MATR Newsletter - Fri Jul 15, 2016 |
later that night i held an atlas in my lap ran my fingers across the whole world and whispered where does it hurt? it answered everywhere everywhere everywhere. --Warsan Shire
Congratulations to Governor Bullock and everyone who helped organize, presented, supported or participated in the Innovate Montana Symposium the week in Billings. Outstanding presentations and networking opportunities for everyone contributing to Montana's future. http://innovatemontana ... osium
Big Sky Code Academy
Big Sky Economic Development
- 8 Characteristics of a Good Developer
The work you do as a developer will vary, as will the combination of characteristics you'll need to perform best at your role.
- Why Coding Is Still The Most Important Job Skill Of The Future
Computer programming jobs may be declining, but coding is becoming the most in-demand skill across industries.
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
- Big Sky Economic Development: Local innovator Randy Hafer of High Plains Architects has a vision for a sustainable future
If we can figure out how to build and live lightly and sustainably in this place, we should be able to do it just about any place."
Montana Governor's Office of Economic Development
- Entries Open for Northwest Montana Fair Parade 8/19
The day following the parade, please join the Kalispell Chamber and our local 4-H and FFA groups for the annual Stock Sale at the Fairgrounds, beginning at 8:00am.
Montana Code Girls
- Millennials making the move to Montana
"We're the number one state for start ups, where people can start a business here and we've been the best place for start ups for the last three years." Andy Shirtliff, The Small Business Advocate for Choose Montana.
- GoldieBlox founder Debbie Sterling Inspires Innovation Symposium in Billings
Sterling told a Billings audience of about 450 people that she wants to instill a love of math and science in girls at an early age, and she's found a profitable way to do it.
Great Falls Development Authority
- Debunking One Of The Biggest Stereotypes About Women In The Gaming Community
Although women now make up almost half of all video game players, the gaming community remains, in some ways, hostile toward women.
- A Byte Is All We Need
My message was getting across: computer science (CS) is not as difficult as presumed-it is fun, and more importantly, it is certainly not an exclusively male-oriented domain.
- Bay Area girls coding for cash
"Technology is a high-growth area that women just do not feel they have access to as leaders and change makers so these kinds of experiences need to be provided to young girls very early on so you can keep building on them."
- Programming = Better Math Skills + Fun
Math is cool? What could be better than that?
Montana Office of Tourism & Economic Development
- Great Falls Development Authority Top 14 for July 14, 2016
Forward Great Falls - Changing the future of our region!
The MDT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
- Montana Tourism Grant Program Opens for Fiscal Year 2017
Under the category of infrastructure, the Tourism Grant Program can be used for "brick and mortar" costs associated with building new and rehabilitating and preserving older tourism and recreation structures, implementing existing community wayfinding plans, and other related infrastructure projects.
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- Liens: Keys To Getting Your Money On Time, 7/26, Bozeman, Montana
Learn How to Protect Your Small Business
Energy and Climate Change
- Montana from Above - Breathtaking
Get inspired by this jaw-dropping scenery from Montana, USA. HD aerial montage video.
Come Home Montana
- In a Rare Move, Transatomic Power Unveils Technical Details of Its Modular Nuclear Reactor
"Our research has demonstrated many-fold increases in fuel efficiency over existing technologies, and we're really excited about the next steps in our development process."
- How the Grid Was Won: Three Scenarios for the Distributed Grid in 2030
Most Americans have no idea that the grid's makeover had begun and will soon upend a century-old industry.
Montana Business
- Montana Career Opportunities - Corporate Counsel, Montana Production Superintendent, Maintenance Team Lead, Field Operator and more... - Northwestern Energy
Working together to provide safe, reliable and innovative energy solutions that create value for customers, communities, employees, and investors.
Careers
- The Gear Junkie -- Montana's Red Oxx Manufacturing - American Bags for your Spirit of Adventure
Made in America, in a facility in Montana, and with the backbone of a military ethos that comes from a veteran-owned brand, perhaps some overcompensation is expected.
- Whitefish's Mountain Mogul - Bill Foley
As Bill Foley establishes a new NHL franchise in Las Vegas, what does it mean for Whitefish Mountain Resort and his other local business interests?
- MMEC announces 100 percent first time pass rate on rigorous lean manufacturing certification exam
Lean manufacturing is a business model that emphasizes the elimination of non-value-added activities across the organization.
Next Generation Broadband in Montana
- What are the best jobs for independent workers?
We found the 27 careers with the highest projected increase in employment percentage by 2024
Rural Communities
- Austin, Texas: A Model for Cities Working to Narrow the Broadband Gap?
The city's Office of Digital Inclusion aims to give all residents access to digital and communications technology, and make sure they understand technology and its relevancy to their daily lives.
Idaho Business
- Small towns try co-ops to keep essential businesses
"The number of businesses in Choteau has been whittled down in the last 25 years or so."
Incubators and R&D
- How an Idaho steel firm's partnerships bring jobs to the state
Idaho Steel makes for a homegrown success story.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- Alaska Launches Tech Accelerator
Anticipating the further stagnation of oil prices, Alaska has launched a tech accelerator that has allocated more than $100,000 to local tech companies.
- Innovate ABQ: Albuquerque, N.M.'s Innovation Center Breaks Ground
The $35 million facility will house the University of New Mexico's tech-transfer office and Innovation Academy, along with startups and partners involved in building a bustling, high-tech business zone.
- Regenerating connections between eye and brain restores vision in mice
It's the first time researchers have succeeded in restoring important aspects of vision in mammals, and the breakthrough could lead to future work that restores sight in the blind.
Wyoming Business
- North Dakota 'Angel funds' under scrutiny
"There needs to be much more transparency. Is the state getting anything in return?"
- North Dakota 'Angel funds' under scrutiny
"There needs to be much more transparency. Is the state getting anything in return?"
Education
- 'Real Wyoming' video series launches
The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors recently toured Wyoming's fifth-largest city during its quarterly meeting to see Rock Springs' progress firsthand and to discover what's on the horizon. Here's what they saw.
Montana Education Excellence
- Bill Nye the Science Guy: Here to change the world on CBS Sunday Morning
Nye: "Mr. Ham, how could there be billions of stars more distant than 6,000 years if the world's only 6,000 years old?"
- So Much Student Debt, So Much Ignorance
It will come as no surprise that a lot of people are burdened by education-related debt. What may be surprising is how few of those people even know the terms of that debt.
Community
- Montana Women's Foundation aims to close wage gap, offers up $75K in grants
On Tuesday, the Foundation announced $75,000 in grants to 10 organizations throughout the state including fostering science technology, engineer, and math education and boosting rural communities.
Connectivity & Communications
- Home grown: Moving next to the farm - CBS Sunday Morning
"People love the idea of sitting on their back porch and watching the farmers grow the food."
Government Technology
- Senate Broadband Caucus Formed
The caucus is being billed as "a platform to discuss emerging broadband issues in Congress, and will promote solutions that increase internet access and close the digital divide in America."
- Google's Project Fi Wireless Service Is Crazy Cheap and Now Available to Everyone. But Should You Switch?
Although the service was invitation-only when Google launched it in April, 2015, the company has since opened it to everyone. The network covers the US, and earlier this week Fi teamed up with European network Three to bring service to 15 countries.
Non-Profit News
- How Data Can Help Local Governments Prepare for the Aging Population
The hope is that these guides will give government councils the data needed to tackle affordable housing and health care -- and help fuel city management to solve problems and make decisions.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- 7th Annual Big Sky BBQ Fest - Benefit for the Montana Food Bank Network, 7/23, Missoula, Montana
This is a fundraising event for the Montana Food Bank Network. All proceeds will go to hunger fighting programs statewide including the BackPack Program, Mail-A-Meal, Grocery Rescue, Mobile Food, food acquisition & distribution and education and advocacy.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Future of investigative reporting focused on collaboration, big data technology, experts say at Stanford panel
While media outlets typically viewed each other as competitors in the past, now they can find strength in numbers when they collaborate on complex stories. "We are telling the lone wolf [journalists] to join the pack."
Transportation
- New tool searches health prices by doctor, insurance
Consumers worried about high out-of-pocket health costs can search for procedure prices ranging from knee surgeries to vasectomies, based on their doctor and type of insurance so they can eliminate most of the surprise bills that show up long after their wounds have healed.
- DIY recycling machines create custom plastic products at home
Makers can now download Precious Plastics' open source designs for their modular upcycling machines.
- Tesla confirms "Autopilot" crash in Montana - Driver says he'd buy another Tesla
He said he's eager to talk to Tesla and learn why the car swerved off a narrow Montana road.
- Missoula to Billings Neptune Aviation charter flights catching on among state's business travelers
"We're extremely pleased with the support the community has give us," said Kevin Condit, marketing manager for Neptune. "We did a lot of research before we launched it. We're pleased with the success and not that surprised by it."
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