Updated 11 a.m. June 27

Brock Cherry is the city’s new planning and community development director.

City Manager Greg Doyon made the announcement during the June 20 commission meeting.

The position has been vacant since former director Craig Raymond left on March 7 after 12 years of service to the city.

Cherry is coming from Mountain Home, Idaho where he has been the community development director the last three years. He also worked as a planner for the cities of Twin Falls and Meridian in Idaho.

Cherry has a masters in bioregional planning and community design with an emphasis in public administration and small town/rural planning from the University of Idaho and a bachelors in political science from Brigham Young University-Idaho.

In a release, Doyon said, “Brock will bring enthusiasm and energy to the community, department, and the position. As Great Falls prepares for a complete growth management plan overhaul, Brock’s experience and collaborative approach will benefit the community tremendously.”

Cherry starts with the city on Aug. 7.

Mountain Home has a population of about 16,000 and the city completed a comprehensive plan in 2020 and a downtown master plan in 2018, according to City of Mountain Home.

In an email to The Electric, Cherry said that he was “attracted to Great Falls because of its present achievements and potential for even more significant victories. Great Falls boasts a robust infrastructure, forward-thinking leadership, and excellent community partnerships.”

He said he’s looking forward to starting with the growth policy update and hearing from the community about their vision for the city.

“I want to emphasize how crucial their input is for the success of this plan,” he said. “I am eager to learn from the Planning and Community Development Department’s talented and capable team. I am excited to work alongside them and find ways to enhance the services we offer to our community partners and residents. I am amazed by the passion and sense of belonging that the people of Great Falls have for their community.”

Doyon also said during the June 20 commission meeting that he’s moving the Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs, which are U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs, from planning to the finance department, effective July 1.

Doyon said the idea began with Raymond while he was planning director and evolved when Tom Hazen was hired as the city’s grant manager in 2021.

Doyon said he’d been trying to shed some planning duties and saw an opportunity to have another department handle external revenue opportunities, to include grants, CDBG and the federal COVID relief funds.