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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Apr 5, 2016 |
Please join us at MATR in wishing Montana's greatest economic development advocate Gloria Enloe O'Rourke of MEDA http://medamembers.org/meda a joyous Happy Birthday! A 24 hour celebration isn't long enough to honor you Gloria. Happy Birthday
TONIGHT! - America's Greatest Makers, 4/5, TBS http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana World Affairs Council
Spika Welding & Mfg Inc
- The Montana World Affairs Council Presents The PBS Film "America's Diplomats", 4/12, Missoula, MT
The film looks into the challenges faced by American diplomats, such as preventing war, promoting economic interests, and addressing global issues.
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- Spika Rebrands With A Focus on Design
In addition to the name change, Spika has redesigned its website and moved to a new URL, http://www.spikamfg.com. The new site makes it easier for potential customers to see examples of Spika's design projects and broadens the focus from the aviation industry to include several other industries in which the company operates.
Great Falls Development Authority
- Dorsey & Whitney's Intellectual Property Webinar Series: The Ins And Outs Of Design Patents (4/20)
During this webinar, we will discuss the requirements for design patent protections; some factors that have led to their recent popularity in the software world; the interplay between design patent protection, utility patent protection, and trademark protection; as well as the standard for enforcement of design patents in the United States.
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- Here's the GFDA Top 12 for this week
We will be posting two job openings this week, Director of Lending/Loan Officer, and Loan Portfolio Manager. Please start spreading the word to your colleagues, family and friends!
Energy and Climate Change
- "Running Of The Bison" in Laurel, Montana considered a big success, despite injuries
Mostly dressed in white pants and shirts and sporting red bandannas--a nod to Pamplona, Spain, where the "Running of the Bulls" dates back to the Middle Ages--the runners alternately provoked and dodged the infuriated bison.
- Legendary Bob Marshall Wilderness back country packer Smoke Elser to lead clinic on April 17 in Corvallis, Montana
"A lot of people backpack, but packing with horses and mules allows you to go farther into the backcountry with more comfort."
Come Home Montana
- The Utility Industry Is Rebranding Itself: PR Ploy or Serious Attempt to Connect With Customers?
"They view us a monopoly, no incentives to serve the customers. They view us as stuck in the past in terms of technology," said PR guru Michael Maslansky, who was hired to frame industry messaging.
- Will California Put Solar Panels in Roads?
The state's transportation agency is working with a Dutch company to explore the idea of generating electricity from its busiest highways.
- Nuclear Power Is Too Safe to Save the World From Climate Change
For all that fear, nuclear power still has the safest track record of any power source.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Drafter - Spika
Spika is a global leader in the design and manufacture of work platforms and support equipment. To be the best company, we need the best people.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Accounting and Payroll Specialist - Boyle, Deveny & Meyer P.C.
Boyle, Deveny & Meyer P.C. is a medium-sized local firm of Certified Public Accountants. We are distinguished by our friendly, excellent service suited individually to the finest group of clients in the world.
- Montana Career Opportunity-Small Business Financial Analyst-Montana Community Development Corporation:
The Financial Analyst's job is to support the Lending and Asset Management Teams by diagnosing, analyzing, and supporting small business loan clients.
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- One Montana Is Proud To Launch The Teacher Innovation Lounge, 4/13, Webinar
Join us for a virtual panel discussion highlighting three Montana high school teachers and their efforts to support authentic real-life learning through student entrepreneurism.
Montana Business
- MEDA April News and March BEAR Report
It is hoped you all have your lodging in place for the MEDA Spring Conference "Plug in to Montana's Talent" in Butte, April 20 - 22.
Careers
- Missoula's Big Dipper secures major ice cream contract with Yellowstone, Glacier parks
There was a time in mid-1990s when Charlie Beaton had his doubts. He'd put money on his credit card and borrowed cash from his parents, hoping to get his little-known business making ice cream off the ground.
- Silk Road restaurant to close in October so owners can focus on selling spice blends and sauces
The spices can be found in almost 200 stores all over the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, Alaska, Hawaii and Illinois. The sauces will be based on the blends as well.
- Billings retailer, Home Science Tools, aiming for bigger chunk of online science tools market
In a market where Amazon is king, Frank Schaner is seeking every opportunity to make his Billings-based online retailer stand out.
- Montana's tech industry can't afford discrimination
As a technology business advocate and business owner, I simply can't understand why states like North Carolina and Indiana think discriminatory laws are good for business and actually benefit their economies.
Rural Communities
- 15 Websites That Will Heighten Your Emotional Intelligence
Where can a busy professional get some good resources to raise their EQ?
- 10 No-Fail Ways to Strengthen Your Emotional Intelligence at Work - Understanding is everything.
"Emotional intelligence" has become a buzzword among business leaders recently, but what does it really mean, and how can you improve upon it?
- Will You Sprint, Stroll or Stumble Into a Career?
For today's emerging adults, Dr. Arnett told me, a college degree may be the biggest determinant of whether they launch into a sustaining career, but it is not the only factor that separates the successful from the drifters.
- Montana Code School Graduates Start Promising Careers with Tech Companies
Montana Code School aims to expand Montana's pipeline of computer programming talent to address the acute and immediate need among the startups by training junior programmers for employment in the state's booming tech sector.
Government
- Continuum of living: How co-ops can save rural communities
Thanks to organizations like the Montana Cooperative Development Center and the USDA's Rural-Business Cooperative Service, low-access communities like Turner are getting assistance in starting cooperatives in food and housing.
Idaho Business
- Massive leak reveals money rings of global leaders
The documents, combed through in the past year by hundreds of journalists worldwide, show links to 72 current or former heads of state, including dictators accused of looting their own countries.
- Government Embracing Tomorrow's Workforce
The common denominator running through these approaches is an openness to considering something new -- new ideas from new people. The leaders in these pages show that adopting that mentality can position their agencies for success.
- How Ohio Used Agile Development to Overhaul its Tax System
After an overhaul of the state's tax system stalled four years ago, public- and private-sector officials turned to agile development to turn it around.
Other Economies
- Ostrich from Idaho could revolutionize the meat industry. But will Americans eat it?
One of the great attributes of this animal is its potential for sustainable farming to scale.
Regional Business
- John Stewart Talks About "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" Legislation for Indiana and North Carolina
"So when gays want equality, it's militancy; but when Christians want to deny service, it's freedom."
- "Perry's Law" may change the face of economic development - New Law Prevents Other States from Poaching California Businesses
"Tomorrow we will begin building the second largest wall in the world to prevent these out-of-state economic developers from coming to California to murder our economy." said Governor Brown.
Utah Business
- Alaska Air Nears Deal to Acquire Virgin America
Alaska Air has emerged as the likely winner of an auction for Virgin America , The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.
- Overtime Overhaul Has Big Implications for Ad Agencies
Advertising agencies, whose margins are already thin, have been facing ongoing pressure from clients trying to drive down their fees. Now the agencies may be facing a new financial headache courtesy of the U.S. government.
Workforce Development
- Utah's Internet speed is fastest in the West, 8th worldwide
Utah currently ranks 5th in the United States for average speeds with 17.9 megabits per second.
Wyoming Business
- Economic Development: BillingsWorks continues to tackle the issue of finding qualified workers
We are excited to announce that we will be producing the second annual State of the Workforce report in April, complete with all of the same data as last year, but now with trending analysis and tangible benchmarks to see how we are doing as a community tackling work force development.
Education
- Wyoming launches new tourism website
Good ideas on your drive to Montana for your vacation.
- Wyoming entrepreneurs vie for start-up money
"Based on the overwhelming response from the community, we believe there is a growing entrepreneurial climate in Casper," said Joseph Bennick, the Casper-area WTBC director in a statement. "This is only the beginning of exciting things to come."
Montana Education Excellence
- Is the reliance on out-of-state students a detriment to in-state students in higher education?
"We found that the Chancellor's Office does not analyze information about the demographics of admitted and non-admitted applicants. As a result, decision makers do not fully understand admittance patterns or the kinds of students who do and do not choose to attend OUS universities. This information could be helpful for decisions affecting enrollment, student outcomes, and competitiveness."
- Fab School Labs Makeover Contest launches with prizes up to $100k
The Northrop Grumman Foundation has launched its online contest, Fab School Labs, to encourage today's children to become tomorrow's innovators by creating science classrooms and technology labs that inspire.
Community
- Missoula high school students moving out of town for college
The number of University of Montana freshmen coming from Missoula high schools has decreased over the past 13 years, according to the University's Office of Planning, Budgeting and Analysis.
Connectivity & Communications
- Canada Is Looking Better and Better
A remarkable project currently underway in Toronto suggests that sometimes higher, rather than lower, density may be the best way to go.
- The crisis in our backyard: Montana's reservation housing
Homelessness, overcrowding and black mold. Tribes struggle with decades of housing neglect
- Burton K. Wheeler Center Will Host Executive Director Of The ACLU Anthony Romero, 4/14, Bozeman, MT
Anthony Romero is the Executive Director of the ACLU and will be speaking about individual rights and liberties in Montana.
Government Technology
- High-Speed Internet Disparities Hurt College Chances, Study Finds
Whether a student has adequate broadband speeds influences their post-secondary options, says report author Lauren Sisneros, a policy analyst with the Education Commission of the States.
- These labels let you compare Internet plans like you do with cereal or deli meats
The government gets thousands of complaints a year from consumers who are surprised by some of the charges they see on their bills, according to the FCC. These broadband labels aim to address those concerns.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- New Website Aims to Make Government Data Easier to Sift Through
It is free, and its software code is open source, meaning that developers can build custom applications by adding other data.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Multi-Grammy Award winner Wynonna Judd headlines this year's Red Ants Pants Music Festival July 28-31, in White Sulphur Springs, Montana
"I'm just so thrilled to have a female headliner this year," said Sarah Calhoun, festival founder and organizer
Transportation
- Google Introduces Dial-Up Mode - Power in Slowness
"It turns out there is power in slowness."
- Do woodpeckers hold the key to preventing concussions?
Will this simple device help football players?
- Online Groceries Becomes Next E-Commerce Battleground
The combination of automation and skilled employees make online grocery fulfillment expensive, Mr. Parkinson said. "It's tough to make money on every order. When we see others, we just know they're bleeding cash."
- TONIGHT! - America's Greatest Makers, 4/5, TBS
This spring, tune in every week for a new reality TV challenge where teams of makers invent game-changing technology all for a chance at $1 million prize.
- This Company Does 3D Printing at a Speed No One Else Can Match
"We don't print, we grow."
- Lab-Grown Skin Sweats and Sprouts Hair
In the new research, the scientists generated skin that had not only those features but also all three layers of tissue that normal skin has.
- Alaska Airlines Parent to Buy Virgin America for $2.6 Billion in Cash
"With our expanded network and strong presence in California, we'll offer customers more attractive flight options for nonstop travel," Brad Tilden, the Alaska Air chairman and chief executive, said in a news release.
- Why Alaska Air is willing to pay top dollar for Virgin America (+video)
Following a decade of large-scale airline mergers, this latest move would effectively make Alaska Air the fifth largest airline in the United States.
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