MATR Newsletter - Fri Jul 21, 2017 |
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True leaders do not create more followers,they create more leaders
Second Annual Last Best Conference, 8/2-4, Missoula, MT http://www.matr.net/ev ... =6480
Gov. Steve Bullock
Montana Department of Commerce
- Montana Governor Steve Bullock named vice chair of National Governors Association
"I believe the time is right to lend my voice, the voice of someone that after getting elected has been able to govern in what's viewed as a red state," Gov. Steve Bullock of Montana said in an interview. "Some of the things that I've been able to do in Montana can also translate beyond just the state's border."
Montana Economic Developers Association
- New Fiscal Year Brings New Funding for Department of Commerce Grants
Tourism and Business Development Programs Accepting Applications for FY18
- Montana Main Street Program Grant Cycle to Open August 15
The Montana Main Street Program awards grant funding to member communities on a competitive basis and as funding allows.
Flathead Valley Community College
- Economic Resilience: The New Normal in Regional Economic Development
The video was designed for a mix of audiences and to be shared across a variety of platforms, including at planning workshops, community events, and board/city council meetings, as well as on regional development organization websites and social media.
Great Falls Development Authority
- New Businesses Will Benefit from Summer Classes at FVCC
Stephanie Juneau, director of the Northwest Montana SBDC, will present "Evaluate a Business Idea" on August 15 and "Profit Mastery: Creating Value and Building Wealth" August 16-17.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Great Falls Development Authority asking for three mill economic development levy
The levy is spearheaded by the Great Falls Development Authority http://www.gfdevelopment.org/ , which has been working on economic development as a public/private partnership for 15 years
Montana Ambassadors
- Babies can learn second language in 1 hour per day
"With the right science-based approach that combines the features known to grow children's language, it is possible to give very young children the opportunity to start learning a second language, with only one hour of play per day in an early education setting," she says. "This has big implications for how we think about foreign-language learning."
- Teaching 21st Century Skills For 21st Century Success Requires An Ecosystem Approach
We have already recognized that teaching 21st century skills is not just about flinging more ideas or more tablets or more Smartboards at schools and students.
- This Startup is Deploying an Army of Wall-Crawling Robots to Teach Kids Coding
One group of Harvard-trained engineers-turned-entrepreneurs is looking to close that gap by educating the next generation of American coders, and they're enlisting the help of - what else - robots.
Arrow Solutions Group
- Montana Ambassadors Raises Its Social Media Visibility Thanks to Chris Burke of Morning Glory Coffee
Chris has made two short instructional videos so that YOU can promote your business, agency, project, event, and Montana - on social media.
Energy and Climate Change
- TecNet Billings - September 13, 2017
Enjoy an evening with your fellow information technology professionals building the business of tomorrow in companies large and small, new and old, across Billings and the surrounding region.
Come Home Montana
- Why wasn't Mark Zuckerberg allowed to meet with Glacier's climate expert?
With the park a ground zero of sorts for the unmistakable signs that warming and melting of glaciers is speeding up, the decision to keep a visitor -- and a celebrity at that -- from meeting with a scientist-in-residence, first reported by Mic, struck some observers as a deliberate effort by the Trump administration to minimize climate issues.
- Platio integrates solar panels in pedestrian walkways and street furniture
The panels have recently been rolled out in front of a shopping mall, at a harbor and integrated into outdoor seating.
- Interior Department Defends Blocking Glacier Park Climate Experts from Zuckerberg Trip
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of the Interior is defending a decision to prevent the superintendent of Glacier National Park and a prominent climate scientist from participating in a highly publicized visit by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Project Manager - Big Sky Economic Development
The CDPM facilitates collaborative community projects that contribute to successful business operations, job creation, and creating desirable quality of life.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Development Director - The Biomimicry Institute
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development is responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating the strategy and activities to drive growth across all fundraising programs while diversifying revenue streams and expanding the opportunity for major giving.
- Large Facility Site Search
JLL has a client that is considering a major manufacturing project within the continental United States.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Outreach Coordinator in Great Falls - Montana & Idaho CDC
Montana & Idaho Community Development Corporation is looking for a Great Falls-based Outreach Coordinator to drive awareness and interest in its newly launched down payment assistance program, called HomeNow.
Montana Business
- Four lessons entrepreneurs can learn from Silicon Valley
"Silicon Valley isn't a place; it's a mindset."
Montana Economic Development
- Firebrand Creative Opens Missoula Office, Spurring Economic Development
Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Awards Grants To Create 10 New Jobs and Complete a Virtual Curriculum Program Plan
- Montana Made: Goertzen Adventure Equipment
Goertzen says he's happy to share his passion with the world, and that he's lucky his hobby doubles as his livelihood.
- UM's Montana Business Quarterly Examines Montana News Consumption, Gender Gap
"As you might expect, younger people tend to use the internet more for news, while older generations fall back on traditional print and broadcast outlets," said John Baldridge, BBER project manager. "But, that is changing too.
- Bozeman-Funded Startup OppSource Follows Through on Local Hiring
In addition, the company plans to add at least six more new hires in 2018, bringing 12-15 new jobs to the Bozeman community in just 18 months.
Careers
- Butte Local Development Corporation Newsletter - The IMPACT July 2017
In Butte, Montana, we are a community full of possibilities!
Montana Data Focused Business Cluster
- These Are The Job Skills Of The Future That Robots Can't Master
"To beat the bot, you need to be more human."
- Change the way you approach job interviews asking three questions
Many struggle with marketing their skills and are often doubtful of their abilities to present a strong perception during the interview.
- What's The Best Way To Get Your Audience To Love Your Idea?
We really want them to fall in love with our idea just as much as we love it. Love, however, is a powerful concept. How are we going to make this happen?
Next Generation Broadband in Montana
- Data Scientists Automated and Unemployed by 2025 - Update!
If these vendors are successful this may well reduce demand for fully qualified data scientists and makes it reasonable to ask: Will We Be Automated and Unemployed by 2025?
- Today's TED Talk - The human insights missing from big data
Why do so many companies make bad decisions, even with access to unprecedented amounts of data?
Government
- 'If You Care about Broadband, You Cannot Remain on the Sidelines'
Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn tells a rural connectivity summit in Ohio that Washington, D.C., decision makers need to hear from them. Now.
Oregon Economic Development
- MIT's shuttlecock-shaped robot swims through water pipes looking for leaks
According to MIT, an average of 20 percent of the water flowing through today's distribution systems is lost to holes along its journey, so researchers are developing a small robot that can be deposited through a fire hydrant to hunt out the leaks.
- Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Tours Glacier Park, Blackfeet Reservation
From Browning, he wrote, in part, "The reservation is a microcosm of how the pillars of a fair government, strong economy, and healthy community are all connected.
- Rep. Greg Gianforte, Who Assaulted Reporter, Fights Court-Ordered Fingerprints, Photos
Rep. Greg Gianforte would not say Tuesday whether other Montanans should do the same.
- Under Attorney General Sessions' Plan, Government Will Seize More People's Property
Should the government be able to seize people's property in the name of crime fighting, even without evidence to prove someone has broken the law?
- Jeff Bridges discusses anti-hunger work, collaboration with Governors
In addition to the governors, the First Lady of Montana, Lisa Bullock, joined the conversation and spoke about her personal involvement with No Kid Hungry.
- Western Governors' Association Annual Meeting Day 3: Governors address childhood hunger with Jeff Bridges; Gov. Daugaard launches workforce development initiative
Western Governors brought the 2017 Annual Meeting to a stirring conclusion with an emotional conversation about ending childhood hunger featuring actor Jeff Bridges, a frank discussion about the infrastructure investment required in the West, and Gov. Dennis Daugaard's announcement of his Chairman's Initiative on workforce development.
Other Economies
- Portland's tech community grows more diverse, slowly
Oregon's tech sector, like the industry nationwide, is overwhelmingly white and male. That effectively excludes a growing share of an increasingly diverse population from some of the most lucrative jobs available.
Regional Business
- Price tag is $3.4 million for Colorado and Denver to lure coveted Outdoor Retailer Show
In other incentive awards, the Colorado Economic Development Commission offered $22.7 million to two Bay Area companies looking at bringing a combined 1,417 jobs to Denver County.
Regional Economic Development
- Northwest utility Avista sold to Canadian company for $5.3 billion
t's the second major utility acquisition in Washington state by Canadian funds. Western Washington's Puget Energy was acquired for $7.4 billion in 2009 by infrastructure investors, including the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board and Australia's Macquarie Group funds.
Utah Business
- How a business improvement district helps
BIDs perform particular services that local governments may be unable or unwilling to provide, usually because of inadequate annual budgets. Thus, jurisdictions often rely on BIDs.
Workforce Development
- University of Utah to launch new 'quantitative analysis' institute using $20M from Eccles, Koch organizations
The Marriner S. Eccles Institute of Economics and Quantitative Analysis is designed to strengthen its business school's reach and help top students form early partnerships with prestigious employers.
Wyoming Business
- Don't wait for the government to bring you skilled workers
Apprenticeships have been receiving extensive news coverage lately.
- Western Governors' Workforce Development Initiative
Among other things, this initiative will create a mechanism for states and industry sectors to share best practices in workforce development.
- New dean sets goal for Colorado University's College of Engineering: 50% female undergrads in 5 years
In 2016, around 26 percent of undergraduate engineering students at CU were women.
Montana Education Excellence
- University of Wyoming nursing professor wins nearly $1 million federal grant to integrate mental health into primary care
Kooienga will work with other mental health and family nursing officials in Cheyenne to provide real-life clinical experience for UW nursing students and other aspiring health care professionals.
Community
- Regents' votes mark end of one Tech Park dream, start of second
"We need to free up space in the heart of campus for the academic mission," Cruzado said.
Funding and Building your Business
- Meet the Mayor Who Used Millennials to Revive Her Small Town
The elephant festival is one of several changes the city has made since 2015, when Hensley formed an informal working group of local millennials to help make Erwin a place young people want to live.
- Bozeman homes add $524 million in value in two years, tax assessors say
For homeowners who want to live in their homes instead of selling them, the higher property values primarily mean the potential for higher taxes.
GIS Technology
- Startups Need Employees Who React Like Entrepreneurs
The commitment to hire people who think like entrepreneurs, or instill an "owner's mindset" in every employee, should be a high priority in every business.
- Google's New App Is All About Hiring and Managing Job Applicants
The tool integrates with a company's existing Google software like Calendar and Gmail. So when HR managers email prospective employees, they can automatically set up meetings and interviews that are synced across all Google software.
- Peek Inside Slack's Multi-Million Dollar SaaS Growth Strategy
They have 1.25+ million paid users. Their trial to paid conversion rate is sitting at 30%.
- A Blockchain-Based Solution to Liquidity Needs of Small Businesses
"With blockchain technology, every invoice is unique and can be assessed by a credit scoring algorithm, providing automatization and transparency to the whole invoice financing process."
Government Technology
- Funniest Map I Have Ever Seen: Winter Map of Montana
This is the first map that made me laugh out loud - the Winter Map of Montana, in the Esri User Conference Map Gallery 2017.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- San Jose, Calif., Taps the Expertise of Retired Silicon Valley Execs
The move has been a boon for a city looking to leverage the wisdom of the private sector to enhance IT operations.
- Kansas City likes sharing its smart city data so other cities benefit too
The city says sharing the information will enable big data analysis by its partners that will hopefully improve their smart city initiatives, and Kansas City's as well.
- Hawaii Plans Prize Money, Tool Enhancements to Month-Long Annual Hackathon
Now in its second year, the Hawaii Annual Code Challenge looks to build upon 2016's success.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Bold Women in Montana History Chosen as Montana's National Book Festival Feature
Bold Women in Montana History is the sixth in Mountain Press's state-by-state biographical series for teen readers.
Transportation
- Google Glass 2.0 Is a Startling Second Act - Glass Enterprise Edition
Now the focus is on making a practical workplace tool that saves time and money. Announced today, it is called Glass Enterprise Edition.
- Kotlin: the Upstart Coding Language Conquering Silicon Valley
In May Google gave Android developers another option when it announced it would start supporting a new programming language called Kotlin, which offers most of the same basic features as Java plus the coding equivalent of seat warmers and a killer sound system.
- The Curious Comeback of the Dreaded QR Code
It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment QR codes became a joke.
- CNN witnesses US Navy's drone-killing laser
"We don't worry about wind, we don't worry about range, we don't worry about anything else. We're able to engage the targets at the speed of light."
- This soft robot could extend your life
Inspired by the natural growth of things like vines or fungi, that stretch over a distance by growing, the team developed prototypes and put them through different tests.
Events
- A Brighter Future for Electric Cars and the Planet - The NY Times Editorial Board
It is so heartening to see electric cars, considered curios for the rich or eccentric or both not that long ago, now entering the mainstream.
- The incredible impact of UPS's no left turn policy
UPS trucks don't make left turns. That was actually a brilliant business move on their part, since it saves time and gas. Take a look.
- Elon Musk: I got 'verbal' approval for 29-minute NYC-to-DC hyperloop
He urged Americans to lobby federal and state officials "if you want this to happen fast."
- The Missing Self-Driving Puzzle Piece? Hyper Local Maps
While a person instinctively knows how to quickly deal with, say, a road or lane closure due to construction, autonomous vehicles could easily become confused and take too long to deal with the situation as traffic backs up.
- Boots To Business Reboot Training: Introduction To Entrepreneurship, 8/14, Bozeman
- Heart & Soul Talks: Mobilizing Volunteers For Small Town Success - 7/27 - Webinar
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