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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Nov 1, 2005 |
"When you look at underachievement, the group that is really under achieving are the very bright kids because there is the greatest difference between what is offered of them and what they can do." Jan Davidson Davidson Institute for Talent Development. http://www.ditd.org/
Congratulations to New West Network, headquartered in Missoula for their much deserved honors. "New West Wins Two National Online Journalism Awards" http://www.matr.net/article-16676.html
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
Education
- Billings owner takes the leap with 1st business after doing plenty of homework
"The licensing from the state was grueling," she said.
- Small Business Survival Index 2005: Ranking the Policy Environment for Entrepreneurship - Montana Ranks 38th
Some politicians recognize that the policies they implement have an impact on economic decision-making. Others simply choose to ignore or are ignorant of those effects.
Montana Business
- '65 cent solution' takes on Education Establishment - What does "in the classroom" mean?
The goal of the little-known group, First Class Education, is to change the laws in all 50 states by 2008 to require schools to spend at least 65 percent of their operating budgets on classroom expenses, including teachers' salaries, computers and after-school activities.
- Child Geniuses Find A Home
"When you look at underachievement, the group that is really under achieving are the very bright kids because there is the greatest difference between what is offered of them and what they can do." Jan Davidson
- A high school education is no longer a ticket to the middle class
90 percent of technical college graduates have jobs within six months of leaving school.
- State Education Data Profiles
Search for statewide information in elementary/secondary education, postsecondary education, public libraries and selected demographics for all states in the U.S.
- $1 billion for Education in Wyoming Possible
The model also would increase teacher salaries and benefits -- mostly benefits, according to some educators -- bringing Wyoming from 37th to an estimated 32nd in the country with an average salary of about $42,000 a year and putting the state in the top 10 for school employee benefits.
Montana Economic Development
- Ad Operations Interactive and Digital Variant Release DeepClick™: Online Ad Efficacy Analysis Software.
“After years of providing impression and click-though data to clients, we see a gap in click-though data capture and analysis that is preventing advertisers from truly understanding the ROI of their campaigns,”
- Good start for Cable Tech - Electronics assembly business up and running — and delighted with what Great Falls has to offer
"The quality of the applicants has been fantastic," he said. "We've had dozens of great job candidates, and I hope they'll remain available as we gear up production in Great Falls."
- Question for All in Montana - Confidentiality of Corporate Tax Records - Montana Taxpayers Association
Senator Jim Elliott filed a lawsuit against the Montana Department of Revenue seeking a ruling that the tax returns and tax return related information filed by certain corporations doing business in Montana are public documents.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- ‘Boomtown USA’ Author, Jack Schultz To Highlight Richland Economic Develoment Dinner, 11/10, Sidney, Montana
“We’re looking forward to having him here since I think he will help us to confirm the encompassing development we do,” Leslie Messer, executive director for Richland Economic Development, said.
Funding and Building your Business
- Start-up companies seek "angels" for early investment - Bridger Private Capital Network of Montana
Few Montana start-ups have the high-growth characteristics that venture capital firms seek to allow them to cash out their returns in a few years.
Legislative Newsletters
- Creating a Product Prototype
From your mind's eye to the palm of your hand, learn what steps are needed to prototype your invention.
- Net Startups Tell VCs: 'We Don't Need You'
"There is magic in independence,"
- Looking for a new board member? Use the Web
Does your state have a similar program? If not, it could be a valuable tool.
Regional Business
- Senator Conrad Burns' Montana eNewsLetter Friday, October 28, 2005 version 5, edition 8
- THE INTERIM November 2005, A Monthly Newsletter of the Montana Legislative Branch
The last page(s) of The Interim contains a calendar of upcoming meetings and events of interest.
Regional Economic Development
- The graying of the workforce - Replacing millions of baby boomers soon to retire has many industries in a spin
The statistical collision is enough to put gray in the hair of anyone running a company that depends on highly trained engineers, scientists and technical workers.
- Eighty-one percent of business executives say that corporate citizenship needs to be a business priority. The State of Corporate Citizenship in the U.S. - Business Perspectives in 2005
The data in the 2005 survey show that companies are actively involved in public life, participating in a wide range of social issues. However, the data also suggests actions tend to lag behind expressed attitudes.
Government
- Oregon Governor Announces New Open Source Technology Initiative by Oregon Universities to "enhance aggressive efforts to bring jobs and investment to Oregon's burgeoning open technology cluster."
"Google's support will strengthen the leadership role of our universities in fostering the next generation of open source technologies, projects and experts in Oregon and enhance our aggressive efforts to bring jobs and investment to Oregon's burgeoning open technology cluster."
Other Economies
- Montana workers compensation fund needs $14 million infusion
Work comp is the legally mandated insurance most employers must buy to pay for lost wages and medical expenses for workers injured on the job.
Incubators and R&D
- ‘Roadmap’ outlines economic priorities - Support for existing businesses should be paramount strategy
Development of financing options through traditional and new venues, including angel networks with private investors, should be a key priority, Blane said.
University TechTransfer
- IRC Channel as Startup Incubator
It's better, members say, than any Silicon Valley business park.
- ISU researchers explore cool uses for heat-loving bacteria: Bugs that live in geothermal areas could help clean up contamination
“We're just trying to take advantage of what nature already offers by using microbes to clean up hazardous waste,”
- Wisconsin scientists to be recognized for innovative biofuel technology
The two men partnered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to invent a novel new, nonpolluting method for producing fuel from everyday wastes like corn, wheat straw and sawdust.
Careers
- University of Iowa brings together six of its business enterprise centers in one location to provide more access for Entrepreneurs, Angels and Venture Capitalists
Having the centers in one location also allows for easier technology transfer -- getting a product from its creation to market, she said.
Non-Profit News
- Telecommuters May Face New Taxes - Supreme Court Lets Stand Ruling That Subjects Employee in Tennessee to New York Income Tax
Many telecommuters could face higher state income-tax bills if other states are emboldened by New York's success and enact similar rules that tax out-of-state telecommuters. Some members of Congress already have introduced legislation to protect telecommuters from such taxes.
Making the Most of the American PrairieConnectivity & Communications
- The Eco-Cowboys: Big land buys signal greens are moving into ranching
"We believe you can do more for conservation with money than without money," says Michael Ford, southwest director for the Arlington, Va.-based Conservation Fund. "We believe we've helped create a brand of conservationism that engages all Americans. And you do that by involving the private sector - foundations, major corporations, etc. - as partners. There are other models that work, but we like this model and so do our partners.
Transportation
- A Disconnect on School Internet Funds - Congressional Report Finds Waste fo more than $10 Billion in 9-Year-Old E-Rate Program
The E-Rate program, managed by the Federal Communications Commission, is poorly run and "extremely vulnerable to waste, fraud and abuse,"
- Microsoft Lures Spammers With Zombie Trap
The statistics the investigators compiled were staggering. In less than three weeks, this single zombie received 5 million connection requests from spammers and 18 million spam messages advertising more than 13,000 individual Web sites. Evidence gathered in this exercise contributed to a lawsuit that has now identified 13 different spamming operations.
- New West Wins Two Online Journalism Awards
"We're in good company - the other big winners tonight were the New York Times and Slate - and we couldn't be happier. Thanks to all of you for your support." Jonathan Weber
- Net phone services enabling video calls
With the Internet now a vehicle for making telephone calls for free or low cost through VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) connections, maybe it's only a matter of pushing the envelope to get people to make video calls over the Internet.
- Sandoval County plans to become the largest county (3,700 square miles) in the United States to have uninterrupted wireless Internet service.
When the project is completed , people should be able to drive anywhere in the county and maintain an Internet connection with a laptop computer.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Delta cuts two of eight Missoula flights
The reductions are necessary for Delta to “emerge from the Chapter 11 process a leaner, more efficient, profitable airline,” company officials said in a written statement Friday.
VIRUS ALERTS
- Calling all geeks; this camp's for you
Why: Edwards moved from Olympia in August and noticed local techies aren't up to date on what everyone else here is doing. He set out to plan an event that would mainly get everyone talking to each other. "I feel Seattle is the technology center of the U.S.," he said. "There's a lot of things going on here that no one knows about."
- Trip Hawkins Has Gone Mobile. Electronic Arts and 3DO founder hopes to define a social mobile market with Digital Chocolate.
Predicts that U.S. cell phone subscribers will spend “over ten billion dollars” a year by 2013 on a new market he calls “mobile social applications.”
- E-mail scam phishes for Wells Fargo clients
The e-mail, making its rounds locally, shows "Wells Fargo" as the sender and has the subject "Update Your Wells Fargo Accounts!"
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