Congratulations to the USAF 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB on winning the Omaha Trophy!!! Best ICBM missile wing in the world — on continuous alert since October 27, 1962. We are very proud to have you part of our community. See TheElectric.
| 1) We participated in all three Sentinel Town Hall meetings this week, supporting community engagement around the modernization of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile system and its impact across the region. These meetings provided valuable opportunities to hear directly from residents, share updates, and strengthen alignment between community priorities and mission requirements. Insights gathered will help inform ongoing collaboration with partners and ensure that local perspectives are reflected as the project advances. Through the new Central Montana Defense Coalition effort, we are committed to keeping stakeholders informed and engaged as this critical investment continues to take shape in North Central Montana. 2) The Big Sky Post of the Society of Military Engineers is hosting a Sentinel Industry Day, May 7 here in Great Falls. Download this flyer for more details and to register. 3) If you’re actively seeking government contracts and want to streamline your search, a Bid Match profile may be what you’re looking for. Bid Match is a free service available to active Montana APEX clients, serving as a one-stop shop to help you identify your next opportunity. To see if Bid Match is a good fit for your business, contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or at 1-406-590-1184. 4) Visited an out of state primary sector prospect. 5) Thank you to the 45 community members and Vision Net for an excellent Data Center Task Force meeting. Vision Net provided valuable insight into existing regional and statewide data center operations, clarified distinctions between different data center models, and outlined how rapidly the industry is evolving. Participants asked thoughtful questions that reflect a community actively engaged in this important conversation. Meeting notes will be shared soon, along with details for the next session. For any questions regarding the Data Center Task Force, contact Jolene at JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-4481. 6) Celebrate, support, and encourage female entrepreneurs in our region at The Fire Within 2026 event on April 16, 5:00-8:00 PM at The Newberry in Downtown Great Falls. Please get registered to attend. 7) We submitted multiple responses to prospective companies Requests for Information (RFI’s) in advanced manufacturing and life sciences, reinforcing the region’s growing reputation as a strong fit for these high-impact industries. These opportunities reflect continued momentum in business attraction efforts aligned with regional strengths, workforce capacity, and infrastructure readiness. We extend our appreciation to our partners at the Montana Department of Commerce for their ongoing leadership in connecting Montana with quality companies that align well with our economic development goals and community vision. Their collaboration helps ensure that new prospects consider all of Montana, including Great Falls and the wonderful rural communities in our trade area as a place where their companies can succeed and grow. To learn more about these opportunities or how to support business attraction efforts, reach out to Christian Leinhauser at CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org or +1-406-836-0136. 8) Our Small Business Development Center advisors’ go-to business planning tool, LivePlan, just got a major upgrade with the release of its new market research feature. It provides real data on your market, competitors, and customers all compiled into a clear, credible report you can use to validate and refine your business idea. If you’re starting or growing a business, we can help you put it to work. Connect with one of our business advisors to get started. 9) GFDA participated with Citizens Alliance Bank using SSBCI 2.0 loan funds to support Woith Engineering and Land Surveying’s $251,587 equipment purchase, helping the company continue its growth across our region. The project will create jobs and strengthen engineering and surveying work in communities across our region. Contact Shandi Gebhardt Jones at Shandi@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-9037 to see if GFDA gap and bridge financing options could help you or your clients’ projects. 10) We finalized the Central Montana Defense Coalition delegation to participate in the Strategic Deterrent Coalition Symposium and the Association of Defense Communities National Summit this May, advancing efforts to strengthen Great Falls’ role in national defense initiatives. Participation in these events positions the region to engage directly with federal leaders, military partners, and peer communities on priorities impacting missions, infrastructure, and long-term investment. GFDA continues to collaborate closely with local, state, and federal partners, including the Montana National Guard and the U.S. Air Force, to align strategies that support mission growth and community readiness. This coordinated approach reinforces the region’s commitment to supporting defense assets while expanding related economic opportunities. To learn more about the coalition’s work or how to get involved, reach out to Christian Leinhauser at CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org or +1-406-836-0136. 11) Great Falls Public Schools is partnering with Great Falls College MSU in a shared vision to expand and elevate Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities for our students and our community. They are working together to create seamless pathways that help students explore, develop, and ultimately refine their passions—connecting classroom learning to college programs and high-demand careers right here in Great Falls. This work is strengthened through meaningful collaboration with local industry partners, ensuring students gain relevant, hands-on experiences that prepare them for both employment and continued education. We invite students, families, and community members to participate in CTE Night on April 9th, 6:00-7:00 PM, at Heritage Hall at Great Falls College – MSU (2100 16th Avenue South). Join us for this FREE event as we explore: The Ages and Stages of Career Technical Education, How Unique Partnerships Elevate Our Community, and The Importance of CTE to Our Community. Looking ahead, this event will serve as the launch of a year-long CTE series across our community. Beginning in fall 2026 at Great Falls College MSU, continuing in winter at Great Falls High School’s Innovative Learning Center, and culminating in spring at CORE School, each event will focus on helping students refine, develop, and discover their passions. Together, we are building a connected system where education and industry align—ensuring every student has a pathway to success and every employer has a skilled and prepared workforce. 12) On Monday, April 13th from 5:00-8:00 PM, the Newberry in downtown Great Falls will be buzzing with energy experts ready to discuss challenges and opportunities in Montana. The event is cohosted by the Montana Energy Business Alliance and the Great Falls Development Alliance, featuring keynote speakers from Berkshire Hathaway Energy Montana and PowerGas Corporation, as well as a panel participants from the Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association, VisionNet, NorthWestern Energy, and GFDA. Register here to experience an energetic evening. Contact Kristen Blue at Kristen@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-4989 for more information. 13) If you’re looking to expand or start your business through purchasing a commercial building or site for your future location, make sure to talk to Christian Nichols, our Brownfields Project Manager, so we can see if you qualify for an Environmental Site Assessment paid for by EPA. You don’t know what environmental conditions or possible contaminates exist until you have an assessment completed. With our help you could save thousands of dollars and have confidence in your purchase knowing all contaminates are identified and assessed. For more information, please call Christian Nichols at 1-406-788-9385 or email at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org 14) Sara and Jake worked with a company designing a new ag processing facility proposed for our region. Next steps include linking our client to the different resources offered locally and at the State and federal levels as the project moves forward toward construction. Let’s get your Food, Ag, or Bio Processing dream to the next level. Reach out to Sara Niccum at Sara@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301. 15) Central Montana Tourism is working on an “Economic Impact, Advocacy, and Crisis Communication” study for Central Montana. The goal is to strengthen how they support and communicate about tourism while being prepared to respond to challenges. Residents and recent visitors are encouraged to take the short survey, here. 16) As we prepare for Opportunity Zone 2.0, Novogradac released updates to its OZ 2.0 Mapping Tool detailing likely eligible census tracts, reflecting 2020-2024 ACS data. 17) What do solar energy systems, heat pumps, low emission wood stoves, insulation, and high efficiency windows have in common? All are eligible for the Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program (AELRP), managed by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. AELRP offers loans at a 3.5% interest rate on qualifying projects, and businesses in North Central Montana receive scoring advantages. Applications are open now through April 30. For more information or help with the application, contact Meranda Bass at msikes@mt.gov or 1-406-444-6586. 18) Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard are core to our regional economy. Launching and maintaining the Central Montana Defense Coalition is essential to advocate for mission stability, support federal engagement, and keep our region competitive for future investment. This effort helps protect our economy and reduce uncertainty for businesses and workforce. We appreciate our founding members and investors who have stepped up to support this work and help safeguard long term stability. Recent investments include: Peacekeeper Division—Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce; Titan Division—Showdown Ski Area, Springhill Suites, and TownPlace Suites; Atlas Division—Great Falls College. Become a founding member and support the coalition, reach out to Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org to learn more. 19) Projects hit bumps on the road to completion seemingly at the worst possible times. Luckily we have a team of experts ready to jump in and help clients navigate challenges as they arise. Trying to bring your project forward in 2026? Make sure you are on the radar for our team to be ready to support you amid unforeseen challenges, start with Jake at Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937. 20) GFDA’s Board and Council met to get an update on our housing development efforts and to discuss updates to our regional Economic Development Strategy. The Board adopted the 2026-2028 strategy last September. With the constantly changing world we have a continuous strategic planning process. Since September we have added four things to our strategy: 1) Data Center Task Force to develop criteria to guide our data center attraction efforts; 2) Opportunity Zones 2.0 Task Force to develop plans to pursue and make use of new zones in the region; 3) increased awareness and lead generation efforts in the region; and, 4) greater utilization of AI amongst our team. If you would like to be added to our Board Distribution List, email Tracy at Tracy@GrowGreatFalls.org. 21) Shauni successfully completed the Economic Development Finance 101 course through Grow America, gaining a strong foundation in analyzing and structuring financing for business and real estate projects. The course covered business credit analysis, financial statement review, debt capacity, and real estate pro formas, along with key programs such as SBA lending and tax credits. This training enhances her ability to evaluate projects and structure effective financing to support economic development efforts across our region. Investing in our team’s professional development is core to our ongoing capacity building. 22) Economic development is about staying ahead. It is planning for growth, preparing sites, supporting businesses, and making sure a community is ready when opportunity shows up. Our investors and partners help make sure Great Falls is ready when that happens. Their support gives us the ability to act, not wait. Check out this video to learn more about the team behind our work. Recent investments include: Pacesetter Division—Opportunity Bank; Community Division—Bechtel. If you want to learn more about the work behind the growth you’re seeing, reach out to Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org. 23) GFDA has two great career opportunities — Downtown Great Falls Business Development Officer and Small Business Advisor. Download description and how to apply. Please forward to great candidates! “A person who sees a problem is a human being; a person who finds a solution is visionary; and the person who goes out and does something about it is an entrepreneur.” Naveen Jain Edition 731 |
