|
|
|
| MATR Newsletter - Fri Apr 24, 2015 |
"I'd rather regret the things I have done than regret the things I have not done." -- Lucille Ball, actress
Montana Economic Conference And Leadership Event, 5/3-6, Great Falls, Montana http://www.matr.net/ev ... =5380 --- Shark Tank Live Pitch Competition - Win $5,000, 4/29-30, Helena, Montana http://www.matr.net/ev ... =5387
2014 Montana Politics & 2015 Legislature
Early Edge Montana
- Gov. Bullock signs Montana anti-bullying bill into law
Lawmakers have been trying to pass some form of the measure since 2003 with opponents saying it would infringe on school districts' ability to enact local rules.
- Opinion Editorial Thanking the Public for Medicaid Expansion
Never forget that when you talk - and sometimes it has to be loud and often - but if you talk loud and often enough, your elected representatives will listen.
- Preschool Access: A Matter of Equity - Early Edge Montana
"too many children enter kindergarten a year or more behind their classmates in academic and social-emotional skills. For some children, starting out school from behind can trap them in a cycle of continuous catch-up in their learning,"
- Budget negotiations key as Montana lawmakers look to wrap up session early
The 2015 Montana Legislature could adjourn as early as Friday, a week earlier than scheduled.
- Gazette opinion: Start investing in Montana 4-year-olds
Earlier this month when the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis hosted a webinar on workforce development, the focus was on early childhood development.
Montana Data Focused Business Cluster
- StoryWalks Promote Early Literacy and Help Build Brains
What's a StoryWalk? Children go for a walk and stop along the way where the pages of a book are posted so they can hear the story read aloud -- or read it themselves or to a younger sibling.
Montana Department of Commerce
- Computer Attacks Spur Congress to Act on Cybersecurity Bill Years in the Making
The House bill would provide legal liability protections for companies that share cyberthreat information with one other or with the government. But negotiators added what they see as critical privacy protections.
- Small business leaders urge Congress to rethink cybersecurity measures
"Cybersecurity has emerged as a significant problem and concern for the small-business community...sharing cybersecurity information is useful, but what small businesses really need is to know how to use that information."
Northwestern Energy
- New Montana Tourism Grant Program Improves Access to $1 Million Pool
"You don't necessarily have to run a hotel or be a commercial guide to be part of the tourism industry. We've granted museums, theaters, tribal governments and more because they're all part of a bigger picture."
- From Montana Dept. of Commerce Director Meg O’Leary: New VisitMT.com a Game Changer
Montana's tourism economy has grown significantly over the past 10 years, with 2014 figures showing that non-resident visitors spent a record $3.9 billion in Montana.
Sustainable Business Council
- How to reduce your energy usage
In an era of increased attention to energy issues and related costs, more and more people are looking for ways to manage energy consumption.
- NorthWestern Announces "Trees Together" Contest Winners
Hundreds of third graders from across our service area participated in the contest that is intended to raise awareness of the importance of trees and tree-planting safety.
Big Sky Commerce
- Happy Earth Day 4/22 + Calendar of Events
Wonderful celebrations all week.
Come Home Montana
- Office Space available in Big Sky Commerce building in Missoula
1,400sq ft newly-finished office space @ 2809 Connery Way Ste B, 2nd floor portion of the Big Sky Commerce building, in the Hellgate Meadows business area behind Home Depot.
Montana Business
- Upstart Missoula tech firm Agile Data Solutions looks to add 10 jobs
It's looking for a permanent home in downtown Missoula and funding from the Big Sky Trust Fund to help with the transition.
- The Gallatin Valley - A Different Kind of Valley for Tech Start-ups
The area attracts bright minds--increasingly more of them from the San Francisco Bay area itself.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Junior UX Designer - Schedulicity
Join our fast-paced, dynamic Product team as a UX designer here at our Bozeman-based headquarters.
- Yes, You Can Come Home to Montana Again
"Stacy and I decided that the timing was right. We were ready to move back to Montana for the lifestyle it afforded the family."
Montana Economic Development
- Missoula-based Apptail - Your Customers. Your Deals. Your App.
Connect your customers directly with the promotions you already offer using your own custom smartphone app.
- Missoula's Bernice's Bakery to offer espresso and the pastries are outstanding!
Bernice's Bakery http://www.bernicesbakerymt.com/ , located just off the Hip Strip in Missoula, finally is offering espresso after holding out for years.
- Leather and Luggage in Kalispell - Recently opened business Bespoke will specialize in high-end bags for men and women
Sitting among his tools and fabric in the open, light space, Motley admits he's more surprised about his new business than anyone else.
TEDx Events in Montana
- Economic Revitalization Keynote at Montana Economic Developers Association Conference May 4-6, 2015, Great Falls, MT
Barbara Wold is just one of the talented keynote speakers that will be presenting at the conference.
- Prospera E-Newsletter, 2nd Quarter 2015 - Farewell from Stuart Leidner
While compiling my transition notes and preparing to establish a home in Alaska, I have been reflecting on the milestones I have witnessed over the course of more than five years with Prospera.
Careers
- TEDxArlee, 5/13, Arlee, Montana
Welcome to TEDxArlee, hosted in one of the smallest TEDx locales, in Arlee, Montana, on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Idaho Business
- Why American Workers Without Much Education Are Being Hammered
The median earnings of working men aged 30 to 45 without a high school diploma fell 20 percent from 1990 to 2013 when adjusted for inflation.
Incubators and R&D
- Idaho-based Advanced Aviation Solutions (ADAVSO) provides drone service to vineyards and farmers
Empire Airlines is the only company in Idaho and the 13th nationally to obtain the permission to fly drones commercially.
Regional Business
- Scientists may have discovered cure for colorblindness
Two researchers at the University of Washington may have found the cure to colorblindness.
- University of Montana researcher Erica Woodahl brings pharmacogenetics to reservation
As interest and investment in personalized medicine increases, University of Montana Associate Professor Erica Woodahl stands in a prominent position. She's currently the only person in the continental United States doing pharmacogenetic research on an indigenous population.
- Montana State University signs agreement with Air Force for space research
By building on our relationship with MSU's educators and students, we see great opportunities for us to expand our knowledge of space science and technology," said Col. David Goldstein, director of AFRL's Space Vehicles Directorate.
South Dakota Economic Development
- There's enough magma under Yellowstone to fill the Grand Canyon
There's no sign at all that this old volcano is going to erupt anytime soon, either in a big way or a huge, show-stopper way.
- Report: National parks generate millions for Montana, Wyoming
Montana park visitors' spending supported 7,604 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $599.7 million. It also represents an 8.7 percent increase in spending and 7.2 percent rise in visitation over 2013.
University of Montana & Montana State University Tech Transfer
- South Dakota video ad campaign: At Least We're Not Mars
South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development is trying to convince people to move there with an ad campaign reasoning the state is 'better than Mars.'
Workforce Development
- Montana State University research puts new safflower varieties up for licensing
Currently, MSU has 257 licenses from technologies developed by faculty and researchers. Of those, 75 licenses are with Montana companies.
Education
- First lady: Tech industry to train, hire 90,000 veterans
Mrs. Obama said more than 850,000 veterans and military spouses had been hired by U.S. businesses in the four years since the president set the hiring goal.
MAPS : Media Arts in the Public Schools
- Do grades matter? Depends if you're asking Google or Goldman Sachs
One of the best-known--and surprising--results of Google's internal research into hiring and success is that academic track records don't really matter.
Missoula Schools Excellence
- Media Arts in the Public Schools (MAPS) Montana Student Media Program Nominated for Regional Awards
Led by MAPS mentor Christian Ackerman, Wyatt Campbell, Cameron Smith, and Caleb Hallahan have been nominated for their projects "Darby Rodeo" and "Logger Days." Both events, hosted in Darby, Mont., provided access for the MAPS students to produce, film, and edit the short pieces for submission.
Montana Education Excellence
- Missoula's Flagship Program turns to social media for funding help
The program offers homework help, community service projects, friendship and a way to stay connected in the hours between school and when a parent comes home from work.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana Superintendent Denise Juneau Recognizes Two Schools with Distinguished School Awards
This year's conference will be held in Helena April 22-23 and more than 300 district and school personnel have registered to attend.
Community
- Long-Running University of Montana Student-Produced PBS TV Program Highlights 200th Business 4/30 - Should your business be included?
Over the span of 22 years, "Business: Made in Montana" has featured hundreds of different businesses. The show profiles its 200th business in this episode, which also happens to be during UM School of Journalism's centennial celebration.
- Missoulian-University of Montana Scholarship Valued at $30,000 Available to One Fortunate Student
A special thank you to our current sponsors for their contribution to higher education in our community.
Funding and Building your Business
- $1M grant could help Billings address downtown crime, transient population
"We are the poster child for this grant. Everything they want, we have been doing for the last six months. I think we have a decent chance of getting it."
- AARP Launches Livability Index With Aging Americans in Mind
Calculate the 'Livability Score' Of A Community With Our New Online Tool
Energy and Climate Change
- Is Your Website Ready For The Google Mobile Update? Test Your Site
Early estimates predict at least 12 percent of mobile search results will be affected, making it one of Google's more significant updates in years.
- How Google's culture of transparency helps it prevent 'backstabbing'
"I remember the first time I complained about somebody in an email and my manager promptly copied that person, which forced us to quickly resolve the issue. It was a stark lesson in the importance of having direct conversations with colleagues!"
- Should Your Voice Determine Whether You Get Hired?
Voice profiling, the use of computer-based algorithms to predict job fit based on an analysis of a candidate's voice.
- How 'flexible scheduling' is keeping workers in poverty
We need a federal law requiring employers to pay for scheduled work.
- What Etsy, Patagonia and Warby Parker have in common
The third-party badge, which comes from a nonprofit called B Lab, is intended to signal to customers, future employees and investors that a company has a strong commitment to being a good corporate citizen.
- I'm launching the Rhodium Podcast on May 1st and need your help.
It's an interview format show highlighting the mindset, strategies, and tactics of online entrepreneurs, most of them with experience buying and selling sites.
- 5 Tips for Crowdfunding on Twitter to Run a Successful Campaign
Those seeking to gain funding through Twitter's widespread online organization may find the following tips helpful.
- Selling Your Business Is A Risky Affair
Buyers of small businesses have fewer resources available than buyers of larger privately held businesses. This is one of the main reasons you're likely to get less than a cash deal when it comes time to sell.
Connectivity & Communications
- Oklahoma Recognizes Role of Drilling in Earthquakes
Abandoning years of official skepticism, Oklahoma's government on Tuesday embraced a scientific consensus that earthquakes rocking the state are largely caused by the underground disposal of billions of barrels of wastewater from oil and gas wells.
- LED Bulbs Are Now Two for $5--Officially Too Cheap to Ignore
A new 60-watt equivalent LED bulb from Philips could be what finally convinces you to upgrade your lamps with a tiny dose of the future.
- Feds Move to Speed Upper Great Plains Wind Projects
The proposal would cover future wind farms in Montana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Government Technology
- How DMAchoice Can Help You Manage Junk Mail
You can request to start or stop receiving mail from individual companies within each category--or from an entire category at once.
- Google unveils Fi, new wireless service
The Internet giant described the project as an opportunity to introduce "new ideas" and "to push the boundaries of what's possible."
- Cablevision actually wants you to cut the cord
Here's the clearest sign yet of the decline of cable television: Cablevision is offering a new broadband Internet package aimed at getting users to cut the cable cord.
Non-Profit News
- More delays for Portland's paperless permitting system
Significant delays could force the already overbudget project beyond its $11.8 million price tag.
- Los Angeles Deploying Smart Streetlight Network
A project to improve lighting controls on the streets of Los Angeles has the potential to become an expansive, data-collecting network in the city.
- A $42 Million Bet on Cities and the Power of Data
There is an emerging attention toward performance in city government.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Holter art auction particularly important to organization this year
This year the fundraiser on April 24 is more important than ever
- Help "Give us Wings" Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium
Thanks to a generous donor, the first $5,000 donated will be matched. Help "give us wings" and double the impact of your gift today!
- Missoula's Opportunity Resources opens new electronic waste recycling facility
Opportunity Resources will take anything with a power cord and a circuit board or a computer chip, what McKinnon calls a "green board."
Transportation
- Computers That Know How You Feel Will Soon Be Everywhere
"It'll sit on your phone, in your car, in your fridge. It will sense your emotions and adapt seamlessly without being in your face." It will just notice everything that's happening on your face.
- Alaska Airlines to offer nonstop service from Helena to Seattle
Alaska Airlines will offer two daily nonstop, round-trip flights to Great Falls come Aug. 23 in addition to the nonstop service from Seattle to Helena.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page