MATR Newsletter - Fri Sep 4, 2015 |
"Travel. As much as you can. As far as you can. As long as you can. Life's not meant to be lived in one place."
Actress Loretta Swit, Director Jan Thompson Bring Film To The Montana Museum Of Art & Culture Sept. 10, 2015 http://www.matr.net/ev ... =5549
2014 Montana Politics & 2015 Legislature
Big Sky Economic Development
- Needy MT students out $2.6 million of state grants
"There was never a public debate or hearing or anything where legislators debated the worth of these two programs. The state budget is such a big thing with so many different items that oftentimes individual items don't get debated," McRae said.
- California equal pay bill may be toughest in nation
Supporters said the legislation, passed unanimously by the California Senate on Monday, closes loopholes that prevented enforcement of existing anti-discrimination law.
Main Street Montana Project
- Montana Career Opportunity - Director of BillingsWorks
The primary responsibility will be to implement the Council's "State of the Workforce Report" and Action Plan, which outlines the current workforce assets as well as a strategic plan.
- Big Sky Business Healthcare Forum, 9/9, Billings, Montana
Please join us for this exciting and innovative business healthcare forum: Making your Company Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Featuring local business owners talking about how business and healthcare intersect every day and how to make that synergy work for you.
- Subcontracting Opportunities for Piegan Port of Entry project
This is a $40-$50 million dollar project in Montana. So far, GSA only has 8 business owners signed up. A lot of work for subcontractors……
Montana Department of Commerce
- Attend the Workforce Symposium October 11-12, 2015 at MSU Bozeman - Register Now - Space is Limited
Struggling to train skilled workers? Unsure how to manage the millenial workforce? Experiencing employee recruitment and retention difficulties?
Great Falls Development Authority
- Governor Bullock and Director O'Leary Announce Trade Mission to Taiwan, South Korea
"With an increasingly connected global economy, I am committed to enhancing the competitiveness of Montana businesses in the international marketplace," said Bullock.
Come Home Montana
- 2015 SBDC Needs Assessment Survey Help us, help you to be more productive and profitable.
Help GFDA and the SBDC identify areas of focus for 2016!
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Software Engineer in Test - Pulsara
You'll be working in a fun and energetic office environment with flexible hours, ergonomic workstations, the best tools we can provide for you, with a great team.
- Montana Career Opportunities - Sales - Altoserv
We are looking for highly motivated sales people, preferably with existing books of contact, to bring Altoserv into membership organizations, insurance brokers, agencies and carriers on a commission only basis.
- Montana Career Opportunities - Various - Northwestern Energy
We encourage employees to find opportunities to use their leadership skills to contribute to and strengthen the organization.
- Montana industry executives, officials use strategies to retain, lure skilled workers
"From an income standpoint, (Montana) could be much better. We've always been a low-income state and I suspect we always will be, but I do think it will be getting better. We have an attractive lifestyle and and that's important to families, so that somewhat offsets the fact that you could probably make more money in some fields in other states." University of Montana, Career Services director and career counselor Laurie Fisher
- Montana Career Opportunity - Mortgage Lender - Montana CDC
Montana CDC is seeking an experienced mortgage lender familiar with government guarantee programs in Bozeman.
- Montana Career Opportunities - Engagement Manager / Solutions Consultant - commonFont (Bozeman, MT)
At commonFont, we serve the world's leading companies by helping them connect with and learn from their customers.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Manufacturing Partnership Director Business Development Leader - Great Falls Development Authority
Help us expand and diversify our manufacturing industries through market research, cold-calling, networking, building relationships, business coaching, and supporting manufacturing entrepreneurs, business and multi-national corporations.
Montana Business
- UM Blackstone LaunchPad Director Paul Gladen Named CEO of the Montana Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs
MADE members voted last week to expand its mission from focusing on School of Business Administration students to encompass all UM students and entrepreneurial talent across the state.
Montana Economic Development
- MSU's Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) opens office in Billings to serve eastern Montana
Stewart will cover most of eastern Montana from Livingston to Malta and all points east, assisting manufacturers with issues related to growth, innovation, efficiency, compliance and management.
- Mamalode - Montana's Gift to Mothers Everywhere
Mamalode has been called "America's BEST parenting magazine"
- Bozeman's Wisetail Lands Top Honor from Leading Training Industry Publication
"We proudly power great places to work across the country happily from our headquarters in Montana. We hope this distinction sends a message far and wide that Montana is a great place for world-class tech innovation."
- Hobby turned business: Big Sky UAV commercial drone company going to work in Helena
With only 10 companies in Montana that can legally operate commercial drones, Heide and Petersen know they're on the leading edge of an industry and say they are doing everything possible to ensure the operation is above board.
- Missoula's GatherBoard in Final 40 of the Kauffman Foundation's One in a Million Contest
One in a Million began on July 1, 2015 when entrepreneurs who had presented at a 1 Million Cups (1MC) community were invited to submit applications to compete for the chance to win $10,000.
- Missoula's economy would be much different without the presence of University of Montana
"Having the university makes Missoula a center of education, with areas of economic specialization in education that translate into specialization and growth in other sectors, like health care, professional and technical services, financial services, and trade." Larry Swanson, an economist and director of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
- A new direction for fisheries: Proposed changes pose philosophical questions about angling in Montana
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks updates the state's fishing regulations every four years. FWP has released proposed changes for the 2016-19 cycle. The changes have some anglers concerned and pose philosophical questions about the future of trout fishing in Montana.
TEDx Events in Montana
- MEDA Fall Conference, Call to Action, MEDA Online News - Leadership Dedicated to Building Montana's Economy
There is a lot going on!
- Butte-Silver Bow commissioners to businesses: We want to hear from you
Commissioner Dave Palmer could not recall commissioners ever proactively seeking this kind of feedback from businesses during his 19 years on council.
Careers
- Today's TED Talk Elizabeth Nyamayaro: An invitation to men who want a better world for women
She invites us all to join in as allies in our shared humanity.
- Today's TED Talk Jamie Bartlett: How the mysterious dark net is going mainstream
There's a parallel Internet you may not have run across yet -- accessed by a special browser and home to a freewheeling collection of sites for everything from anonymous activism to illicit activities.
Rural Communities
- 8 Mental Habits the Most Successful People Learn to Break
Sometimes, success comes not from what you learn to do but what you learn to stop doing.
Government
- Rural Economic Development - Less than 1% of philanthropy funding in all of America goes to Indian Country. Philanthropy has a responsibility to take a bigger leadership role in investing in these places.
We're not saying that in a complaining way, but in a partnership way.
Idaho Business
- Locked Out: Montana's Missouri River Breaks
If transferred to the state of Montana, these lands could be sold and closed forever to the average American sportsman.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- CenturyLink to bring broadband to 12,000 rural households in Idaho
High-speed Internet access brings many benefits to rural communities, including economic development and better access to education and healthcare services such as distance learning and telemedicine.
- Federal labor officials tell Idaho Governor Otter to enforce home-care wage rule
The U.S. Department of Labor is urging Gov. Butch Otter to act on a new rule that requires home-care employers to pay most home-care workers minimum wage and overtime.
Oregon Economic Development
- Nearly half of hotel rooms in North Dakota oil capital sit empty
Williston has been ranked the fastest-growing small community in the United States for the past three years and still has a 1.8 percent unemployment rate, according to the latest state data.
Other Economies
- Oregon Launches Pilot Program to Improve Economic Development Collaboration Between Regions
The state of Oregon and four of Oregon's largest private economic development organizations have signed a landmark agreement to improve business development coordination and align efforts to grow Oregon's economy. "To compete, Oregon needs a team approach to economic development that engages both the private and public sectors," said Sean Robbins, director of Business Oregon, the state's economic development agency. "This partnership extends our business development reach and leverages taxpayers' dollars further. Oregonians will be better off because of it."
Regional Business
- Kentucky Unveils Plan to Implement Broadband Statewide
The three-year plan will bring affordable statewide broadband service and give the state a competitive edge in education, health care and industry.
Regional Economic Development
- Haggen sues Albertsons for $1 billion over big grocery deal
Haggen is suing Albertsons for $1 billion, alleging the grocery giant hoodwinked the small Bellingham supermarket chain into buying dozens of Western U.S. stores to facilitate a merger with Safeway and then sabotaged Haggen's entry into the new markets.
American Prairie Reserve
- The Growing Link Between Energy Efficiency and Economic Development
It makes abundant sense for any city -- large or small -- to focus a significant part of its economic-development efforts on energy management for the buildings that are home to its businesses and industries. More and more, cities around the globe are using this strategy as they work to attract and retain valued businesses and the jobs and tax revenue they bring.
Education
- The Journey Begins - 200 Miles to Go Across the American Prairie in Montana
At the end, we think you'll be motivated to start planning your next adventure to the Reserve this fall and in 2016. And more than that, we hope you'll continue to build and shape this vision with us.
Missoula Children's Theatre
- Business expert is next U. of Iowa president
Nationally, the pick could spark debate over whether business experience alone is enough to lead a major public research university.
Missoula Schools Excellence
- September and Sweeney at MCT
J K Simmons says everyone should donate to MCT.
Montana Education Excellence
- Please Vote for Missoula's School Bonds, Invest In Our Future
I ask you to vote "yes" for both of the Missoula County Public Schools bonds. Consider it an investment in our kids, our community and our future. It's the responsible thing to do - for our students and our community.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana State University's Jabs Hall wins regional recognition as best higher education/research project
"The building is designed to shape our behavior, and we know students and faculty will become more collaborative, more creative and more innovative because of it."
- Video: Big Ideas. Bold Adventures. Montana State University
- Governor Bullock Announces $1 Million Grant to Support College and Career Readiness Programs in Montana Schools.
"Through this grant, we'll expand opportunities for veterans, Native Americans, and adult students to gain valuable career skills, workforce experience and college credit. I'm pleased that we'll be able to build on our state's efforts to find innovative ways to support student success."
- University of Montana School of Business Administration keeps up on workplace trends - QuestMT - A Forum On Marketing Analytics September 17-18th
"We are always continuously engaged in trying to figure out what the trends are. Is it sticky enough to do something about? Or is it going to be gone in three weeks?" Herron said, noting curriculum changes can be a lengthy process.
Community
- Missoula's Big Sky Health Science Academy gets $110K from St. Patrick Hospital
For freshmen, that course is about the principles of biomedical science, sophomores learn about human body systems, juniors about medical interventions and students finish with a course in biomedical innovation during their senior year.
Funding and Building your Business
- A Wonderfully Clear Explanation of How Road Diets Work
Urban planner and Walkable City author Jeff Speck, in collaboration with graphic artist Spencer Boomhower, takes us on a tour of four types of street diets in a deliciously clear new video series. Here's a taste.
- How Startups Are Transforming the Smart City Movement
Smart city technology is luring entrepreneurs hoping to embed themselves in an industry estimated to grow to $27.5 billion by 2023.
- How is the Nuclear Family Changing in Montana
Where the Presence of Large Families is Changing the Most in Montana
Energy and Climate Change
- Golin encourages young hires to travel before starting work - The Unternship
Our selected Untern will conjure up their own unique three-month adventure anywhere in the U.S., and return to a full-time position at Golin, bringing fresh perspective and bold, creative thinking to our agency.
- In Silicon Valley, Failing Is Succeeding
There is a big point that's missing from most of the conversations about so-called unicorns--tech startups valued at more than $1 billion. The only way for the industry to breed a handful of unicorns is to fail a whole helluva lot.
- Bill Clinton on How Entrepreneurs Can Transform the Country
The 42nd president exclusively shares with Inc. his vision for 21st century business leaders.
Connectivity & Communications
- Stanford's aluminum battery fully charges in just one minute
Aluminum batteries are safer than conventional lithium-ion batteries used in millions of laptops and cell phones today
Government Technology
- A new app that lets users friends 'virtually walk them home at night' is exploding in popularity
The Companion app, created by five students from the University of Michigan, enables users to request a friend or family member to keep them company virtually and track their journey home via GPS on an online map.
Non-Profit News
- What Do the Best Government Websites of 2015 Have in Common?
Aside from recognizing the best websites in government, the Center for Digital Government's annual Best of the Web awards also provide the world a benchmark of how well state and local governments in the U.S. are doing their job.
- FL, KY, TX, Others Use Data to Improve Postsecondary Graduates' Chances of Finding, Keeping Well-Paying Jobs
As the individual with the platform and budget authority to guide public education and economic development at the state level, the governor plays a central role in ensuring that public educational institutions provide students with the knowledge and abilities required for a successful life and career.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Concert marks 20th anniversary of Rialto Theatre as a nonprofit
The nonprofit Rialto Community Theatre in Deer Lodge is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its purchase of the historic building with a concert by western Montana's own Bop-A-Dips on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Transportation
- Montana State University acquires papers of renowned author Ivan Doig
"The Doig collection will continue to establish Montana State University not only as a great school in agriculture and STEM, but also as a land-grant university fully committed to the humanities."
- Google's Driverless Cars Run Into Problem: Cars With Drivers
Google, a leader in efforts to create driverless cars, has run into an odd safety conundrum: Its cars don't make enough mistakes.
- Aging Boomer Suburbanites: The Coming Transit Disaster
The suburbs are not conducive to the aging baby boomers that populate them. How do we prepare?
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page