An aerospace engineering and manufacturing firm launched a major expansion into Montana on Thursday, holding a groundbreaking ceremony at Great Falls’ AgriTech Park to mark the start of an $800 million manufacturing campus projected to generate more than 2,000 jobs over the coming decade.

A Major Footprint for Cascade County

Janicki Industries — which specializes in large-scale tooling, components, prototypes, and assemblies for aerospace, defense, and space sectors — selected a 180-acre parcel at AgriTech Park for the new facility. At full buildout, the campus is designed to encompass approximately 1.6 million square feet of production space.

Dirt will start turning Monday, July 13. The company intends to develop one building at a time across a multi-year schedule, with three structures slated for completion within three years. The first phase is targeted to be operational before the close of 2027, with roughly 200 workers on the floor at launch.

Montana Workforce at the Core

Company leadership stressed that the Great Falls site was chosen with Montana residents in mind. Officials estimate that between 85 and 90 percent of the eventual workforce already calls Montana home, reducing the need for large-scale relocation efforts and anchoring the economic benefit locally.

Janicki also plans to build formal partnerships with Montana universities to develop a pipeline of skilled workers and has signaled a strong interest in recruiting veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses — groups well represented in the Great Falls area near Malmstrom Air Force Base.

Company president John Janicki expressed enthusiasm about the site selection process. “We’re super excited being in Montana, especially in Great Falls,” he said. “We checked out the whole state.”

A Competitive Win for Great Falls

Great Falls Mayor Cory Reeves made clear the city was not the only bidder. He credited a broad coalition — including Cascade County, the Great Falls Development Alliance, local schools, state officials, and military leadership — with making the case for the community. Zoning approvals and site preparation at AgriTech Park had already been completed before Thursday’s ceremony, removing key early obstacles.

“They didn’t have to pick us,” Reeves said. “We were well aware of our competition, but they found something they loved about the people in Great Falls and our work ethic.”

The construction phase alone is expected to deliver sustained work for regional contractors and tradespeople well before manufacturing employment peaks.

What Comes Next

With site prep finished and construction beginning next week, the immediate focus shifts to delivering the first building on schedule for a late-2027 opening. University partnership agreements and veteran hiring programs are expected to be finalized in parallel with the construction timeline, though specific partner institutions had not been announced at the time of the ceremony.

At its projected scale — 1,600,000 square feet, $800 million invested, and a workforce of more than 2,000 — the Janicki campus would represent one of the largest single private investments in Great Falls’ recent history and a significant addition to Montana’s aerospace and defense manufacturing footprint.