Business Bites: Meadowview Village interest list open; Red Cross seeking blood drive hosts; Opp. Inc. summer camp; CCSO detention officer hiring event; community concert; Paris Gibson Square exhibit; and more
Meadowview Village
Developers of Meadowview Village are planning a ground breaking in April for a new 163-unit community and have opened the project’s interest list for prospective homebuyers.
The community site is designed around a walkable layout with shared green spaces and amenities, including a clubhouse, pickleball courts and outdoor gathering areas.
Infrastructure work is expected to begin shortly after the ground breaking and homes will be delivered in phases over the course of the project, according to Upslope Group, the developers.
The interest list and an updated video of the project is available here.
City Commissioners approved annexation 27.03 acres east of the intersection of Central Avenue and 46th Street to create Meadowview Village, as well as planned unit development zoning to allow for smaller lot sizes in the hopes of providing “attainable, entry-level housing.”
Kaboom closing
Kaboom is closing and their last day of business is March 28.
If you have redemption point on your arcade cards, redeem them this week or they’ll be good at Flippin’ Family Fun, according to Kaboom.
If you have a party of group scheduled after the closing date, Kaboom staff will be in touch to try to reschedule or issue a refund on any deposit.
Kaboom owners are also selling a lot of equipment. Contact them at 406-866-0117 to discuss purchases.
Word Meister Contest
The annual Word Meister Contest is March 26 at the Great Falls Public Library.
The free multiple-choice word definition starts at 6 p.m. in the Cordingley Room in the library basement.
Costumes are encouraged for team members, but are not required.
Teams in costumes receive an extra free “pass” to the next round.
Teams of between two to four people each can pre-register in person right up to the start of the event or sign up online here.
Teams should arrive at 5:30 p.m. so the event can start on time.
Adults and teens are welcome to join in the competition.
GFDA Data Center Task Force meeting
The Great Falls Development Alliance is hosting its second Data Center Task Force meeting on March 30 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Marriott Spring Hill Suites, 421 3rd St. N.W.
Rob Worden, president and CEO of Vision Net, will speak during this second meeting about their existing data centers and their ideas for the future of data centers.
Download notes from the first meeting here.
RSVP here so GFDA knows how many are planning to attend.
Proposed data center project off [2025]
There are no active data center proposals in Cascade County at this time, but GFDA officials anticipate there will be future project proposals and are hosting these community meetings to gather public feedback to be prepared as a community.
Red Cross seeking blood drive hosts
The American Red Cross of Montana is asking Great Falls businesses, churches, civic groups and other community organizations to host blood drives to help ensure a stable blood supply for patients across the state.
Annually, the Montana Red Cross collects nearly 50,000 units of blood at more than 2,000 blood drives in communities large and small. Those drives are made possible through partnerships with local organizations willing to open their doors and rally donors.
“Hosting a blood drive is such an easy way to make a real impact in your community,” Scott Shanahan, Red Cross account manager for northcentral Montana, said in a release. “Every weekday in Montana, we need to collect about 160 units of blood to keep up with demand, and our blood drive sponsors make that possible.”
Hosting a blood drive isn’t limited to large employers — any group passionate about helping their community can serve as a host or can team up with another organization, making it a meaningful community service project with a direct local impact.
Community groups that host a blood drive are asked to provide a large open space — about the size of a classroom or larger — and help publicize the drive to employees, members or the broader community.
If a group doesn’t have a space large enough, the Red Cross can also host the drive at its Great Falls Blood Donation Center.
A typical blood drive lasts four to six hours and brings in 25 to 50 donors.
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Blood collected at Red Cross drives is used to help treat cancer patients, accident victims, people undergoing surgeries and many others who depend on blood products to survive.
Organizations interested in hosting a blood drive can learn more here or by calling 406-223-4526.
Great Falls Women Give
Great Falls Women Give is a community of women dedicated to generosity, connection and contribution.
Members make quarterly donations of $100 each. Every quarter, members select a local non-profit organization to receive a grant of $10,000.
Opportunities Inc. is hosting Adventure Camp, is a fun and engaging summer program for children ages 5–11.
Campers will enjoy a variety of hands-on activities, outdoor play, creative projects, and exciting field trips throughout the summer.
Each week features new themes and experiences designed to keep kids active, curious, and connected with friends while school is out. The goal is to provide a safe, supportive environment where children can explore, learn, and make lasting summer memories.
The camp runs June 9 to Aug. 21, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The camp is $160 per week. Full and part-time options are available and there’s a 10 percent sibling discount.
Opportunities Inc. is also looking for staff to work the camp.
Staff can pick the weeks that work for them, teaching one week or several, and earn $19-22 per hour, depending on experience.
Staff may bring their children, ages 5-11, to camps for free the weeks they work.
There’s no set curriculum for staff, just weekly themes and their creativity.
For more information, contact Melissa Giard, melissag@gfoppinc.org or 406-761-0310.
Stadium Sports Bar closing kitchen
The Stadium Sports Bar and Casino is closing their kitchen and their last day serving food is March 29.
The casino will remain operational from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
“We will be upgrading our snack bar for gamblers and bar patrons. The main dining area and kids game room will close for remodeling,” according to the bar.
Gift certificates can be use for food till March 29 and after that may be used for drinks or in the liquor store.
The building and business are currently listed for sale.
Detention officer hiring event
The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a one-day hiring event designed to fast track qualified applicants through the majority of the detention officer hiring process in a single day.
On April 11, candidates will complete screenings, interviews, testing, physical assessments, and a medical evaluation throughout the day. Applicants who successfully advance through each phase of the process may receive a conditional job offer by the end of the day, with only a final psychological evaluation remaining.
The hiring process traditionally takes weeks to months.
Detention officers are responsible for maintaining safety and order within the jail, supervising inmates, and ensuring the secure operation of the facility.
County discussing possible significant jail plumbing project, change to jail funding model
Applicants must check in between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on April 11 at CCSO, 3800 Ulm North Frontage Road.
Candidates should be prepared to dedicate the entire day to the process and bring a high school diploma or equivalent, valid driver’s license or identification, birth certificate, resume, any applicable certifications, and appropriate physical fitness attire.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess or be eligible for a Montana driver’s license, and be able to pass required background checks and evaluations.
Great Falls Community Concert
The Great Falls Community Concert Association presents Buzz Brass at 7:30 p.m. April 16 in the Mansfield Theater.
The Montreal, Canada quintet, Buzz Brass, has been travelling the world and captivating music lovers since 2002. Buzz Brass’s highly original performances consistently make a strong impression. They have performed nearly 2000 concerts in North America, Europe and China.
Over the years they have won countless awards in Canada for their outstanding music. Buzz Brass has eight albums to its credit and they are working on a ninth.
Paris Gibson Square exhibit
Wild Forms, Enduring Spirit – The Art and Legacy of Walter Piehl, Jr. is open at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art through Aug. 29.
An artist talk and exhibition reception is scheduled for 5:30-8:30 p.m. May 8.
The exhibit is free and open to the public.
A 2019 North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee, Piehl was raised in a North Dakota rodeo family; his father, Walter Piehl, Sr., founded Dakota Rodeo, Inc. Walter Piehl, Jr. competed in bareback riding and team roping, produced and announced rodeos for decades, and later channeled that lived experience into a bold artistic vision. Influenced by European modernist movements such as Abstract Expressionism, Futurism, and Der Blaue Reiter, his work unleashes color, motion, and energy rarely seen in traditional Western art.
Join us to encounter paintings that celebrate rodeo heritage, the spirit of the Northern Great Plains, and a remarkable career that has inspired generations of artists, students, and audiences. Rooted in place yet resonating far beyond it, his work bridges personal experience with broader conversations about modernist art and the evolving identity of the American West.
The exhibit is curated by Nicole Maria Evans, curator at The Square, and Gregory Vettel, director of the Northwest Arts Center at Minot State University.
Animal shelter auction
The City of Great Falls Animal Shelter is hosting its online auction April 20–26, featuring a variety of donated items and local experiences.
Proceeds from the auction help fund essential shelter services, including medical care, food, enrichment, and adoption efforts.
Businesses, community groups and individuals can create baskets, contribute items to be included in a basket or donate items to support the auction.
Once your basket or donation is ready, challenge a friend, coworker, or another organization to join in. Participants are encouraged to share on social media and tag the shelter using #BuildTheBestBasket.
The donation deadline is April 15.
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Scottish Rite fundraiser
The Great Falls Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic is hosting its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser on April 23 from 5-8 p.m.
The event features dinner, a silent auction, 50/50 and a raffle for a $3,000 travel voucher or cash.
Event tickets are $15. Children 6 and under are free.
All proceeds support early intervention speech therapy services for local children.
The dinner will be held at the Scottish Rite Building, 1304 13th St. S.
Tickets are available online here, from the clinic prior to the event, or at the door.
Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
The Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect Task Force is hosting a training on domestic violence and its impact on children training on April 23.
“Domestic violence deeply affects children, even when they are not the direct targets of abuse. Join the mental health professionals of Connected Brain and Body Counseling to explore how these experiences shape children’s behavior, well-being, and long-term outcomes, and how adults can respond in supportive, trauma-informed ways,” according to PCAN.
Two sessions are available at Alliance for Youth, 3220 11th Ave. S.:
- noon-1 p.m.
- 6-7 p.m.
Isis Olson, Alliance for Youth’s parent education and support program manager, told The Electric that the events are held in April, which is Strengthening Families Month to raise awareness on how the community can work together to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Some of the organizations involved in PCAN include Alliance for Youth, United Way, City-County Health Department, the Women and Children’s Hospital, Great Falls Midwives, MSU, Victim Witness and many others.
The Great Falls Sports Foundation is hosting its annual mixer April 8 at 5:30 p.m. at Exhibition Hall at Montana ExpoPark with guest speaker Bill Himmelberg, University of Providence’s women’s basketball head coach and owner-operator of McDonald’s in Great Falls and Havre.
The primary goal of the Great Falls Sports Foundation is to assist in bringing major sports events to Great Falls and the surrounding area, providing economic impact to the city, and to offer support to other potential events looking at the community as a destination.
The foundation is raising money for the Great Falls Community Ice Foundation this year.
Tickets are $25 each or a book of 10 tickets for $200.
Ticket books are available for purchase now at Montana ExpoPark, 300 3rd St. N.W. or by contacting a representative from Great Falls Community Ice Foundation or Great Falls Sports Foundation.
For more information, contact Roger Lesofski, foundation chair, at rogerles@icloud.com or 406-788-4661.
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