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Richard Carl “Dick” King August 3, 1947 ~ June 26, 2026 (age 78)
He was President and CEO of Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation until his retirement in 2011. Recruiting companies and supporting existing businesses played a large role in creating economic development in Missoula and the surrounding area. Projects were done as a team with MAEDC staff and city/county staff. Dick was extremely proud of the effort that went into obtaining funds to clean up the legacy pollution at the Old Saw Mill District. Its 45 acres now provide housing, a place to work, and recreational opportunities.
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GFDA Top Ten for 7/12/26
Day 1! Janicki Industries broke ground on its aerospace manufacturing campus in the Great Falls AgriTech Park. The $800 million investment in 1.6 million square feet of production space will create over 2,000 jobs at full build-out! Hundreds of community members participated in a town hall, the groundbreaking event and a celebration held downtown. Janicki launched a Montana section in their website with information about the project.
See KRTV, KFBB, TheElectric and BusinessWire.
Janicki is expanding to Great Falls, Montana. 2,000+ Jobs
Janicki is a privately owned engineering and manufacturing company with locations in Washington, Utah and, soon, Montana. Founded in 1993, Janicki designs and builds composite and metallic tooling, parts, prototypes and assemblies for customers across aerospace, defense, space, marine and other industries. Janicki is one of the largest privately owned Tier 1 aerospace suppliers in the United States, with more than 2,000 employees company wide.
This is why we need state-wide Pre-K education in Montana
Zero to Five Missoula recently released 2025 Kindergarten Entry Assessment data.
WHAT’S NEXT?! Montana — June 2026 – Frontier Angels
It was a quite month for the Montana tech scene. I guess everyone is on the river or deep in the backcountry camping. Below please find the latest Montana technology developments from June, 2026.
ADROIT Employment Resources
ADROIT Employment Resources is a Montana-based workforce and talent solutions partner that helps employers solve complex hiring challenges through recruiting, workforce strategy, and employment consulting. We specialize in supporting organizations including deep tech, advanced technology,…
Could Data Center Jobs Stop Young Adults From Leaving Wyoming? 70% of its young adults leave by age 30
Microsoft’s Cheyenne data center offers diverse roles beyond IT, employing former oil workers and veterans. This shift provides local career options that may slow the loss of young adults seeking work elsewhere.
University of Montana College of Business
Make Your Future in the College of Business The College of Business at the University of Montana is a special place focused on making students feel engaged, supported and connected. Students receive access to opportunities…
University of Montana Researchers Launch Free Nationwide Individual Tree and Shrub Height and Structure Dataset
The University of Montana team created the NAIP-CHM, a detailed vegetation height map at 0.6-meter resolution. This new resource replaces costly surveys and aids land managers in prioritizing treatments and estimating costs.
3,000 bison in Yellowstone’s a ‘bs number,’ superintendent tells Montana Governor Greg Gianforte
“So pardon my frankness about the advice you’re getting on this issue,” Sholly said. “I look at the letter you sent the Interior secretary and wonder who the hell wrote that for you?”
Data centers are reshaping communities across America. Here’s what you need to know – Missoula County adopts temporary moratorium on data centers
There are an estimated 4,000+ data centers operating or under development in the United States.
US Accounted for Nearly 50% of World’s CO2 Emissions Growth in 2025 — Thanks, AI Data Center Explosion
US electricity demand grew 3 percent in 2025 with coal power surging 13 percent and data centers consuming 40 percent of global data center electricity. Despite a 28 percent increase in renewables, total energy supply growth outpaced clean energy gains, driving emissions higher.
University of Montana College of Business
Make Your Future in the College of Business The College of Business at the University of Montana is a special place focused on making students feel engaged, supported and connected. Students receive access to opportunities…
Headwaters Tech Hub – July 2026 Newsletter – People, Place, Technology
We are just two months away from the Headwaters Tech Hub Summit. Join us as we dig into real challenges, surface opportunities, and build the relationships that help Montana compete and lead on a national and global stage. Sign up today, early bird pricing expires July 31st.
Montana Career Opportunities – Global Human Resources Manager, Associate Counsel, Product Developer, Early Childhood Lead Teacher – $1,000 Signing Bonus and more… – Zoot Solutions
No Suits, Montana Roots Discover fulfilling careers at Zoot, where our dedicated employees focus on delivering the best decisioning engines for some of the largest organizations worldwide. As part of the Zoot team, you’ll join…
Announcing FUND Montana Launch – Where Montana’s builders meet the people who back them.
It’s a free directory, where Montana’s builders can create a profile, share what they’re working on, and signal what kind of capital or support they’re looking for. This is where investors can start finding the deals they’ve been missing.
Montana is #45 on Top States for Business 2026 – CNBC
CNBC’s annual study once again puts all 50 states to the test, measuring them on 138 metrics, the most ever, across ten categories of competitiveness.
July News for Montana Nonprofits
MNA seeks Indigenous Fundraising Coach – We are looking for proposals from qualified individuals or organizations to provide fundraising coaching tailored to Indigenous fundraisers. Fundraisers will be taking part in MNA’s Fundraising Cohort during this time, receiving additional instruction and resources focused on engaging individual donors alongside a cohort of 20 Montana nonprofit organizations.
Hey! Quick update on the REAL CO-Lab
First, can I just say that our Rural Business Roundtable series was one of the most meaningful events of the year?! The business owners and experts who hopped into our calls were honest, authentic, and helped to highlight opportunities where policymakers and stakeholders can make a difference for communities to thrive- or survive, in some cases. I’m really grateful for all the Montana business owners and the experts who joined our calls who are community-minded. THANK YOU!
High Plains Financial
“High Plains Financial (HPF) is a Montana-based Certified Development Company and SBA 504 lender affiliated with the Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA). HPF provides SBA 504 loans statewide, helping businesses access long-term, fixed-rate financing for…
Missoula Public Library 5th Birthday Block Party – 7/17 – Main Street
Come meet your neighbors.
Does Your Organization Have Leaders Who are Good Story Tellers? – Leaders Must Embrace Authentic Engagement to Build Trust and Credibility
Senior leaders are moving away from polished messages toward authentic, consistent engagement. This shift helps leaders connect meaningfully and maintain trust in today’s digital and dispersed environments.
Bonner, Montana Data Center Project Canceled After Massive Petition Campaign
Nearly 50,000 signatures opposed the proposed data center over environmental concerns. The project’s withdrawal highlights rising local resistance to resource-heavy infrastructure developments.
Biking the Historic Hiawatha Trail Through Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains
The 15-mile Hiawatha Trail follows a former Milwaukee Railroad route, blending history with stunning nature. Riders experience the 1.66-mile St. Paul Pass Tunnel and scenic views while supporting local tourism and preservation efforts.
High Plains Financial
“High Plains Financial (HPF) is a Montana-based Certified Development Company and SBA 504 lender affiliated with the Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA). HPF provides SBA 504 loans statewide, helping businesses access long-term, fixed-rate financing for…
Aviation Mechanic Shortage Spurs Job Growth and High Salaries – Aviation Maintenance Technology – Helena College
The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics recently graduated 60 maintenance students, with nearly half securing jobs before graduation. Boeing forecasts a need for 123,000 maintenance technicians in North America through 2044, highlighting strong demand in the industry.
Tell Us Something – The Pursuit of Happiness – 9/23 – University of Montana Dennison Theater
Eight storytellers will share their true personal stories without notes on the theme: “Pursuit of Happiness”
Montana State University strategic plan listening sessions planned for July in Kalispell, Great Falls, Helena, Butte and Bozeman
All upcoming listening sessions are listed on MSU’s Strategic Plan website that will be updated with additional details as needed.
Missoula, Montana’s Silk Road Catering Develops Map of Montana Event Venues
The Silk Road Catering team has catered over 2,000 special events since 2009, and has traveled to hundreds of public and private locations in Western Montana. Are there more we can add to the map?
Prospera Business Network
Prospera Business Network is the lead non-profit organization advancing and supporting community-centered economic development in southwest Montana. Our focus is helping people start and grow their business – in turn strengthening our region’s economy and…
Missoula, Montana taekwondo team from Corbin’s Championship Training Gymnasium wins big on national stage
“There are full-ride scholarships available,” Corbin said. “Fully funded athletes that are going to universities. Only two in the USA, but it’s building momentum, and my hope is in the next few years this will be something that athletes will be able to be fully funded for going to college.”
North Dakota Nearing 100 Percent Fiber Connectivity – How is Your State Doing?
In one of the most rural parts of the U.S., the Peace Garden State is close to being the first in the nation in which every home and business has (or will soon have) access to fiber service, the gold standard of Internet connectivity.