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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Sep 19, 2017 |
Life is short. Take the trip. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake.
Montana Ambassadors and Friends of Montana: Come Hear From Montana's Governor - Steve Bullock - 9/25 - Seattle, WA http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Department of Commerce
Montana Politics & Legislature
- Made in Montana Program Brings Small Businesses to Billings Market
"The Made in Montana Tradeshow is a great opportunity for member businesses to test the waters of exhibiting at a wholesale tradeshow before expanding to a larger show like the Billings Market," said Commerce Director Pam Haxby-Cote. "As we help to prepare them for success, it's exciting to see our members mature and pursue new opportunities to get their authentic Montana products into stores and restaurants around the country."
Northwestern Energy
- Missoulian editorial - Special session needed to reduce cuts, raise taxes
This summer brought deeper-than-expected shortfalls in revenues and steeper-than-anticipated increases in spending to fight wildfires, squeezing the state budget on both sides and triggering painful cuts to crucial agency programs.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- "Don't get scammed by crooks posing as NorthWestern Energy"
I received a phone call from "NorthWestern Energy". The guy told me my meter at the DDC had to be replaced..inefficient, blah blah, and that I had to pay a $500 deposit that would be returned in 3 months. It sounded like a scam and I told him as much.
Montana Ambassadors
- What we learn by tracking gifted kids for 45 years
"We just need to realize that these kids are as different from the norm as kids with special needs are--and that we need to be responsive to their learning needs,"
- Google Glass autism app is a real conversation-starter
Holli is an app that presently runs on Google Glass, and it tells ASD kids what they should say next.
Visit Montana
- Montana Ambassadors and Friends of Montana: Come Hear From Montana's Governor - Steve Bullock - 9/25 - Seattle, WA
Please join us for an evening of networking with fellow "friends of Montana" who share a professional and personal interest in Montana business and economic development and a desire to forge strong ties between Montana and the Pacific Northwest. The event is free of charge thanks to our sponsors.
Energy and Climate Change
- Work begins to restore Sperry Chalet building in Glacier National Park damaged by fire
Donations to the Glacier National Park Conservancy https://glacier.org/ have funded the work of the engineering firm and will fund initial stabilization materials and needed labor this fall.
1 Million Cups
- Montana's solar energy capacity more than doubled since 2015
Last June, Gov. Steve Bullock released a "blueprint" for the state's energy future, which called for Montana to double that by 2025. Instead, it happened in less than two years.
- Power company maps energy plan for Idaho and Oregon
Boise-based memory chipmaker Micron Technology and the Sierra Club are among organizations that worry the coal plants aren't shutting down fast enough.
- Firebricks offer low-cost storage for carbon-free energy
Ancient technology could be used to level electricity prices for renewables.
- New study shows a 1-in-20 chance climate change will cause a complete societal collapse
Most of the world's human population, and the health of ecosystems across the planet, could face an existential threat by the end of the century if rapid, forceful action is not taken to combat climate change.
Come Home Montana
- 1 Million Cups - Jen Knoetgen From Mountain Meat Shares & Mudita Hinton Of Vital Living Solutions - 9/20 - Missoula
The excitement is echoing here at 1 Million Cups! From the caffeinated desk of 1MC, we are proud to present
Montana Business
- Montana Career Opportunities - Hiring Solutions Consultants and Engagement Managers - commonfont
We provide the guidance and technical solutions that enable our clients to collect, interpret, and act on customer feedback data, converting unhappy customers into happy ones and building loyalty that drives growth.
- Frank Borman: from pioneering astronaut to Montana rancher
"As a matter of fact I figured out the other day I've lived in Montana longer than anywhere else I've lived in my life."
TED and TEDX Talks
- Libby, Montana's Sherpa Trailers Is Much More Than An Accidental Business
Four years ago, Adam Montgomery, Bruce Weatherby and Joan Oakland worked together at a grocery store in Troy. Montgomery was in produce, Weatherby was the grocer and Oakland was in the deli.
- Kudos&Co. - Company behind kids' social media app opens Bozeman office with the potential for a "couple hundred" additional employees over the next year.
The free app's aim is to give young kids (typically from 7 to 13) a safe entry point into the online world, its founder said.
- Advanced Technology Group celebrates 100 Missoula employees, eyes 250 by end of next year
"We'll add 20 more this year, targeting 80 more by the end of next year. We're looking at 250 employees in Missoula by the middle of 2019.
Careers
- NEW ON TED.COM - What really motivates people to be honest in business
Each year, one in seven large corporations commits fraud. Why?
Business Plan Forums
- Liberal arts grads: Tech companies want YOU!
Many tech companies are increasingly interested in candidates with liberal arts degrees to benefit from their unique perspectives and skills.
- Career advice: 4 tips for older job seekers
Job-searching when you're close to retirement isn't easy. Here's how to take age out of the equation.
City Club Missoula
- Jessica Dehn, a Montana State University alumna wins local SBA InnovateHER competition for Flexible Preschool Startup Dino Drop-In
Ten finalists, to be announced July 31, will be invited to pitch live at the national competition this fall to vie for $70,000 in prizes sponsored by the Sara Blakely Foundation.
Government
- City Club Missoula Presents: Missoula City Mayoral Debate Featuring John Engen And Lisa Triepke - 10/16
MISSOULA CITY MAYORAL DEBATE Featuring John Engen, Incumbent; and Lisa Triepke, Candidate. Moderated by Sally Mauk, Montana Public Radio.
Idaho Business
- Feds cut 61% of funding for Utah nonprofits that help people enroll in ACA marketplace
Utah advocates say the Trump administration is not correctly measuring performance and is undermining the ACA.
- Did you pay to freeze your own credit? This bill would refund you -- and ban the fees.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and a dozen other Democrats introduced a bill on Friday that seeks to end a major frustration for consumers who've sought to protect themselves from the Equifax data breach.
- Federal Government admits harassing small Butte meat plant and other Montana companies, but takes no action
A deputy assistant administrator for the Food Safety and Inspection Service told Bart Riley in a letter more than two years after he filed an official complaint: "Regarding willful harassment ... five allegations were substantiated."
- Billings Gazette opinion: Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton should answer for fraud
There is fraud, Mr. Stapleton, and it's been perpetuated by you on the citizens of Montana when you've given them a reason not to trust the results of a free and open election. This is nothing more than a farce, designed to incense lawmakers who will then take steps to make voting unnecessarily difficult which would have the effect of disenfranchising entire blocs of voters.
- $25 Million in errors force Missoula City Council to revise, reapprove 2018 budget resolution
"The resolution that the council adopted inadvertently excluded a couple of items, and in fact there are three areas that we discovered errors on that we do need to correct." Dale Bickell, chief administrative officer, city of Missoula
- Republican governors get into the 'news' business
It launched in the summer bearing no acknowledgement that it was a product of an official party committee whose sole purpose is to get more Republicans elected.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- How Trump's Immigration Crackdown Threatens to Choke Idaho's Dairy Industry
Hispanic workers power the state's farms. Without them, a 'Made in America' success story would collapse.
Other Economies
- Sales tax revenue up more than $80M in Williston, North Dakota
Sales taxes don't represent the total economic picture, but are a good indicator since they track the physical movement of goods and services.
Regional Business
- Finnish citizens given universal basic income report lower stress levels and greater incentive to work
Finland has been giving 2,000 of its citizens an unconditional income for the last five months and some are already seeing the benefits
Workforce Development
- Scientific wellness company Arivale founded by Missoula native Dr. Leroy Hood goes national, drops prices for genetic analysis and coaching
Hood said his goal is to create a new wave of "wellderly" people who get into their 80s and 90s in excellent health without any serious problems, ultimately dying in their 100s "by virtue of a total systems failure."
- Health and wellness failed. It's time to earn insurance rebates, Idaho Blue Cross CEO says
One of the things that has prevented us from really doing great things, from an insurance carrier's perspective, is that in many states including Idaho, rebates are illegal. So, we have to be really careful. You can't rebate people to do something.
- Amid Opioid Crisis, Insurers Restrict Pricey, Less Addictive Painkillers
Opioid drugs are generally cheap while safer alternatives are often more expensive.
Wyoming Business
- Why California is investing over $200 million in vocational education
By enrolling in vocational education programs, students can earn degrees in high-demand fields like nursing, business and engineering which can lead to high-paying jobs. Still, many students believe that a bachelor's degree is the only path to success.
- Bitterroot College offers new workforce programs
Bitterroot College is offering classes this fall that can have an immediate career impact.
Montana Education Excellence
- People owe Wyoming $80 million worth of debt -- the state wants to get better at collecting it
"Every dollar we can collect is a dollar we don't have to raise," said Rep. Mike Madden, R-Buffalo.
Community
- University of Montana Listed Among Nation's Top 150 Public Universities
"This ranking validates what we at UM already know - our institution offers our students a world-class education, bolstered by the high caliber of our faculty and staff," said Tom Crady, UM vice president for enrollment and student affairs. "Many prospective students and their parents pay close attention to these rankings, so this strong showing will help them discover what UM has to offer."
- Public Forum On Future Of The University Of Montana - 9/21 - Missoula
The panel will be discussing the UM presidential search, tuition hikes, and the budget cuts. There will be four panelists illuminating the current issues and discussing courses of actions.
- University of Montana presidential finalist Mirta Martin favors growth, not cuts
"I'm not an ivory tower president."
- Most Montana college grads find jobs in state
The information could also be helpful in persuading Montana voters of the benefits of a college education, they said, when the statewide 6-mill property tax levy goes on the ballot in 2018 requesting renewal for another 10 years.
Funding and Building your Business
- Design Excellence Community Workshop returns to Missoula on Thursday, Sept 21
The purpose of the workshop is to introduce the public to the draft recommendations of the Design Excellence Draft Strategy Report.
- Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation offers $50,000 match to MTN Montana Wildfire Relief Fund
The fund is a chance to help fellow Montanans who are victims of these disastrous fires. Click here to donate http://www.kpax.com/category/327475/montana-wildfire-relief-fund .
- Bozeman Chronicle Editorial: Belgrade, Montana smart to plan for future
The good news is that the people of Belgrade -- from everyday folks to elected leaders are anticipating more growth and trying to guide it in smart ways.
Government Technology
- Creative Entrepreneurs of the Made in Italy: Enzo Ferrari
Although Ferrari was a good racer, his talent was in the direction of organization and the handling of small details.
- Co-working space is on a tear in Denver, leading some to speculate it will take over the office market
Amid boom in new spaces in Denver, flexible office providers highlight ways they outperform 'old school' real estate
HACKING AND VIRUS ALERTS
- Smart Cities on the Map
Our content visualization engine maps govtech.com coverage and current efforts around the country.
- Why Leading Smart Cities Are Often Bike-Friendly Cities
Moore notes that people are just starting to think about how to use this data to identify problem areas and make cities safer for bicycles.
Transportation
- Authorities: Overseas Hackers Seeking to Extort Community with Cyber Threats
Hackers send ransom letter seeking electronic currency to end threats, destroy personal information that was gathered in breach
- Hyperloop One challenge outlines 10 high-potential routes Urban Transport
The company has today announced the 10 winners, with potential routes spanning three continents and more than 6,000 km (3,700 mi) worth of track.
- World's first electric dump truck stores as much energy as 8 Tesla Model S cars
Even the construction industry can "go green."
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