A relationship forged over fourteen years of Montana hunting trips leads to one of the most significant economic development transactions in Great Falls history
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —
July 8, 2026 | Bozeman, Montana: Swan Land Company, a Bozeman-based land brokerage, announces the sale of a landmark commercial land transaction in Great Falls, Montana: 185 acres of shovel-ready land in the AgriTech Park will close in October 2026, sold to Janicki Industries, a privately owned engineering and advanced manufacturing company headquartered in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. The transaction, co-brokered by Jack McInerney of Swan Land Company and his brother Tim McInerney of McInerney Real Estate in Great Falls, paves the way for Janicki’s $800 million manufacturing campus, one of the largest private industrial investments in Montana history. Construction is expected to begin in July 2026, with the first phase anticipated to open by the end of 2027. A groundbreaking ceremony will take place on July 10, 2026.
The campus will create more than 1,000 jobs within the first five years, with total employment expected to exceed 2,000 positions upon completion, bringing large-scale corporate manufacturing to the Montana town.
A Relationship Built in the Field
Jack McInerney has known Janicki Industries president John Janicki for nearly 14 years, a relationship that grew from a professional introduction in Washington state into an annual tradition of hunting together in Montana. Tim was introduced to the Janickis four years ago. Over the course of those years, a deep mutual trust developed between the two families.
“John and his family have been coming out to hunt with us almost every year for 12 years,” said Jack McInerney of Swan Land Company. “When he called about three and a half years ago and said Janicki was thinking about expanding out of Washington, my first thought was Great Falls. I knew the community, and I knew what Janicki stood for. It felt like the right fit from the start. I immediately reached out to my brother, Tim, who had the perfect connections to make things happen.”
That instinct set in motion a multi-year process that would ultimately bring one of the most consequential economic development projects in Montana history to fruition.
Montana’s Biggest Small Town
What distinguished Great Falls from other potential sites was a combination of practical assets such as affordable housing, an available workforce, shovel-ready land with direct rail access, water, sewer, and power already in place, and something less quantifiable: the character of its community.
“As I told John, Great Falls is Montana’s biggest small town,” said Tim McInerney of McInerney Real Estate. “There are cities in Montana with a big-city flair, but Great Falls has a personal touch you don’t find everywhere. People here show up for each other. That matters when you’re asking a company to plant roots and build a life for 2,000 families.”
Tim McInerney, a Great Falls resident, former banker of 32 years, and local real estate professional for 14 years who owns and operates McInerney Real Estate with his wife Kerry, served as the feet on the ground throughout the transaction.
“Jack introduced me to Janicki and I went to work,” said Tim McInerney. “I connected John’s team with the Montana Department of Commerce and the Great Falls Development Alliance, who in turn made the connections to the City, County, business community, and local school districts. Great Falls jumped at this. The high schools immediately engaged with regard to vocational and CTE training programs. The community wanted this.”
Bringing Back What Was Lost
For Great Falls, the significance of this transaction runs deeper than economics. The city was built on industrial muscle; five hydroelectric dams powered a thriving copper smelting operation tied to Butte’s mines. When the Anaconda smelting plant closed in 1980, it left a large economic void.
“Great Falls lost its industrial identity fifty years ago and never got it back,” said Tim McInerney. “This is an opportunity to reclaim what was lost, to bring back good-paying, skilled manufacturing jobs that let people stay here, raise families here, and build a life here. That’s what Janicki represents.”
John Janicki, president of Janicki Industries, echoed that sentiment: “We believe in creating an environment where hard work, innovation and collaboration are rewarded, not only professionally, but through opportunities to build a life, own a home, raise a family or pursue entrepreneurial goals. Great Falls embodies the kind of community where we feel those opportunities can flourish.”
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte said, “We are thrilled to welcome Janicki to Montana and celebrate the company’s $800 million investment in Great Falls. Through its creation of over 1,000 good-paying jobs, Janicki will inspire innovation, strengthen our economy, and support our growing communities for years to come. The Treasure State is proud to attract job creators like Janicki who choose to expand from high-tax, high-regulation states to take advantage of our unmatched quality of life, lower taxes, and strong workforce. I look forward to seeing the impact of this significant investment.”
Swan Land Company’s Role
The land, 185 acres of shovel-ready property within the AgriTech Park at the corner of 18th Avenue and 67th Street, was not a traditional listed property. The Great Falls Development Alliance controls and sells lots within the park, and the transaction required navigating state agencies, local development partners, and a multi-city competitive evaluation simultaneously.
“This is the kind of deal that doesn’t fit neatly into a box,” said Jack McInerney. “It required patience, relationships, and an understanding of what Janicki needed not just in terms of land, but in terms of community. Swan Land’s ability to work across complex, multilayered transactions and to bring the right people to the table is what made this work.”
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held July 10, 2026 at the AgriTech Park site, featuring remarks from Governor Greg Gianforte, Great Falls Mayor Corey Reeves, John and Peter Janicki, and leaders of the Great Falls Development Alliance. A community reception will follow at The Newberry, 420 Central Avenue, Great Falls.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jennifer Hobson-Hinsley, JLH Media
jennifer@jlhmedia.com | 505-603-8643
For more information, please contact:
Jack McInerney, Broker | Swan Land Company
+1 (406) 220-1696
1185 N. 14th Suite 1, Bozeman, Montana 59715
swanlandco.com | 406.522.7342
ABOUT SWAN LAND COMPANY:
Swan Land Company is a boutique real estate company specializing in ranches, farms, luxury, and recreational properties in the Rocky Mountain West. With agents serving Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Nebraska, Swan Land Company has built a solid reputation as masters of the mechanics of real estate, with the ability to simplify complex, multilayered transactions for their clients. This boutique approach focuses on forging long-term client relationships and the quality of listings over quantity. Founded by Mike Swan, Swan Land Company associates are chosen for their integrity and deep personal and professional backgrounds in the ranching, agriculture, and recreational needs of the communities they serve — allowing them to deliver unparalleled peace of mind from the kitchen table to the closing table. Notable transactions include the Climbing Arrow Ranch ($136.25 million), the Broken O Ranch ($132 million), Camas Creek Cattle & Sheep Company ($58.75 million), and Jane Fonda’s Forked Lightning Ranch ($19 million).
ABOUT JANICKI INDUSTRIES:
Janicki is a privately owned engineering and manufacturing company that designs and builds composite and metallic tooling, parts, prototypes, and assembled structures for customers across aerospace, defense, space, marine, and other industries. As one of the largest privately owned Tier 1 aerospace suppliers in the United States, Janicki brings full-scale production capabilities to programs of any scope. Founded in 1993, the company currently operates over one million square feet of facilities across Washington and Utah and employs more than 2,000 people. Learn more at Janicki.com.