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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Oct 23, 2015 |
Don't grow up. It's a trap.
"Defining A 21st Century Education For A Vibrant Democracy" U.S. Secretary Of Labor Thomas Perez , 10/26-27, Missoula http://www.matr.net/ev ... =5661 -- All Are Invited - Northwest Montana Ambassadors Event, 10/30, Kalispell, Montana http://www.matr.net/ev ... =5656
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Montana Department of Commerce
- Kalispell Chamber of Commerce emphasizes local shopping as holidays near
For more information on Small Business Saturday, you can visit the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce.
iConnect Montana
- The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Program (BSTF) provides state funds to promote long-term stable economic growth in Montana with financial assistance in the following two categories: Economic Development Job Creation Projects and Planning Proje
Applications for both categories are accepted on an open-cycle basis until all available funds are committed to approved projects. Applications must be submitted (postmarked if using mail) by November 4, 2015 to be considered at the fall Grant and Loan Review Committee meeting.
- Governor Bullock to Lead Business and Education Delegation to Taiwan and South Korea Oct. 23 - 30
"Marketing and selling Montana products and services abroad is big business. In 2014 alone, exports from Montana brought in over $1.5 billion to the state's economy, and that number does not even include tourism as an export," said Montana Department of Commerce Director Meg O'Leary.
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- iConnect Montana can provide your data center needs.
Montana's "fiber hotels" are in Billings, Helena, Missoula and Bozeman as well as an additional 47,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art, "tier 3" grade data center in Billings
Energy and Climate Change
- Video: The Last Great Place - Montana's Clark Fork Watershed
Join us as we embark on a week long, self-guided fly fishing trip to explore the unbelievably beautiful, natural landscapes that characterize the headwaters of the immense Clark Fork watershed, and document the sights and sounds of the abundance of wildlife that inhabits this ever-shrinking expanse of western wilderness - an area that many have come to call, The Last Great Place.
Montana Business
- Will Smart Meters Transform Our Power Consumption?
All manner of home appliances and devices will communicate with each other, and the open enabling platform takes the idea outside the home.
- Study finds the warmer it gets, the more world economy hurts
With each upward degree, global warming will singe the economies of three-quarters of the world's nations and widen the north-south gap between rich and poor countries, according to a new economic and science study.
- California solar advocates fight proposed utility changes
The proposals would drive up solar costs for new customers, although existing customers would be grandfathered into existing rates for 20 years.
- The Electric Energy Storage Industry Feels Like Solar Did Nine Years Ago
I heard multiple times during the event was that the storage industry is in the nascent stages and ready to break out shortly. Many said that it feels much like the solar industry did ten years ago.
- See how much the world has physically changed since you were born. Hint: It's more than you realize.
Let's take a look at how the world has changed since you were born -- like physically changed, in ways beyond strip malls and landfills.
- California's new emissions law enlists utilities to help wean drivers off gasoline.
"The charging station ought to be part of our grid infrastructure."
MSU Leadership Institute & UM Global Leadership Initiative
- Stand Modern: Poll respondents stand for a growing trend
25 percent (79 voters) said workers at standing desks should get a discount on their health insurance premiums.
- MMEC - Registration open for new program to help Montana companies develop export plan
ExporTech™ is coming to Montana this November. This nationally recognized progam has been proven to help small- and medium-sized manufacturers boost their exports.
- Retail guru offers predictions, advice for Helena's downtown
The Business Improvement District and the city of Helena are working on a master plan for the downtown through an effort led by the WGM Group of Missoula, which also has an office in Helena.
- Missoula County unemployment drops to 3 percent; report praises Montana's innovation
On the same day state officials announced that Montana's unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in September, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation ranked Montana sixth in the nation for innovation and entrepreneurship and 10th for its business climate.
- Mining permit should guarantee no risk for Montana's fabled Smith River
Debate over this mine proposal is not whether mining is important. It is. However, there are appropriate locations for mines, and Montana's Smith River country is not one of them. When the risks are this considerable, no one should gamble with our future. Mines are ephemeral. The Smith River must endure forever.
- Columbia Falls-based SmartLam creates eco-friendly product - "ply-wood on steroids"
SmartLam in Columbia Falls is one of the first manufacturers of cross laminated timber in the country.
Careers
- The MSU Leadership Institute hosts "because I Said I Would" Founder Alex Sheen, 11/16, Bozeman, Montana
Join us for a terrific opportunity to listen to an impassioned conversation with a modern engine of social change.
Rural Communities
- How to act less stupid, according to psychologists
Three scenarios, characterized by specific types of behavior, that make people cringe or laugh or put their hands to their forehead.
- The Power of a Great Professor-Mentor
If you're headed into a two or four year institution, make sure your central professor will have what it takes to be a great mentor.
- A top recruiter on what anyone can see after 30 seconds with your resume
Recruiters move quickly. I'm trying to remove the barrier for people who might struggle with getting their resume properly acknowledged.
- The Gig Economy Can Actually Be Great for Women
For professional women, the on-demand economy is already a godsend.
Idaho Business
- Tester highlights dire need to strengthen rural Montana
"Our broadband is not where it needs to be," Tester said. "We have a lot of folks being left out of the 21st century economy in rural America and broadband access gives them the ability to reach additional customers in urban areas."
Other Economies
- Record Micron donation of $25 million could help make Boise State a 'top-tier' materials science center
"BSU has a fantastic program in already," Mark Durcan, Micron Technology CEO and board member, told the Idaho Statesman. "Having a world-class facility to support them, I think, will make a difference in terms of really allowing them to up their game. We just think it is a great place to invest."
- Idaho's Treasure Valley business leaders seek more effective government
Perhaps the closest thing to a common thread among respondents is skepticism of government's effectiveness.
Regional Business
- Did the S.F. buyer who scooped up a dilapidated shack for 408K get a deal?
The "home" is actually an earthquake shack. These tiny homes were built after the 1906 earthquake to house people who lost their residences.
Education
- How $1 Billion Could Help This Startup Destroy the Country's Biggest Banks
SoFi is using the new money to lower its interest rates and expand its products -- all in the hopes of fully replacing the incumbents that still control much of this country's financial system.
Community
- Now You Can Get an MIT Degree for Basically Nothing
The university just announced that it will enable students to take a semester's worth of classes (five in total) in the school's master's program in supply chain management for free.
- TED Talks - The love (and need for) lifelong learning
Learning doesn't end when you throw your graduation cap in the air. These talks celebrate education beyond the classroom.
Funding and Building your Business
- Bond fatigue threatens to shortchange Missoula
Maybe there's a better way to do this. Missoula has expanded a lot in the last two decades, and our spending has expanded with it. Perhaps we should centralize the decision-making process along with the bill.
GIS Technology
- The #1 Sales Mistake Small Business Owners Make
While your customers might like you or like your offer, they won't buy your stuff unless they believe that it will change their world in a way that they want it changed.
- Yet Another Reason Women on Boards Are Awesome
Companies with diverse boards not only make more money but benefit in another way as well.
- The Key to Strong Social Media? Hire a Chicken
The stunt that's yielded an immediate sales spike for its company.
- Why The Annual Performance Review Is Going Extinct
This summer, GE announced it was abolishing its "rank and yank" system, which assigns employees a performance score relative to their peers and results in the lowest percentile getting fired.
- Kauffman Foundation - Are You Chasing the Wrong Measure of Success?
Investor Bill Reichert illustrates why creating a a simple dashboard will help you assess whether you're actually on track to hit your milestones ahead.
- How to Predict if a New Business Idea is Any Good
Five VC firms rejected the nascent company's pitch outright, and another two didn't even bother to reply. "They didn't know it would turn out to be a multibillion dollar industry."
- 6 Simple Tricks to Avoid Late-Paying Customers
Start preventing delinquent accounts today by following these six simple tricks that will make sure you get paid.
- Fetzer Vineyards becomes largest California winery to be certified as B Corporation
Beyond being graded on its environmental commitment, a company also receives marks on how it treats its workers; its relationship with its community; and its business governance structure.
- Nestlé nestles down to HR analytics
Analytics is helping food giant Nestlé uncover the secrets behind high staffing attrition rates.
- New charitable zeal grips tech billionaires
HBO's hit sitcom Silicon Valley aside, the Valley is increasingly putting its money where its heart is.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Montana GIS Web Map Service changes
ArcGIS Server map services currently offered by the State of Montana at http://gisservice.mt.gov/arcgis will not be available after November 2, 2015.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Filmmakers wanted! $51,000 to be awarded for winners of three video contests.
This week, The Audience Awards opened submissions for three video contests for Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton. Filmmakers from around the world are invited to create a one-minute or under video for the three contests.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Breaking news: Michael J Fox arrested for insider sports betting on DraftKings
Fox aroused suspicion after achieving a statistically-impossible, perfect record on the site under the username NoChicken.
Transportation
- This brilliant new invention turns dirt into bulletproof, fireproof bricks - help Kickstart "The Liberator"
The Liberator is a large compressed earth brick press that makes it possible for almost anyone create building materials wherever they are needed.
- Epic slide deck from former Yahoo board member lays out the future of tech and media
On Tuesday, top business-strategist Michael Wolf gave a massive presentation on the future of tech and media in 2016 at The Wall Street Journal's conference.
- This Mug Keeps Your Coffee a Constant Temperature for Hours
A coffee mug is great proving ground for thermally intelligent dishware, but Alexander's mission with Ember is more kitchen-centric.
- Feds May Drop 'Highway-Inspired' Rules for Streets
Applying highway design standards to city streets has been a disaster for urban neighborhoods.
- The Benefits of Free Transit for College Students
Beyond the improved town-and-gown connectivity, both cities and universities benefit from these programs in myriad ways.
- Billings Chamber boss: Airport myths 'causing us a lot of turmoil'
Service to American Airlines' Dallas home base would enable connections to 44 cities and "would potentially re-establish Billings as Montana's airport leader."
- Chamber boss: Airport myths 'causing us a lot of turmoil'
Brewer also said he wanted to clear up some misconceptions by comparing fares and other statistics between Montana's two largest airports, Bozeman and Billings.
- Elon Musk: Most Tesla problems cited by Consumer Reports already fixed
"Most important, CR says 97% of owners expect their next car to be a Tesla (the acid test)," he wrote.
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