|
|
|
| MATR Newsletter - Tue Jun 16, 2015 |
I've been putting a lot of thought into it and I just don't think being an adult is going to work for me.
2014 Montana Politics & 2015 Legislature
Montana Data Focused Business Cluster
- You've probably never heard of the Wilks brothers. They're about to take away your Montana property rights.
It should come as no surprise that there was big oil money behind the new Texas law that stops local government from regulating oil and gas. What might shock you is that the same money is about to be used for the same purpose in Montana.
- Montana State University responds: We respectfully disagree with Rep. Art Wittich's statement: "Valley Republicans didn't let down MSU."
What Rep. Wittich did not mention was the fact that in addition to voting against Romney Hall improvements, he also voted against all of the above - research funding, faculty and staff compensation and the conditional tuition freeze.
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- IBM to Invest 'Hundreds of Millions' in Free Data Technology
As part of the effort, IBM will make a research project named SystemML free. This lets people spot patterns in data via a technology called machine learning, on top of Spark. It bears similarities to a project called MLlib, which is backed by DataBricks Inc., a Spark-focused company spun out of Berkeley by some of the academics behind the project.
Great Falls Development Authority
- Planning a Trip to Montana?
Montana - It's Time!
Come Home Montana
- Great Falls Development Authority Top Sixteen for 6/15/15
Here's the GFDA Top 16 for this week, celebrating great things happening to move Great Falls Forward. It's been a busy week with three of us on the road pitching Great Falls in Alberta, California, and Washington.
Montana Business
- Montana Talent Available - Seeking challenging opportunities to promote sustainable energy and economic growth in MT.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Eastern Montana Field Director, Montana Wilderness Association
The Eastern Montana Field Director (EMFD) is responsible for various aspects of programmatic work while building support for issues and campaigns across Montana's Prairie Wildlands.
- Montana Career Opportunities - Website Developer, Professional IT Services, IT Support and Repair Tech - First Call Computer Solutions
At First Call we view our employees as business partners. We share business problems, challenges and performance openly and look for input and people who take ownership.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Software Engineer/CMMS - Dematic
Dematic Corp has a need for a Software Engineer at our office in Bigfork, MT. This position will be within the Software as a Business department focusing on our CMMS product.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Management Position - Watkins & Shepard Trucking
Manager, ISO motivated, organized, enthusiastic, candidate for Management Position.
Montana Economic Development
- Conference looks to expand wine making in the Flathead Valley of Montana
Industry experts and leaders are saying there are wine making opportunities in colder climates, and the Flathead Valley fits right into that mix.
- You'll Never Guess What's Inside This Abandoned Train Car at the Isaac Walton Lodge near Glacier National Park
The Isaac Walton Lodge recently turned some abandoned railroad cabooses into guest lodging.
- High-tech on the Montana Hi-Line? Proposed project relying on foreign workers prompts questions
A project using that many foreign workers brought to the U.S. under visas for high-skilled workers would be the largest such project in Montana in recent years, according to federal records.
- 'Here for the service': Entire graduating RiverStone resident class to practice in Montana
"We're all staying, and that is a unique opportunity," said Dr. Stephanie Thomas, a resident physician graduating from the program. "The entire mission of this is to recruit physicians to Montana."
- 'Nothing prettier:' Montana Flag and Pole Co. has been supplying American flags since 1998
Packed into a fairly small shop at 829 N. Last Chance Gulch in Helena, the small shop caters to the needs of each customer.
- Synesis7, Montana Tech partner to forward integrated additive manufacturing
Representatives from Synesis7 and Montana Tech CAMP discovered their common interest in advanced manufacturing systems and in particular Additive Manufacturing during the first Mile High Innovation Network event in Butte.
- Photographers' Formulary in scenic Swan Valley of Montana ships photo supplies around world
"They've got everything. Everything,"
- Montana's CookSimple 'Mixes It Up' with Innovative Ingredients, On-Trend Grains and Best-Selling Flavors at Summer Fancy Food Show
"CookSimple http://www.cooksimplemeals.com is on a mission to make it safe for shoppers to return to this aisle by delivering strong nutrition with best-selling flavors in an easy-to-use mix."
- Columbia Falls Tech Company, ViZn Energy Systems, Ramping Up Production of Large-Scale Batteries
"The team that was built here in Montana is a very good team. We're going to continue to strengthen and enhance what we have here in Montana and grow as a two-site company," he said.
Careers
- The Prospera Business Network Board of Directors and Staff are pleased to welcome Paul Reichert, Executive Director Prospera Business Network
Paul has over twenty years of nonprofit and community development experience in Montana having served as the Executive Director for both the Helena and Bozeman Downtown Business Districts, and as the agency Director for the Montana Heritage Commission.
Come Home Washington
- How Elon Musk Can Tell If Job Applicants Are Lying About Their Experience
Elon Musk shared with the audience at our Ignition conference how having job applicants explain their thought process of solving a problem helps him figure out if they are qualified for the job.
- How to make a great first impression
Clammy hands, heart racing, stomach turning... it all can only mean one thing: You're about to meet some new people.
- Paid in stock options? Five tips you should know.
It's important to understand how to manage your equity properly and prudently.
Next Generation Broadband in Montana
- Washington Career Opportunities - Director, Project Manager and more - williamsworks
Interested in working for a fast-paced and innovative firm, and collaborating with team members who thrive on delivering high-quality service and are motivated by doing work that makes a difference? williamsworks is currently hiring for positions at our growing firm:
Rural Communities
- Muni Broadband Goes Mainstream
Thanks to the FCC, everyone's talking about it. But building your own network is harder than it looks.
Government
- Rural Areas Need to Be Aware of Challenges of Reindustrialization
Reindustrialization, or trying to bring back manufacturing with incentives, might be good. But don't jump in without a lot of thought - especially if you live in a rural area.
Idaho Business
- Judge says Missoula can take over Mountain Water by condemnation
A Missoula District Court judge says the city has proven it's "more necessary" for the city to own its water utility than to have it continue in private hands.
- Missoula mayor proposes 5 percent increase in city taxes
"We are budgeting conservatively again this year, though with all the development occurring around Missoula that we see, you know, those projects are going to hit the tax rolls. It's just a matter of when."
- Helena lacks cash for routine replacements; official predicts bond will be needed
This year's inability to pay for scheduled expenses, however, pales when compared with what's to come.
Incubators and R&D
- New Ventures Lab - Idaho's first hybrid-coworking space in Meridian, Idaho
New Ventures Lab already has three companies that have moved in to the New Ventures Lab: Adventure Marketing, Press Advantage and Snaplash.
Regional Economic Development
- At-home Parkinson's treatment fits like a cap
People with Parkinson's disease may soon be able to treat their own tremors and muscle stiffness without invasive therapy or even a trip to the doctor's office.
- SpaceX announces design competition for Hyperloop
It's the first time Musk's company has been directly involved in the Hyperloop project, although several private firms are pursuing research.
Washington State Business
- Silicon Valley Then and Now: To Invent the Future, You Must Understand the Past
Why, I want to know, is it not enough to stand on the shoulders of giants? Why did Steve Jobs want to pick their brains?
- USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Provide Development Support to Rural Cooperatives
USDA is making the grants available to non-profit corporations and institutions of higher education through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program.
Workforce Development
- The Yes Works - Improv group uses performance skills for business training
The Yes Works group, co-founders Aaron Schmookler and Adam Utley and collaborator Rachel Lionheart, used skills developed during years of theater training and performances to bring the volunteers to their feet, and to get them talking and thinking actively.
Education
- Geek Shortage Stymies Israel's Tech Boom
The country known as `Start-Up Nation' now has a computer-scientist shortage
- Community Colleges and Employers Develop Online Course Content To Address High-Need Skills Gap
The College Employer Collaborative (CEC), a group of community colleges and employers that will work with CorpU to develop college curricula and credentials intended to meet the needs of high-growth industries.
Montana Education Excellence
- Eyeing Tesla, college offers new 4-year degree in logistics
Truckee Meadows President Maria Sheehan said it's the responsibility of community colleges to respond to changing economic climates as quickly as possible.
- Colleges are using big data to identify when students are likely to flame out
The university spent $3 million to hire 47 additional advisers and develop "campaigns" to increase re-enrollment.
Community
- As University of Montana enrollment dips, international students are the exception
In a time of budget cuts, one of the few new positions UM approved is another recruiter for the Office of International Programs.
Funding and Building your Business
- Toward a Definition of Mixed-Use
A panel at the recent Urban Land Institute conference in Houston considers the imperative of understanding mixed-use development and its various forms.
- New #selfie campaign intended to promote Helena, Montana
"People want to talk about Helena," Strange said. "There's so much to do here, and I think that's a big part of the selfie spots."
- Report: Poor children in Missoula have above-average upward income mobility
The effects of location are much more pronounced for boys than for girls, and for lower-income children than for wealthier kids.
- Why We Should Nourish Strong Families
The data and evidence are overwhelming, and have been for decades: family structure is the principal variable in the entire list of economic and social indicators.
- More volunteers needed for Montana Folk Festival in Butte 7/10-12
Everett said they have around 650 volunteers signed up to help so far, but still need at least 100 more.
Energy and Climate Change
- ScaleUp America Proposal Solicitation Opens to provide tailored support to small businesses with average annual revenues of $150-$500K.
ScaleUp America builds on the SBA's core mission by supporting communities' efforts to deliver targeted intensive assistance to established high-potential small businesses and entrepreneurs that are primed for growth beyond the start-up or early stages. The initiative will provide tailored support to small businesses with average annual revenues of $150-$500K.
- Voice mail is going the way of the dinosaur
"Ironically I'm leaving you a voice mail about your email about the death of voice mail."
- 6 Mind-Blowing Digital Marketing Stats from Unbounce's Conversion Road Trip
Basically, never base your marketing strategies off of word-of-mouth information. Test for yourself!
- Start-ups need 'joiners' as well as founders
A research highlight in Science reports on research analyzing these "joiners," and finds that while they resemble founders in their willingness to take risks and their desire for the freedom of a startup, there are important differences.
- Capital Formation: The Basics Of Crowd-Funding, And What You Need To Know About The Current & New Laws, 6/24, Butte, MT
Learn about new Montana laws effective 7/1/15
Connectivity & Communications
- The Solutions Project - 100% Renewable Energy Vision
The Solutions Project accelerates the transition to 100% clean, renewable energy for all people and purposes.
- Western Governors' Association promotes sharing of renewable energy lease revenues
The purpose of this letter is to communicate Western Governors' longstanding support for the sharing of revenues derived from renewable energy leasing on federal lands with impacted states and counties.
- Montana energy economy dims, but consumers benefit
"It's a little slow right now for sure, but long term we definitely see renewables playing an increasing role in the region."
Non-Profit News
- Court Ruling Clears Way For Net Neutrality Rules To Take Effect On Friday, 6/19
The ruling is a setback for the industry, but the litigation will go on.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Conservation groups launch Smith River social media campaign
"We're just reminding people what's at risk," said Montana Trout Unlimited Executive Director Bruce Farling.
- Brad Pitt foundation homes arrive on Montana reservation
The homes, built in Washington state, are being laid down in a sustainable village project on the old Poplar airport site. They are built from state-of-the art recycled materials and are LEED Platinum standard, foundation officials said.
Transportation
- Review: The best new features coming from Apple, Google
New features promised for smartphones, tablets and watches could improve how we interact with technology. Although it's too soon to tell how well these will work in practice, here's a look at what I'm looking forward to most this fall.
- Cutting the Cord: A new user interface coming to Netflix on the Web
It's a classy and functional update, for sure. It makes perusing Netflix.com more fun.
- Multi-stream platform lets users share their video everywhere at once
Joicaster is a multi-streaming platform which helps anyone to live-stream their HD videos everywhere, from a single source video.
- Apple and Google Race to See Who Can Kill the App First
Our dumb, silo'd apps are slowly but steadily becoming smart, context-aware services that link, share, and talk to each other without us having to necessarily see or touch those little squares.
- How a Dutch firm is going to 3D-print a bridge in Amsterdam
The bridge isn't just showing off how far 3D printing has come, it actually has some practical value too -- imagine robots being able to build their own supply lines through emergency disaster areas for example, where existing road and rail infrastructure has been disrupted for whatever reason.
- 24 Road Diet Case Studies from the U.S. Department of Transportation
Following a "Mayors Challenge" for bike safety by Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation recently released a "Road Diets" report, providing a geographical diverse collection of case studies.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page