The Montana Food & Agriculture Development Center Network (FADC) is a statewide technical assistance group that provides assistance to Montana’s agricultural producers, processors and entrepreneurs. Located across the state, these eleven centers support economic development by encouraging the development of Montana’s agricultural resources to ensure that more of Montana’s food, agricultural and bio processing dollars circulate in Montana. The centers focus on adding ag and food specific value to our existing resources within Montana with the goal of keeping more of our agricultural products within the state by processing them locally, and exponentially increasing the value of our products before they leave Montana.
WHAT IS VALUE ADDED?
Value added is the process and development of a differentiated, high value, consumer-oriented product and in the content of the FADC program based upon a Montana produced or harvested agricultural raw goods. Value added agricultural products create additional avenues to compete nationally and at margins that help ensure profitability.
SERVICES PROVIDED
Each center within the Food & Agriculture Development Center Network focuses on a specific area of expertise, creating a wide variety of services and information channels for our clients. Services provided to FADC clients include:
- Business planning and development
- Regulatory compliance training
- Food processing
- Market research
- Business networking
- Education on industry dynamics and technologies
- Funding package preparation
The Great Falls Food & Ag Development Center is hosted by Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA). Located in Great Falls, GFDA is a 501©3 non-profit and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that’s been serving north central Montana for the last 33 years. We serve Cascade, Teton, Pondera, Toole, Liberty, Choteau, Blaine, Glacier, Hill, Lewis and Clark, Fergus, Judith Basin, Liberty, and Meagher counties including the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and the Little Shell Tribe, which does not have a reservation.
