Almost a year ago, the primary conclusion drawn from the first
Great Falls Economic Summit was that 2005's prospects were pretty
good.
And as it's turned out, 2005 hasn't been half bad —the malting
plant is online, medical sector growth has been exponential, tourism
has done well (even if not quite as well as had been hoped), crops
were solid, mall expansion is planned, military installations
survived another round of BRAC ... we even got above-average
precipitation for only the second time in the past 10 years.
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Some of it was predicted;
some was not (but of course economic predictions are notorious — it
is said that economic forecasters exist for the purpose of making
weather forecasters look good).
As 2005 winds down, it's now time for the second Great Falls
Economic Summit. The event is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. a week
from today at the University of Great Falls Theater.
The program will be similar to last year's, but with a little
tighter focus and some additions.
Most of the speakers are well known to local business interests
(see inset), including the keynoter, who will once again be Larry
Swanson, an economist and associate director for regional economics
at the Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Missoula.
The event is being organized by the Great Falls Development
Authority, and its president, John Kramer, says he expects Swanson
to discuss even more details about the local economy.
It is free of charge, and last year attracted about 250 people.
"There will be enough new information that even if they went last
year they will want to show up again this year," said Richard Owen
of the Montana Grain Growers Association and a member of the
committee organizing this year's summit.
Swanson's presentation will be followed by brief talks by leaders
in the city's primary economic sectors, as well as by the city and
airport managers.
New to the lineup will be discussion of the retail picture in
Great Falls, including talks by representatives of Scheels
Allsports, Macerich, the downtown and Wal-Mart.
Will 2006 match the year that's coming to an end?
Attend the Economic Summit the afternoon of Dec. 13 and find out.
greatfallstribune.com
