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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Dec 1, 2017 |
"Because in the end, you won't remember the time you spent in the office or mowing the lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain!" Jack Kerouac
"Computing skills have become ubiquitous in our society. Just about every engineering and science discipline needs computer skills and now they are enrolling in our classes." Colorado School of Mines computer science professor Tracy Camp At the University of Washington, demand is so great that only one-third of students who apply to major in computer science and computer engineering are accepted into the school’s program. - Montana middle schools can apply for grants to add computer science courses - http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Department of Commerce
Northwestern Energy
- Montana Department of Commerce Announces Grants to Support Main Street Businesses
"Montana's entrepreneurs and small businesses are the core of our strong economy," said Director Haxby-Cote. "Supporting their growth through proven economic development programs will continue to drive Montana's economy and create opportunities for our workforce across the state."
- Montana Main Street Program Grants Awarded to 9 Communities to Help Revitalize, Strengthen Downtowns
"Montanans cherish our charming, vibrant downtowns and visitors seek them out," Commerce Director Pam Haxby-Cote said, "These small grants go a long way in assisting communities with strengthening and preserving historic downtowns with an eye toward the future."
TechLink
- NorthWestern Energy forum discusses renewables, future supply sources
The Butte-based Montana utility invited experts to discuss various alternative energy sources that included wind, solar, and even geothermal energy.
Big Sky Code Academy
- TechLink Facilitated A Redesigned Welding Cart From Spika Design & Manufacturing That Now Keeps Aerospace Fabricators Safe At Vandenberg Air Force Base
The new welding cart design resulting from the partnership is a prime example of Air Force technology transfer benefiting the U.S. defense mission and the American public.
Early Edge Montana
- Colorado colleges overflowing with huge wave of computer science students
A massive influx of computer science majors in Colorado and across the country is overwhelming college and university classrooms as students opt to gain the skills required to fill nearly 500,000 open jobs in cybersecurity, data science and machine learning.
- Montana middle schools can apply for grants to add computer science courses
Project Lead the Way and Verizon announced this week that they are offering $20,000 grants to help some schools fund "high-quality, hands-on computer science curriculum and teacher training," according to a news release.
- Big Sky Code Academy - Ready for the next step in your career?
The goal of our intensive 12 Week Full Time or 21 Week Part Time Bootcamps are to transform you into a professional coder.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Early Education's Effects Last Through High School
Study after study keeps coming to the same conclusion: Early education works.
Visit Montana
- State Innovations for School Near-Completers
This Promising Practices report overviews the 2017 policy landscape regarding near-completers, reviews three states' outreach strategies to this population and includes policy considerations for state leaders.
- Why some students quit college - and how they can finish
Without a degree, it can be impossible to qualify for many jobs.
VR/AR, Blockchain, Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence and The Internet of Things
- Flathead Valley Winter Preview 2017
Check out our 2017 guide to all things winter.
Energy and Climate Change
- A.I. uses cars to predict neighborhood's politics
"Using easily obtainable visual data, we can learn so much about our communities, on par with some information that takes billions of dollars to obtain via census surveys. More importantly, this research opens up more possibilities of virtually continuous study of our society using sometimes cheaply available visual data."
Come Home Montana
- How Google Is Using Moonshots to Solve Climate Change
Google's "captain of moonshots" details the internet giant's wackier attempts to generate, store and use energy.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Marketing & Program Specialist - Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development
This position is an integral part of the Montana SBDC Lead Center team. Lead Center program management reflects on the competency, professionalism, and integrity of the Montana Department of Commerce, the SBDC network, the SBA District Office, the ASBDC national network, other SBA Resource Partners, and other statewide referral sources.
- Montana Career Opportunities - UI Developer, Senior Technical Writer, DevOps Engineer, Senior Web App Developer and more... - Arrow Solutions Group
At Arrow Solutions Group we're your liaison to the employer and the job you want. Search our Job Postings and find a technology job that fits you.
Montana Business
- SBA Announces Veterans Business Outreach Center Funding Opportunity
Those organizations selected to receive the funding will provide training, mentoring and SBA resource navigation to veterans, active duty service members, Reserve, National Guard and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business.
TED and TEDX Talks
- 406 will remain Montana's only area code for years
Federal Communications Commission officials informed the Commission on Monday that the state's single area code is expected to last into the 2030s.
- Legislation aims to help small Montana banks
The new bill would give small-town banks more latitude to work with customers to customize the terms of loans, Turkiewicz said. Since Dodd-Frank was passed in 2010 in the wake of the financial crisis, it has reigned in reckless loans by big banks, but also made it more difficult for smaller banks to customize loans for customers in rural areas.
- CNN - 20 gifts travelers will actually want - Montana's VIM & VIGR - Not your grandma's compression socks
This will do wonders for those running-to-catch-connecting-flights moments.
- CostCare Missoula clinic to be 1st in state to offer direct primary care for $70 monthly fee
"Primary care needs to come out of insurance because it's driving up the cost," said Bridges. "For 80 percent of Americans, most of their medical needs can be handled by a primary care provider."
Careers
- TodaY's TED Talk - The new generation of computers is programming itself
"Only one percent of interesting things have been invented yet,"
Next Generation Broadband in Montana
- Holiday blues: Four mistakes we make when comforting grieving friends
Although we all want to support others through hardship, knowing how to do that isn't always intuitive. Every bookstore has a self-help section -- but sometimes what we really need is a "help others" section.
- Washington State University aims to lower med school debt to help new doctors practice in rural and low income areas.
"We want our students to follow their passions, without the worry and stress of having a huge debt to pay off."
- This Is How To Thrive In The Gig Economy
Love it or hate it, the traditional job landscape isn't coming back anytime soon.
- These Former Googlers Created An AI Tool To Improve Crappy Resume Writing
"Resumes suck."
- Robots could replace nearly a third of the U.S. workforce by 2030
"We believe that everyone will need to do retraining over time."
Business Plan Forums
- The Fiber Future is Cooperative: Policy Brief On Rural Cooperative Fiber Deployment
This policy brief provides an overview of the work that cooperatives have already done, including a map of the cooperatives' fiber service territories. We also offer recommendations on ways to help cooperatives continue their important strides.
Developing an Angel Network in Montana
- EPIC Pitch Competition By Blackstone LaunchPad At University Of Montana - 12/7
The competition is open to all students of the University of Montana including Missoula College, regardless of year or major.
Government
- An update from Frontier Angels
Last month we raised over $250k for two innovative companies - one with a very innovative medical device for pelvic fracture repair and another with a unique model for sustainably-powered large-scale greenhouses that dramatically improve grower profits.
Idaho Business
- Montana Senator Jon Tester Blasts Federal Communications Commission Proposal to End Net Neutrality
"The only true freedom in your Order is the freedom for these large corporations to reduce consumer choice, control the flow of internet information and increase profits at the expense of everyday Montanans," wrote Tester. "I strongly urge you to reverse course on your net neutrality proposal and put the American people's ability to openly access the internet before corporate bottom lines. Montanans expect unfettered access to the web, which means absolutely no blocking websites, no paid prioritization and no throttling speeds."
- Net neutrality comments mostly came from bots and fake email addresses, Pew finds
Among the nearly 22 million public comments about net neutrality filed with the Federal Communications Commission in recent months, only 6% of them were unique comments, a Pew Research Center study has found.
- Senator Tester Urges Trump to Protect Montana Consumers
"I respectfully urge you to allow Deputy Director English to act as the sole interim director of the CFPB and nominate a worthy and capable permanent director who is committed to protecting consumers as soon as possible," wrote Tester, Montana's only member of the Senate Banking Committee. "Americans need a leader at the CFPB who will fight for them, not burn the agency down from the inside out."
- Sen. Daines changes vote on tax reform bill after earlier stating he would not support it.
"These Main Street businesses will be able to provide more jobs and higher wages in Montana and across the country. I've seen enough progress to vote yes to move the debate forward."
- Montana revenue director: GOP tax-cut bill initially drops state revenue
"We have big concerns about the overall effects of what they're doing," Kadas told MTN News in an interview Wednesday. "They're essentially financing tax breaks with deficit spending. ...
- The GOP Tax Reform Bill Guts American Higher Education
We are letting our people down. Sadly, we are moving into an era when we devalue higher education, when we deny the critical opportunities to our young people, when we slash and burn what has been most dear to us since the founding of the republic. Is this really the road we want for America's future? Inconceivable.
- Gov. Bullock calls GOP's tax reform bill a "tax scam" that hurts families
"Republicans in Congress are increasing the national debt to give huge tax breaks to corporations and the very wealthy, leaving the rest of us with table scraps," Bullock said in a statement. "This isn't tax reform, it's a tax scam that hurts workers and families."
- Is Great Falls a business-friendly community?
...when we consider whether our community fosters an environment that is conducive to economic growth, the real villain is usually process...
Regional Economic Development
- Chobani gets new look and hints at going beyond yogurt
"What this new identity enables us to do is start to seed, if you will, us going into other areas beyond yogurt," says Peter McGuinness, Chobani's chief marketing and commercial officer. But he wouldn't say what new foods or products it might make, or when it would happen.
Washington State Business
- Group calls investing in education 'best economic development package'
"Every student has the potential to impact a community if he or she receives a high-quality education," said Bob Wise, president of the alliance, which is set to release economic impact reports for 50 states and 140 metropolitan areas.
Education
- Hey, women in business: This conference will help you replace stress with strength
She says that now, more than ever, we're overdue for a cultural shift for women to gain confidence and more control of their lives. Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article186772698.html#storylink=cpy
Montana Education Excellence
- Seattle mayor pushing for free community college program
Newly minted Mayor Jenny Durkan on Wednesday signed an executive order for a program that would cover tuition costs for up to two years for all Seattle Public Schools students.
Community
- MSU receives $1.2 million for program that supports underrepresented students
The grant from the U.S. Department of Education will provide funding for MSU's McNair Scholars Program, which is designed to support undergraduates who are minorities or who are first-generation and low-income students.
- Give to your loved one's higher education with Achieve Montana
If you're still undecided on where to give this year, consider giving a gift that will last forever. Consider giving to support higher education.
- Student success is key to Montana's future economy
Montana State University President Waded Cruzado said it best: "Not every student who fails at math will abandon college, but almost every student who leaves college has failed at math." Over the past three years, the faculty of the MUS have engaged in two efforts to address student success with math.
- University of Montana Montanan Fall 2017
Take a look at what's happening around campus, including news, a message from the president, the latest from Griz Nation, and much more.
Funding and Building your Business
- City of Missoula Community Needs Assessment Meeting and CDBG and HOME Application Workshop
¿Cuál es su visión para el futuro de Missoula? ¿Cómo podemos trabajar todos juntos para seguir mejorando la Calidad de Vida, la Vivienda y el Desarrollo Económico?
- Poor Kids - Prepare to be changed forever
Through the stories of three families told over the course of half a decade, FRONTLINE explores what poverty means to children in America.
Connectivity & Communications
- 4 Steps To Prepare Your Business For A Required Pivot
You can even give it a more elegant name, like "market-focused reinvention," but it won't be graceful if you don't take the lead.
- The hidden costs of a soft-skills deficit in middle management
"Advancement in a position is based on the candidate's performance in his or her previous roles, rather than performance in their current role." -LJ Peter, 1968
- Make Your Startup Better - Tell better startup stories
Learning the intricacies of storytelling can help you maintain your audience's attention when discussing your startup
- Closing the Opportunity Gap for Native American Entrepreneurs
While Native American entrepreneurs have been historically under-represented, closing the entrepreneurship opportunity gap would create a positive impact in many communities--and our country as a whole.
- Petting zoos at the office are the latest perk for stressed-out employees
In these anxious times, the embattled masses are resorting to all manner of succor.
Non-Profit News
- Lexington, Ky., Set to Become a Gigabit City
Officials in Lexington, Ky. are finalizing plans with Internet and cable provider MetroNet to wire the city with high-speed fiber.
- Louisville, Ky., Expects Google Fiber to Boost Economic Development, Digital Inclusion
City leaders say they have seen an increase in businesses interested in relocating to Louisville in the weeks following the service's launch.
- Verizon to launch 5G residential broadband services in up to 5 markets in 2018
As a first application of fifth-generation - or 5G -- wireless, these services will use radio signals, rather than copper or fiber cables, to provide customers with unprecedented wireless speeds for Internet access.
- How 41 People in Lithuania Took Over Your Facebook Feed
Of all of Facebook's superpowers, perhaps the most disconcerting is how it can make online publishers disappear with the push of a button.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Building a Nonprofit
Many people have ideas about how to make their communities better. But dreaming is just the start.
Transportation
- New design gives 3D printers a 10x speed boost
"If I'm a repair technician and I could have a fast 3-D printer in my vehicle, I could 3-D-print a repair part on-demand after I figure out what's broken. I don't have to go to a warehouse and take it out of inventory."
- BMW to open 200 million-Euro battery cell development center in Munich
It's a serious bet on the electric mobility revolution.
- Waymo's fleet clocks up 4 million self-driving miles
Earlier this month, Waymo finally gave its team of human back-up drivers notice that they may have to start looking for something else to do, when some of the company's vehicles in Phoenix began operating in fully autonomous mode.
- The Block Fallacy, or How Not to Build a Circulation System
The city block itself, no matter how well defined and sized, is insufficient to generate a circulation system of which itself is a derivative element.
- My Herky-Jerky Ride in General Motors' Ultra-Cautious Self Driving Car
The biggest vehicle manufacturer in America has some big work to do before humans take the back seat--for good.
- Would You Send Your Kids To School On A Self-Driving School Bus?
Meet Hannah, a concept for an autonomous bus that solves long-standing issues with school buses. But will parents ever trust an AV with their kids?
- Intel, Warner Bros. partner for entertainment in self-driving cars
It's a huge opportunity, said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich.
- Pedestrian needs, priorities emerging in Missoula transportation plan
To See the Future of Cities, Watch the Curb. Yes, the Curb
- G.M. Unveils Its Driverless Cars, Aiming to Lead the Pack
Although G.M. has been reluctant to show off the cars it has developed through a subsidiary, Cruise Automation, the company now wants to prove that self-driving models are getting closer to general use.
- Porsche is betting on an electric future, CEO says
"You can be sure when we come out with an electric car, its driving dynamics, acceleration and quality all will be typical Porsche."
- Shared electric vehicles, charging stations on way to low-income communities in the Bay Area
"I don't know if (these companies) recognize the potential as much as they should."
- GM says it will launch a robot taxi service in 2019
The company recently allowed reporters to take rides in its autonomous test cars through the congested streets of San Francisco. Most reported that the car handled most situations proficiently, with a few hiccups.
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