Great Fls Development Authority Inc

THE GREAT FALLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, INC. DBA GREAT FALLS DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (GFDA) IS A COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP AND CERTIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (CDFI). GFDA IS ORGANIZED AS A MONTANA NONPROFIT 501(C)3 CHARITABLE CORPORATION. IT IS A BROAD PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP THAT SERVES THE GREAT FALLS MONTANA MSA AND THE SURROUNDING 13-COUNTY RURAL AND TRIBAL TRADE AREA OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA.

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THROUGHOUT A 13-COUNTY, 44,000 SQUARE MILE REGION OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA THAT INCLUDES URBAN, RURAL AND TRIBAL AREAS. THESE SERVICES FOCUS ON THE FOUR ASPECTS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY - PEOPLE, PLACE, OPPORTUNITIES, AND TEAM. THE ORGANIZATION'S STRATEGY DETAILED 19 PRIORITIES AND 46 SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO UNDERTAKE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. AS PART OF THIS WORK, THE ORGANIZATIONS HOSTS A SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AN APEX ACCELERATOR (FORMERLY CALLED PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER), A FOOD & AG DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AND A BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATION ASSISTS OVER 700 ENTREPRENEURS, BUSINESSES, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS A YEAR THROUGH ADVISING, TRAINING, AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

THE ORGANIZATION IS A CERTIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT PROVIDES GAP AND BRIDGE FINANCING TO ENTREPRENEURS, BUSINESSES, DEVELOPERS AND NON-PROFITS WHO CANNOT SECURE ALL THE FINANCING THEY NEED FROM CONVENTIONAL SOURCES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS SEVEN REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS CAPITALIZED FROM A VARIETY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOURCES. TO DATE, THE ORGANIZATION HAS MADE 190 LOANS TOTALING $65,797,674 THAT HAVE MADE POSSIBLE TOTAL INVESTMENT OF OVER $350,000,000, CREATING THOUSANDS OF JOBS, A NUMBER OF NEW BUSINESSES AND RENOVATED PROPERTIES, AND HUNDREDS OF NEW APARTMENTS. THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES A SEPARATE NON-PROFIT, HIGH PLAINS FINANCIAL, THAT IS A SBA-CERTIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PROVIDING SBA 504 LOANS STATEWIDE ACROSS MONTANA.

THE ORGANIZATION IS DEVELOPING A HEAVY INDUSTRIAL RAIL-SERVED INDUSTRIAL PARK, THE GREAT FALLS AGRITECH PARK, TO PROVIDE SITES NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR BUSINESS STARTUPS, EXPANSIONS AND ATTRACTION. THE ORGANIZATION HAS SOLD LOTS IN THE PARK TO FOUR COMPANIES. TO DATE, THREE COMPANIES HAVE COMPLETED NEW FACILITIES IN THE PARK.