Leaders from Great Falls, Montana look to glean ideas for growth at Ohio meeting

"We need to be aware of what the competition is doing, what are the cutting edge ideas and what other communities are doing to attract private investment."

Officials from the Great Falls Development Authority and the Great Falls City Commission are in Columbus, Ohio today at the International Economic Development Conference.

GFDA President Brett Doney has attended the event, which he says is the leading economic development conference in the world, for years. But this year, City Commissioners Fred Burow and Bill Bronson, Great Falls City Manager Greg Doyon, along with GFDA staff Jeremiah Johnson and Nano McCluskey, are with him.

"When we did our strategic planning last fall, one thing we discussed is how to use our resources in a way that has the biggest impact for Great Falls," said Doney. "We need to be aware of what the competition is doing, what are the cutting edge ideas and what other communities are doing to attract private investment."

He said by bringing community leaders to the event will allow them to talk to their peers and learn about how other communities are responding to the recession.

"Our hope is that they come back with good ideas," said Doney.

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100926/BUSINESS/9260307/Leaders-look-to-glean-ideas-for-growth-at-Ohio-meeting