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| MATR Newsletter - Fri May 13, 2016 |
"Nobody knows enough to be pessimistic." Daniel Goleman
The Advisors Guiding the World's Top Philanthropists - Montana Ambassador Whitney Williams http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Montana Economic Developers Association
- Kalispell Chamber Partners with Google to Bring Digital Marketing Opportunities to the Flathead
The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Google this spring to bring two new programs to the Flathead Valley.
Montana Politics & Legislature
- The Montana Economic Developers Association group meets in Butte, elects board members
The Montana Economic Developers Association elected board members at its annual meeting in the new NorthWestern Energy building in Butte earlier this month.
Northwestern Energy
- Two Of America's Richest Men (Charles Schwab and James Cox Kennedy) Secretly Tried To Sway Montana's Judicial Elections
"If they can't win in court, they'll change the court. They'll change the justices that make the decisions." John Gibson, president of the Public Land/Water Access Association
- Montana Infrastructure Coalition launches campaign.
"We've got work to do," said Webb Brown, of the Montana Chamber of Commerce and newly-elected President of the Coalition. "We want to chart a new course for infrastructure investment that will spur additional growth and reinvestment in communities across Montana."
TechLink
- The NW Energy Coalition Clean And Affordable Energy Conference, 5/19-20, Missoula, Montana
Experts representing diverse interests and perspectives -- utilities, energy efficiency businesses, consumers and environmentalists -- will address pressing state and regionwide clean energy issues, including:
Great Falls Development Authority
- DOD announces revamped '2.0' program to connect military and entrepreneurs
The goal is to get the government moving at "the speed of business,"
Montana Ambassadors
- Great Falls, Montana 1st Quarter 2016 Economic Index
Economic Growth, Diversification and High Wage Jobs
- GFDA Top 10 May 1, 2016
Here's the GFDA Top 16 for this week, celebrating great things happening to move Great Falls Forward.
Big Sky Commerce
- The Advisors Guiding the World's Top Philanthropists - Montana Ambassador Whitney Williams
Whitney Williams - Grand Plan: The Williamsworks http://williamsworks.com/ founder helps the high-profile (Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton) put their money and influence to seriously good use.
Come Home Montana
- Happy Birthday to Big Sky Commerce
For our lucky #13 anniversary, we'll be showcasing one client each May weekday
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- J.K. Simmons - From University of Montana student to star
Since graduating with a music degree from the University of Montana in 1978, Simmons has become one of the most recognizable and famous locals around.
Leadership Montana
- Crowdfunding: the Future of Angel Investor Funding?
Crowdfunding could allow mom-and-pop investors to function as angel investors.
Montana Business
- A Different Breed: Is Your Dog a Reflection of Yourself?
"We are just a different breed."
Montana Economic Development
- Wheat Montana grows from small town farm to nationally known company
"Well when we started out it was just my dad and I and my mom and my wife and we had a collective idea that we could pull this thing off and actually take the wheat from our farm to greater heights and turn it into products that people might consume," said Dean Folkvord, Founder of Wheat Montana.
- Tracer Technology Systems in Billings, Montana - Proprietary gunshot detection system
Our success is driven by our passion for saving the lives of students in the classroom and on buses, assisting first responders to reach a shooting scene as quickly as possible, and providing law enforcement and justice providers with never-before-available crime scene gunshot incident data.
- Hi-Line Climbing Center open for business in Great Falls, Montana
Once considered off-season training facilities for serious rock climbing enthusiasts, indoor climbing gym are mainstream today, Brian Thompson said.
- New UM Student-Produced 'Business: Made in Montana' to Premiere on MontanaPBS on May 26
"Business: Made in Montana" profiles companies that create products in Big Sky Country and do business around the state, the country and the world.
Careers
- Lt. Governor Mike Cooney Recognizes Transco Efforts to Grow Workforce in Miles City
In February, Transco received another grant through the Big Sky Trust Fund to add another 35 jobs over one year.
City Club Missoula
- How to Be a "Girl Boss"
What makes a great boss (or leader)? Here are 18 quotes from women we admire about leadership, hiring and working really, really hard...
Government
- Missoula Merc - Engen faces critics during City Club Missoula Forum
It was one of the oddest moments at a City Club meeting that served as the public's first opportunity to lob questions at Engen over his support of the controversial Merc redevelopment proposal.
Idaho Business
- Montana Supreme Court Unanimously Invalidates Montana Immigration Enforcment Law as Preempted by Federal Law
Yesterday, the Montana Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision striking down the entirety of an immigration enforcement law, which was placed on the 2012 ballot by the Montana legislature and approved by 80% of voters.
- Op-Ed: Calling the Bison Our National Mammal Is the Worst Kind of Greenwashing
If we like our bison domesticated, held behind fences, and commodified for the dinner plate, then there is much to celebrate: Of the approximately 500,000 buffalo in this country, the majority are privately owned, have been interbred with cattle, and are raised for meat production.
Other Economies
- Broadband snafu could cost school districts nearly $2 million
The state did not have a valid agreement allowing the state to collect e-Rate dollars to cover the bulk of Idaho Education Network costs.
Regional Business
- Connecticut Looks to Boost Partnerships with Israeli Tech Companies
State economic development officials seeking to boost business and economic growth gathered Wednesday with Israeli firms looking for access to large and lucrative Northeast markets.
Utah Business
- Chip cards slap merchants with higher fees
ome merchants have seen their debit-transaction fees increase by about 20 percent since Oct. 1, the deadline by which most stores were supposed to start accepting chip cards or face some fraud liabilities
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Utah initiative inspiring women, pushing companies to value them
A growing number of women are putting themselves out there, applying for promotions and running for political office.
MAPS : Media Arts in the Public Schools
- Today's TED Talk - This virtual lab will revolutionize science class
Virtual reality is no longer part of some distant future, and it's not just for gaming and entertainment anymore.
Montana Education Excellence
- MAPS 2016 Summer Program Video - Free Classes to All 8th-12th Grade Montana Students
Make this a memorable summer
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Brennan backs out of Montana State athletic director job because of concerns including finding affordable housing
In a public statement, Cruzado said Brennan's explanations for backing out included his concern for finding affordable housing, moving his children into new schools and that coming to MSU "didn't feel right."
Community
- Box Elder, Montana celebrates $1.8 million Apple grant
"Hey fifth-graders, are you ready for some iPads?"
Funding and Building your Business
- THREE New grant announcements
- Noted chef Anthony Bourdain's show on Butte, Montana airs Sunday, May 15
Bourdain made a stop last fall in Butte where he sampled dinner at Lydia's, and went into the Orphan Boy Mine with a Butte legislator. He also visited other areas of Montana.
- Billings, Montana makes final 8 in Best Town Ever contest - Vote Now!
Here's how to vote for Billings: Click here http://www.outsideonline.com/2056761/best-towns-2016 and scroll down to the "vote here" section. The contest is organized by type of town -- river, culture, beach and mountain.
- New 'Backroads of Montana' Episode to Feature Sharpshooters on May 23
William Marcus hosts the program from the historic M&M Bar in uptown Butte.
Connectivity & Communications
- Pitch your start-up to venture capitalists, all via Snapchat
Y Combinator, which has groomed companies such as Airbnb, Dropbox and Reddit, is looking to make a $20,000 investment in early stage tech companies. Kan says he'd like it to go to high school students, the folks who are on Snapchat all day long.
- New federal employment rules will be big change for Montana employers
A new set of rules being promulgated by the United States Department of Labor has the potential to cause a major shift in the employment structure for most Montana employers. Unfortunately, it's a change that many don't yet know is coming.
Non-Profit News
- Libraries Lend Themselves to Broadband Partnerships, Access
The people who drive the efforts to bring better broadband to their communities need to understand the potential role that libraries can offer.
- Fiber Optic Network in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Could be Fastest in U.S.
At its May 5 meeting, the Rancho Santa Fe Association approved a letter of intent with Hotwire Communications to build out a one-gigabit to 10-gigabit speed fiber-optic network to every home in the Covenant.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Pick the winner: Missoula Federal selects seven nonprofits for grant challenge
The challenge is, the organization's board of directors has selected seven local nonprofits, and it's asking voters to eliminate four of them.
- Help build the new Missoula food bank by eating out on Thursday, May 12!
- 2016 Montana Nonprofit Association Conference, 9/27-29, Helena, Montana
From maintaining strategic focus to analyzing data, strengthening collective activity, or merely managing the inbox and calendar, nonprofit leaders must strengthen their ability to focus on what matters.
- Your opportunity to express your opinion on possible changes to overtime regulations that may affect nonprofits.
Take the survey.....
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- $82.3 Million in Grants Will Support Art Projects Nationwide
Thanks to Pat Williams for protecting this program when he was representing Montana in Congress.
Transportation
- Our Future Is Going To Be Very Different Because of Technology - A Very Interesting Look Forward
The most valuable element in every life is the focus of successful technology development. Read the following and see if you can figure out what that is. Answer at the end of the article.
- Custom snacks on-demand with 3D printing
Consumers will be able to choose from a variety of flavors and textures, such as crispy, crunchy or soft, to build their own multi-layered food on-demand.
- Get Ready for the World to Be Covered in Electronic Ink
e-paper is about to be much bigger than e-books.
- 'Highway Propaganda' Promotes Widening Projects
Apparently to galvanize public support, the Colorado Department of Transportation and an Ohio chamber of commerce have produced videos touting the benefits of widening projects for low-income communities.
- 0 to 400 mph in mere seconds: Welcome to the age of hyperloop
Hyperloop One successfully demonstrated Wednesday one key part of how it plans to send people and cargo racing through cushioned tubes at nearly the speed of sound.
- Florida ROADS Project Wrangles Big Data for Future Advantage
The Florida Department of Transportation is working to get ahead of what they see as a technological tidal wave of data borne out of daily operations, sensor-equipped roadways and the impending onslaught of the autonomous vehicle.
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