GFDA 4th Qtr Index 2024 – The Numbers that Drive Us!
Wind energy private investment potential in Great Falls trade area by 2035: $11.5 billion
Percentage of roofs in Cascade County that are solar viable: 84%
Number of rail cars Ponderosa Solutions can handle daily at its new transload facility in Great Falls AgriTech Park: 10
New childcare spots created by new Robyn’s Nest Daycare facility: 40
Malmstrom AFB construction projects authorized by Congress during quarter: $258 million
Federal loan guarantee secured by Montana Renewables for expansion: $1.44 billion
Sustainable aviation fuel annual production increase from Montana Renewables’ planned expansion: 150 million gallons
Babies delivered at Benefis Health System in 2024: 1,347
Federal infrastructure funding announced for major regional water projects during quarter: $14 million
Great Falls trade area GDP growth from 2022 to 2023: 7.45%
Dollar amount of one year growth: $711 million
Total Great Falls trade area GDP in 2023: $10.25 billion
Cascade County GDP growth from 2022 to 2023: 6.31%
Dollar amount of one year growth: $318 million
Total Cascade County GDP in 2023: $5.35 billion
Per capita personal income growth in Cascade County in 2023: $2,969
Increase in average annual wage in Great Falls MSA in the four quarters ending 2024Q2: $584
Average annual wage in Great Falls MSA in 2024Q2: $52,871
Capacity of events center announced by Little Shell Tribe: 9,700 people
Size of indoor water park announced for Little Shell Event Center & Resort in Great Falls: 30,000 square feet
Hotel rooms: 200
Number of new businesses that opened in Downtown Great Falls in 2024Q3: 5
New private investment downtown in 2024Q3: $1,954,500
Downtown Great Falls tax increment project support approved in 2024: $1,481,420
New project leads we secured and started work on during quarter: 30
Previous client projects we worked on during quarter: 34
Companies and entrepreneurs we provided services to during quarter: 367
Total activities we recorded with these companies during quarter: 1,617
Estimated value of projects in our pipeline: over $3 billion
Number of prospect site visits to Great Falls during quarter: 5
Land we optioned to purchase during quarter for Great Falls AgriTech Park: 42 acres
Land we sold in Great Falls AgriTech Park for local business expansion: 22 acres
GFDA gap and bridge loans closed during quarter: $1,220,000
Additional investment leveraged by these loans: $220,000
Additional GFDA gap and bridge loans approved during quarter: $1,795,935
Loan participations with Montana SSBCI program during quarter: $610,000
New loan capital secured during quarter: $3,839,285
Entrepreneurs and small business clients advised during quarter: 181
Total client advising hours: 555
Capital secured by small business advising clients during quarter: $736,000
Entrepreneur and small business trainings during quarter: 10
Number of training participants: 54
Businesses graduated in our first Downtown Great Falls Entrepreneur Cohort: 10
Number of participants in our first annual Entrepreneur Celebration: Hundreds!
Government contracting clients advised during quarter: 66
New government contracting clients advised during quarter: 14
Government contracting advising sessions during quarter: 106
Active government contracting clients at end of quarter: 228
Government contracts won by clients: $14,817,805
Government contracting trainings during quarter: 1
Number of training participants: 34
Number of food and ag business touch points this quarter: 314
Number of unique food and ag businesses contacted in the quarter: 79
Businesses in our region making first cut for Growth Through Agriculture funding: 7
Food/Ag conferences we networked at during quarter: 5
Percentage of Montana’s GDP generated by outdoor recreation adjacent businesses: 4.6%
Montana annual GDP generated by outdoor recreation: $3.4 billion
Number of states with larger percentage of GDP generated by outdoor recreation: 2
Number of Montanan’s who have participated in expanded Medicaid: 78,847
Number of Cascade County residents who have participated: 17,977
Number of Teton County participants: 1,445
Chouteau County: 902
Participants statewide who are working or in school: 76%
Estimated number of jobs Medicaid expansion has created in Cascade County: 293
For more info, contact Jolene Schalper at JSchalper@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-4481