09/03/2026
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There has been a lot of talk about growth in Great Falls lately - but what is actually being developed right now?
That’s something I’ve been curious about myself.
When we talk about “growth,” I think it’s easy to picture new restaurants, subdivisions, or businesses popping up around town. But after digging into some of the projects currently underway and planned, I started seeing a much bigger picture.
Some of the largest projects happening right now aren’t necessarily things most of us will see while driving down 10th Avenue South.
So, what’s happening behind the scenes?
• Janicki Industries: Janicki broke ground this summer on an $800 million manufacturing campus at the Great Falls AgriTech Park. Planned across 180 acres, the campus is expected to eventually include 1.6 million sq. ft. of production space supporting aerospace, defense and space work. Janicki expects to create 1,000 jobs within five years and more than 2,000 by the time the campus is complete.
• Meadowview Village: Ground was broken in May on this 27-acre development near Central Avenue and 46th Street. Plans call for 163 single-family lots, creating new opportunities for individual ownership.
• Good Medicine Community: The Little Shell Tribe received city approval this summer for an approximately 18-acre, 115-unit housing development near Hill 57. Plans include single-family homes, duplexes and apartments, with development expected to move forward in phases.
• The Falls: Plans for this roughly 100-acre mixed-use development on the east side of Great Falls could eventually include more than 1,000 housing units and over 600,000 sq. ft. of retail, restaurants, offices and hotels. The developer has described it as a potentially 20-year project.
• Benefis Health System: Sanavita Estates, a new 55+ independent-living community near Benefis’ existing Grandview senior-living campus, is under construction. Plans include a 64-unit apartment building and 28 single-family villas.
• WinCo Foods: Work is officially underway at the former Shopko property at 301 N.W. Bypass. The city issued a demolition permit in June for work needed for the eventual renovation and build-out of the WinCo location.
• Chick-fil-A: Plans are also moving forward for a Chick-fil-A at 721 10th Ave. S. The project has gone through permitting and related city approvals.
• Touro University: Touro's Great Falls presence is continuing to expand beyond its medical school, including nursing education and a new FlexTime law program expected to begin in fall 2027.
When I take a step back and look at all of this together, what stands out to me isn't necessarily any one project. It's how many different types of development are happening at the same time.
We're seeing major investment in manufacturing and jobs, new housing, healthcare, education, retail and long-term commercial development.
And I think that's an important distinction when we talk about Great Falls “growing.”
Growth isn't just another restaurant opening or another subdivision going up. Some of the biggest changes happening right now are much larger investments that could shape how Great Falls develops over the next decade or longer.
And this isn't even close to everything happening around town - which is honestly what surprised me the most while researching this.
What project happening in Great Falls right now are you most curious about?
🔗 Resources linked below ⏬
