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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Jan 24, 2017 |
“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.” Calvin Coolidge
Tonight at 7PM! - Montana Governor Bullock To Deliver State Of State Address, 1/24, Online http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Flathead Valley Community College
Montana Politics & Legislature
- Tickets on Sale Now for FVCC Chef's Table Spring Events
The students of The Culinary Institute of Montana at Flathead Valley Community College will present several Chef's Table events this spring in the FVCC culinary kitchen.
Northwestern Energy
- Bills to expand privacy rights generate opposition
The Montana Department of Justice spoke in opposition to all three privacy-related bills introduced to the House Judiciary Committee on Friday, stating the laws would make it difficult and in some cases impossible for the agency to do its job.
- Billings Gazette opinion: Superintendent Arntzen must get big picture on education - Graduation Matters
As Arntzen develops new initiatives, she doesn't need to reinvent the wheel. Graduation Montana Matters is working, Arntzen should build on that success rather than discarding it.
- Senate passes bill allowing state control of legislative coverage - "It's clear they want to take over."
Stephen Maly, the special projects director for HCTV, said the bill looks innocent, but will jeopardize the integrity of the Legislature's gavel-to-gavel coverage.
- In Helena, no lack of puzzling bill ideas from our elected leaders
I scanned through the descriptions of all 2,546 introduced and unintroduced bills, wondering whether our esteemed lawmakers had any of the usual crazy ideas in the wings.
- Cycling advocates weigh in on bill banning bikers from from 2-lane roads in Montana
Bike Walk Montana said cycling tourism brought $377,000,000 to the state in 2014 and that all of the major cycling tours across the state include routes on two-lane roads, most of which do not have shoulders.
- New Montana program would help fund energy-efficiency upgrades
The method is known as Property Assessed Clean Energy, which enables property owners to obtain no-money-down loans and pay them off over many years as part of their county property tax assessments.
- Bill banning bicyclists on Montana highways without shoulders to be re-drafted after negative feedback
"It would be detrimental," said Melinda Barnes, executive director of Bike Walk Montana. "The majority of our rural roads have no shoulder. If that truly were a restriction, theoretically bicyclists wouldn't be able to travel through Montana."
- Bill would make Montana last state in the country to fund 19-year-old high school students
"Passing this bill would not mandate that all schools allow 19-year-olds to attend their schools," she said, noting school districts would still make that decision. "It simply will allow ANB funding for schools if they choose to take this position."
Great Falls Development Authority
- 2017 Economic Outlook - The High Wage Job Puzzle, 1/27, Missoula
We will have free USB drives pre-loaded with the color presentation slides available at the registration table - sponsored by NorthWestern Energy
Early Edge Montana
- Fire Within Nominations due February 3 - Help celebrate and acknowledge the successes of local women
The Fire Within reception was created as an exciting way to help celebrate and acknowledge the successes of local women business owners while allowing them to connect with one another.
- Great Falls Development Authority Top 11 Great News For the Week of 1/21/2017
Untame Your Entrepreneurial Spirit in Great Falls, Montana!
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- MSU Extension offers parenting education via free email subscription
One Montana parent who participated in the program last year said that the program "helped me realize that I am not the only parent having these issues with my children. It offers strategies that can get you back on track with teaching and helping your child develop into an adult."
- Can performance-based education bonds improve preschool education?
Minnesota plans to join Salt Lake City in a novel approach to paying for public education: using "social bonds" to fund early childhood learning.
Energy and Climate Change
- An Chew Thot U New Montanaaaa!
Everything you never knew you thought about Montana.
Come Home Montana
- Global sea level could rise 8 feet by 2100
"Currently, about 6 million Americans live within about 6 feet of the sea level, and they are potentially vulnerable to permanent flooding in this century."
- Climate Change Removed from White House Website
Well, that didn't take long! Goodbye Obama Clean Action Plan and restrictive environmental regulations; hello shale oil and gas revolution.
- Revolutionary flapping wind turbine mimics hummingbirds to produce clean energy
The biomimicry revolution may not be televised, but it is definitely underway.
- Al Gore fights climate change with "An Inconvenient Sequel"
Despite the dire prospects for the climate under Trump after eight years of modest gains under former President Barack Obama, Gore was upbeat in comments to the crowd after two standing ovations followed the Sundance screening.
- Reliable and Energy Efficient: Research Project Aims to Upgrade the Electric Grid
The University of Toledo has joined a research project from the U.S. Department of Energy that could change how the national electric grid operates in the future.
- Electricity-storage tech facing biggest test yet in California
Energy storage is often talked about in the context of renewable energy, because it allows power to be available when the sun is not shining, or the wind is not blowing.
- New net-zero Solar Farmhouse from Deltec generates all its own energy
In these uncertain times of erratic weather and changing climate patterns, net-zero energy (or NZE) is quickly becoming the gold standard in green building.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunities - Mid-Level Mechanical Engineers, IT Desktop Support, Senior Level Electrical Engineer, Senior Network Technician and many more... - Morrison-Maierle
If you thrive on work that has a broader purpose, you've come to the right place.
Montana Business
- First In MSU LaunchCats Speaker Series Featured Renowned Cellist, Social Entrepreneurs
Focused on social entrepreneurship, the talk featured panelists Mark Brand, Mark Goerner, AJ Paron-Wildes and Philip Sheppard, who spoke on topics ranging from environmentally sustainable products to food security.
Montana Economic Development
- Out-of-state car buyers use Montana LLC's to evade taxes
Bennett Law Office, P.C. is a full-service transactional law firm located in the Missoula Valley, dedicated to providing a wide range of legal services. These services include the areas of tax-free vehicle registration...
- Morrison Maierle transitions to 100 percent employee-owned model
The employee stock ownership plan is expected to foster company growth and reward employees for working hard and staying at Morrison Maierle.
- Growing engineering firm Morrison-Maierle to construct new Missoula office building
"We'll bring high-speed connectivity to serve 20 other properties in the area," said Chris Behan, assistant MRA director. "We're extending that kind of infrastructure to the area."
Careers
- Senator Jon Tester to Amazon CEO: Montana is Open for Business
Senator Invites World's Largest Online Store to Open Up Shop in Big Sky Country
Next Generation Broadband in Montana
- How Universal Basic Income Could Rescue The Freelance Economy
"Studies have shown one of the top reasons more people don't become entrepreneurs is because they don't have the capital to both support themselves and start a business at the same time."
Government
- How Broadband Populists Are Pushing for Government -Run Internet One Step at a Time
They are trying to cripple the current model in tactical skirmishes over discreet issues such as broadband privacy, net neutrality, and municipal broadband rules.
Incubators and R&D
- Congress maneuvers to give away 640 million acres of American land
In the rules for the 115th Congress, lawmakers altered one little line that has the potential to allow the government to callously throw away national treasures.
- State of the city: Helena mayor calls for program funds, higher reimbursements
During his state of the city address Monday, Helena Mayor Jim Smith said it will be important for state lawmakers to fund programs benefiting cities and counties and lift the cap on reimbursements local governments receive.
South Dakota
- MSU researcher receives $1.3 million to develop virus-fighting technology
Chang and her team will explore the use of a sophisticated method called drop-based microfluidics for producing therapeutic interfering particles, or TIPs, for treating influenza.
Utah Economic Development
- South Dakota Republicans are about to get rid of the state's first independent ethics commission
South Dakota Republican are on the verge of doing something that backfired spectacularly for congressional Republicans earlier this year: Getting rid of an independent ethics commission.
Wyoming Business
- Utah GOED announces recipients of 2017 tech commercialization grants
"Innovation and entrepreneurship drive Utah's diverse economy,"
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Wyoming Senate president kills public lands transfer bill
"Everybody's been notifying their representatives and senators to vote no if this amendment materialized," she said. "I think Sen. Bebout read the tea leaves. He saw the vote was not going to be there."
- Wyoming lawmakers push for early retirement program to address budget shortfall
Ten lawmakers are sponsoring a bill that offers early retirement to state and University of Wyoming employees as state leaders look to save money in the face of a large budget shortfall.
- Wyoming legislators kill wind tax bill
Wyoming is the only state with a wind production tax -- currently $1 per megawatt hour of electricity.
Montana Education Excellence
- How a small high school learned to challenge every student
"All students deserve and should have equal access to what everyone else has."
- How one man revolutionized teaching by trusting kids to teach themselves.
Imagine a classroom with 20 children, four computers, and no teacher. Under those circumstances, do you think the children could teach themselves?
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Great Falls Public Schools committed to helping students 'cradle to career'
On Monday, Great Falls Public Schools, in partnership with the United Way of Cascade County, said that it will continue the initiative locally, whether the Office of Public Instruction decides to continue its funding or not.
Universities and Economic Development
- One sure path to a stronger economy Build tighter connections to the colleges and universities in your state.
Higher education institutions, private sector businesses and economic development organizations are at the nexus of modern economic growth. Never in history have partnerships between these three sectors been more important in creating sustained economic opportunities in our communities throughout the country.
- Robots teach Montana's youth through STEM Billings
"The kids get so excited, registration filled up within 24 hours."
Funding and Building your Business
- There's an Antidote to America's Long Economic Malaise: College Towns
"Better educated places with colleges tend to be more productive and more able to shift out of declining industries into growing ones," says Mark Muro, a Brookings urban specialist. "Ultimately, cities survive by continually adapting their economies to new technologies, and colleges are central to that."
- New site plan offers hope for MSU Innovation Campus
The goal of the campus is to support "the research, technology transfer, entrepreneurial, and economic development activities of the university, the region and the state," according to planning documents.
Non-Profit News
- Cottage Food and IP Laws: Special Considerations for Montana Food Producers
Roughly one year ago, Montana joined the bandwagon of states that have passed so-called "cottage food" laws. This, coupled with Montana's leadership in the brewery, winery and distillery industries, will help lay the groundwork for a healthy and diverse economy that takes full advantage of our agricultural resources.
- Podcast - Why Early-stage Investors Tend to Trust Their Gut
"I've heard stories of investors saying, 'You know, I invest because I rub my tummy, and that's how I make my investment.'"
- 5 reasons why your start-up needs to hire a Virtual Chief Financial Officer (VCFO)
These three trends mean that start-ups both want and need far more than basic bookkeeping and tax advice from their financial departments, and that they are able to afford the services of an experienced VCFO far earlier in their life-cycle than if they had to hire a full time person on-site.
- After Two Years Of Trying 6-Hour Workdays, These Companies Say It Worked
Tell your boss: An experiment in Sweden led to happier and healthier workers--and no loss in production.
- The 30-Minute Exercise That Reveals How Your Company Is Really Doing
When you're starting a business, you can get a better feel for numbers by writing them down.
- Top CEOs Reveal Their Secrets for Finding New Customers
"To approach or attract new customers, use the acronym WIIFM: What's in it for me?"
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- 2017 Nonprofit Management Series Registration is now open for workshops in Livingston, Butte/Anaconda, and Hamilton.
Join one workshop or all four to develop or sharpen your skills as a nonprofit leader. This series is ideal for executive directors, aspiring leaders, and board members.
- Founder of Adventure Cycling Greg Siple celebrates retirement from career that merged his love of art and bicycles
"We wouldn't be where we are today, and neither would bicycle travel, without Greg's quiet, effective commitment to the mission of Adventure Cycling." Jim Sayer
Transportation
- Robert Burns Supper - A Celebration Of The Birth Of The Poet, 1/27, Missoula, Montana
On this night... everyone is Scots.
Events
- After Probing Tesla's Deadly Crash, Feds Say Yay to Self-Driving
The verdict should relieve not just the electric car builder, but the industry at large.
- City of the Future: Technology & Mobility - How Cities Can Move Seamlessly into the Future of Mobility
When it comes to transportation, the future is looking increasingly tech-driven and multimodal.
- Gazette opinion: How to lower Montana's bill for bad roads
The tab is around $794 million a year, according to a study commissioned by the Montana Infrastructure Coalition.
- Is it cheaper to buy roadside assistance through your car insurance company?
Whether your car breaks down, you run out of gas or get a flat, you're first instinct may be to call AAA or another service. But your car insurer may offer roadside assistance coverage at a much better price.
- Setting Expectations for Mobility as a Service
There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the effect transportation network companies like Uber will have on mobility. Are we asking the right ones?
- 19th Annual Community Lecture Series, Six Tuesday Nights 2/7-3/14, Missoula, Montana
- Montana Governor Bullock To Deliver State Of State Address, 1/24, Online
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