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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Jan 4, 2011 |
"An ice cream cone can solve any problem- even if it's only for a few minutes." -Anonymous
Globalization Partners International
Montana Department of Commerce
- Chinese To Be Most Popular Language On Internet
China's General Administration of Press and Publication web site recently announced that the mixing of foreign words in Chinese language publications without an accompanying Chinese language translation has been banned.
PrintingForLess
- Big Sky gets $6,000 from the Montana Department of Commerce for music festival
The festival is one of four tourism-oriented events around the state selected to recieve a total of $80,000 in grants.
21st Century Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- PrintingForLess Printing Matters Newsletter -
In this month's newsletter, we shell out some innovation inspiration for 2011, introduce a screaming deal on a 1-year InDesign Magazine subscription, and highlight our recent cover feature in Printing Impressions Magazine.
Visit Montana
- Are math scores lagging because U.S. parents are clueless?
"Evidence suggests U.S. parents may be overly confident or lacking in the use of accurate metrics around math performance and college preparedness."
- Touring Schools That Work, Chancellor Says New Approach Is Needed at Those That Don't
Still, they all had something novel: about the way their teachers taught their classes, the courses they offered, or the way they prepared their students to take the next step.
- More Schools Embracing iPad as Learning Tool
A growing number of schools across the nation are embracing the iPad as the latest tool to teach Kafka in multimedia, history through "Jeopardy"-like games and math with step-by-step animation of complex problems.
Come Home Montana
- Glacier National Park centennial a success
"It was a great time to really raise the awareness of cultural and natural history of the region."
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Montana Career Opportunity - Sr Associate Business Systems Analyst - PPL Montana
PPL Montana operates electric generation facilities with a combined capacity of more than 2,800 megawatts in Montana and is seeking highly motivated, qualified candidates for the following position: Sr Associate Business Systems Analyst--Billings, MT
- Montana Career Opportunity - Branch Manager - Bank First Interstate Bank - Hamilton
Responsible for leadership in lending/sales programs, revenue production, and coordination of office activities.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Executive Director - Montana Nurses Association
Responsibilities include provision of organizational and staff leadership, PR, and business management.
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- Is the Midwest the nation's hottest venture capital market?
The Midwest can't compare to the coasts in volume of venture capital investment, but a strong performance last year has some predicting the region to be 2011′s hottest growth market.
Cleantech
- The January 2011 MEDA Online News is now available.
To start your new year right, MEDA has opened Round 1 for scholarship awards in 2011.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Turning Info Tech into Clean Tech
An industry that is rapidly increasing its carbon emissions has untapped potential to help mitigate global climate change.
- Israel pushes clean tech
"When China comes to Israel to learn about electric cars, then something amazing is happening in Israel."
Missoula Public Schools Excellence
- Junior Achievement brings business skills to Billings students
"We're trying to get them to think about financial and career decisions," said French, a financial adviser for Northwestern Mutual. "It's neat to see when kids learn something about business and entrepreneurship. A light goes on."
Montana Business
- Missoula Writing Collaborative expands program on Flathead reservation
The writers work mainly with fourth- and fifth-graders, visiting classrooms once a week for seven months to teach students the art of creative writing and self expression, and then publishing their works in an anthology.
Montana Economic Development
- "Women for the Web" in Missoula, Montana is a community group of women gaga for web development and design
Women for the Web (W4W) http://womenfortheweb.com/ strives to cultivate and develop web design and development skills for community webinistas. By hosting learning sessions once a month that focus on developing non-profit web sites, W4W not only hopes to aid the community with their web needs, but also hopes to aid and support members of the group through hands-on learning.
- Stonefly Studio - Billings, Montana artisan crafts custom wooden fly boxes
"People use them as gifts and put special flies in it. They're kind of a mantle piece."
- Yellowstone Club revival
"We want to be a good neighbor to not only the greater Big Sky community, but to the greater-Bozeman community," he said. "We want to be recognized as a community that cares about the outside community."
- Vann's success due to CEO's vision, boldness
Retail is an ever-changing market, and to thrive amid the changes - and a fickle economy - takes skilled management and vision. In Missoula, Vann's has more than adapted - it has emerged as a national leader in the consumer electronics industry.
- Former NFL QB, Drew Bledsoe funds start-up "The Montana Ski Company" in Whitefish, Montana -
"The Montana Ski Company stood out because it met the group's primary criteria. Our number one mission statement is doing good while doing well." Chad Wold
Regional Economic Development
- City of Bozeman, Montana and business: a working partnership
The past year has seen extensive efforts at three levels - Bozeman city staff, citizen advisory boards, and public-private coordination - to create a climate where we attract, retain and expand businesses.
- Update 2010: Missoula, Montana's whitewater rodeo to return, funds being raised for second wave - "Max Wave"
Fundraising is under way for Max Wave http://www.themaxmissoula.org/about/history-2/ , a second whitewater park that is planned for an area just downstream from Brennan's Wave and near Ogren-Allegiance Park.
- Industrial parks at whim of earmark slashers
"Somebody told me that if you're in the economic-development field, patience is a virtue," the executive director of Bear Paw Development http://www.bearpaw.org/, Paul Tuss, said. "Typically things take twice as long as you think and cost twice as much."
- Western Montana InBusiness Jan. 2011 - Federal Reserve predicts 'WARM' recovery in 2011
"After two years of overall pessimism, businesses expect increased sales, employment and profits."
Careers
- The Poverty Of Ambition: Why The West Is Losing To China And India - The New World Order
This divergence is not about resources; it is about the growing conviction in the West that moving forward is an illusion or, as the British academic John Gray's puts it, "progress is a myth."
- Business-style Planning -- A Key for Hard-pressed Metros
Seattle, the Twin Cities and the Cleveland area are even in the midst of what Brookings is heralding as a new era of applying modern business-style planning to the economic development potential of entire citistates.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- When the construction sector bounces back, experts say there may be a shortage of skilled workers
It might seem strange that builders fear a coming shortage of skilled labor, but they do.
- Tech firms hiring execs with 'softer' skills
Personality traits such as emotional maturity and the ability to get along with others have taken on more importance in executive searches, top recruiters say.
Funding and Building your Business
- Insurers Spur $72 Million In Private Investment in Connecticut
"With the changes that we made to the Insurance Reinvestment Tax Credit program, there will be a much-needed infusion of investment dollars into our state to support business formation and growth, as well as strengthen our high-tech work force," Gov. Rell said. "I expect that this program will be paying important economic dividends for years to come."
- Welcome to the Missoula, Montana Based Big Sky Angel Network
Our primary focus is on companies based within a 500 mile radius of western Montana.
- Tax Credits Encourage Angel Investments in States
A recent story from the Angel Capital Education Foundation shows that more than twenty states currently have tax credits for early stage investment--ranging from 10 to more than 50 percent.
Montana Education Excellence
- Startup 132: Why an Exit Strategy is a bad idea
Not only has there been lots of press about exit strategies with Groupon turning down a multi-billion dollar offer from Google, but in about 1 out of every 2 recruiting interviews, I am asked the same basic question, "What's the company's exit strategy?".
- A rosier outlook for the right start-ups
Good help isn't hard to find.
- Entrepreneurs Share Their Big Mistakes -- and Lessons
American small business success stories have one thing in common: entrepreneurs with courage.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- Montana school coalition charting a new course
"If education [funding] has to go back to court, it will be through MQEC," he said. "There is a chance that we may need to do that this year, this spring, depending on how things go" in the Legislature.
Oregon Business
- North Dakota Legislature: Lots of hands out for $1B surplus
When the North Dakota Legislature begins its 2011 session, lawmakers will have plenty of money to spend and even more suggestions about how to spend it.
Oregon Economic Development
- Oregon companies enjoy banner year
While Oregon's economy remained in the tank throughout 2010, the state's publicly traded companies enjoyed a banner year.
Washington State Business
- For Portland, being distinctive brings rewards
"Life Unexpected," set in Portland, shows how doing unexpected things brings a city the honor of distinctiveness.
Wyoming Business
- Washington State Regulators Approve Private Takeover of Broadband
That includes a "significant" amount dedicated to improving broadband in underserved areas, the company said in a press release. This comes just after the state issued it's broadband report raising concerns about limited broadband availability in rural.
- Washington budget cuts raise questions about higher education quality and accessibility
Ana Mari, the UW's Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, worries that further cuts in higher education funding, as forecast in Gov. Chris Gregoire's proposed budget, will erode academic excellence for an institution already stretched beyond its capacity.
- Higher ed task force has ideas for Washington lawmakers
At the top of its list announced Monday: Find someone other than state government to pay the bill.
2011 Montana Legislature
- Womentoring program helps Wyoming women build business, political confidence
"I think the program gave me the confidence to take the next step."
Education
- How Public Can Monitor, Participate in 2011 Montana Legislature
Montanans will have many opportunities to get involved in the activities of the 2011 Legislature, even from the comfort of their own homes.
- 2011 Legislature: Senate President Peterson urges 'Code of the West'
"Live each day with courage. Take pride in your work. Always finish what you start. Do what has to be done. Be tough but fair. When you make a promise, keep it. Ride for the brand. Talk less and say more. Remember that some things aren't for sale. Know where to draw the line." Peterson is having a bill drafted to designate this Code of the West as the "Code of Montana."
- 2011 Legislature: House Speaker Milburn says focus is on jobs, efficient government
"He has a way of trying to find common ground and trying to find what's right for both sides. I'm not sure we could have done it without him."
- City Lights: Got to love those 2011 Montana legislative bills
I sincerely hope the bill sails through the Legislature, and God knows it would be a good idea for everyone serving in Helena this year to study Bardanouve's life and to follow his example.
- Gazette opinion: 2011 agenda: Let's invest wisely in Montana's future
We encourage all who care about public education to learn about the school funding decisions that will be made in Helena over the next four months and the local school district budgeting decisions that will be finalized this summer by locally elected trustees.
- Upcoming Legislature will have its hands full
Over the next four months, members of the 2011 Legislature will be debating dozens of complex and weighty issues about Montana's future.
- Changes in tenure proposed, amidst education topics
State Rep. Derek Skees, R-Whitefish, is introducing a bill that calls for the removal of teacher tenure at both the K-12 and higher education systems in Montana.
Government
- Educating Parents
This website is a comprehensive resource that focuses on parenting traumatized and emotionally distressed children, offering an extension of the parenting tools presented in our live trainings.
- Universities Introduce Accelerated Degree Programs
"Only the best, most motivated kids are going to be able to do it."
- Changing Education Paradigms
In this talk from RSA Animate, Sir Ken Robinson lays out the link between 3 troubling trends: rising drop-out rates, schools' dwindling stake in the arts, and ADHD. An important, timely talk for parents and teachers.
Connectivity & Communications
- Public Workers Facing Outrage as Budget Crises Grow
"People I don't even know are calling me horrible names," said Ms. Corfield, an art teacher who had pleaded the case of struggling teachers. "The mantra is that the problem is the unions, the unions, the unions."
Energy and Climate Change
- Google delays decision on Missoula, other bids for high-speed Internet
Missoula was one of 1,100 communities that applied to get a big present from Google and be selected for its super-fast Internet project. For free.
- Computers That See You and Keep Watch Over You
High-resolution, low-cost cameras are proliferating, found in products like smartphones and laptop computers. The cost of storing images is dropping, and new software algorithms for mining, matching and scrutinizing the flood of visual data are progressing swiftly.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Idaho wind company proposes unusual sale
In essence, no energy would be sold -- just California credits for wind power sold in another state.
- Generating power by turning on the faucet
"Not only do they deliver water to the thirsty citizens of Boston, they make electricity.''
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- My Blackberry Is Not Working!
As technology changes, the words remain the same....
Government Technology
- Some Techy Predictions as the Bubble Keeps Inflating
TWITTER WILL BE ACQUIRED BY GOOGLE
Non-Profit News
- Code for America (CfA) - Local Coders Help Improve Government Functions
As more cities tap into this pool of talent, they're discovering the rewards and challenges of developing and deploying these fast -- and cheap -- mobile, Web-based apps.
Transportation
- Washington Foundation gives $204K to the Montana Primary Care Association for low-income children's dental care
"We know from research that the overall health and social-emotional development of children can be impacted for life if they do not receive adequate dental care," foundation director Mike Halligan said. "The goal of this program is to not only provide dental care to a critically underserved population, but also to educate parents and children of the long-term benefits of preventative dental care."
VIRUS ALERTS
- Have You Heard: Competition for rural air contract
The federal Essential Air Service contract awarded to Great Lakes Aviation two years ago to serve seven Eastern Montana cities expires April 30 and the Cheyenne, Wyo., company now has a rival bidder.
- Nasty Android Trojan found grafted to gaming apps
The most sophisticated Trojan for Android smartphones yet.
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