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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Aug 18, 2006 |
MATR
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"I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow." -- Woodrow Wilson
2006 Montana Elections
Come Home Montana
- Report chronicles downside of term limits
"Instead of leveling the playing field between the legislative and executive branches, term limits have weakened the legislative branch in relation to executive power," Kurtz said. This power shift is most apparent in the budget-making process, he said.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Geek Entertainment TV - Off the Grid Camp in Montana
Last week, GETV stepped into the wilds of Montana for Robert Scoble’s “Off the Grid” Camp. Even amongst geysers, big racked elk and boiling rivers there were geeks everywhere. Irina finds out who these geeks are and what they were thinking in stepping away from the computer for a few days.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- US economy's edge: entrepreneurs. A new study shows that start-up activity in the US is twice the average of Western nations.
From Boston to Silicon Valley and in smaller places in between, one of the economy's vital rivers of growth - venture capital - is flowing abundantly. The rush of start-ups is creating valuable jobs today, and it represents an enduring strength of the American economy in the long run.
Education
- Rural Entrepreneurs Push for Wireless Technology to Help Them Globalize
"I love where I'm from,"
- Slicker Cities. The real contest is among communities, not nations.
Young families, no longer earning enough to afford skyrocketing housing costs, moved out of the city.
Montana Business
- With fanfare, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper launches "Preschool Matters" campaign
"Education is absolutely the key to our future - and ensuring that Denver parents have access to quality, affordable preschool for their children is a critical part of improving our public schools," Hickenlooper said. "Early-childhood education's documented return on investment shows that this is one of the best investments we can make in Denver's kids and Denver's future," the mayor said.
- Montana one of three states receiving early childhood grants
According to a recent report from the center early childhood is a critical time for development of the foundational skills and competencies children will need for success in school and life, and that too often children who enter kindergarten without these skills start and stay behind.
- Montana Tech receives $1 million to identify youths with the potential to attend college and encourage them to complete high school and enroll in postsecondary education.
Montana Tech will use the Department of Education grant to partner with 10 middle and high schools in Butte, Anaconda, Deer Lodge and Helena to supplement
- Colleges adapt to tech-savvy new students
Experts say those in their teens and early 20s are so very different than their parents that colleges and universities are wasting no time in adapting.
Montana Economic Development
- Starting up a startup in the Treasure State - Part 2 of Missoulian.com’s 5-part series on economic development in Montana
One of the main ingredients in the recipe is capital. A second ingredient is a good, fundamental employee base. Invizeon looks in particular for college-educated, technology-oriented professionals and/or business professionals. A third ingredient includes key infrastructure and related things Alderson says need to be in place.
- Search for help worsens in the Sidney, MT area.
As September approaches, businesses and industries are feeling the area employment crunch further tighten its grip with no signs of letting up any time soon.
- Golden Growlers version 2.0. The Business of the Best Beer in Montana
Bigger, better, beerier
- Help wanted: Town & Country Livingston filling 52 spots
The company formally began taking applications Wednesday and is funneling them through the Livingston Job Service Workforce Center.
- Chinook Wireless busy with system
Chinook Wireless customer service representatives in Billings were busy on Thursday fielding questions after the launch of their new Montana network late Wednesday night.
- UM, Vote Smart discuss partnership
“We had a very productive and useful meeting,” said Evan Barrett, economic development officer under Gov. Brian Schweitzer.
Montana Biotech
- Montana Ranch Owner Pledges $500,000 Toward New Madison Valley Hospital. “Project Giveback” Aims to Match Donations and Get Community Involved
“Medical care in a community should be treated like all other types of infrastructure such as clean drinking water and safe roads.
- Montana World Trade Center's Trade Mission to Canada is Being Organized: Don't Miss Out!
We often forget that our neighbor to the north is an “international” venture, but Montana can’t afford to miss out on the immense opportunities, particularly in its Oil Sands region, in the housing and infrastructure and mining sectors.
- A change of perspective - Part 3 of Missoulian.com’s 5-part series on economic development in Montana
“You can’t just go throw a whole bunch of money at every project that comes down the pike because that’s not going to be all that effective,” Gibson said. “But if you pick some areas and you really focus, … and of course the governor’s into biofuels … you can call it clustering or concentrating or focusing.
- Some consensus on economic incentives expressed by Montana Legislature Candidates
Candidates from both parties seemed to agree that - if tax and other incentives are to be provided to new and expanding businesses - there need to be criteria those businesses must meet to earn those incentives. Criteria might include employee health insurance, guaranteeing a certain number of jobs and paying a “living wage.”
- The Big Sky Economic Development Corporation Begins Incentive Fund to Entice Companies to Billings.
EDC, Chairwoman, Patrice Elliott said that from the very beginning EDC members have talked about such an incentive fund being “critical” in order to compete in the game of business recruitment.
Funding and Building your Business
- Multi-million dollar animal bioscience complex in the works at Montana State University
“This is probably a once in a 100-year opportunity for the beef cattle industry and MSU to take the beef industry to a new plateau using genomics,” explained Jim Peterson, interim associate dean for outreach and development.
Regional Business
- JetBlue: Friends in High Places
"So we decided that rather than becoming an airline," he added, "we would instead become a customer-experience company that enabled people to travel in aircraft. We wanted to be focused on the fact that our customers aren't just passengers, they're customers."
- Smaller Firms Embrace Sarbanes-Oxley Rules
Some of these private-sector companies have investors who hope the company will one day go public, or will be acquired. Others think adhering to the law's requirements will make their businesses more efficient. Still others face pressure from lenders or customers, including government agencies, who value the strong internal controls required by Sarbanes-Oxley.
- Northwest's dumpster-diving tips crash or "How a company should not handle layoffs"
Earlier this month, it sent workers in Bismarck, N.D.; Bozeman, Mont.; and Austin, Texas, a handbook with tips for handling their layoffs. It included 101 money-saving ideas such as, "Don't be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash."
- Summer Fare -- The New Power Picnics
Managers say this change is necessary. With businesses scattered around the globe, companies need to make the most of the time when employees are gathered in one place. And given that outings are not cheap, every dollar has to count.
- Tech exec: Key to success more than idea, vision
Firms have climbed to revenues topping the billion-dollar mark through a common set of guidelines and circumstances.
- When lining up an angel investor for your company, be sure you both talk through your expectations.
Just about every week I receive a letter from a reader who wants an absolute, foolproof recipe for success. They want the single-best way to value their company, license a technology or determine how fast to "vest" the shares of founding partners. If everything in business were so easy!
Regional Economic Development
- Utah 4th 'best for business'. Colorado #5, Idaho #6, North Dakota #13, South Dakota #17, Wyoming #23, Montana #38
"This is a great honor for the state of Utah to be recognized in this way," said Jason Perry, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development. "The six factors that were used to rank the states are tremendous economic development indicators, and our high ranking validates our message that Utah is open for business."
Idaho Business
- Department of Commerce Addresses Need for New Ideas in Measuring Innovation
Gutierrez singled out the need to expand the commonly understood definition of innovation to include not only new products and services, but also process improvements that boost business productivity.
Washington State Business
- Idaho experiences surge in patent grants. No. 1 state in the country in patents per capita.
Twenty years ago, the number of patents granted to Idaho innovators barely warranted a mention. In 1985, the U.S. Patent and Trade Office approved 73 patents in Idaho. Fast forward to 2005. The number grew to 1,645, according to a patent report released this week by Stoel Rives, a Boise law firm that handles patent law.
- EDS Corp. will have job fair on Saturday 8/19 in Boise to recruit an additional 100 employees.
The positions will provide technical service via a help line to support the company's contract with the Department of Navy to provide support for the Navy and Marine Corps intranet.
Other Economies
- 2006 Washington State Economic And Workforce Development Conference, 9-6/7, Vancouver, Washington
In Vancouver this September, for the first time, we’ll combine workforce and economic development conferences into one unified event. I'll present a strategic vision for moving Washington forward. And throughout the day, together, we'll address key questions to chart our future:
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Private Sector: Innovate, educate. Knowledge is not just power, it's also money -- and Pennsylvania is slipping
The study shows that states that foster inventiveness, as measured by number of patents per resident, can gain economic dividends that endure for generations. The same is true for education -- residents of states that sustain a high proportion of high school and college graduates can enjoy significantly higher long-term incomes. This "knowledge stock" is a good predictor of a state's future economic prospects.
Incubators and R&D
- 50 Coolest Websites
Think we missed one? Send us your thoughts and we'll post a selection of your comments online. There's always next year.
- After 60, the crabbiest people are the smartest, study suggests. Boomers now have an excuse
A hunger for knowledge and adventure seems to sharpen minds in early adulthood and middle age, but after age 60, it's not the most gung-ho but the most disagreeable people who are the smartest, a psychologist reports.
- Readers Chime In On The Greatest Software Ever
Most red-blooded technologists will offer a quick opinion on what's the greatest software ever, but when you take the time to evaluate what makes software truly brilliant, the choices aren't so obvious.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- McLaughlin scientist accepts professor post in New York
"This is an excellent opportunity for my research to grow," Xu said. "In addition to generous financial support for my lab, I will have access to human DNA samples (from Mt. Sinai patients) in which to identify mutations."
- Mega Money Headed toward BioFuel R&D
On Aug. 2, the U.S. Department of Energy launched a competition for proposals to select two new bioenergy research centers as part of the Office of Science Genomics program. The winning centers will receive up to $125 million over a period of five years $25 million in the first year for start-up costs and up to $25 million per year for operations during the subsequent four years.
- Research Roundup at Montana State University (#262), Soaring dinosaur, Mosquito-eating fish, Words in context, Cigarette survey
Montana State University paleontologist Jack Horner is trying to find a dinosaur for the Smithsonian Institution and thinks he found one on federal land near Ekalaka.
Careers
- Award-winning film shows how Montanans pulled wildlife back from brink
Many people don't realize how far the populations fell or how hard Montanans worked to restore them, Picton said. Montana actually has more wildlife today than at any time in more than a century.
- Film's screenwriter finds mother lode of story ideas in Montana roots
It has been many years since TJ Lynch has lived in Montana, yet the memories of his Big Sky youth fill the pages of stories written by the award-winning screenwriter.
Energy
- Ten (Okay, 13) Questions with Libby Sartain, Chief People Yahoo! What does she look for in a candidate?
I suggest that you write an “elevator pitch” for yourself to have at the ready while you’re looking for a new job.
Connectivity & Communications
- Gas from trash to power homes in Utah
Trash is coming in handy: More than 2,500 Murray homes will be powered by electricity churned from methane gas naturally created by garbage at the county landfill.
Community
- 'Paint-on' Antennas Could Offer Emergency Response Wireless Alternative
Flying as high as 60,000 to 70,000 feet above the earth, high-altitude airships such as the SA-60 can stay aloft for up to a year and providing a platform for wireless communications.
- Wireless Works Wonders in Tibet
Western "hacktivists" and Tibetan refugees build a mesh network in the Himalayas using junk parts and free software. It's decentralized, robust and reliable. And it's monkey-proof.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Warnings of sprawl come true
"We knew it was coming. The pity is we didn't do anything about it."
- TechTV Reborn as 'UndoTV'
"We're undoing TechTV's untimely and unwarranted demise,"
- Announcing the Technology Review Vlog!
Beginning this week we'll talk with some of the technology pioneers who will be speaking at our annual Emerging Technologies Conference
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