$800 Million Investment Brings Manufacturing Jobs To Montana

When we talk about the future of Montana, the conversation always revolves around the same topics: invading tourists, a steady stream of relocating remote workers, and continuously climbing housing prices.

For years, manufacturing and jobs has been missing from these talks. Few people recognize that this state, which relies heavily on tourism, agriculture, and outdoor recreation, is now drawing major investment in the high-end manufacturing track. Janicki Industries, a U.S. company with deep roots in the high-end engineering manufacturing sector, has selected Great Falls as the site to launch a large-scale expansion project with a total investment of $800 million dollars. This plan will add 2 million square feet of new production space over 10 years, and create more than 1,000 manufacturing and engineering positions within the first five years.

Montana has always seemed to have an issue with young working-age people leaving the state. Now it looks like Montana may have the kind of jobs people are looking for. Janicki focuses on high-end manufacturing for the aerospace, defense, marine, and space sectors and can offer stable, long-term, full-time roles.

Unlike the seasonal employment that is widespread in the state, this model directly targets the core pain point of Montana’s difficulty keeping local talent. Second, Janicki chose Great Falls only after comparing multiple candidate locations. Which is a good sign on Montana's potential for more companies to do the same as Janicki.

But, don't think this $800 million dollar investment will solve all of Montana’s economic challenges. We are still dealing with housing affordability. Which doesn't help the "talent retention" problem. But this project sure is a positive sign that can reverse Montana’s stereotype of being just a playground that only serves tourists.