Business Bites: BCBS building for sale; Toby’s House donation; Labor Day picnic; watercolor class at Russell Museum; new dispensary; construction permits; Symphony of Cocktais; Spark! director leaves museum; new director for Maclean-Cameron; tennis tournament; History Museum events; STEAM Club at library; and more
Former Blue Cross Blue Shield building for sale
The former Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana building on 10th Avenue South is listed for sale for $4.35 million.
In an emailed statement, the company told The Electric:
“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana is committed to our mission of expanding access to quality care for people at all stages of life. We continuously evaluate our workforce and business operations to ensure that we are effective and productive as we meet the challenges of an evolving health care industry.
As part of our ongoing efforts to support the growing needs of our business, some BCBSMT employees shifted from a partially remote work schedule to fully remote work. As a result, we have consolidated our physical footprint. We remain committed to our employees and the communities we serve and will continue to work in collaboration with local partners to help create healthier communities.”
NorthWestern Energy donates to Toby’s House
NorthWestern Energy donated $10,000 to support Toby’s House Crisis Nursery’s Building Permanent Hope capital campaign, helping fund construction of a new facility that will expand critical services for children and families in Great Falls.
Expected to open in October, the new facility will double Toby’s House’s capacity to care for children ages 0-6 and provide enhanced therapeutic space, overnight care and a nurturing environment where children can thrive during difficult times.
“We are grateful for the support of NorthWestern Energy and all of the donors who have contributed to the Building Permanent Hope campaign,” Leesha Ford, Toby’s House director, said in a release. “These donations demonstrate that our community believes in children and families. The amount of collaboration and support we have seen throughout this campaign is one of the things we value most. Together, we are creating a place where children can be safe, cared for and supported when families are facing challenges.”
Toby’s House was established to help prevent child abuse and neglect by providing a safe, loving environment for children during times of family crisis. Through its crisis nursery, Toby’s House offers families a trusted resource during challenging times while helping create safer, healthier outcomes for children.
New Toby’s House facility construction underway, donations being accepted
“At NorthWestern Energy, we know strong communities begin with supporting children and families,” Shane Etzwiler, NWE’s community relations manager, said in a release. “The work Toby’s House does every day helps make Great Falls a better place. We are honored to support this project and help expand services that provide safety, stability and hope for children and families when they need it most.”
Jury finds state negligent, awards $11.2 million to girl in 2009 child abuse case [2025]
Labor Day picnic
The Central Montana Central Labor Council is hosting a Labor Day picnic on Sept. 7 from noon to 3 p.m. at Central Park in Montana Expo Park.
There will be free food and beverages with live music, yard games and more.
Malmstrom contract
The 341st Contracting Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base awarded a task order for the M-01 electrical panel upgrade to Geranios Enterprises, Inc. of Great Falls for $231,796. The period of performance for this award is 364 calendar days after receipt of the notice to proceed.
Watercolor classes at C.M. Russell Museum
Join artist Susan Supola for a four-week watercolor class designed for beginning and intermediate artists. You’ll learn the foundations of watercolor, experiment with washes and fun techniques, and work your way toward creating your own landscape painting. Think skies, mountains, water, buildings, texture, and plenty of room to make it your own.
Classes are 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays Oct. 31-Nov. 21.
Materials are provided.
The cost is $100 for members and $125 for non-members.
No watercolor experience? No problem. Bring your curiosity, leave the perfectionism at home, and let’s paint.
Register here.
Dispensary
City staff issued a permit for a tenant improvement for 4314 N. Star Blvd, the former Windor Plywood, for retail space for Seed of Life.
The company already has a retail space in Great Falls on the west side.
City staff issued a second permit for electrical work in May and a third permit for a furnace in June.
In July, city staff issued a permit for a new wall sign and new freestanding sign.
Boot Barn
Yes, there’s construction happening near the former Joann space at Holiday Village Mall.
It’s the new Boot Barn that we reported was planned for the mall back in November.
We reported in April that Boot Barn had submitted a tenant improvement application, according to the city planning office.
In July, the city issued a permit for a commercial alteration demolition to split space for tenant improvements.
On Aug. 20, the city issued a permit for a tenant improvement for the Boot Barn space.
Helena Agri-Enterprises
On Aug. 18, city staff issued a building permit for construction of a new fertilized warehouse and receiving building at 6201 18th Ave. N., which is the Helena Agri-Enterprises address in AgriTech park on the east side of the city.
Janicki groundbreaking is July 10, company launches Montana website
River and Range Bistro
River and Range Bistro is now open on Thursdays.
For the next two weeks, the restaurant will be serving inside the chapel at the Columbus Center while they transform the dining room.
The bistro is hosting a five-course Chef’s Tasting Dinner on Sept. 12, with limited reservations.
Call or text 406-403-8992 for reservations.
Symphony of Cocktails
The next Great Falls Symphony season is beginning soon with Robert Kahn, it’s new music director.
The Symphony of Cocktails social party is the best place to meet symphony musicians, board members, staff, and volunteers.
It will be Kahn’s first appearance in Great Falls since winning his position and he can’t wait to meet all of you.
Great Falls Symphony selects new music director
Every ticket is an automatic entry to win a featured artwork. This year, the piece is a watercolor by Great Falls artist Stephanie Erdmann.
The event is 6-8 p.m. Sept. 10 at a private residence, the address of which will be provided to attendees.
Limited tickets available. Call the Symphony office at (406)453-4102 to purchase yours today.
Spark! Children’s Museum
Jackie Worstell’s last day as executive director with Spark! Children’s Museum was July 10.
The museum is operating Spark! using a working board model without an executive director with plans to conduct another director search in late fall or winter, according to Celia Blewett, Spark! board member.
Spark! Children’s Museum has hired new director [2025]
The museum is also hiring front desk staff to help expand its hours, Blewett said.
The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday in September. They’ll continue to be open throughout the fall at least four days a week, with the goal of expanding hours in the winter, Blewett said.
STEAM Club at the Great Falls Public Library
The STEAM Club at the Great Falls Public Library meets Sept. 8 from 4-5 p.m. in the Cordingley Room in the library’s basement.
The club is for ages 8-12 to practice their science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills through a variety of hands-on projects.
The Sept. 8 project involves dissecting owl pellets, which are the undigested parts of a bird’s food, such as hair or bones, that are regurgitated.
Author event at Cassiopeia Books
Cassiopeia Books is hosting an author talk on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m., with Montana author Luke Larkin discussing his debut horror novel, The Unheld, with Great Falls author Jamie Ford.
Fort Benton documentary premiere
The Fort Benton Museums, Fort Benton Restoration Committee and the River and Plains Society, Inc. are hosting the premiere of “Rebuilding the Birthplace,” a new documentary chronicling the history of the reconstruction of Historic Old Fort Benton, one of Montana’s most iconic historic sites.
The film premieres at 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Montana Agricultural Center, 1205 20th St. in Fort Benton.
The film explores the efforts to reconstruct Old Fort Benton and save its story for future generations.
Filmed the fall of 2025, the film was produced, directed and edited by Erin Schermele, a Great Falls-based media entrepreneur.
The documentary was made possible by Glenn and Donna Boutilier, longtime friends and supporters of Fort Benton’s museums.
Tennis tournament
The Great Falls Tennis Association is hosting the 2026 Great Falls City Championship Tournament Sept. 18-20.
The tournament includes junior and adult divisions.
Junior divisions include boys and girls singles and doubles for ages 12, 14, 16 and 18.
City approves court replacement contract; USTA assessed local tennis facilities
Adult events include men’s and women’s singles and doubles, plus mixed doubles.
The registration deadline is Sept. 10 and the form is available here.
The registration fee is $25 for the first event and $15 for each additional event, for up to three events.
New 911 dispatch center director
Kelly Johanneck has been named director of the Great Falls-Cascade County 911 dispatch center.
She’s been serving as interim director since Karen Young retired from the position in July.
Johanneck graduated from C.M. Russell High School in 1997 and holds two bachelor’s degrees in social psychology and criminal justice with an emphasis in law enforcement from Park University.
Johanneck joined the 911 dispatch team in 2004. She was named dispatcher of the year in 2015, promoted to 911 supervisor in 2018 and promoted to 911 deputy director in 2024.
Johanneck has completed the Montana Law Enforcement Academy’s Executive Leadership Institute and the City of Great Falls’ supervisor training program.
Sculpture in the Wild
Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild welcomes sculptors Justin Tyler Tate and Jesse Blumenthal and composer MJ Williams to Lincoln for its 2026 Artist and Composer in Residence program.
The three residents will develop and present new work while inviting residents and visitors into the creative process.
Visitors can observe the artists in action anytime from Sept. 1-19.
The residencies will culminate in three public events in September, including:
- Sept. 1: sculpture residency begins
- Sept. 5: composer in residence debut performance at 4 p.m.
- debut performance by MJ Williams at the Methodist Church
- reception to follow at Teepee Burner
- Sept. 12: meet the artists and fundraiser from 4-6 p.m.
- meet Justin Tyler Tate, Jesse Blumenthal and MJ Williams and help support Sculpture in the Wild’s residency and public-art programming
- Lincoln Community Hall. RSVP at www.scupltureinthewild.com or 406-431-0325
- Sept. 19: sculpture debut and Truck Horn Symphony at 2 p.m.
- public debut of new residency sculptures and presentation of the Truck Horn Symphony at Sculpture in the Wild
- community reception to follow at The Montanan Steakhouse
Located in Lincoln, Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild is an internationally recognized sculpture park connecting contemporary art with the cultural, industrial and environmental history of the Blackfoot Valley. The park provides free public access to site-specific artwork while offering artist residencies, educational programs and community events that bring residents, students, artists and visitors together.
Saturdays at The History Museum
The History Museum and Research Center opens every Second Saturday of the month with a special 1 p.m. program open to the public with free admission.
In September, two Saturdays will be open for visitors.
On Sept. 12 at 1 p.m., Cindy Kittredge, former director of the museum from 1987-2004, will share Making the Invisible Visible.
Pushing back naysayers, the group that first gathered on Jan. 8, 1976, in the Great Falls home of Clara Heffern, transformed itself from what some viewed as a small gaggle of community members interested in saving a historic stone building. They helped save that building that now houses the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, and nurtured the Historical Society now housed in a 45,000-square-foot facility filled with historical exhibits, programming and research opportunities.
On Sept. 19 at 1 p.m., John Kunz will share Journey to Freedom: A Polish Family’s Journey from a Nazi Concentration Camp.
Kunz was born in a Nazi concentration camp. He and his parents survived imprisonment in Germany and arrived in the U.S. as refugees after the war.
Kunz was six years old at the time.
With the support and sponsorship of a family through the Catholic Church in Fairfield, the Kunz family was able to make Great Falls home.
Kunz has saved 40 educational panels about the Holocaust produced by Simon Wiesenthal Center, brought to Montana by Bruce Barrett. The exhibition, titled The Courage to Remember, will be on display in the Ozark Club event room from Sept. 15-25.
The recently opened exhibition Voices of Our Ancestors: The Archival Records of St. Peter’s Mission Boarding School is also available to visit during the museum’s open hours – open Sept. 12 from noon to 5 p.m. and Sept. 19 from noon to 3 p.m.
Book event
Gene McAllister, former University of Providence president, has written a novel, Now I See, about seeing those who are overlooked and the grace of change.
He’s hosting an author meet and greet and book signing Sept. 23 from 4-6 p.m. at the University of Providence library, 1301 20th St. S.
Books will be available for purchase at the event.
Phil Collins Story coming to Mansfield Theater
The Phil Collins Story, a live docu-concert celebrating the life, career, and music of Academy Award, Grammy, and Golden Globe–winning performer and songwriter Phil Collins, produced by Paquin Exhibitions and Theatrical, is coming to The Mansfield Theater on Sept. 20.
Tickets are on sale now.
The Phil Collins Story is a high-energy, hit-packed party that takes you on a nostalgic ride from Collins’ chart-topping days with Genesis to the unforgettable solo anthems and even the Oscar-winning magic of his Disney hits. This immersive concert experience brings Collins’ legendary music to life with stunning visuals, dynamic projections, and powerhouse musical talent. It’s a journey through decades of iconic songs, unforgettable moments, and pure feel-good energy.
Rising to fame in the 1980s, Collins became one of the most influential artists of his generation, with songs such as “In the Air Tonight,” “Against All Odds,” “Sussudio,” and “Another Day in Paradise,” helping define his musical legacy.
Produced by Paquin Exhibition & Theatrical, the production is written and directed by Dean Elliott, the creative force behind The Simon & Garfunkel Story and R.E.S.P.E.C.T. – The Aretha Franklin Experience. The Phil Collins Story is represented by United Artists Agency in the US and Paquin Artists Agency in Canada.
NeighborWorks Great Falls license plate art competition
NeighborWorks Great Falls is inviting artists of all ages to submit an original design for the “What Does Home Look Like to You?” Montana license plate art competition.
The winning artwork will become NWGF’s official specialty license plate design, which will be
submitted to the state of Montana for approval.
The competition was created to celebrate Montana creativity while highlighting the importance
of home and community.
NWGF also hopes to increase Cascade County’s representation among Montana’s specialty license plates, which currently feature only a handful of organizations from the area.
The competition is open to:
- Montana residents of all ages
- active-duty military members who are originally from Montana but are currently stationed
elsewhere
Artwork submissions will be accepted through Dec. 31, and require a $25 entry fee.
Following the submission period, public voting on the designs will run Jan. 15 to May 1, 2027.
Votes will be cast through $1 donations, with proceeds supporting NWGF’s application for a Montana specialty license plate.
The 10 designs receiving the most public votes will advance to a final review by the NWGF board of directors, staff and competition committee.
All submitted artwork will be displayed during a public exhibition as part of NeighborWorks Week
2027, where the winning design will be unveiled.
The winning artist will also be recognized in NWGF publications, statewide media outreach
and community celebrations.
Teachers within NWGF’s service area are encouraged to participate and schools may request a unique submission code that waives the entry fee for students.
Competition guidelines, eligibility requirements and submission information are available here.
Maclean-Cameron has new director
The Maclean-Cameron Animal Adoption Center has hired Joel Almeida as executive director.
Almeida brings more than three decades of leadership experience spanning business management, financial services, sales and business development, fundraising, strategic planning, community engagement, coaching, and organizational development, according to Maclean.
Looking forward, Almeida sees significant opportunities to strengthen Maclean-Cameron’s community relationships, expand volunteer participation, deepen donor engagement, develop new corporate and philanthropic partnerships, increase public awareness, and continue building programs that connect people with animals, according to the Maclean release.
Oktoberfest
A group of downtown businesses is hosting a two-night Oktoberfest celebration.
- 6 p.m. – Celtic Cowboy: Bayern Oktoberfest Lager
- 6:45 p.m. – Annie’s Tap House: Bayern Dragon’s Breath Dark Hefeweizen
- 7:30 p.m. – KellerGeist: Bayern St. Walter Hefeweizen
On Sept. 25, they’re hosting the third annual Oktoberfest on the 100 block of Central Avenue starting at 5 p.m.
The event includes beer, food, games and more.
Great Falls Development Alliance marks 30th anniversary of loans
The Great Falls Development Alliance made its first loan in 1996 to help fill the financing gap to launch Pasta Montana.
Thirty years later, GFDA is “proud of the businesses we’ve helped start, the expansions we’ve supported, the jobs created, the homes and community facilities built, the properties redeveloped, and the partnerships that have made it all possible.”
Over three decades, working with bank and credit union partners, GFDA has made:
- 215 gap and bridge loans totaling $76,236,266, making possible more than $400 million of investment, with a cumulative loss of loan principal of 0.06 percent of loans made over 30 years
- 12 brownfields sub-grants totaling $1,652,992, making possible more than $27 million of redevelopment investment
- 39 Small Business Administration 504 loans, totaling $20,288, making possible more than $50 million of investment with $0 losses
View GFDA’s closed loans list here.
Calumet Montana Refining announced on Sept. 1 that it was repurposing installed refining equipment from Calumet, Montana Renewables expects to reach about 200 million gallons of annual sustainable aviation fuel production and 17,000 barrels per day of total product sales by year-end 2028.
The total remaining project capital spend for this expansion is $137 million, compared to the $1.2 billion megaproject contemplated in the original loan issued by the U.S. Department of Energy, Calumet said in a release.
Montana Renewables, with DOE, has amended the loan guarantee originally executed in January 2025 so that Phase 2 funding is reduced from up to $658 million to a single, final draw of $34 million, with the balance of the expansion self-funded from MRL earnings.
The original agreement required the project’s full equity to be committed before Phase 2 construction. The amended structure doesn’t require third-party equity, eliminating dilution and preserving a simple capital structure for future strategic opportunities while accelerating increased throughput, SAF, improved yields, and reduced unit costs, according to Calumet.
Sen. Daines: $1.44 billion federal loan to Calumet back on [2025]
The revised plan includes redeployment of selected Calumet assets — a hydrotreater, hydrogen plant, and naphtha splitter — to Montana Renewables under a long-term lease.
“The tied-in hydrotreater creates a proprietary dual reactor system that runs in a ‘polishing’ service rather than the industry-standard ‘cracking’ service, delivering competitively advantaged SAF yields while lowering by-product production and reducing yield loss. Several additional modular components, including a third renewable fuels reactor currently offsite, provide the ability to expand capacity beyond 200 million gallons over time,” according to Calumet.
County approves 80 percent tax abatement for Calumet [2025]
“The new expansion is structured as six small, controllable, quick-payback projects, each designed to increase returns and reduce construction risk,” according to Calumet.
Montana Renewables is currently producing at a run-rate of 60 million gallons of SAF per year; expects to exceed an 80 million gallon run-rate by the end of the year; surpass 120 million gallons by spring 2027; and reach about 200 million gallons by the end of 2028.
The program also captures about 20 million gallons per year of renewable propane and butane — previously burned as fuel gas — as saleable product, improves renewable naphtha yields, and reduces unit operating costs through scale and lower water usage, according to the refinery.
The tie-in is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026 — allowing Calumet to capture about $50 million of EBITDA at currently elevated global refining margins before the transition. Calumet will remain in service, continuing to produce high-quality retail asphalt, retaining all employees, and providing shared cost efficiencies across the full site.
Calumet is also facing an investigation into whether the company and its officers or directors committed securities fraud of other unlawful business practices, according a law firm representing investors.
In early August, Calumet reported its financial results for the second quarter, and disclosed that its “performance brands segment saw adjusted EBITDA decline by $6.2 million year-over-year due to timing issues, as input costs spiked before pricing actions caught up, with a $7 million LIFO accounting headwind; that its Montana Renewables business’s results were impacted by over $40 million of foregone margin due to downtime from the MaxSAF expansion and turnaround, limiting its contribution to $17 million of adjusted EBITDA; and that the company is deferring the full ramp-up of SAF production to capture an extra $50 million of EBITDA at the conventional refinery before reconfiguring assets, which delays the realization of higher SAF yields and volumes,” according to a release from Pomerantz LLP, the law firm representing Calumet investors.
City, county officials discussing Calumet abatement request [2025]
When Calumet made that disclosure, its stock price $2.40 per share, or 5.73 percent, to close at $39.48 per share on August 7, according to Pomerantz.
Another law firm, Schall, Brown and Schwartz LLP announced a similar investigation last week.
SBS said its investigation focuses on “whether the company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors.”
Lanni Klasner, a Calumet spokeswoman, told The Electric that the investigations had no bearing on this week’s announcement of the sustainable aviation fuel project.
