consumer. Customer satisfaction is worthless – customer loyalty is priceless Short-term & long-term strategies for gaining & keeping customers…

Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before,…

Sharing of ideas and resources among like-minded retailers can lead to new found success. This seminar will give you ideas and tools to develop and plan for long-term partnerships that will help grow your business for years to come. The opportunities for these little kinds of partnerships are endless. No matter what community or city you're in, you share customers. Find yourself a business buddy or two and pass those customers around and keep them in your community. Register here…

Customer experience (CX) is the sum of all experiences at various touch points a customer has with a supplier of goods and/or services over the duration of their relationship with that supplier. The sales and customer service experience begins when a customer picks up the phone or walks in the door. Customers scrutinize how they are treated after the sale as much as they evaluate a business while making the decision to buy. They are closely watching how every situation…

From Mere Satisfaction to Real Advocacy I have an issue with the word “satisfaction”. Since when is being “satisfied” a good thing? It’s a mediocre achievement. You want ecstatically happy customers, evangelists and zealots that tell you everything they love. You want passion – not satisfaction, especially in todays’ retail environment. Gain from customer feedback. As a small business owner you rely on word of mouth marketing — do you want just “satisfied” customers? By being able to move customers…

Ever wonder how are we attracting businesses to the Golden Triangle? Grab your favorite beverage and join us on a zoom chat, 4 PM on October 28. We’ll discuss our business attraction strategies and partnership with DCI. RSVP using the weblink below.

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Executive Committee Page.

It’s tough to find and keep talent. Learn what it takes to cut through the noise to find and keep the talent your business needs. Chris Czarnik, one of the nation’s top talent experts and author of the book “Winning the War for Talent”, is bringing his expertise to you December 1st, 8th, and 15th from 11 to noon. Each session will be recorded for on-demand viewing. Register here to join the sessions or to be sent a recording. Thanks to support from the…

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Board of Directors Page.

Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before,…

Join us online for a free small business training! The Great Falls Public Library is hosting an online workshop for small business owners in Montana. Discover Google tools that can help business owners work and manage their business during this time of uncertainty. Plus, get insights on more online and timely resources for small businesses. In this workshop, we’ll discuss how to: Update critical business information online Keep customers informed Conduct virtual meetings Access important files from anywhere The session…

Join us for a FREE webinar on getting started with government contracting How to get started with government contracting -What is PTAC and what services do we provide? -What the government buys -First phase of pursuing government contracting -Q&A Wednesday, January 6th 12:00-1:00pm via Zoom

Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting information can be found on our Board of Directors Page.

Missoula-based business advisor Christine Littig will walk entrepreneurs through change management. Christine Littig is a two-time successful business owner from Missoula, Montana:  RedBird Restaurant and Bernice’s Bakery.  What defines her success?  Her business ventures were taken to the finish line:  exit by sale.  But what did it take to get there?  And what does she have to offer those currently working to find resiliency during COVID-19? Steering Your Business Through Change is a concise reflection of 4 moments of crisis…

Want learn more about the Women Owned Small Business program? Getting certified can be a great marketing tool for your business. The SBA’s WOSB program is designed to help provide a level playing field for women business owners. This small business program limits competition for certain contracts in the federal marketplace. This free webinar, will cover the changes to the SBA’s WOSB program, eligibility requirements, certification steps and help you learn if this certification is right for your business. There…

We’ve been fielding a lot of questions lately from businesses regarding the Montana COVID Stabilization Grant Reporting that is Due January 30. If you have specific questions or want further help. Nathan Reiff will be hosting a quick Q & A session on Thursday, January 14th from 12-12:30 PM MST. Register here - https://conta.cc/397Nb00

Have you been thinking about an idea and always wondered if you could make it a business? Are you a business owner but not a business school graduate? Are you passionate about the thing you do and don't know how to turn that passion into profit? Join GFDA and the Great Falls Small Business Development Center for The LaunchPoint, a business planning and strategies workshop that will walk through the key structures, available tools and why money is important before,…

Join the Montana PTAC for a live training on how to respond to a federal Request for Quote and Request for Proposal. Topics include: – Where to find federal opportunities – Where to find the bid documents – How to make a “go no-go” decision – Federal standard forms: What are the differences? What information goes where? – How do I know what information to submit with my offer? – Uniform Contract Format – Where do I submit my offer,…