BUSINESS NEWS AND FUNDING

The Broadband Divide: Rural Access Lags Far Behind Cities

The ugly nightmare of the digital age is that new information technologies will increase the advantages of urban and suburban America and deepen the disadvantages of small towns and rural America.

Two of the most unlikely places in rural America to find economic success — and community colleges are at the center of the action.

There’s an unfortunate if not unavoidable tendency for talk about rural communities to veer at times into hopelessness. State legislatures and Congress don’t seem to put rural concerns on the stove, much less on the front burner. Too many rural communities are seeing an out migration of people. And with fewer people, it’s just harder to build an economy.

Hidden Gems: The 100 .edu sites every Entrepreneur Should Read

Why not learn from the people who do learning best?

Call for Presenting Companies for Venture Capital in the Rockies 2008

Now in its 25th year, Venture Capital
in the Rockies showcases the region’s most promising companies for an audience of over 150 venture investors and service professionals from around the region and across the country.

Planning a Course of Action Is Key to Mentoring Success

Mentoring programs have become popular ways for companies to groom their next generation of leaders, particularly for employees considered "high potential."

Microsoft invests $240M in Facebook, valuing startup at $15B

Besides validating Zuckerberg’s decision to rebuff a $1 billion takeover offer from Yahoo Inc. last year, Microsoft’s money should be more than enough to pay for Facebook’s ambitious expansion plans until the privately held company goes public.

Top Economic Development Websites. How does your community stack up?

Advanced Web Page Technology covers the breakthroughs that are helping economic development professionals leverage the power of the Internet to provide enhanced business attraction services and greatly expand the marketing of a community.

IBM says it has a new way to profit from patents — and wants to patent the idea

Beyond the circularity of the concept, IBM’s application is notable because the company — the world’s top patent holder — has been campaigning to improve the quality of patent filings and reduce so-called ”business method” patents.

Planning for ‘Sustainable Retreat’

Controversial scientist James Lovelock is convinced that current conceptions of "sustainable development" are hopelessly wrongheaded. We’re facing a climate catastrophe, he believes, and only radical solutions will be up to the challenge.

America’s Greenest States. Vermont, Oregon, Washington Ranked Greenest

Sure the Western U.S., with its big skies and open spaces feels green–but when you look at broader measurements of humans’ impact on the environment, including consumption patterns, air and water quality, and waste, as well as policy, they don’t fare as well.

MATR Sponsor (view all)

Dorsey & Whitney - An International business law firm, applying a business perspective to clients' needs in Missoula, Montana and beyond.

MATR Supporters (view all)

For over 25 years, Montana World Trade Center® has served Montana as a trusted business adviser.

Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative - Collaborative program design and execution and integrated programs fostering innovation, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship and sustainable small businesses

Bozeman is a rapidly growing city with a high quality of life in part due to the easy access to the outdoors, burgeoning tech industry, and cultural experiences it offers.