The MATR model is available to other states who wish to increase the visibility and level of their economic success

Your state has an enviable history of increasing economic success. However, as with every success, there is room to improve through increased global visibility. The world is getting flatter every day through technology. A Technology Roundtable (TR) based on the successful Montana Associated Technology Roundtables (MATR) model will produce positive PR outcomes in conjunction with networking and educational assistance for entrepreneurs, educators, legislators, business professionals, and economic development professionals throughout your state. Success comes from creating a more connected economy.

The Technology Roundtables (TR) model develops state networks that promote the economic success and opportunities in the state and its companies while also informing citizens, educating entrepreneurs and promoting entrepreneurship and economic success throughout the state and region. Through networking and collaboration, TRs become a highly visible resource of state business and economic information that is marketed globally. As additional states are added to the effort, all will benefit through increased visibility.

Small business is the lifeblood of rural state economies. More and more, instead of recruiting large companies with incentives, economic development professionals are focusing on recruiting the “best and the brightest” alumni and expats who’ve left the state as well as interested individuals who would come to the state if they had access to the opportunities available. MATR provides the information and opportunities to these entrepreneurs to encourage them to start their companies in a particular state. The Jobs and Community networks reach out to alumni who may have a desire to return.

TRs focus on connecting companies and resources within the state and contiguous states using information collection and distribution. They develop archives of stories through focused categories such as State Business, State Economic Development, Regional Economic Development, Regional Business etc. Archive categories like The Creative and Cultural Economy , Universities and Economic Development , and University TechTransfer (please see the right hand column on the MATR home page for the full category listing) bring stories of best practices from throughout the world to the members. TRs also bring residents with an interest in the future of the state together in Roundtables held throughout the State to encourage collaboration and networking.

TRs provide a single point of contact for those interested in economic development and related issues in your state.

The MATR team has spent 5 years developing the TR basic concepts including the following:

Anyone wishing to receive the twice weekly newsletter or contribute to the site must Become a Member http://www.matr.net/login.phtml . There is no charge to become a member. The current MATR website receives an average of over 750,000 hits a month from over 120 countries. Open and free membership encourages broad participation while allowing a degree of control over the postings on MATR, an essential element of an acceptable and successful effort. All postings are moderated by MATR to ensure only those that are appropriate are included, not as censorship but to prevent in appropriate postings including obscene, slanderous and spam type items.

TRs are funded through the Companies and Resources listings. Companies throughout your state and the contiguous states will be able to enter and modify their specific information for their listings. Basic listings start with their URL, Logo, and mission statement.

Additional visibility and utility is available at the following levels:

Gold $2500 minimum per year – Each supporter will have a unique page for one year with a host of information. Additional features include a front page listing which will rotate through the home page:

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MATR Supporter

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Premium listings also have the ability to include their story and job opening listings posted to their page, a gold star on the map of the state to highlight their location making it easier for people to locate them and are listed in each newsletter.

There are a maximum of 12 Gold Supporters per year in a single box that rotates on the home page. We’re open to other options that may be of value to the supporters.

Silver $1500 minimum per year – Front page listing below the Gold Supporter box, story listings, listed with a silver star on map, maximum of 12 per year in a single box that rotate on the home page.

Bronze $500 per year, Page listing that rotates with all other listings, listed on map

Anyone can list their company or organization for free. Company listings rotate with all other listings. There are currently over 1000 listings on MATR.

Company listings currently only appear on the home page. We will be adding this visibility to all pages of MATR in the near future.

Members can post appropriate (State or regional related economic development) news stories. Entire press releases are encouraged. To avoid copyright concerns members can’t post entire news stories from outside publications. They can post the headline, the first 2 or 3 paragraphs and must list author and then URL. Stories can include URL’s for companies or organizations to further raise their visibility. Posting member can add comments or a small quote from article as a highlight for the newsletter as with these examples:

http://www.matr.net/newsletter-95.html

Members may add events. Add an event: http://www.matr.net/addevents.phtml

Members may Add a Comment to articles. http://www.matr.net/post_a_comment.phtml?headline=Pioneers+of+Venture+Capital&newsid=18867

All newsletters are archived as are all articles. http://www.matr.net/newsletter.phtml The purpose of this archive is to both provide a source for continued education and information as well as a source for increased visibility through search engines.

Our initial model is to propose an initial one year contract for $30,000 to implement a state focused site that will encompass all of the abilities listed above as well as new features that may be developed during the year. As a way of offsetting this initial cost for programming, marketing, and search engine management, the contracting entity would receive the first $30,000 of revenue generated by the Premium feature listings. Additional revenue generated from these listings would be shared 50-50 between the agency and MATR. This provides a means for self-funding the effort as well as providing the opportunity for additional revenue after the first $30,000 has been recovered.

Please contact us here at MATR if your state has an interest.

Russ Fletcher [email protected]

406-542-9395