Cascade County approves tax abatements for Janicki Industries’ proposed Great Falls campus

Cascade County commissioners voted on May 12 to approve two related tax-abatement requests from Janicki Industries as the company pursues a multi-phase manufacturing campus at Great Falls AgriTech Park.

The commission adopted Resolution 26-19, approving a new-or-expanding-industry property tax benefit under Montana Code Annotated Title 15, Chapter 24 Part 14, and Resolution 26-20, allowing an abatement on manufacturing machinery, fixtures and equipment. Both votes were carried by voice vote.

Why it matters: County staff told commissioners the application meets statutory criteria and recommended approval. The county packet and staff presentation said the applicant expects a campus up to about 5,000,000 square feet and estimated "approximately $830,000,000 in total investment" to fully implement the project; staff advised that the phased property abatement would begin with a 50% taxable-value treatment for the first five years and that machinery abatements may be applied at percentages (the commission approved an 80% machinery abatement in this case).

What officials and the applicant said: Trish Dukasic, the county finance officer, outlined the statutory framework and reported staff’s recommendation to approve the application and the supporting materials submitted by the company. Nicholas Lavaca, representing Janicki Industries, described the company’s manufacturing capabilities and community approach and said Janicki employs about "over 1,950 employees" across its operations; Lavaca urged the commission to view the project as a long-term community partnership.

Local partners urged approval during the public hearing. Jolene Shelburne of the Great Falls Development Authority called the application a "generational opportunity" and urged commissioners to partner with the company. Jim Day, who identified himself as a local Realtor board official and long-time resident, said the project could help retain local young people. Ed Brown, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from NeighborWorks, Great Falls Public Schools and several local businesses told commissioners the project would bring workforce and economic benefits.

Numbers and caveats: The applicant and staff repeatedly cited the company’s internal estimates for jobs and investment; those figures were presented to the commission but were not independently verified at the hearing. The county’s staff memo notes that if a local governing body approves the benefit while another does not, the benefit applies only to the approving body’s mills; it also reiterated that state levies are not included in local abatements.

Action taken: Resolution 26-19 (new-or-expanding industry tax benefit) was approved by motion and voice vote. Resolution 26-20 (machinery/fixtures/equipment abatement) was approved by motion; the commission set the machinery abatement at 80% for the period described in the application. No opponents spoke during the public hearings; multiple community and business leaders spoke in favor.

Next steps: The city of Great Falls was scheduled to consider related approvals the same evening; implementation will depend on the company’s final site selection, subsequent permits, and phased build-out schedules. The commission’s approvals enable local tax-benefit tools described in the staff packet but do not on their own guarantee construction or job outcomes.

Sources: Staff presentation and county packet for the May 12 public hearings; testimony from Trish Dukasic (county finance officer), Nicholas Lavaca (Janicki Industries), Jolene Shelburne (Great Falls Development Authority), and multiple community supporters recorded in the public hearing.