Great Falls Development Authority
Advancing Montana’s Bioscience Future Through Strategic Economic Growth
The Challenge
The Great Falls Development Authority (GFDA) is a regional public-private economic development organization serving the 13-county Great Falls, Montana, trade area—known as Montana’s Golden Triangle. Spanning more than 44,000 square miles and including both metropolitan and rural communities, the region faces unique challenges in driving economic diversification and long-term growth across key industries such as healthcare and bioscience.
How We Helped
GFDA engaged Tripp Umbach to develop a comprehensive economic development strategy aimed at expanding and diversifying bioscience-related industries in the Great Falls region. The study evaluated how comparable communities have leveraged healthcare and bioscience assets to attract investment and stimulate innovation. Building on these insights, Tripp Umbach identified strategies with the greatest potential to strengthen the region’s economy over the next five years and position Great Falls as a competitive bioscience hub.
Tripp Umbach’s recommendations focused on establishing a Healthcare and Bioscience District Implementation Plan, advancing research and innovation infrastructure through a proposed incubator at the McLaughlin Research Institute, and securing investment in graduate medical education expansion and state funding programs. The study also recommended forming a steering committee to guide the development of a private veterinary school in Great Falls.
These strategic actions will serve as the foundation for transforming Great Falls into a leading center for bioscience innovation. Over the next five years, these initiatives are projected to catalyze long-term economic growth, attract investment, and establish Great Falls as a cornerstone of Montana’s evolving bioscience economy.