Great Falls residents will see construction activity ramp up after Janicki Industries formally broke ground this week on a new manufacturing campus that company and government officials estimate will be an $800 million investment in the city and region.
What the project will bring
The campus will sit on 180 acres inside AgriTech Park and is planned to include 1.6 million square feet of facilities built in phases over the next decade. Company leaders and state officials said the project will expand Janicki’s capabilities in advanced composites, precision machining and metal fabrication to serve aerospace, defense and space-sector customers.
- Estimated investment: $800 million
- Site size: 180 acres
- Campus size: 1.6 million sq. ft. (phased build)
- Jobs: about 1,000 within five years; more than 2,000 at completion
- First phase estimated opening: by end of 2027
Local leaders at the ceremony
The July 10 groundbreaking brought together Janicki leadership, state and local officials and members of the Great Falls community. Speakers included Janicki President John Janicki, CEO Peter Janicki, Gov. Greg Gianforte, Great Falls Mayor Cory Reeves and Great Falls Development Authority President and CEO Brett Doney.
"Breaking ground yesterday is proof of what's possible when a community, a workforce, and a company all want the same thing," John Janicki said.
Rather than a symbolic shovel, Janicki brothers climbed into excavator cabs and moved the first dirt themselves — a visual the company framed as consistent with its hands-on engineering roots.
Timeline and economic impact
Company officials said the campus will be constructed in phases over roughly a decade, with the first phase expected to open by the end of 2027. Janicki projects hiring about 1,000 employees within five years and more than 2,000 once the campus is complete.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Investment | $800 million |
| Site acreage | 180 acres |
| Campus area | 1.6 million sq. ft. |
| Jobs (5 years) | ~1,000 |
| Jobs (full build) | >2,000 |
| Phase 1 opening | By end of 2027 |
Economic-development officials said the project strengthens Great Falls’ position as a manufacturing hub and could attract additional suppliers and service firms to the region. The development sits in AgriTech Park, where local leaders have pursued a mix of manufacturing and technology tenants.
What this means for residents
Residents can expect increased construction traffic and hiring activity in the near term. The large-scale project may create a need for expanded workforce training, housing and supporting services as new employees arrive. City and state officials were present at the ceremony and have cited workforce readiness as a priority in accompanying efforts to land the project.
Janicki did not release a detailed hiring timetable beyond the five-year and full-completion estimates. Officials also did not provide firm details on the mix of skilled trades, engineering and administrative jobs, saying those specifics will evolve as phases advance.
As construction proceeds, the company and local partners will likely post updates on timing, job openings and training opportunities. For now, the project signals a sizable private investment and a long-term expansion of advanced manufacturing capacity in Montana.
— Sierra Lambert, News Block
