Here is a special Top 10 celebrating some of the many accomplishments across the region in 2025.
1) Business Startups. We celebrated the startup of over 50 new businesses in the Great Falls trade area including 14 in Downtown Great Falls and 17 in rural communities.
2) Business Expansions. We supported over a dozen significant expansions of existing businesses in the region. Expansions included Protech Steel, Agprocessing Solutions and Benski Towing. We recognized 56 successful women-owned businesses with Fire Within Awards.
3) Housing Development. Two affordable housing developments were completed. Construction started on the 92-home Sanavista Estates being developed by Benefis Health System. Land use approvals were secured for two new subdivisions and a 150+ unit apartment development. We hosted three housing forums with partners.
4) Primary Sector Business Investments. Berkshire Hathaway Energy Montana started construction of major solar and battery storage developments, opened an operations center in Great Falls, and donated $1.4 million to Great Falls College to create new training for future energy workers. Ponderosa Solutions opened the first transload facility in Great Falls to support area manufacturers. The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing opened its new building. Pasta Montana completed installation of its new manufacturing line.
5) Commercial Development. Investments kept contractors busy across the region with renovations and new construction. Completed projects included the TownePlace Suites and Vintage Sellers in West Bank Landing, and restaurants such as Ocean Star Seafood Co., Pizza Ranch, Old Chicago and the Station District Bar & eatery food hall. Construction starts included Admiral Beverage in the Great Falls AgriTech Park, the Goodnow Health Aging Center, Panera, Texas Roadhouse, the Little Shell Tribe Ceremonial Center, Homegrown Dental, and the new Clearwater Credit Union building in Downtown Great Falls.
6) New Initiatives. We launched a new Business Cohort program and one-day Business Blitz training. We helped form the Montana Energy Business Alliance to advocate for increasing electric transmission capacity to assure affordable, reliable power for Montana businesses and residents. We took the lead in regional defense mission advocacy. We started a public relations partnership with Great Falls Tourism to market the city to visitors, entrepreneurs and companies.
7) Announcements. Montana Renewables announced it had closed on a $1.44 billion loan facility with the Department of Energy paving the way for an $800+ million expansion of its SAF and renewable diesel refinery. Mitchell Development & Investment announced plans to start construction in 2026 on The Falls mixed use development. The project includes two hotels, over 800 apartment homes, dozens of restaurants and retail stores, office space, and miles of walking trails on a 100-acre landscaped site on the east side of Great Falls. BRC Aircraft announced plans to build a facility at the Great Falls International Airport.
8) Team GFDA. We hired five amazing new staff team members. We created full time business development officer positions to pursue investment in energy and in recreation, entertainment and tourism. We completed a regional market assessment for recreation, entertainment and hospitality, started a childcare market assessment, and earned recertification as a Community Development Financial Institution. We won three Montana and three national Impact Awards.
9) Projects. We hosted the first ever International Economic Development Council Rural Retreat, attracting 400+ economic developers and industry leaders to the region. We hosted the Montana Gov Match event where businesses held over 660 one-on-one meetings with government procurement officers. We published a series of food processing safety videos to help small food manufacturers across the state. We purchased an additional 42 acres of land for future expansion of the Great Falls AgriTech Park.
10) Lending. We closed 11 bridge and gap loans totaling $3,095,435 that leveraged total investment in the trade area of over $7 million and paved the way for future investment of millions more. Our loans enabled manufacturing, childcare and healthcare expansions and set the stage for construction of hundreds of new homes. We closed a $480,000 SBA 504 loan that leveraged investment of over $1.2 million in expansion of a Great Falls Business. We secured $2.75 million in new loan capital.
THANK YOU for helping to make 2025 a great year! Now, on to making 2026 even greater. Happy New Year!
