Why People Love Living and Working in Great Falls, MT
People are drawn to Great Falls for many reasons – some seek affordability and a high quality of life, others are attracted to the outdoor opportunities and strong community, and still others come for career prospects. Local colleges and universities also attract students, many of whom decide to stay in the area and make it home.
One such example is Luis Carranza, who is from Idaho Falls and attended a junior college in Wyoming before transferring to the University of Providence to complete his degree. Today, he is the head wrestling coach at Great Falls High School.
Similarly, Daniel Harvey grew up in the Butte area and joined the U.S. Air Force. After being stationed in Phoenix for 13 years, he returned to Montana to be closer to family. He enrolled in the Veteran Readiness and Education program at Great Falls College Montana State University, where he graduated with a degree in industrial tech and is in the process of completing a second degree in welding.
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What brought you to Great Falls, and how did career opportunities influence your decision to stay?
Carranza: I came to Great Falls to finish my wrestling career and education. It was an easy transition because Great Falls is like Idaho Falls – a small town, homey environment – so that was a good fit for me. I fell in love with the surrounding area and the outdoors. Then, I met my wife, and I didn’t have a reason to leave. I graduated in 2013, and the following year there was a teaching job opening where I had done my student teaching. I was blessed to get the job.
Harvey: I wanted to come back to Great Falls to be closer to my family that’s in the area. I went to get my associate in industrial technology, and I had to have a year of welding, but I got approved to do two years. Republic Services, a company here in Great Falls, offers an internship program, so I have since completed that, and they have asked me to stay and work full time. Right now, I work there part time while I’m a full-time welding student.
What do you enjoy about your career?
Carranza: The PE Department welcomed me right away, and I fell in love with the environment and the camaraderie they had. I just love working with kids. I love mentoring them and hopefully making a positive impact on their lives. I try to be a positive role model in their lives – teach them, build relationships and coach wrestling. It’s something I always wanted to do, and I love doing it.
Harvey: I’m the container shop welder and that’s working out pretty well. I’ll go full time when I graduate in May. I really enjoy the work itself because you get to use a lot of your own ideas. You get containers coming that are pretty banged up, and you have to look at it from all different angles and figure out how you’re going to fix it. You get to be creative on the job every day.
Do you feel Great Falls is a diverse or welcoming community? Are there particular groups that helped you plug into the community?
Carranza: People here are proud of Montana and to be Montanans, and as much as they want to keep the state a hidden gem, they welcomed me with open arms and are super awesome people. I’m part of a group at Great Falls High called “I am Bison,” where we raise awareness about cultural diversity and educate people about the differences in cultures and backgrounds. That’s one of our big things – just welcoming people and being good human beings.
Harvey: Very much so. I just bought my house a couple of years ago, and I know all my neighbors already. They all came over to say hello. I owned a home in Phoenix, and it wasn’t anything like that. I’ve seen both sides of the spectrum, from a bigger city to a smaller town. Also, I’m a veteran, so I started going to the Veterans Center. They were looking for people to help out with the local Disabled American Veterans chapter, and I am now the junior vice commander of Chapter 2. The Catholic Church has been another [place to make connections], so has the college and Electric City Speedway.
Get Schooled in Great Falls, MT
The Great Falls region offers a diverse menu of higher education options, from career-focused training to professional degree programs – all tailored to local workforce needs. The region’s colleges and universities support students through small class sizes, flexible course schedules and opportunities for dual enrollment, which make higher education more accessible for all residents.
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM), part of Touro University, has a new campus in Great Falls. Committed to addressing disparities in health care through a diverse workforce pipeline, TouroCOM boasts students of many cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds and is a five-time winner of the HEED award for diversity excellence. More than half of the college’s graduates pursue primary care, further helping to address a critical need for health care in underserved areas.
University of Providence
The University of Providence, a private Roman Catholic liberal arts university in Great Falls, serves some 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The small enrollment offers an intimate learning environment, with an average class size of 12. The university focuses on holistic development through its “Corps of Discovery” program, supporting emotional, spiritual and intellectual growth. Students can choose from a wide range of on-campus and online programs in the Schools of Health Professions and Liberal Arts and Sciences, with options ranging from certification to master’s degrees.
Great Falls College MSU
Great Falls College is a two-year technical and community college, affiliated with Montana State University since 1994. The college offers associate degrees and training certificates, with popular programs such as welding and nursing leading to successful local careers. Great Falls College also works with local school districts to offer dual enrollment programs that allow high school students to simultaneously earn high school and college credit at a more affordable rate.
– Teree Caruthers
Get to Know Great Falls
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