Homegrown Dental’s new building in Great Falls is almost completed, one of many commercial developments underway in 2025.
1) Our Executive Committee approved a Brownfields subgrant of up to $266,664 to help support a local nonprofit community organization with the clean-up costs associated with redevelopment of a vacant upper floor building in Downtown Great Falls to create a new much-needed community service. This investment supports ongoing cleanup efforts and helps create safer, healthier spaces for future community use. If you or someone you know are interested in developing a property that may have contamination such as asbestos, contact Shandi Gebhardt Jones at 1-406-590-9037 or Shandi@GrowGreatFalls.org to discuss available options and resources.
2) Networked with 25 of the nation’s leading site selection consultants at the Area Development Consultant Forum.
3) Great Falls was listed in 20 Best Places to Visit in Montana, National Parks, Ski Resorts, and Charming Small Towns Included article published by Travel + Leisure this week! The article highlights Great Falls as a must-see destination in Montana, noting its central location, role as a convenient base for exploring the region, and access via an international airport, while celebrating the city’s unique attractions, scenic beauty, and local experiences that make it well worth adding to any Montana travel itinerary.
4) Participated in an Opportunity Zone 2.0 workshop hosted by the Council of Development Finance Agencies.
5) A site visit brought an out-of-town restaurant concept to Great Falls to explore downtown opportunities, highlighting how successful projects are built over time through strong collaboration. What often appears to be an overnight success is the result of years of relationship-building and partners working toward a shared goal. One of downtown Great Falls’ key advantages is how well local partners come together to answer questions, walk properties, and support potential investment. If you’re curious about the downtown market, GFDA can coordinate a concierge-style visit to explore the fit. Reach out to Katie Carvell at Katie@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-217-7635.
6) Authorized our Great Falls AgriTech Park civil engineers, TD&H Engineering, to move forward with bidding road, water and sewer improvements on 67th Street North to serve lots 7-10, to file a boundary lot adjustment between lots 9 and 10 to create a site to custom fit the needs of a company looking to build a new facility in Great Falls, and to explore the feasibility of creating a new lot with direct access on River Drive North.
7) Congratulations to MT Dirt LLC on obtaining the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) set-aside certification from the Small Business Administration (SBA) on their first submission! This marks a major milestone and a significant achievement, strengthening the company’s competitive standing and expanding access to federal contracting opportunities reserved for women-owned businesses. Carly Webber shared, “I am so thankful for all of the support from my Great Falls APEX advisor, Shannon Clancy. Navigating the process of becoming an SBA Certified Woman-Owned Business was daunting to say the least, but with Shannon’s support and guidance I was able to move through the process with ease. Her intimate knowledge of the sites and systems was invaluable to me and MT Dirt in this process!” Great Falls Regional APEX helped MT Dirt LLC successfully navigate the SBA set-aside certification process, and we can help you too. Ready to take your government contracting strategy to the next level? Contact Shannon Clancy at SClancy@GrowGreatFalls.org or at 1-406-590-1184.
8) Rogue Custom Coating & Gunworks has opened in Great Falls; see TheElectric’s Business Bites.
9) We have two Public Outreach Meetings scheduled for our Brownfields Catalyst Redevelopment Project. The first is on January 7th from 5:00-6:00 PM at Independence Bank in Great Falls, located at 901 River Drive. During this meeting we will focus on the potential redevelopment of the Falls Construction site located at 1001 River Drive. The second meeting will be on January 13th from 5:00-6:00 PM at NeighborWorks Great Falls, located at 509 1st Avenue South. This meeting will focus on the redevelopment of the city half-block parking lot at 600 1st Ave N in Downtown Great Falls. These meetings will provide an overview of the Catalyst Redevelopment Project and create an opportunity for community members to share their ideas and vision for how the property could be redeveloped. We are still looking for potential Catalyst Redevelopment Sites, so if you have any in mind, please reach out to Christian Nichols at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-9385.
10) “Meet with local officials early and often” is something we say to anyone planning a project in Great Falls or anywhere in our region. City and county staff can help identify challenges and opportunities for a project to move forward and maintain momentum. Jake arranged a meeting with a successful developer pursuing an ambitious housing project in Great Falls and the City Manager to explore pathways to success for a project in the earliest stages of predevelopment. Big thanks to Greg Doyon and the Great Falls City Staff for their willingness to jump in and be creative to help Great Falls meet it housing goals. Let’s get creative on your project, reach out to Jake Clark Jake@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-403-4937
11) The Montana Department of Agriculture announced first round selections for its 2026 Growth Through Agriculture grants including two in the Great Falls trade area. The next stage of the process is to prepare a full electronic application and video presentation by the February 2 deadline, and FADC Director, Sara Niccum, is available to help! Reach out to Sara@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-590-1301 for assistance with your application or any agricultural project support. Congratulations to the selected projects! If your business is still seeking gap or bridge financing, GFDA has additional options available.
12) With just three weeks to go, momentum is building for GFDA’s premier annual event, Ignite 2026, where regional leaders, investors, and partners will get a forward-looking briefing on major capital investments shaping North Central Montana’s economy. The program will spotlight what’s next across key industries, paired with several announcements of new projects that underscore continued confidence in the region. Ignite 2026 is designed to connect insight with opportunity and set the tone for the year ahead. Registration is open, and early sign-up is encouraged as interest continues to grow.
13) Before the year closes, take time to review how your business actually operated—what worked, what slowed you down, and where processes broke down. Cleaning up systems, updating records, and clarifying priorities now makes it easier to start the new year focused and efficient instead of reactive. A short operational reset can save time, money, and stress all year long. Contact one of the GFDA Small Business Development Center Business Advisors to get started on your reset:Christian Nichols, CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-788-9385; Rich Gannon, RGannon@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-836-2078; and Deb McGregor, Deb@GrowGreatFalls.org or 1-406-750-0314.
14) Did you know that over the next decade, energy generation in the western United States is projected to increase by 76% to meet accelerating demand? North Central Montana has potential to participate in energy generation at scale, with an estimated $11.5 billion in wind development opportunity and 84% of rooftops in Cascade County identified as solar viable. Kristen has made her energy list and checked it twice, actively identifying partners and pathways that can position North Central Montana as a leader in the next chapter of Montana energy development and deployment. If you are considering wind, solar, battery storage, or natural gas development opportunities, now is the perfect time to reach out to Kristen Blue at 1-406-788-4989 or Kristen@GrowGreatFalls.org
15) Preparations are underway for an upcoming site visit from a large industrial company following GFDA’s response to a state-issued RFI, creating an opportunity to highlight both business advantages and quality of life. In addition to showcasing sites, infrastructure, and workforce readiness, the visit will emphasize why Great Falls stands out as a premier place to live, work, and play in Montana, from accessible recreation and vibrant neighborhoods to a collaborative business climate. This integrated approach reinforces that long-term success here is supported not only by strong fundamentals, but by a community that attracts and retains talent. To learn more about our Business Attraction efforts, contact Christian Leinhauser at CLeinhauser@GrowGreatFalls.org or +1-406-836-0136.
16) The Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual awards breakfast where they honored businesses, organizations, and individuals whose achievements and contributions strengthen the Great Falls community. Congratulations to North 40 Outfitters as Ag Champion, 2J’s Fresh Market as Customer Service Champion, NeighborWorks Great Falls as Community Impact Champion, the 341st Missile Squadron as Best Workplace, First Liberty Credit Union as Military Support Champion, Dick Anderson Construction as Skilled Trades Champion, Katie Brewer as Rising Leader, and Brett Harris Insurance Agency as Business of the Year. We value our partnerships with many of these organizations and their role in supporting our community.
17) I was reelected to the Board of Directors of the Montana Infrastructure Coalition which advocates for critical highway, bridge, road, water and sewer infrastructure across the state.
18) GFDA’s role is to connect resources to opportunity, but it’s our investors and partners who make those resources possible. Their investment fuels new housing, childcare, business expansion, and new projects that drives our economy forward. Meet the team by viewing this short video. Recent investments include: Leadership Division—Admiral Beverage/Pepsi Great Falls; Pacesetter Division—United Materials, Vemco, Inc. ; Community Division—PowerGas Corporation. If you’d like to join the team supporting our work, reach out to Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or Jenn@GrowGreatFalls.org.
We’ve moved the usual bottom section of our Top 10 to our website, see link below, to shorten the weekly email. We are working to revamp our websites to make it easier to fund the information you need and to connect with our staff team.
Enjoy a wonderful and safe holiday week. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
