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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Nov 21, 2017 |
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"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas A. Edison
University of Montana launchs search for provost http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Politics & Legislature
Montana's Outdoor Recreation Economy
- Montana House majority leaders offer special session wrap-up
Our resolve to not raise taxes on Montanans and our determination to find a better solution meant that we couldn't take the easy way out.
- Missoulian editorial - Legislators should hear about effects of their refusal to raise taxes
Make no mistake: These reductions are going to hurt.
- State work-comp fund sues to block $30M transfer approved last week by Montana special session
"Montana State Fund funds and assets belong to MSF policyholders and cannot be encumbered by the Legislature," the suit said. "... It is not the duty of MSF policyholders to solve the state's fiscal problems."
Northwestern Energy
- Tourism is thriving year round in northwest Montana
This has been a year of records for tourism in northwest Montana.
- Welcome to the Big Blackfoot Riverkeeper
The Big Blackfoot Riverkeeper (BBRK) is dedicated to the protection and preservation of one of the most beautiful rivers in America -- western Montana's Big Blackfoot River.
Flathead Valley Community College
- NorthWestern Energy Hosts Butte Forum To Explore Electricity Supply Resources - 11/29
Experts will make presentations covering all aspects of electric supply, from batteries, pumped storage, liquid air energy storage, geothermal, wind, solar, coal, natural gas and hydroelectric.
Great Falls Development Authority
- Flathead Valley Community College Contributes Nearly $94 Million in Regional Income
"The community supports the college and you can see that the college is able to give a great deal back to the community," FVCC President Jane Karas said. "Certainly one of the best returns on investment for the Flathead Valley has been the community college."
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- GFDA Top 10 - Great News in Great Falls
Here is our Top 15 for this week, celebrating work and successes to grow and strengthen our Great Falls regional economy.
Visit Montana
- 25 innovators and innovations that changed education over the last 25 years
The time capsule recognizes nine innovators and 16 innovations, with a handful of others included as honorable mentions.
- This May Be the Key to Graduating At-Risk Students
It turns out that how long a mentor sticks around can have a huge impact.
VR/AR, Blockchain, Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence and The Internet of Things
- "Missouri River Country" A tourism group wants help promoting 8 northeast Montana counties
"We like to target non-residents, but with us being so far up in the northeast corner, we also are targeting Western Montanans," Hunsley said. "You'd be surprised some people have never been to our area who have lived in Montana all their lives."
Energy and Climate Change
- How Blockchain Technology Can Serve the Have-nots
Can the blockchain, a distributed ledger technology that underpins cryptocurrencies such as the Bitcoin, be used to help millions of poor people gain access to financial services?
- How Artificial Intelligence is Saving Veterans' Lives Despite AI Controversy
The wide proliferation of Artificial Intelligence has led to a new problem: autonomous weapons that can attack on targets without human intervention. But, the technology is equally capable of improving our lives.
- AI helps detect pre-cancerous colorectal growths
AI has also been tested in reading X-rays and brain scans and even narrowing down the list of possible genetic diseases a patient suffers from simply by analyzing his or her face.
- Welcome to the Era of the AI Coworker
Google had spent the better part of 2016 reworking its translation tool to be powered by AI--and in doing so, it had created something unnervingly powerful.
- What is it like working in a blockchain lab?
Blockchain is getting bigger all the time, introducing the need for specific blockchain labs. But what does a job at a blockchain lab actually entail?
- Bitcoin and ethereum fall after a $31 million crypto heist
"As Tether is the issuer of the USDT managed asset, we will not redeem any of the stolen tokens, and we are in the process of attempting token recovery to prevent them from entering the broader ecosystem," Tether said.
- Do you own bitcoin? You could soon have some without even knowing it.
And it might not even be a matter of "if." It's now just a matter of "when."
Come Home Montana
- A Smart Recycling Bin Could Sort Your Waste for You
It's sometimes difficult to know where to put different types of plastic, but computer vision could remove any confusion
- Idaho businesses, industry, agencies, other groups come together at 'Climate Summit'
"This is Idaho - we know how to work together and we know how to solve problems," said Heather Kimmel of the American Lung Association. "We can identify solutions that will protect Idaho's economy, Idaho's water, Idaho's land, Idaho's health, and Idaho's future for generations to come."
- Lawmakers consider changing the rules for small wind farms that sell to Wyoming utilities
Their ultimate goal, they say, is to make sure rate payers in Wyoming are getting the best deal.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Business Development Grants Manager - Prospera
The Business Development Grants Manager, is a new position at Prospera and plays an important role working directly with business clients to plan, develop, write and submit business development grants to state and federal funding agencies.
- University of Montana launchs search for provost
Sally Mason, with AGB Search, said the timeline was aggressive for two reasons: "One, Seth needs it. Two, you've done this before."
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- "Beautifully Equipped" Bozeman entrepreneurs collaborate on business podcast
The collaborations also get at a critical aspect of female entrepreneurship: The idea that women in business often devalue their work -- charging less than they should, asking for less than their male counterparts or simply not knowing where the barometer is set.
- UM's Blackstone LaunchPad helps local businesses
"You get out what you put into it," he said. "You still have to work hard. But they will recognize you are dedicated if you meet them halfway."
Montana Business
- Mark Your Calendar For Rockin' It Rural - Thriving In Small Town Montana - 4/26-27 - Dillon, MT
Hope you plan on attending the MEDA Spring Conference. It's going to be monumental!
Careers
- Medicine Springs Mineral Therapy - Former Montana chemistry teacher creates Medicine Springs, a hot spring remedy
After trips to various hot springs, the chemist in Brandon began to think about a way to bring the hot springs home.
- Montana could face glut of business sales as baby boomers retire, Missoula broker says
The wave of retiring baby boomers will do more than leave Montana with a shortage of skilled workers, it may also leave the state with a glut of businesses up for sale.
Idaho Business
- Six Habits of The Best Conversationalists
"Good conversations require a give and take, just like keeping a ball in the air during a game of catch."
- Career pivot: How to move from the arts into STEM
Interested in a STEM career path, but haven't got the qualifications? Here's how you can make the transition.
Incubators and R&D
- SW Idaho company to use $1M workforce grant to hire, train 701 workers
Positions to be trained include production workers, drivers, safety technicians and supervisors, according to an Idaho Department of Labor press release.
- Priest River, Idaho Industrial Park: A small-town economic success story
After 37 years, a group of tenacious volunteers in Priest River, Idaho, just a few miles from the Washington border, can claim a spot among those that have succeeded.
Oregon Business
- Bill Gates just gave us 50 million ways to re-think the human brain
Together with company co-founder Paul Allen, the two remind us how devastating a hobbled brain is to anyone touched by the disease.
Regional Business
- Dirty Deals: How Oregon let its clean energy program enrich rule breakers (Watchdog Report Part 1 of 2)
Documents also show how the culture of the agency contributed to the misuse of millions in taxpayer funds.
Regional Economic Development
- Reid Hoffman: It's Time to Change Silicon Valley Culture
[Change will] happen through multiple steps.
South Dakota
- New Maker Movement Report Helps Cities Unleash Local Creative Economy
The guide, "Discovering Your City's Maker Economy," defines the maker community, highlights specific ways that city leaders can support these entrepreneurs and provides profiles of supportive programs, policies, and partnerships at the city level.
Education
- Dakota State sues Sioux Falls-based Stratton Group over failed Sioux Falls Startup Week
The event's planned dates were key. Bushee was involved in the Sioux Falls visit by entrepreneur and startup investor Paul Singh, CEO of http://www.ResultsJunkies.com, set for the last week in April.
Montana Education Excellence
- Black Hills State University to offer 18-day intensive courses
Under the new block system, students will meet for three hour chunks at the same time in the morning or afternoon for 18 consecutive days. Each course will be separated by breaks of four days. Students will need to enroll in four blocks to qualify as full time.
Funding and Building your Business
- Montana campus leaders promise no faculty furloughs
Montana State University's President is promising that faculty and staff won't be furloughed though the state university system faces $4.5 million in budget cuts.
- Montana's fragmented University System struggles to pull together
A big issue is whether the way the University System reorganized itself in 1993 is working or not.
- University of Montana is western Montana's largest employer
The presence of the university creates 9,700 jobs statewide, $1 billion in after-tax income, $200 million in state tax revenues and $352 million in annual investment spending.
- Missoula College boosts economy by making sure grads are positioned for jobs
Local employers can tap into a source of talent they otherwise might not have, which gives a boost to the local economy.
- MSU releases television commercial about rural education
The ad tells the story of MSU student Mary Hillerman, who is pursuing a career as a teacher in order to give back to Helmville, the small community that enriched her own life.
- VIDEO: Face the State - Rural Education in Montana
These schools like many others their size, face shrinking enrollment and budgets, higher graduation requirements and have an intense passion for creating lasting bonds.
Connectivity & Communications
- What Happens When Women Reach a Critical Mass of Influence
What can we do to help? Count ourselves.
- Here's what you need to know about SAFTs -- the cryptocurrency fundraising craze that's shaking up venture capital
Just as blockchain technology is shaking up the startup space, it's also revamping the way venture capital firms invest in emerging companies.
- As Silicon Valley Gets 'Crazy,' Midwest Beckons Tech Investors
The Midwest, the thinking goes, is not only untapped, but also an antidote to the scalding-hot tech market on the West Coast.
- HR professionals: If you don't act against harassment, who will?
It was so egregious, I had a hard time believing that anything like that still existed in America's corporations. Boy have I been wrong.
Non-Profit News
- FCC scales back broadband program for low-income Americans
Thursday's 3-2 party line vote means one piece of the program will change immediately, and lays the ground work to alter or kill other pieces.
- Phone companies get new tools to block spam calls
The changes won't stop robocalls completely, though experts say these steps are a good start.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Bozeman group gathers goods for Missoula refugee families
"What if it was my family?" Maggard said. "We're supposed to show love for our neighbor, and our neighbor is anyone who is in need."
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Elon Musk on His Fears, Dreams, Twitter, Morality and Mars
Do you remember your last dream? - I do remember, but I'm not going to tell you. - Why? - Because I don't wish to appear neurotic.
Transportation
- IKEA, David Chang and ruler of Dubai invest $40 million in AeroFarms vertical farming
The company intends to use the money to address the escalating challenge of bringing healthy, sustainable food to the growing global population using their innovative aeroponic growing system.
Events
- Further thoughts on Tesla's EV Truck announcement...from a former fleet owner
Moving into trucking and transport further develops the market and brings higher-volume sales, leading to this capacity and cost advancement.
- Tesla's Electric Semi Truck Gets Orders From Wal-Mart and J.B. Hunt
The electric vehicles will be most useful on local routes, J.B. Hunt Chief Executive John Roberts said in a statement.
- What Does Tesla's Automated Truck Mean for Truckers?
...about 4,000 Americans die in truck-related collisions every year, and human error is responsible for many of them.
- Tesla flying car? Elon Musk teases 'special upgrade' of Roadster supercar
In a tease that would be utterly ludicrous if it had come from practically anyone else, Tesla CEO Elon Musk hinted Sunday that a "special upgrade" of the company's new Roadster supercar may be capable of briefly flying.
- The best way to improve transportation in our region is...
What kind of transportation changes will give people shorter commutes, less time in traffic, and better access to jobs and airports? Which are the worst?
- Spokane Considers Tax Incentive to Redevelop Downtown Parking Lots
With growing numbers of planners and urban thinkers arguing that parking lots have hollowed the cores of American cities, the era of the surface parking lot may be coming to an end.
- Uber signs deal to buy 24,000 autonomous vehicles from Volvo
Monday's deal between Uber and Volvo could set the stage for something entirely new: thousands of autonomous vehicles ferrying paying customers to their destinations without a human operator, the beginning of a multibillion-dollar robot revolution that could dramatically reconfigure how people get from one place to another.
- Can Human and Robot Drivers Coexist on the Roads?
The recent fender-bender between a delivery truck and an autonomous shuttle in Las Vegas has some asking whether machines can handle the unpredictability of humans.
- University of Florida Considers the Future of Transportation
Researchers convened for a two-day look at the far-reaching impacts of autonomous vehicles and other transportation tech.
- Project Management Networking - Bozeman - PMI Montana Chapter, 12/05, Missoula
- MWED Annual Members Meeting - 12/13 - Kalispell, MT
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