During a recent Q&A session on Facebook we were asked about our opinion on solar. We love renewable energy sources, but can we afford them? The answer is YES, but note that that could be changing in the next months:
Timing and Incentives: Chinese production has driven the cost down to $2.50 for large installations, and less than $4 for small supplemental installations. Incentives have been going down, and the biggest one, a 30% federal tax credit, is scheduled to expire 2016. As a result some people even predict an increase in cost due to a sudden increase in demand over the next year.
Side note: Consider the remaining expected lifetime of your roof. The federal tax credit can potentially be applied to the whole system including re-roofing. If you have to un-install and re-install the PV system for future re-roofing, budget additional $3,000 for that work to be done. On the upside, metal roofs currently seem to bid competitively with asphalt roofs, and have a significant life expectancy.
Northwestern Energy (NWE) currently provides an incentive of $2,000 for a 2k (or more) Watt system (depending on local availability - Bozeman and Missoula have very limited allocations). When I talked to NWE today they mentioned that due to USDA’s public purpose funding re-allocations, this may be lowered down the road.
The State of Montana currently offers $500 per resident or $1,000 per household in tax credits for installing non-fossil forms of generation. There are low-interest loans available through the DEQ for up to $40,000 (3.25% , 10 years). Property taxes will not increase for the portion of the installation during the first ten years, while the lifespan should be 25 to 40 years. The Montana Renewable Energy Association provides further up-to-date information about various incentives, detailed project case studies including cost data, as well as detailed information by the Montana Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee citing average cost data. The calculations below factor in electrical cost at current rates. Historically there has been a steady climb in electricity rates which if continued would make the scenarios below significantly more favorable towards Photovoltaics (PV).
Sizing
In our latitude, it is possible to yield approximate 1,500 to 2,400 kWh annually from a 1k Watt PV system, subject to local variations in weather and terrain. A less than optimal angle or solar orientation will decrease this number. PVWatts offers a quick online calculator that factors in location, angle, and available roof space.
Scenario 1: “Power my home”: The average American household consumes just under 11,000 kWh annually, while Northwestern Energy states an average of 8,000 kWh. To simplify we’ll assume an annual consumption of 10,000 kWh and assuming a $.11 for combined delivery and supply rate through NWE for a total of $1,100/year, or $84/month. Based on local yield rates, a 5k Watt PV system can potentially offset the entire home's energy use. Citing actual average cost from 24 Montana installations with a conservative estimate of $3.65 /per Watt installed, the cost would be around $18,250. Applying the incentives mentioned above, the cost drops to $11,499, or a financed monthly payment of $112. You may end up paying up to $30 more a month for the first ten years. If electricity costs continue to rise, that number may become zero, or even result in actual monthly savings. After these ten years you’re all set with energy for the remaining lifetime of your system (15-30 years, a value of $16,500 to $33,000 at current energy prices). Nice investment!
Scenario 2: “Energy Supplement”
Following the same assumptions from the example above, we’re looking at a 2k system with a potential 4,000 kWh production. This will save $400/year, or $33.33 a month. We’ll assume a higher cost of $4/Watt, or $8,000 before incentives and $3,500 after maxing out all current incentives. Financed, we’re looking at $34/month for ten years. A wash from day one! If you’re a long-term thinker, the remaining lifetime value after the pay-back is limited to $6,000 to 12,000 compared to the earlier example.
Side note: Most of this energy will be exported to the grid due to the difference between peak solar production (midday) and peak residential energy use hours (mornings and evenings/nights when people are home), with weekends and holidays being the exception, which makes Northwestern net-metering system an attractive offer, allowing your system to “deposit" excess power into the grid, and “withdraw” it when you actually need it. If you are off the grid, you would have to invest in additional battery storage to make your system work.
Ideally a home is designed around the use of solar power, therefore the loads are calculated and metered to ensure that the smallest PV system possible is required to meet annual loads. A stand-alone system the design needs to be geared towards peak loads, which can be influenced by time-of-day energy use, and will be different for a home that is occupied during the day (i.e. home office, stay-at home Mom), versus a home that sits empty during the day. For an existing home, such a system may be a less efficient due to limited space, obstructions, and orientation of the array. Before installing a PV system in an existing home, it is recommend that home owners first reduce the energy load. It is helpful to understand how energy is actually used within the home, as this may point to easy ("free") ways to reduce the overall load. Further energy savings with shorter payback periods may be found by installing more efficient appliances (i.e.high efficiency freezer), and improving insulation and weatherization by sealing air leaks (see www.energystar.gov for more ideas, $100 invested in weatherstripping may pay off in under a year!).
When you're ready to move forward with your PV system, a quick calculation by a reputable solar installation company will confirm how long it will take for the array to pay for itself in energy saved, with all current incentives applied.
Conclusion:
At the time of this writing incentives and pricing make the purchase of a PV system an attractive and economical option. Great Falls is blessed with sun and wind, and I encourage installation of a residential photovoltaic system as an opportunity for clean energy. In my architectural practice to design homes and communities I embrace opportunities that minimize the dependence on nonrenewable energy sources and instead incorporate smart design strategies and onsite generated energy as much as possible.
Authors:
Sophia Sparklin, AIA, LEED AP with Spark Architecture;
James Erickson, MArch, PhD with Architecture :⇔ design ∩ research ∩ environment
Additional Technical Details:
The ideal orientation is "true solar south", which is around 167 degrees. The ideal tilt angle is 40 degrees. A typical panel is 39" wide by 65" high, and weighs 2.5 to 3 pounds per SF. If you have lots of space poly-crystalline panels will be more economical, with limited space mono-crystalline panels will be more efficient on a smaller footprint. Last, pay close attention to the inverter. Most come with a warranty of 10 years, although some come with up to 25 years warranty. Inverters can impact the efficiency of your system significantly, especially in situations of partial shading. Some systems can be upgraded to serve as emergency power during grid failures, but the solution will look a lot different if you just need some light and a charger, or if you need to run several freezers. Thanks to Conor Darby at Onsite Energy in Bozeman for these additional tips!
Showing posts with label Great Falls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Great Falls. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Monday, July 1, 2013
"Architect seeks beer garden (client/owner) for Great Falls"
I may be biased through my German upbringing, with beer gardens in every village, on every farm, in every other back yard, on top of most castles, and along every lake, river, and creek. Beer gardens are generally family friendly, inviting the community to take a break. They feature simple but fresh menus, often with breakfast and lunch specials. There are garden elements such as trees, flowers, lawns or fountains, and it's common to have a play zone for little ones. Coffee drinks and "Saftschorle" (half juice, half soda water) are as common as the beverage giving these places it's name. Office workers cherish an outdoor lunch opportunity as much as weekend warriors.
As an architect, I wish I could wave my magic wand, and turn these environments into reality. To be honest, our powers turn out to be rather limited. We can design buildings, work with banks, builders, and owners to create or update a variety of spaces. But even the greatest space depends on organizations to own and operate them. Individuals such as owners of tenant businesses, chefs and service staff impact the overall success of a project as much as the architect. But even with all those in place, a space only comes to life with us, the community.
This post wouldn't be complete without reference to some of the places around town that already come close to the spirit of a beer garden. Machinery Row is a cool historic building on 202 2nd Ave S, and houses a number of tenants including a sandwich restaurant (Staggering Ox), a Pizza place in the works, as well as two bars. Tucked to the side, it features a great little side yard, that occasionally fills up with music and people, transforming it into a true beer garden. Visit some of their concerts or open mic nights, and you'll get a taste of it. The Front and MacKenzie River also offer nice outdoor seating areas.
What is your favorite outdoor eating or drinking spot in town? Where would you like to see a beer garden? Attached to your favorite restaurant, along the river, or overlooking one of our beautiful parks?
Check out a variety of outdoor dining environments, from tiny to plaza-filling, on our Pinterest site: http://pinterest.com/sparkarch/dining-environments/
Whether you have plans for a beer garden or something else, call us at 406.453.0001 , or email me at sophia@spark-architecture.com
Enjoy your summer,
Sophia
As an architect, I wish I could wave my magic wand, and turn these environments into reality. To be honest, our powers turn out to be rather limited. We can design buildings, work with banks, builders, and owners to create or update a variety of spaces. But even the greatest space depends on organizations to own and operate them. Individuals such as owners of tenant businesses, chefs and service staff impact the overall success of a project as much as the architect. But even with all those in place, a space only comes to life with us, the community.
This post wouldn't be complete without reference to some of the places around town that already come close to the spirit of a beer garden. Machinery Row is a cool historic building on 202 2nd Ave S, and houses a number of tenants including a sandwich restaurant (Staggering Ox), a Pizza place in the works, as well as two bars. Tucked to the side, it features a great little side yard, that occasionally fills up with music and people, transforming it into a true beer garden. Visit some of their concerts or open mic nights, and you'll get a taste of it. The Front and MacKenzie River also offer nice outdoor seating areas.
What is your favorite outdoor eating or drinking spot in town? Where would you like to see a beer garden? Attached to your favorite restaurant, along the river, or overlooking one of our beautiful parks?
Check out a variety of outdoor dining environments, from tiny to plaza-filling, on our Pinterest site: http://pinterest.com/sparkarch/dining-environments/
Whether you have plans for a beer garden or something else, call us at 406.453.0001 , or email me at sophia@spark-architecture.com
Enjoy your summer,
Sophia
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
What Great Falls craves (Part 2, independent restaurants)
Last Friday we asked the Great Falls Facebook community what restaurants they would love to see here. Four days later we received over 200 responses. We already reported your most wanted restaurant chains, so let's move on to suggestions for individual cuisines or independent restaurants.
Seventeen comments focused on the need for more good Mom and Pop shops; local ingredients, both produce and meats; and uniqueness and originality:
Amy G.:"We have a tremendous resource of food in our backyard, and restaurants don't utilize it. There's beef, chicken (I think if the market was there we'd have more smaller operations willing to supply them), lamb, and it looks like pork is finally coming around to being more available around here (...)"
Amy M. C.:"(...) Something fusion mixing modern elements with good ol' home cookin' (think steak meets exotic mushrooms in a gorgeous stack.) "
Bill S.: "I'd like to see the restaurants we have try to do a better job sourcing ingredients here in Montana and promoting it on their menus. Most of the time you can't even get a "Made in Montana" steak or burger in a steakhouse."
Brian N.: "(...) Good and local with a unique flair bring it on. (...)"
The most popular cuisines were:
1. Thai (8)
2. Italian (7) // over 40 if we count Olive Garden votes.
3. Fresh Seafood (6) // 28 if we count Red Lobster votes.
4. Indian (4)
5. Japanese (3)
6. Authentic BBQ (3)
7. Middle Eastern / Mediterranean (3)
8. Soup& Salad (2)
9. Raw / Organic/ Healthy (2)
10. Soul Food (2)
Other requests included fresh Mexican food, a juice bar, Moroccan, and Vietnamese food.
Share your comments on https://www.facebook.com/SparkArchitecture
Spark Architecture
Seventeen comments focused on the need for more good Mom and Pop shops; local ingredients, both produce and meats; and uniqueness and originality:
Amy G.:"We have a tremendous resource of food in our backyard, and restaurants don't utilize it. There's beef, chicken (I think if the market was there we'd have more smaller operations willing to supply them), lamb, and it looks like pork is finally coming around to being more available around here (...)"
Amy M. C.:"(...) Something fusion mixing modern elements with good ol' home cookin' (think steak meets exotic mushrooms in a gorgeous stack.) "
Bill S.: "I'd like to see the restaurants we have try to do a better job sourcing ingredients here in Montana and promoting it on their menus. Most of the time you can't even get a "Made in Montana" steak or burger in a steakhouse."
Brian N.: "(...) Good and local with a unique flair bring it on. (...)"
The most popular cuisines were:
1. Thai (8)
2. Italian (7) // over 40 if we count Olive Garden votes.
3. Fresh Seafood (6) // 28 if we count Red Lobster votes.
4. Indian (4)
5. Japanese (3)
6. Authentic BBQ (3)
7. Middle Eastern / Mediterranean (3)
8. Soup& Salad (2)
9. Raw / Organic/ Healthy (2)
10. Soul Food (2)
Other requests included fresh Mexican food, a juice bar, Moroccan, and Vietnamese food.
Share your comments on https://www.facebook.com/SparkArchitecture
Spark Architecture
What Great Falls craves (Part 1, Chains)
Last Friday we asked our local Facebook community what restaurants they would love to see in Great Falls. Four days later we received over 200 responses, and so far Olive Garden (OG) is the overwhelming winner (36 votes and counting). Red Lobster (RL), currently holding 22 votes as the close second.
The striking popularity (in absence) caused us to look a little closer: Darden Restaurants, the parent of both chains describes the Red Lobster brand as "the promise of a refreshing seaside dining experience", and Olive Garden, as "an idealized Italian family meal". The strategy seems to pay off. While the dining sector as a whole was struggling in recent years, Darden Restaurant stock keeps growing.
The bad news for fans of both brands is that they generally require trade areas between 100,000 (OG) and 125,000 (RL) people, so it may be worth considering a local seafood and Italian dining alternative. Consider that a much larger portion of local business profits stays in the community. But before we look at the local food wishlist, check out the remaining Top-Ten of chains:
Brittany B. commented that Famous Dave's (#3) and Five Guys (#16) will be here soon.
Other chains in order of popularity included:
-->
Make sure to check out our next post on local food requests, and share your comments on https://www.facebook.com/SparkArchitecture
Spark Architecture
The striking popularity (in absence) caused us to look a little closer: Darden Restaurants, the parent of both chains describes the Red Lobster brand as "the promise of a refreshing seaside dining experience", and Olive Garden, as "an idealized Italian family meal". The strategy seems to pay off. While the dining sector as a whole was struggling in recent years, Darden Restaurant stock keeps growing.
 |
| http://investor.darden.com/investors/stock-information/default.aspx |
| 3. Famous Dave's | 15 |
| 4. Texas Road House | 12 |
| 5. Chipotle | 10 |
| 6. Buffalo Wild Wings | 10 |
| 7. Chick-fil-A | 9 |
| 8. Dave'n'Busters | 8 |
| 9. Hooters | 8 |
| 10. Chuckecheese | 8 |
Brittany B. commented that Famous Dave's (#3) and Five Guys (#16) will be here soon.
Other chains in order of popularity included:
-->
| Cracker Barrel | 7 |
| Red Robin | 6 |
| Burger Master | 6 |
| Outback | 5 |
| Johnny Carino's | 5 |
| 5 Guys Burgers and Fries | 4 |
| Pf Changs | 4 |
| Joe's Crab Shack | 3 |
| Ihop | 3 |
| Cheesecake Factory | 3 |
| Zandy | 3 |
| Jack Box | 3 |
| White Castles | 3 |
| Panera Bread | 3 |
| Outback | 3 |
| Waffle House | 2 |
| Bubba Gump's | 2 |
| Dicks Hamburgers | 2 |
| Pizza Ranch | 2 |
| Souplantation | 2 |
Make sure to check out our next post on local food requests, and share your comments on https://www.facebook.com/SparkArchitecture
Spark Architecture
Friday, January 25, 2013
Is Great Falls a good place to open a restaurant?
You may not be interested in running a restaurant, but found yourself saying "I wish we had a (fill in the blank) restaurant". Both individually owned local restaurants and chain restaurants have to feel confident about profitability within a local market. In 2012 Great Falls ranked #246 nationally, 12.44 points above average.
In other words, if you wondered why national chain X isn't here yet, they have 245 other cities to go first. Amongst them are Missoula, Bozeman, Billings (which just saw a series of restaurants open), and Kalispell. Of course those chains have additional criteria such as special markets, available sites, traffic counts, and available liquor licenses.
The good news for local restaurants is that we still have 12.44 points of "untapped" potential. If our economy grows, we will see our ranking improve. If more restaurants come onto the market, it may drop, unless we start tapping into the Glacier-Yellowstone tourist flow, and increase local demand dramatically.
How do they come up with those ratings? The Journal "Restaurant Business" explains it in their April 2012 edition. In a few words, our local average income, existing number of restaurants, and population are compared to US averages. One-hundred is average, and the higher above 100 the more promising the market is to new restaurants.
Curious about the best towns to open up shop? Corbin, KY (the origin of KFC), and Key West, FL are top contenders! Go to http://www.monkeydish.com/ for more information.
Provided by Spark Architecture
 |
| Source: http://www.monkeydish.com/towns-with-potential/home; captured 1/25/2013 |
The good news for local restaurants is that we still have 12.44 points of "untapped" potential. If our economy grows, we will see our ranking improve. If more restaurants come onto the market, it may drop, unless we start tapping into the Glacier-Yellowstone tourist flow, and increase local demand dramatically.
How do they come up with those ratings? The Journal "Restaurant Business" explains it in their April 2012 edition. In a few words, our local average income, existing number of restaurants, and population are compared to US averages. One-hundred is average, and the higher above 100 the more promising the market is to new restaurants.
Curious about the best towns to open up shop? Corbin, KY (the origin of KFC), and Key West, FL are top contenders! Go to http://www.monkeydish.com/ for more information.
 |
| "Restaurant Business" Journal, April 2012, p.22 |
Provided by Spark Architecture
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Downtown Great Falls Master Plan
Following up on some of your comments on Facebook , I'd like to share some thoughts on Master plans, and reference specific information about our current Downtown Master Plan, adopted October 2011.
Master plans are a great way to build general guidelines, and incorporate comments from (extensive) public meetings into one handy document. The goals for our current Master plan could be paraphrased as a connected, flourishing Downtown, that serves as a local destination, offers more residential options, and improved aesthetics. Each of those goals has a set of objectives and implementation outlines, and yes, "Complete Streets" is mentioned more than once. It also lists a number of strategies to bring more life Downtown on evenings and weekends.
When new projects are proposed to the City, folks on the Planning Board, Commission, and City staff review them for general compliance with the plan. While additional public comment is usually required and encouraged, it allows the City to approve compliant projects with relative ease.
That being said, given limited public funds, any master plan heavily depends on residents, developers, and other organizations to bring it to life. Recognizing this, the current plan suggested the formation of a Downtown Developing Board including a variety of community stakeholders and groups. Late 2012 the "Downtown Partnership" was formed, hopefully channeling the energy and initiatives into more actual progress.
If you are interested in long term planning for Great Falls (beyond downtown), make sure to follow the growth policy update and events. Throughout 2012 the City has received ample citizen participation in formulating the new growth policy, which will guide Great Falls' long term direction and planning decisions.
Provided by Spark Architecture
 |
| The current Great Falls Masterplan can be downloaded at: http://www.greatfallsmt.net/sites/default/files/archives/records/minutes/yr2011/DTMP.pdf |
Master plans are a great way to build general guidelines, and incorporate comments from (extensive) public meetings into one handy document. The goals for our current Master plan could be paraphrased as a connected, flourishing Downtown, that serves as a local destination, offers more residential options, and improved aesthetics. Each of those goals has a set of objectives and implementation outlines, and yes, "Complete Streets" is mentioned more than once. It also lists a number of strategies to bring more life Downtown on evenings and weekends.
When new projects are proposed to the City, folks on the Planning Board, Commission, and City staff review them for general compliance with the plan. While additional public comment is usually required and encouraged, it allows the City to approve compliant projects with relative ease.
That being said, given limited public funds, any master plan heavily depends on residents, developers, and other organizations to bring it to life. Recognizing this, the current plan suggested the formation of a Downtown Developing Board including a variety of community stakeholders and groups. Late 2012 the "Downtown Partnership" was formed, hopefully channeling the energy and initiatives into more actual progress.
If you are interested in long term planning for Great Falls (beyond downtown), make sure to follow the growth policy update and events. Throughout 2012 the City has received ample citizen participation in formulating the new growth policy, which will guide Great Falls' long term direction and planning decisions.
Provided by Spark Architecture
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Great Falls, Montana Restaurant Makeover?
Instead of trying to import more great dining options, how about focusing on helping our local restaurants to become that great option?
The idea is not new, and TV shows like "Restaurant Impossible" by Food Network, and Fox "Kitchen Nightmares" suggest a trend. The Great Falls tribune already prominently features successful local "Ugly Bathroom Makeovers".
Google Plus rates restaurants with equal points for service, quality, and atmosphere. As laid out in previous posts, social Media and cellphone based cameras enable dining customers to share their experience with the world. Similar to the TV series and local bathroom makeovers, a team of local businesses and organization could form a strike force, including marketing, design, building, and management assistance. Carefully documented into case studies, these projects could provide similar businesses (and their banks) with information and inspiration to decide on their own next moves.
Which local restaurant business do you nominate for a "makeover"?
Spark Architecture
The idea is not new, and TV shows like "Restaurant Impossible" by Food Network, and Fox "Kitchen Nightmares" suggest a trend. The Great Falls tribune already prominently features successful local "Ugly Bathroom Makeovers".
Google Plus rates restaurants with equal points for service, quality, and atmosphere. As laid out in previous posts, social Media and cellphone based cameras enable dining customers to share their experience with the world. Similar to the TV series and local bathroom makeovers, a team of local businesses and organization could form a strike force, including marketing, design, building, and management assistance. Carefully documented into case studies, these projects could provide similar businesses (and their banks) with information and inspiration to decide on their own next moves.
Which local restaurant business do you nominate for a "makeover"?
Spark Architecture
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Historic and Economic Development Resources, Great Falls and Montana
As promised in our historic tax credit summary, additional resources are listed below. Please let us know if you are aware of additional resources.
Great Falls Business Improvement (BID) District Grants
BID grants are available for improvements within the BID district and are funded by a property tax improvement fund (TIF) to support downtown goals. They are unique in that they are available to owners or tenants. Grants cover a percentage of permanent improvements and contract labor costs. Separate grants are available for facade (up to 20%), interiors, and residential (up to 10%). Interiors for new businesses locating within the BID may qualify for up to 30% rebates. These grants are not limited to historic register projects, and may include new construction. Residential projects can be tenant or owner occupied. Property owners must be current on their property taxes to qualify. Recent examples include Taco del Sol, Murphy McClay, subway Building, and Lofts at Johnson Hotel.
Historic Tax Abatement:
The Montana Department of Revenue provides various development incentives, including a provision for development within historic districts. Properties within historic districts can qualify for an abatement of 100% of the taxable value increase attributed to the rehabilitation, restoration, expansion or new construction for a period of up to five years. A recently approved example is the Baum Trinastich Building (a.k.a. Owl Cigar Buidling) at 114 3rd St. S. For more information contact Great Falls Historic Preservation Officer Ellen Sievert at 455-8435.
Great Falls Development Authority
Great local business and development organization, supporting small business and attracting large investors. Assistance in finding loans and funding, such as through:
Montana Community Development Corporation
Resource in utilizing "New Market" tax credits for medium to big projects. New construction and existing building projects.
Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program (TIIP)
The purpose of (TIIP) is to provide grant funding that leverages other private and public funds for construction of new tourism-related facilities, and the enhancement of existing facilities to encourage visitors to stay in Montana longer and spend more money. The facility construction and enhancement will strengthen Montana’s attraction as a visitor destination. Funding starts at $20,000, with a phenomenal investment ratio of 1:2. Applicant status has to be non-profit. Submission deadline is end of July. Historic value is recognized amongst the selection criteria. In Great Falls restorations and renovation projects such as the Ursuline Center, the Iceplex have been awarded in the past two years. Other statewide projects include museums, parks, pavilions, event centers, and theatre renovations.
National Trust for Preservation
Non profit members of the National Trust Forum or Main Street; Funds have to be matched 1:1, and can generally only be applied to consulting and planning fees, not to construction itself.
Montana Economic Developers Association
Montana wide economic development seminars. Scholarships for industry professional development.
EPA Brownfield Program
Launched in 1993, the program has provided 2,500 grants totaling $600M in direct funding to turn physical liabilities into community assets to date. The EPA describes sample brownfields as "an abandoned factory, a boarded up corner gas station, a run down mill. In communities across the country, we see brownfields of every shape and size. It is hard to miss the graffiti-laced walls, the broken windows, the caved in roofs. It is equally hard to dismiss the unknown environmental contaminants and health hazards brownfields can pose." (...)
Community Reinvestment Fund
Private non-profit organization issuing loans to qualified "socially beneficial" projects.
USDA Rural Development Grants and loans
Funds for rural businesses, communities, planning, local food systems, agriculture, and low income housing repair.
Government Grant search
Searchable database with information about all government grants.
Provided by Spark Architecture
Great Falls Business Improvement (BID) District Grants
BID grants are available for improvements within the BID district and are funded by a property tax improvement fund (TIF) to support downtown goals. They are unique in that they are available to owners or tenants. Grants cover a percentage of permanent improvements and contract labor costs. Separate grants are available for facade (up to 20%), interiors, and residential (up to 10%). Interiors for new businesses locating within the BID may qualify for up to 30% rebates. These grants are not limited to historic register projects, and may include new construction. Residential projects can be tenant or owner occupied. Property owners must be current on their property taxes to qualify. Recent examples include Taco del Sol, Murphy McClay, subway Building, and Lofts at Johnson Hotel.
Historic Tax Abatement:
The Montana Department of Revenue provides various development incentives, including a provision for development within historic districts. Properties within historic districts can qualify for an abatement of 100% of the taxable value increase attributed to the rehabilitation, restoration, expansion or new construction for a period of up to five years. A recently approved example is the Baum Trinastich Building (a.k.a. Owl Cigar Buidling) at 114 3rd St. S. For more information contact Great Falls Historic Preservation Officer Ellen Sievert at 455-8435.
Great Falls Development Authority
Great local business and development organization, supporting small business and attracting large investors. Assistance in finding loans and funding, such as through:
Montana Community Development Corporation
Resource in utilizing "New Market" tax credits for medium to big projects. New construction and existing building projects.
Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program (TIIP)
The purpose of (TIIP) is to provide grant funding that leverages other private and public funds for construction of new tourism-related facilities, and the enhancement of existing facilities to encourage visitors to stay in Montana longer and spend more money. The facility construction and enhancement will strengthen Montana’s attraction as a visitor destination. Funding starts at $20,000, with a phenomenal investment ratio of 1:2. Applicant status has to be non-profit. Submission deadline is end of July. Historic value is recognized amongst the selection criteria. In Great Falls restorations and renovation projects such as the Ursuline Center, the Iceplex have been awarded in the past two years. Other statewide projects include museums, parks, pavilions, event centers, and theatre renovations.
National Trust for Preservation
Non profit members of the National Trust Forum or Main Street; Funds have to be matched 1:1, and can generally only be applied to consulting and planning fees, not to construction itself.
Montana Economic Developers Association
Montana wide economic development seminars. Scholarships for industry professional development.
EPA Brownfield Program
Launched in 1993, the program has provided 2,500 grants totaling $600M in direct funding to turn physical liabilities into community assets to date. The EPA describes sample brownfields as "an abandoned factory, a boarded up corner gas station, a run down mill. In communities across the country, we see brownfields of every shape and size. It is hard to miss the graffiti-laced walls, the broken windows, the caved in roofs. It is equally hard to dismiss the unknown environmental contaminants and health hazards brownfields can pose." (...)
Community Reinvestment Fund
Private non-profit organization issuing loans to qualified "socially beneficial" projects.
USDA Rural Development Grants and loans
Funds for rural businesses, communities, planning, local food systems, agriculture, and low income housing repair.
Government Grant search
Searchable database with information about all government grants.
Provided by Spark Architecture
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Great Falls Strength and Weaknesses
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Great Falls?
The City of Great Falls, MT is engaging citizens and groups throughout the community to formulate a new Growth policy "Imagine Great Falls 2025". We attended both the Public Open House and Downtown Chick presentation, and have been following the results with great interest. There still is plenty opportunity to get involved. The summary below highlights a number of recurring themes. The illustrations are word clouds, font size reflects the frequency of certain terms within the published lists. For more detailed information, review the full report on the City website.
Great Falls Strengths:
All groups placed emphasis on River's Edge Trail, which has been developed in based on the previous Growth policy. Besides Recreation, Health care and Schools received positive votes. Events such as Farmers Market and Alive@Five were amongst several lists. Groups pointed out downtown, symphony, museums, and historical assets, with development potential in tourism and growth. Military is recognized as an asset for the community. Friendliness was a recurring positive characteristic of the community.
Great Falls Needs:
The section on weaknesses and threats includes a number of wishlist items that are "needed" , or "lack", as well as unpopular aspects of the community. Better Dining and Shopping opportunities, free parking, and alternative transportation, including non-motorized options are amongst the "most wanted" features of the sample groups. Casinos and the appearance of 10th Ave South, are widely criticized. Vacancies downtown and in other areas were associated with a lack of safety and failed development opportunities. Better support for small, diverse, or local businesses is listed repeatedly.
www.spark-architecture.com
The City of Great Falls, MT is engaging citizens and groups throughout the community to formulate a new Growth policy "Imagine Great Falls 2025". We attended both the Public Open House and Downtown Chick presentation, and have been following the results with great interest. There still is plenty opportunity to get involved. The summary below highlights a number of recurring themes. The illustrations are word clouds, font size reflects the frequency of certain terms within the published lists. For more detailed information, review the full report on the City website.
Great Falls Strengths:
All groups placed emphasis on River's Edge Trail, which has been developed in based on the previous Growth policy. Besides Recreation, Health care and Schools received positive votes. Events such as Farmers Market and Alive@Five were amongst several lists. Groups pointed out downtown, symphony, museums, and historical assets, with development potential in tourism and growth. Military is recognized as an asset for the community. Friendliness was a recurring positive characteristic of the community.
Great Falls Needs:
The section on weaknesses and threats includes a number of wishlist items that are "needed" , or "lack", as well as unpopular aspects of the community. Better Dining and Shopping opportunities, free parking, and alternative transportation, including non-motorized options are amongst the "most wanted" features of the sample groups. Casinos and the appearance of 10th Ave South, are widely criticized. Vacancies downtown and in other areas were associated with a lack of safety and failed development opportunities. Better support for small, diverse, or local businesses is listed repeatedly.
www.spark-architecture.com
Monday, September 17, 2012
Community data - Census or Facebook?
Census data has traditionally been the key source for objective numerical data for communities. Today, Google search engine statistics and social media user statistics offer new insights into the fabric of a community. What are common search phrases, and what are interests and activities amongst any given population group?
The graphic above reflects Facebook users in Great Falls, Montana as of September 2012. While residents in their twenties are the biggest group of users, it is apparent that Baby-boomers and Generation-X are catching up. Women are more likely to be on Facebook, and more than half the accounts use mobile devices.
Studying social media and search data closely can reveal new marketing strategies, define opportunities in a business plan, and assist communities and organizations to engage their residents and members in meaningful ways.
Traditional data is still relevant. While it may not be as current, it provides a broader view of the population, and originates from an established reliable source. The Great Falls Development Authority is a good source for population data on their website. Current data on tourism is provided by the University of Montana.
www.spark-architecture.com
Studying social media and search data closely can reveal new marketing strategies, define opportunities in a business plan, and assist communities and organizations to engage their residents and members in meaningful ways.
Traditional data is still relevant. While it may not be as current, it provides a broader view of the population, and originates from an established reliable source. The Great Falls Development Authority is a good source for population data on their website. Current data on tourism is provided by the University of Montana.
www.spark-architecture.com
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