GFDA Top 10 for 8-22-17

Here is our Top 10 for last week, celebrating work and successes to grow and strengthen our regional Great Falls economy.

1) Another new business announced it is opening in September downtown, Zero Escape Room . See more details in the Tribune http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2017/08/18/can-you-solve-mystery-zero-escape-rooms-coming-great-falls/577864001/ . Local developers are working on plans for 111 Central Avenue downtown. The theater building was built in 1886 as Albrecht’s Furniture Store and most recently housed Center Stage and Montana’s Actor Theater. The property has been empty for several years. Local developers hope to bring a new, unique business to downtown.

2) Continued work with several manufacturing startup, expansion and attraction prospects. Renewed our MOU with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center. GFDA investors support MMEC by providing space in our office to house MMEC’s statewide food processing specialist. Our pipeline of active clients today includes 68 existing businesses, 39 startup entrepreneurs, and 24 attraction leads and prospects. We have identified 117 food and agri-processing targets to pitch the Great Falls region to, 23 other manufacturing targets, and 57 site selection consultants.

3) The Cascade County (Great Falls MSA) unemployment rate in July was 3.5%, our lowest July rate since 2007. If you missed it, download a copy of the Labor Supply Report http://files.constantcontact.com/3e765937001/dc1f22c6-9d9f-4978-b064-46f06d6b8bff.pdf we published earlier this month.

4) We hosted 11 entrepreneurs at this month’s pre-business workshop, LaunchPoint, our largest group of the year! Our upcoming training calendar includes Boots to Business for active duty and veterans on August 23-24 at Malmstrom. We launch The Small Business Webinar Series: Understanding Credit Card Processing at 11 AM on September 7th. It’s free to log in. Profit Mastery, our workshop that provides actionable tools to improve cash flow and increase profitability, is September 13-14 from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM at Great Falls College MSU. Profit Mastery is offered at the reduced rate of $125 and includes lunch. LaunchPoint is free to attend and is next offered Tuesday, September 19th from 4-5 PM at GFDA. For registration information or to ask questions, contact Jason Nitschke at [email protected]

5) Congratulations to the over 200 volunteers who constructed the new KaBoom playground in West Bank Park, and THANK YOU to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, Benefis Health System and the many others who contributed to make the playground possible!

6) Registration is open for the Montana Downtown Conference and the Great Falls Downtown/Riverfront Development Opportunity Showcase, October 18-20. The focus of the 10th Annual Montana Downtown Conference will be "Attracting Private Investment to Your Downtown." More info and registration here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/10th-annual-montana-downtown-conference-downtownriverfront-opportunity-showcase-tickets-36917428021?ref=enivtefor001&invite=MTI1MDY0NDkvYmRvbmV5QGdmZGV2ZWxvcG1lbnQub3JnLzA%3D&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inviteformalv2&ref=enivtefor001&utm_term=attend

7) The University of Providence’s master degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling received initial two-year accreditation. There is tremendous demand/need for this career field.

8) We issued the GFDA Index for the 2nd Quarter of 2017 http://files.constantcontact.com/3e765937001/1ce6d955-b723-4f4e-abfa-1d06a104be13.pdf .

9) Business Facilities issued its 13th annual rankings report. Montana ranked 6th for Best Business Tax Climate, 8th for Best Cost of Doing Business, and 2nd for Lowest Industrial Electricity Rates.

10) Did you know the majority of economic growth is from existing business expansions? We are here to help! If your company is considering expansion, call Jolene to see what tools are available to help you succeed, 406-750-4481.

Hungry to Grow the Great Falls region!

Brett

Brett Doney
President/CEO
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-doney-83269b6/?authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=r7jF&locale=en_US&trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Amynetwork%2CclickedEntityId%3A19615718%2CauthType%3ANAME_SEARCH%2Cidx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1485731580114%2Ctas%3Abrett to network with the Great Falls region.

"If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door."
Milton Berle

Commercial Loan Portfolio Manager opening. Exceptional professional sought to support the growth of GFDA’s business and real estate lending and overall economic development efforts. Join our dedicated, passionate, fun, fast-paced, results-driven economic development CDFI team. Help us grow and diversify the Great Falls regional economy and support the creation of higher wage jobs. Duties include loan portfolio risk rating and financial analysis, loan documentation and servicing, reporting to a variety of public and private funding sources, maintaining our loan portfolio management system and other specialized software databases, responding to client and partner inquiries, and business development. Requires the ability to maintain accurate records, timely submission of reports, and strong computer and written/oral communication skills. Must be detail oriented, self-directed, and organized with the ability to be flexible to help achieve our overall team mission. Lending, finance, government grant management and/or accounting experience preferred. BA/BS or equivalent relevant experience. Salary range $40,000-45,000 with excellent benefits, professional development, growth opportunities, and flexible work environment. Work with a great team, help us move Great Falls Forward, and make a difference in people’s lives! EOE. Cover letter and resume to Lillian Sunwall at [email protected]. Open until we find a great candidate.

Cost-Effective Industrial Sites Available
If your company needs a rail-served, BNSF-Certified, shovel-ready site with all municipal services at your door, we have lots available for immediate construction in the Great Falls AgriTech Park. Contact Brett Doney at 1-406-750-2119 or [email protected]

Upcoming Business Events & Training

Profit Mastery workshops assist entrepreneurs to more efficiently manage the cash flow of their businesses. Our next Profit Mastery workshop is scheduled for September 13-14 at Great Falls College MSU. The two-day course is $125, which includes materials and lunch. Click for more info https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/3782 . We are also offering a QuickBooks basics workshop for $79 on October 11. Click for details: https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/3863.

Import 101 offered by Montana World Trade Center, September 21st, 2:00-5:00 PM in Missoula. More info at http://www.mwtc.org or [email protected]

Montana Downtown Conference, "Attracting Private Investment to Your Downtown," October 19-20 right here in Great Falls. Sponsorship opportunities available, contact Sheila Rice at [email protected]. Come a day early on October 18th for a special Great Falls Downtown & Riverfront Showcase. Register here or email [email protected]

This fall Senator Daines will be hosting the second biannual Montana High Tech Jobs Summit in Missoula, October 8-9th. To register or for more information, please visit the website at http://www.montanatechsummit.com.

Join us for the first annual Montana Food Show! This tradeshow will provide opportunities for food buyers and food producers to connect and find ways to get more Montana foods on Montana plates. Over 50 Montana fresh produce, meat, food and spirit companies will be showcasing their products in Bozeman on Tuesday October, 10, 2017. We invite food purchasers from schools, restaurants, hospitals, grocery stores, catering businesses, and other organizations to attend a private buying event from 10am-4pm. Doors are open to the general public from 4 to 7pm. Buyers can register and learn more at http://www.foodshow.mt.gov Questions? Contact Steph Hystad with the Montana Department of Agriculture at 406.444.5425 or [email protected]

Vision
Hungry to Grow the Great Falls region

Mission
Grow and diversify the Great Falls regional economy.
Create higher wage career opportunities.
Improve market competitiveness.

The first economic development organization in the Rocky Mountain West to earn accreditation from the International Economic Development Council.

GFDA is a certified Community Development Financial Institution and a 501(c)3 charitable organization. High Plains Financial is a certified Community Development Corporation that offers SBA 504 loans statewide. GFDA and High Plains Financial are Equal Opportunity Lenders.

GFDA is proud to host a Montana Small Business Development Center
and a Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

For more info, click to our website. http://www.gfdevelopment.org/