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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Mar 17, 2015 |
"If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play." - John Cleese
Please join the conversation - Montana Ambassadors Annual Conference (All Are Invited To Attend) March 19 -20; Helena http://www.matr.net/ev ... =5344 --- University of Montana to host Rural Medicine Hackathon this weekend - March 20-22 http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
2014 Montana Politics & 2015 Legislature
AAA Mountain West
- House panel votes down bill to protect banks from liability in lender lawsuits
The homeowners acknowledged that their complaints mostly were aimed at big, out-of-state banks that had bought the mortgages from local banks.
- Gunshot Wounds Kill Two University of Montana Students
Sergeant Stevenson with the Missoula Police Department says both deaths may be ruled suicides, but the reports have not been filled out in full yet.
- Governor Bullock Signs Bill to Enhance Workforce Training Program
Senate Bill 163 Keeps Workforce Training Dollars Circulating Within the Program
- Montana Lawmakers consider broadband expansion
The proposal would allow cities or towns, tribal governments and nonprofit corporations recognized by the Department of Commerce to apply for the grants.
The Frontier Medicine Better Health Partnership
- AAA Mountain West offers a FREE 40-Point Vehicle Inspection to members.
This offer ends May 16, 2015.
Montana Ambassadors
- A doctor discovers an important question patients should be asked
"We forget to ask patients what they want from their care. What are their goals?"
- University of Montana to host Rural Medicine Hackathon this weekend - March 20-22
The Montana hackathon will be the first to target medical issues faced by rural American communities.
Inteneo Systems
- Montana Ambassadors Conference 3/19-20 - Headframe Spirits to Sponsor Social - Last 24 hours to Register!
Join us in Helena this Thursday and Friday!
Come Home Montana
- The big data disconnect between the C-Suite and Staff (and why it matters)
A recent executive survey shows a disconnect between how CEOs assess the status and benefits of their enterprises' data initiatives and the impressions of lower-level managers:
Leadership Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Product Manager - Schedulicity
Under direction of the VP of Product, this individual will help map the course for the future development of our category-leading web and mobile scheduling solutions.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Quality Assurance Software Tester - Schedulicity
This role will work in a team environment to ensure a quality product is released to our customers.
- Montana Career Opportunity - .NET Lead Developer - Foundant Technologies
Foundant Technologies is a rapidly growing company that provides software and services to foundations and other grant-making organizations.
- Montana Career Opportunities - Kronos Consultant, Desktop Support, Python Backend Developer, SharePoint Developer/Administrator and more... - Arrow Solutions
At ASG, we are passionate about fostering successful relationships with our customers and candidates--relationships where quality, honesty and respect matter.
Montana Business
- Montana leaders of Sen. Mansfield's era stand out
I knew Mansfield, Smith and Lucas. There was a natural greatness about them. What came across from each was character. Not gamesmen or ideologues, their influence came from the respect they earned. They maintained it by using it honorably to achieve strictly positive results. Our system misses each of them.
Montana Economic Development
- Risky nature of investment in Missoula company Invizeon subject of lawsuit
Montana investor brings claim that asserts that both the Behringer Harvard REIT I and the Invizeon investments were speculative, illiquid, and that carried great risk.
- What is nature worth? Studies detail monetary value of Montana's forests and rivers
"We have a brand platform that's about spectacular unspoiled nature, which we have more of than any other area in the lower 48," he said. "It's one of the advantages we have, and advertising is absolutely driven through landscape photographs and in the paid media it's mostly about nature."
- Salary cap: Southwest Montana ahead of most of state in average wages
"The last time Montana was meaningfully closer to the U.S. average (wage) was back in the mining days," said Patrick Barkey, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at University of Montana.
- Kindkudos - Missoula entrepreneur Bryony Schwan hopes to spread positive messages via iPhone app
The app is targeted toward enhancing its users' emotional health.
- Schedulicity - Attend A Live Web Demo
Schedulicity invites you to find out how to get up-and-going quickly with a live demonstration of our scheduling solution.
- Newest Missoula brewery Imagine Nation takes aim at social issues
"If there are challenges in society, they're all of ours to share, and all of ours to maybe think about how we can address those in a constructive way to make Missoula and Montana and beyond a better place."
- Get Toasted! Gourmet Toast Realizes its Potential with Great Harvest
Gourmet toast is a new trend in the food world.
- Missoula Mercantile sale falls through
According to Dennison, the prospective buyers got to the end of a due diligence period and chose to terminate the transaction.
- Ambassador Max Baucus touts benefits of business with China
"I believe this U.S.-China relationship is by far the most important bilateral relationship in the world," Baucus said.
Startup Weekend in Montana Communities
- Montana Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund grant helps company bring tech jobs to Hamilton
Elliot and Grace Lander could have chosen any place in the country to open a second location for their thriving business that provides knowledge management solutions to high-risk industries.
TEDx Events in Montana
- Designers & Developers Needed - Startup Weekend Butte - 3/27-29
If cost is an issue, scholarships and discounts are available.
Careers
- Five leaders whose TED Talks you'll want to hear
Today kicks of the start of this year's TED conference, an annual confab of ideas-driven speakers that's been called the "Holy Grail of digital-age production" and, alternatively, a collection of "tent revival sermons."
Idaho Business
- 1st Annual U Of M Career Fair For Computer Science Jobs, 5/1, Missoula, Montana
As part of our response to local and national shortages in prospective employees with computer science skillsets, we are beginning a tradition of an annual career fair for computer science jobs.
Incubators and R&D
- Boise State, Ketchum center join forces to help entrepreneurs
The Boise State University Venture College has joined with the Ketchum Innovation Center to create Venture Sun Valley, a partnership to support entrepreneurs across the Wood River Valley.
Regional Economic Development
- Video: "The Last Mile" - The Remarkable Story of the Tech Incubator Inside San Quentin Prison
What I really think what may give us a competitive edge is our persistence and our will.
Wyoming Business
- Free Webinar - "How Communities Can Position Themselves To Attract New Ventures Without Using Traditional Incentives", 3/31,
This goes beyond the traditional activities of working with site selectors, attending tradeshows and responding to RFP's and involves hands-on engagement with decision makers from these emerging businesses.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Public access can come at a cost in Wyoming
"Early in my career, this was never much of an issue," Moats said. "But this type of thing has seemed to have gained momentum, it has increased in numbers and it continues today."
Education
- Parents flock to free online course on autism
Swinburne University has designed an online course to give families practical strategies to cope with a child with autism.
- "Our schools are being starved into failure in order to justify mass privatization."
"The formula for privatizing districts is the same all over the country: Open charters operated by private organizations. Simultaneously defund neighborhood schools, declare them "failing," and then close them. Fire certified professional teachers and replace them with temporary, unskilled TFA recruits."
- Registration open for MSU's Expanding Your Horizons program for girls
The daylong program offers creative hands-on workshops designed for girls in grades 6-8 to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Montana Education Excellence
- College Presidents Worry Their Schools Won't Survive
Just 39 percent report confidence in their school's financial sustainability over the next decade
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana State University's Renee Reijo Pera: Using stem cells for good
A scientist, Reijo Pera is searching for solutions for such human problems -- to prevent degenerative brain diseases like Parkinson's and to treat old-age incontinence -- using the extraordinary science of stem cells.
- Montana 4-H seeks families to host Japanese youth this summer
Host families should have children ages 10-16, and the desire for an in-depth cultural experience.
Community
- University of Montana Dining makes first harvest from aquaponic garden thanks to Galactic Farms
Galactic Farms recently was honored with a 2014 EcoStar award from the Montana Pollution Prevention Award Program of the Extension Service at Montana State University in Bozeman.
Funding and Building your Business
- Mayor: Bozeman needs to 'eat its vegetables' on infrastructure
A likely decline in city tax revenue in the coming years is also a concern, Krauss said.
Energy and Climate Change
- Building Collaborative Relationships Between Businesses And Nonprofits, 03/24, Bozeman
In this continuation of the conversation begun at a panel discussion in January, guest speakers from both the private and nonprofit sectors will facilitate two in-depth sessions exploring the details of accounting considerations and relationship building as it relates to effective collaboration between businesses and nonprofits.
- The Many Ways Open Offices Sap Our Productivity
The human mind is not designed to separate itself from the environment. It is designed to react to the environment. Don't add any additional stress to a difficult situation.
- SBA Launches InnovateHER Business Challenge for Innovations That Empower Women's Lives - No Events in Montana...
"This innovation challenge will both help strengthen the economy and empower women to succeed."
- 7 Critical Questions Before You Become an Entrepreneur
"I want to be an entrepreneur -- how do I start?"
Connectivity & Communications
- New film is a step toward 'artificial leaf" for energy
Inspired by a chemical process found in leaves, scientists have developed an electrically conductive film that could help pave the way for devices capable of harnessing sunlight to split water into hydrogen fuel.
- New material could capture carbon more efficiently
We're addressing the middle link - capturing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
- Wind is driving energy development In Montana
The data and projections confirm what's happening in Montana, where wind has been leading new electric energy development for the past 10 years.
- Detractors Say that Solar Roadways Must Be Stopped
The idea behind Solar Roadways is: We already use a massive portion of land for roadways; why not double task and make our roads generate energy?
- Utility titan Southern Company plays harder as industry evolves
"We need to think differently about products and services, and think about the infrastructure inside a house, a business, a factory."
- Japanese scientists transmit electric power 55 meters away wirelessly
Wireless power transmission is currently under development as the core technology to tap the vast amount of solar energy available in space and use it on Earth.
- SolarCity launches community microgrids with Tesla batteries
SolarCity, well-known for rooftop solar systems, is expanding to so-called microgrids, larger power systems that can be tapped by communities when the power grid goes down.
- Water Wars Follow the Race to Solve the Southwest's Drought
An op-ed in the New York Times provides a firsthand account of the growing concern over water in a state that has yet to set limits on its explosive growth.
Government Technology
- Live-streaming apps dominate buzz at South by Southwest
An app called Meerkat is dominating conversations.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- New Publication Now Available! Executive Summary of the 2014 Economic Profile of Gallatin and Park Counties
Now the key statistics for making informed business decisions are even more accessible than ever.
- The 'Moneyball' effect on K Street: The influence game gets scientific
Since 2010, at least four companies, ranging from start-ups to billion-dollar public corporations, have introduced new ways to sell data-based political and competitive intelligence that offers insight into the policymaking process.
- Transparency Could Save Governments Billions in Borrowing
Massachusetts has adopted this concept and is taking a cue from the way the corporate world interacts with its investors. It launched a new investor website that has 40,000 downloadable documents on things like bond authorizations, revenue reports, budgets, audits, official statements, economic reports and pension valuations.
- What's the Next Stage in the Government Open Data Movement?
Open data can drive economic development, it can drive innovation and there can be a business case. The question is no longer if open data can work, but how it will work.
- How big data could make government job-hunting less stressful
Although rich and comprehensive, government labor data can often be hard to access, bound by red tape and cloaked in jargon.
- Governor Bullock Announces Student Winners of the Governor's Mobile App Challenge
Bullock also announ ced that the DEQ - Air Quality Mobile App is currently available for the public's use at todaysair.mt.gov . This app lets Montanans monitor local air quality on their computers or mobile devices and informs them when air pollution levels may be unhealthy for outdoor activities.
- Government undermining 'right to know' laws
What we discovered reaffirmed what we have seen all too frequently in recent years: the systems created to give citizens information about their government are badly broken and getting worse all the time.
- States Use Big Data to Nab Tax Fraudsters
High-tech analytics is one way states keep up with the war on fraud. The other is accurate data.
Transportation
- Meet Jibo, The World's First Family Robot
Move over Siri
- Inside Adam Savage's Cave: Awesome Robot Spider! - Video
It's not for the arachnophobic!
- An Autonomous Car Is Going Cross-Country for the First Time
It's being done not by Google or Audi or Nissan, but by a company many people have never heard of: Delphi.
- Elon Musk teases that Tesla software update will 'end range anxiety'
The billionaire entrepreneur teased on Twitter today that the company is "about to end range anxiety" via an over-the-air software update for all Model S vehicles.
- Re-fuel Every 100 Years With the New Thorium Car
Charles Stevens, the CEO and chairman of the Connecticut-based company, claims that one gram of thorium yields the energy of 7,500 gallons of gasoline.
- 12 Studies that Make a Case for Converting Parking to Bike Lanes
CityLab has complied a thorough guide of economic impact studies of bike lanes that provides a clear, visual case for removing parking spaces.
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