GFDA 3rd Qtr Index 2024 – The Numbers that Drive Us!
Annual freight truck loads crossing Canadian Border at Sweetgrass: 179,206
Average annual growth rate over last 8 years: 7.0%
Annual loaded railcars crossing Canadian Border at Sweetgrass: 31,807
Average annual growth rate over last 8 years: 10.2%
Value of annual US-Canada non-energy trade through Montana crossings in 2023: $18.8 billion
Import value: $10.064 billion
Export value: $8.708 billion
Annual value of meat imported from Canada through Montana to other states: $2.244 billion
Number of shows performed so far at The Newberry in Downtown Great Falls: 200+
Investment in St. Mary’s Diversion Dam Replacement Project: $90 million
Gallons of first Montana Renewables Sustainable Aviation Fuel sent to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport: 7,000
Number of students that participated in the Great Falls Worlds of Work: 2,000+
Number of logistics site selection consultants met with during quarter: 9
Units of low-income senior housing under construction in Great Falls: 25
Median house value in Great Falls, Montana: $227,600
Number of housing developer site visits to Great Falls during quarter: 4
Unmet demand for new housing units in Great Falls, current year: 650
Square feet of vacant retail space available in Downtown Great Falls: 112,000
Food and beverage establishments in Downtown Great Falls: 29
TIF funding committed to Downtown Great Falls projects during quarter: $1.58 million
Approximate amount of TIF funding available for Downtown Great Falls projects: $5 million
Cost of living in Great Falls MSA in 2023: 89.8% of national average
Cost of living in Billings MSA: 99.5%
In Cheyenne: 109.4%
Land we purchased during quarter for Great Falls AgriTech Park: 37.76 acres
Land we sold in Great Falls AgriTech Park for local business expansion: 2 acres
GFDA gap and bridge loans closed during quarter: $1,180,000
Additional investment leveraged by these loans: $1,090,000
Additional GFDA gap and bridge loans approved during quarter: $350,000
Loan participations with Montana SSBCI program during quarter: $590,000
Additional SBA 504 loans approved during quarter: $3,964,000
New loan capital secured during quarter: $625,000
Companies and entrepreneurs we provided services to during quarter: 273
Total activities with these companies we recorded during quarter: 1,279
New client projects we started work on during quarter: 41
Entrepreneurs and small business clients advised during quarter: 133
New small business advising clients during quarter: 40
Rural clients advised during quarter: 45
New capital secured by entrepreneur advising clients: $912,800
Entrepreneur and small business trainings during quarter: 4
Number of training participants: 37
Government contracting clients advised during quarter: 62
New government contracting clients advised during quarter: 20
Government contracting advising sessions during quarter: 117
Active government contracting clients at end of quarter: 207
Government contracts won by clients: $14,825,271
Government contracting trainings during quarter: 3
Number of training participants: 54
Brownfields property assessments provided during quarter (Phase 1 and/or Phase 2): 3
Number of food and ag business touch points this quarter: 156
Number of unique food and ag businesses contacted in the quarter: 50
Great Falls Team members on GFDA Aspirational Trip during quarter: 11
Number of miles travelled on trip: 1,560
Number of International Economic Development Council 2024 Excellence Awards won by GFDA: 2
Montana’s national ranking in USDA Value-Added Producer Grant awards: 3rd
USDA Value-Added Producer Grant applications awarded to Montana: 8
Businesses GFDA assisted with USDA Rural Energy for America Program applications: 7
Montana Air National Guard C-130’s landed on Montana state highways this year: 2
Percentage of Montanans on Medicaid who work or are in school: 76%
Rural hospitals closed nationwide between 2010 and 2021: 136
Rural hospitals in Montana that have closed since the beginning of Medicaid expansion: 0
New jobs created and sustained in Montana by Medicaid expansion in 2022: 7,500
New Montana personal income generated by Medicaid expansion in 2022: $475 million
Economic activity in Montana fueled by Medicaid expansion in 2022: $775 million
Share of Montana Medicaid expansion paid for by federal government: 90%
Number of installed heat pumps in Europe: 20 million
European goal by 2030: 60 million
Increase in monthly average American new business creation since the pandemic: 80
For more informaiton, contact Jolene Schalper at JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-4481