|
|
|
| MATR Newsletter - Fri Feb 20, 2009 |
"It's better to be a pirate than to join the Navy." -- Steve Jobs
T. Boone Pickens Coming to Montana Next Week - Montana Ambassadors Annual Conference: “Energy Jobs for Montana” http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- "Wisconsin Governor Doyle's budget initiatives to promote innovation and growth. Wow!" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html ---
Idaho National Laboratory
Three Cups of Tea - The Central Asia Institute
- Gov. Otter, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho delegation and universities join ceremony in Idaho Falls- Center for Advanced Energy Studies dedicates new facility
Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) - Dedicated to education, training and research in pursuit of solutions to critical energy problems.
- Idaho National Laboratory signs deal with OriginOil to research algae-to-oil technology
Idaho National Laboratory officials said supporting OriginOil’s process fulfills its national security mandate to develop advanced renewable energy technology.
2009 Montana Legislature
- Greg Mortenson (Three Cups of Tea) calls for books, not bombs
“I think (the Taliban’s) greatest fear is not the bullet but the pen,” Mortenson said. “Education should be a top priority.”
Modwest
- State Legislature won't fund Bitterroot Valley Community College
“And for that, I have to say shame on the whole lot of the powers that be,” Rogala said. “It wasn’t about us not having a good enough plan or not having got enough of the voters to turn out or about what the levy would be.”
Montana Ambassadors
- Modwest Introduces Customer Community, Prizes
"We have always striven to communicate freely with our customers, and this community represents a new way for us listen carefully to customer feedback and ideas to help guide product development and improve our services. Plus, our customers now have a place to communicate directly with one another." John Masterson
Vision Net
- T. Boone Pickens Coming to Montana Next Week - Montana Ambassadors Annual Conference: “Energy Jobs for Montana”
Recognizing the emerging employment opportunities in the energy field, the Ambassadors will follow the luncheon with a panel of energy developers and policy experts discussing the opportunities and challenges we face in bringing energy projects to Montana.
Come Home Idaho
- VisionNet's Success Story - Strength in Numbers
In contrast with what many telecom companies have seen, recent years have been particularly profitable for VisionNet. “2008 was our best year ever, and 2007 was the best before that,” Ferris said. He added that the company also jumped from 67 to 87 employees over the past year.
Come Home Montana
- One man's grand plan for a tech hub in Eagle, Idaho - The Eagle-Star Technology Corridor
Lloyd Mahaffey, a 30-year veteran of the technology industry, has a vision for the Eagle-Star Technology Corridor. He believes the industry is heading to places like Eagle, where the cost of doing business is lower and the quality of life more attractive than in high-cost states like California.
Leadership Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Human Resources Generalist, Senior -RightNow
In this role, you will develop and assist to develop company-wide programs and initiatives in the areas of employee relations, performance management, training, organizational development, and employee communications.
Montana Business
- Barry Schwartz: The real crisis? We stopped being wise
Thought you might be inspired even more by this very compelling talk from TED.
- Seven Traits of Great Leaders
We admire and follow people who believe in themselves—who can't be laughed down or talked down or written down.
Montana Economic Development
- HyPower Fuel Announces Green Energy Joint Venture With Montana First Nation
Mr. Bender stated that "HyPower sees this agreement as being the first step in the establishment of an Environmental Energy Center (EEC) which would see the use of all of HyPower's alternative energy technologies."
- Pet Friendly Lodging in Missoula, Montana
Just had an inquiry from someone who will be attending the Montana Venture Workshop With Bill Joos And Venture Capitalists on March 9 in Missoula asking where they could stay if they were bringing a pet.
- Assistance For Montana Business Clinics, Various Dates And Venues Throughout Montana
The Assistance for Business Clinics are developed to assist NEW and ESTABLISHED employers, accountants, bookkeepers and lawyers in constructing a proactive approach to prevent unnecessary claims and/or charges by providing updated reporting of state withholding, Unemployment Tax requirements, minimum wage laws, overtime laws, civil rights laws and federal tax incentives.
- The Missoula Job Service is a work force center that links employers with employees
The Job Service is a work force center that links employers with employees and offers human resource help to smaller businesses. Its staff also step in after major layoffs to help employees train for new jobs.
- Montana's Moose Drool in Cans - Tastes great, less landfilling
The company is selling more beer than it ever has.
- Montana Horses - Annual Spring Roundup & Drive
Every April, Montana Horses hosts a Spring Roundup that’s right out of the Old West, with a 3-day horse drive from Willow Creek, Montana through the headwaters of the Missouri River and home to the Mantle Ranch.
- Earthtalk E-Newsletter System
Our brand-new E-Newsletter system is built from the ground up to be powerful and easy to use. Unlike other template-based emails, we will brand your E-Newsletter to your specific look and feel.
Regional Economic Development
- Allegiant plans Missoula- Billings, Montana - Los Angeles, California flights
Missoula International Airport manager Cris Jensen confirms that airport will be served, as well, starting in May.
- Sidney, Montana area continues on-going challenge of attracting businesses
When potential companies compare the two communities, Messer says she’s found the following reasons to be factors in choosing Williston, ND over Sidney, Montana:
- Great Falls Development Authority actively seeks land for industrial park
Doney plans to form a committee of investors and volunteers to review possible locations based on marketability, costs and rail access.
- Allegiant Air to hook up Missoula with L.A
Starting May 2, Allegiant will operate twice weekly between Missoula and Los Angeles International Airport
- NorthWestern Energy to Help Track Renewable Energy Generation in Montana
”By making this service available to eligible small renewable producers, NorthWestern Energy will provide a service that will help facilitate the development of green energy in Montana,” said Dave Gates, vice president – Wholesale Operations.
- The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation pushes for construction of Martinsdale Wind Farm
Up to seven turbines would be constructed on state land in the first phase of construction for the Martinsdale Wind Farm. That phase would bring in $36,750 to $42,913 in annual lease revenue to the state.
Careers
- Can America’s West stay wild?
Land-management agencies have been slow to recognize the new role of unspoiled public lands as an amenity, he says. But they’re coming around. The marked “blue shift” in the politics of Western states in the recent election suggests a more conservation-minded public.
- Agreement between Energy Northwest and Adage could bring biomass plants to Montana, Washington, Oregon and Idaho
Each plant would generate about 50 megawatts of electricity, or enough to supply 40,000 households in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
Funding and Building your Business
- Technology etiquette tips for job-seekers
Manage your digital footprint
- Your online reputation can hurt your job search
Employers aren't content with facts gleaned from public records. They're also using the Internet to assess your character. That means they're searching your name on Google.
Montana Education Excellence
- Marketing in a downturn: time to push the panic button?
In a crisis, consumers generally start to rein in their spending and save more – just in case. But how should companies then market their goods and services in a downturn?
- Stimulus Package Makes It Harder To Hire H-1B Workers
The provisions are expected to affect new hires, not existing H-1B visa holders in the United States looking to renew their visas.
- The Voice of the Customer
Ignoring customer feedback results in customers feeling that their feedback is not valued, frustration and ultimately defection.
Regional Business
- Criticism in Missoula schools surprises director of 'Story of Stuff' video
“What's the other side to what I've said?” she mused. “Unfortunately, we're living it.”
- Laid Off Workers Find Hope at Flathead Valley Community College
“They’re all worried to death when they come in here, everybody thinking they’re going to lose everything,” Hill said. “I tell them there’s nothing to worry about. If they have will, there’s a way. It may not be what they did before, but they’ll find something.”
- Montana State University offers new scholarship for Montana freshmen
"MSU is dedicated to helping Montana students to pursue their dreams," Russell said. "We want to help make higher education possible for Montana families."
- Crow leader, Carl Venne saw tribe's future in education
"This knowledge center, as I call the library, will open up the minds of our young people," he said. "The students will prosper. By them prospering, this nation will prosper also." Perhaps that will be the chairman's legacy - knowledge that will continue to empower students, thus providing opportunity for the Crow Tribe to prosper.
University TechTransfer
- Nebraska program seeks to put youngsters on the range and reverse trend of fewer cows
the 100-Cow Program, which offers hopeful ranchers government loans of up to $300,000 if they complete a ranch management course. Besides teaching students the best way to raise livestock, it teaches them how to run a ranch as a successful business. And participants must complete a business plan to present to U.S. Agriculture Department's Farm Service Agency, which lends the money.
Oregon Economic Development
- "In university tech transfer, it's not about the money, until there is money." Survey of Tech-Transfer Offices Reveals Typical Motivators; AUTM Panel Weighs Various Models
"Part of why you do technology transfer is to provide an attractive institution for the top researchers, because most of them want a good tech-transfer program at their institution," Blakeslee said. "If the top researchers come to your institution, they bring in research dollars."
Utah Business
- Oregon Fail - Hard times for business and real estate out West.
"We give lip service to the economy here," admits Klapper, a longtime Portland entrepreneur and a former official with the Port of Portland. "But, really, business is not a priority here."
Utah Economic Development
- Need work? Employers court Utah job-seekers - Positions range from the sports industry to firefighting.
Jobs as diverse as fighting wildfires, careers in the sports industry, work targeted for single mothers and technical positions for women are among the opportunities being offered by a variety of agencies and companies.
Wyoming Business
- The State of Entrepreneurism in Utah 2009 Video for Legislators
In these challenging economic times, we felt that our legislators should better understand this key driver of our economy."
- Schools could reap millions in renewable-energy push
"In the last nine months the level of interest in [renewables] has gone through the roof."
Education
- Wyo needs to fulfill wind power potential
The state has some of the strongest, most consistent winds in the country. Is Wyoming, with its emphasis on fossil fuels, doing all that it can to promote this renewable resource?
Government
- Project Uses Cell Phones As Computers in the Classroom
The educational technology was developed at the University of Michigan and is licensed through Soloway's GoKnow! To 40,000 worldwide users. The concept revolves around the idea that smart phones possess similar capabilities to computers at significantly lower prices.
- Educational Attainment in the United States
This report presents a geographic picture of educational attainment, with estimates by region and state.
- Teaching kids to stay cyber-safe
A national campaign to engrain the three Cs -- cyberethics, cybersafety and cybersecurity -- into the subconscious of K-12 students is being readied by the National Cyber Security Alliance.
Other Economies
- Montana is becoming a model state for assessing its returning combat vets for PTSD and TBI.
Following the suicide two years ago of a recently deployed combat vet, Montana has become a model for accessing and assisting veterans who show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). While the plan doesn't go nearly far enough, it's one that I understand the Obama administration is seriously considering for nationwide implementation - and it would be an excellent first step.
Connectivity & Communications
- Wisconsin Governor Doyle's budget initiatives to promote innovation and growth. Wow!
To increase the amount of early stage venture capital and corporate strategic investments made into innovative Wisconsin companies, I am creating a Wisconsin Venture Fund at the Department of Commerce.
Energy
- Obama Tech Adviser Says More to Come on Broadband Push
The stimulus "is not the puzzle but just a piece of the puzzle."
- MTA Commentary—Economic Stimulus Package: Broadband Investment
Pushing broadband technology access out to the farthest reaches of the country makes sense.
- Is Rural Internet Worth the Cost?
"Rural advocates say high-speed access is a necessity in a global economy, and a critical part of economic revival and survival for rural places."
- Skepticism arises over rural broadband stimulus
One reason the money won't likely have much impact is its small size: less than 1 percent of the overall stimulus package, and substantially less per citizen than some countries, like Ireland and Sweden, have spent on improving their networks.
Non-Profit News
- Stimulus Big Winner: Battery Manufacturing
The nearly $790 billion economic stimulus legislation contains tens of billions of dollars in loans, grants, and tax incentives for advanced battery research and manufacturing, as well as incentives for plug-in hybrids and improvements to the electrical grid, which could help create a market for these batteries.
- Stimulus adds tax credit for home solar panels
Homeowners will now be able to get a federal tax credit worth 30 percent of the cost of their new solar system even if they're also receiving state or local financing.
- A Cheaper Solar Concentrator
A new light-guiding optic combines low cost with high efficiency.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Montana NonProfit Association - New Membership Benefit - GrantStation Subscription for $75/ year
GrantStation is an advanced searchable database of more than 7,000 active funding sources and includes grant opportunities from federal and state sources, private foundations, corporate funders, associations, and international funding sources.
Transportation
- The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation donates $50k to National Folk Festival in Butte, Montana this summer
The festival "has demonstrated its potential to help build a large repeat tourism base for western Montana," said Deborah Doyle McWhinney, foundation chief executive officer and president. "And, we would like to see the festival grow and prosper as a signature summer event for all of western Montana."
- Stegner’s Complaint - Wallace Stegner's Centennial is a Reminder of the Lack of Respect Given to Writers From the American West
Norman Maclean, the Montana native whose gin-clear prose makes “A River Runs Through It” an American treasure, certainly carried some of the Stegnarian chip on his western shoulder.
- New Great Falls, Montana gallery cooperative, Lodestone Gallery aims to promote art
"The Lodestone Gallery is a modern-looking gallery that looks like it could be on the trendy streets of San Francisco, Portland (Ore.) or Seattle," Gilleon said. "Yet, this forward-thinking gallery is located right here in central Montana. It's the perfect place to showcase all of the co-op's art."
- Moses Lake, Washington regains commercial air service
As of June, SkyWest Airlines of St. George, Utah, operating as United Express, plans to fly twice daily between Grant County International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page
