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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Sep 27, 2013 |
"Leap...and a net will appear." Robin Williams
Forget Foreign Languages and Music. Teach Our Kids to Code http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Department of Commerce
Montana Economic Development Summit - 9-16/17, Butte, Montana
- Free Data User Workshops - The Census & Economic Information Center Montana DoC, 11/5-6, - Helena, Montana
The Census & Economic Information Center (CEIC) at the Montana Department of Commerce is hosting a Day & 1/2 FREE Data User's Conference.
- Assistance program to help Montana businesses sell products overseas is in jeopardy.
Unless Congress acts soon, most small Montana businesses will be on their own if they want to sell their products overseas. The Montana International Marketing Assistance Program is a reimbursement grant created with funds from the Small Business Administration and designed to make entering a foreign market easier and more affordable for small companies. However, the three-year pilot program is set to end Sept. 30 unless Congress renews the funding as part of the federal budget. "It's been wildly successful," says Lonie Stimac of the Montana Department of Commerce. "In the first year we saw a return on investment of 4,100 percent."
Northwestern Energy
- How Tesla Motors Builds One of the World's Safest Cars [Video]
So how has the electric automaker reduced costs and improved safety?
- Economic Summit in Butte: Superb conference was positive, informative
I can't imagine a more powerful legacy than this summit: launching Montana into the knowledge economy. Imagine what we could do if politics were more about this kind of leadership and vision. Thank you for using your power of convening in this way for Montana.
- Bozeman city leaders implement ideas from Montana Jobs Summit
"We heard that Aptus, which is a California-based computer software company, cloud computing company is going to to have a presence in Bozeman and is creating 77 new tech jobs." Bozeman Economic Development Director Brit Fontenot
- 3,200 attendees at Summit pays off big time for motels, restaurants, bars, shops
“The summit was remarkable,” said Smitham. “It was a fantastic opportunity for Butte to show its best face to the national and international community. Ray Rogers (coordinator) and the Baucus staff really put on a good show.”
- How many people still have online marketing questions after the #MTJobsSummit?
Google's Get Your Business Online program is designed to make it fast, easy and free for any business to get online. Sign up to get an easy-to-build professional website, a customized domain name, and web hosting - all free for one year.
- Women in the Workforce
It started when Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg stormed the auditorium at Montana Tech of the University of Montana, drawing raucous applause before sending a ringing endorsement to Sarah Calhoun, founder and owner of Red Ants Pants, a Montana company that creates work wear for women.
Inteneo Systems
- NorthWestern Energy to buy PPL Montana's 11 hydropower dams
NorthWestern CEO Bob Rowe called the purchase a "unique opportunity to acquire hydroelectric facilities dedicated to serving our Montana customers for generations to come."
Come Home Montana
- 64% Of Organizations Have Invested In Or Plan To Invest In Big Data Tech, But Only 8% Have Started Using It, Says Gartner
Every vertical industry surveyed by Gartner had companies that are planning to or have already invested in big data solutions.
- Big data Offer Retailers The Chance To Stay Ahead Of Their Competitors
Retailers that implement a big data strategy can achieve a 60% increase in their margin as well as boost employee productivity by 1%, meaning there should be no reason not to move forward with big data.
- The 4 Key Performance Indicators Every Manager Has To Use
This is a great exercise you can do in your own company or with your own team and is one that sits in stark contrast to the way KPIs are usually developed: Brainstorming what we could possibly measure and ending up in a position where we measure everything that walks and moves and nothing that matters!
Montana Business
- Request for Quote to create an impact study that will cover five counties region in North Central Montana, including Cascade, Glacier, Pondera, Teton and Toole.
Contingent upon this award, Sweetgrass Development is soliciting qualifications for services from interested firms to assist in the development, supervision and completion of the project in compliance with all applicable requirements under the EDA and the State of Montana Department of Commerce guidelines.
- Montana Career Opportunities - GIS Database Engineer, Customer Service Support Technician - HuntingGPS Maps
We are a company looking to expand our workforce so we may continue pushing forward with new ideas, while continuing to produce quality maps available for purchase.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Web Development - Univision Computers
WordPress, MySQL, PHP and JavaScript experience desirable.
Montana Economic Development
- Great Falls tailgate table maker to be on 'Shark Tank' - The Tailgater
Great Falls businessman Thor Swensson says his collapsible Tailergater product is taking off because of three developments helping spur rapid sales growth that could make it hard to keep making it locally.
- MMEC, Montana Manufacturing Council announce partnership
"We are pleased to expand our relationship with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center," said Webb Brown, president and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce and MMC. "With their feet on the ground working with companies and our pulse on the economic and policy environment, it's a natural fit."
- Montanans can now have wine delivered to them from other states
HB 402 for the first time also allows Montana wineries to ship to Montana consumers.
- Montana--and John Morrison--brace for Obamacare rollout
"There's a lot of uncharted territory out there for the health co-ops and for, frankly, everybody else," says John Morrison, president of the National Alliance of State Health CO-OPs.
Careers
- Governor Bullock Announces Application Period for Montana Indian Equity Fund Grant
"Native - owned businesses and our tribal communities play a crucial role in the strength and vitality of Main Streets throughout Montana," Bulloc k said. "This grant helps to support the entrepreneurial activity that is taking place in Native - owned businesses across Montana.
- Governor Steve Bullock Video - Montana is the "Best Place" for you and your business
The new video for The Governor's Office of Economic Development just seen in Seattle at the Ambassador's meeting there.
Government
- Older Workers Should Think Young
It Can Help Deal With Young Co-Workers and Younger Bosses
- What The World's Top Leaders Look For When They Hire
In the latest series of original posts, "How I Hire," about 80 leaders in business, politics, real estate, travel, technology, and media shared their thoughts on the recruiting and staffing process.
- "The New Frontier Of Public Relations: Career Overview, Insights, And Advice From Microsoft PR Pro", 10/3, U Of M
UM alumnus Kari Dilloo* has helped a number of UM grads find careers in Seattle. Come hear one of UM's best!
Incubators and R&D
- State surplus for Montana up for 2013 fiscal year
State government's general fund surplus for the fiscal year that ended June 30 was nearly 24 percent, or $102.4 million, more than estimated, a report from the Legislative Fiscal Division released Thursday showed.
Other Economies
- University of Idaho Scientist Makes Plastic from Cow Manure
Coats and his research group at the university have developed a way to generate a significant economic return from the dairy industry's waste stream by converting manure into a biodegradable plastic.
- Montana's 2 largest universities to join research consortium with $20M grant
"You've got seed money in certain projects, and mentoring from others who have already done translational research. Hopefully these will become new drugs. Spinoff start-up companies are always a possibility." Scott Whittenburg, vice president for research and creative scholarship at UM
Regional Economic Development
- Raleigh, N.C.: Driving Economic Growth through Technology
It is more important than ever that our state and local governments invest in technology as it is the very thing that will drive economic growth.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- The Difficulties of Entrepreneurship Without Rural Broadband
Rural Americans want leaders who help middle-class communities to plan and prosper over the long-term - not opportunists who reap the rewards for themselves, leaving nothing for the people who do the sowing.
Education
- Education: Invest in early education for Montana's children and their future
Nobel-prize winning economist James Heckman has found that every dollar invested in high-quality early childhood programs for disadvantaged children returns 7 percent to 10 percent per child, per year through better outcomes in education, health, reduced social spending and lifelong productivity. Early childhood programs also help children cultivate the cognitive and character skills needed to thrive in the 21st century.
- Google Science Fair winners: Flashlights without batteries, 'bat signals,' non-viral viruses
And all, of course, from teenagers.
- STEM Education in Germany
STEM/MINT education is important for German and U.S. economic prosperity.
- School safety issues in rural Montana to be discussed during Sept. 29 'Montana Ag Live'
Helping school districts across Montana prepare for and respond to school tragedies
- Forget Foreign Languages and Music. Teach Our Kids to Code
How young is too young to begin coding?
- "Elevate Montana" - Summit speaker: Kids' adverse experiences connected to problems later in life
"To me, the ACE study is an early warning system for Montana," Garrison said, noting a national study by Kids Count placed Montana last in child health and 28th among states in overall well being.
Missoula Schools Excellence
- Idaho one of 7 states slashing education spending
Of the seven states with at least a 15% decline in school funding between fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2014, five actually further limited their revenue by cutting income taxes.
- For Low-Income Students Considering College, a Nudge to Aim High
Low-income teenagers who excel in high school but fail to graduate from college are "an untapped resource."
- Test scores flat, raising concerns about students' readiness
"As a nation, we must set ambitious goals and take strong action to address this consistent problem."
Montana Education Excellence
- Missoula school leaders prepare for increasing student population
"Our community is growing and our neighborhoods are changing and we need to respond to that," says project leader Geoff Badenoch. "If we don't respond to that we're not meeting our responsibilities to our children and education."
Community
- MSU announces finalists, public forums for vice president for research position
"Our new vice president will assume a critical leadership role at Montana State University," Potvin said. "MSU has a strong record of accomplishment in the areas of research, creativity and technology transfer, and we look forward to selecting a new vice president who will help us continue to distinguish the university in these areas."
- University of Montana Named to Best Buy College List - Thrive!
UM was the only Montana university to make the list
- Jim Messina to Speak to University of Montana Entrepreneurship Club on Oct. 4
The public is invited to attend the Q&A session beginning at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 4, in the UM School of Music Recital Hall. For more information, contact [email protected].
- $500K grant will boost bandwidth for research at University of Montana
"Research will drive you above 1 gigabit pretty fast," said Matt Riley, chief information officer for Internet technology at UM. "We're specifically setting up for 10 gigabits. That becomes a profile most universities with a lot of research can support, and it's what the grant supports at UM."
- New student enrollment up at UM; overall numbers down
UM President Royce Engstrom said the school has launched a series of efforts to improve outreach to new students and their parents, and on some levels, the efforts are already paying off.
- Imagine what Montana's two-year colleges can do with $25 million.
Even before last week's announcement that Montana's two-year colleges will share a new $25 million grant, it was clear that the state's two-year education institutions are in the middle of an unprecedented reinvigoration.
- Baucus, Tester Secure Senate Support for Rural Schools, Jobs
Senators Pass Plan to Renew Support for Montana's Forest Counties
- University of Montana Named a Top-50 College for Advancing Women in STEM Careers
"This listing in the top 50 colleges nationwide is a testament to the high quality of our science, mathematics and technology programs at UM, and it is extra special since we do not have undergraduate engineering programs, which are a major factor for many of the other universities on the list," said UM Provost Perry Brown. "We are proud of the many female students who have chosen to pursue degrees in the STEM fields, and to do it in the challenging programs we have at UM."
Funding and Building your Business
- Lockwood residents voice concerns, desires in community meetings
"This is just a beginning."
- Analysis: Who's Moving to Your State?
Select your state to view demographic estimates for those relocating to it in 2012. Figures refer to combined totals for those moving domestically and abroad unless otherwise indicated.
Energy and Climate Change
- Why Most Startups Don't 'Get' Press
No matter how many PR agencies or freelance consultants say otherwise, a small startup can pull off a solid media relations strategy without shelling out for help.
- Five great reasons to hire veterans
There are at least five good reasons to hire veterans, says Army veteran and program recruitment director Rob Polston at Intel Corporation, though those reasons may not be apparent on the first try.
- Should You Join An Accelerator?
"Whoever is running the accelerator, believing a lot in them is really important because, at the end of the day, it's about the people that are the resources."
- Basics for Entrepreneurs Before the Obamacare Exchanges Open
What should small business owners and the self-employed know before the exchanges open on Oct. 1?
- $1.3 Million in New Funds Available for Montana Small Business Loans
Montana small businesses now have access to an additional $1.3 million in loan funds thanks to a recent award from the U.S. Department of Treasury to the Montana CDC.
- Shortcuts To Entrepreneur Funding Are Usually Scams
A list of ten of the most common ways entrepreneurs can be victimized by ignorance or greed.
- The Most Inspirational Woman in Tech
Ramona Pierson got run over, went into a coma, and woke up blind. Now she's launching one of the most original tech companies in years. Plus, watch an interview in which she discusses her story.
Connectivity & Communications
- Fight Over Energy Finds a New Front in a Corner of Idaho
Tribal leaders, in defending their actions, linked their protest of the shipments, known as megaload transports, to the fate of indigenous people everywhere, to climate change and -- in terms that echo an Occupy Wall Street manifesto -- to questions of economic power and powerlessness.
- Utilities Try to Learn From Smart Meters
"As utilities get their arms around the data, the implications for consumers could be significant," she says. The data is already speeding up repair processes, alerting customers to abnormal electricity use, and tipping off utilities to electricity theft.
- U of M climate scientist Dr. Steve Running says new UN report should, but likely won't, spur Congress to act on climate change
"Basically the whole world is waiting for the U.S. [to act] right now."
Government Technology
- White House Launches 3 Tools to Quicken Broadband Deployment
The White House launched three new tools to help accelerate broadband infrastructure deployment across the nation, specifically on federally owned land.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- All NYC Data to be Open by 2018
"This data reflects the day-to-day, on-the-ground efforts of the city of New York to serve New Yorkers."
- Twitter Launches Alert System for Emergencies
The system, called Twitter Alerts, will deliver tweets marked as an alert by approved organizations through the traditional timeline feed and via SMS to a user's cellphone.
- City laws get interactive at San Francisco Decoded
The idea is that with easier access to the information, regular folks will build their own tools and analysis.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Musings on the road to Sidney, Montana
It helps that I know a lot more of the history of the area now. As it got flatter, I could see for miles and began to wonder why I'd thought it incredible that cowboys could gather up the cattle on ranges that covered tens of thousands of acres. Piece of cake, I thought.
- The 8 Hottest Teenage Startup Founders In The World Right Now
Considering how difficult it is to succeed with the advantages of a college degree and the connections made in school, it's even more impressive that teenagers manage to successfully start companies that bring in thousands of users and real revenue.
- One Day, Google Will Deliver the Stuff You Want Before You Ask
As personal digital assistant apps such as Google Now become widespread, so does the idea of algorithms that can not only meet but anticipate our needs
- MIT Whizzes Create an Amazing New 3-D Printing Technique
The project is called Hyperform and the process transforms CAD models into a series of linear paths that are populated with a chain of virtual rings.
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