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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Feb 13, 2018 |
"The Swedes have a term for time together at work; they call it fika. It’s a moment when everyone gathers for coffee and cake, dispenses with hierarchy, and talks together about work and non-work. The word fika signifies more than a coffee break because it fosters a sense of togetherness. The Swedish researcher Terry Hartig calls this “collective restoration,” arguing that the synhronicity is what gives the time its social and business value."
Montana Department of Commerce
Montana's Outdoor Recreation Economy
- Montana Schools Can Learn How to Access Broadband Funding During Feb. 23 Webinar
Join Broadband for Montana Schools February 23 at 9:00 a.m. for a brief webinar on how your school or district can apply for a portion of the $2 million state match funding to boost broadband access in your schools.
- Commerce's Treasure State Endowment Program Awards Planning Grants to 63 Montana Communities
"These planning grants support the growth and development of Montana's vibrant and charming towns," Montana Department of Commerce Director Pam Haxby-Cote said. "Every community needs clean drinking water and safe bridges, which is what these TSEP grants support."
TechLink
- Great Northern Powder Guides - Snowcats in griz country: Family business digs into tiny niche
They build custom cabins for snow grooming machines (commonly called snowcats) which they fill with backcountry skiers intent on raiding the deep powder stockpiles where grizzly bears roam (when they're not hibernating).
- Smoke Elser - Time for Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project
I've devoted my life to sharing our beloved Bob Marshall Wilderness Country with folks from all over the world.
Great Falls Development Authority
- MSU TechLink Spring SBIR/STTR Lunch & Learn Series And Technical Assistance For Montana Innovators! - 2/14 - Bozeman
Each session will cover SBIR program basics as well as agency-specific details for upcoming opportunities. You'll also learn about assistance available from TechLink and our regional economic development partners like the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership.
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
- GFDA Top 10
Here is our Top 14 for this week, celebrating work and successes to grow and strengthen the Great Falls regional economy.
Visit Montana
- Kalispell Chamber To Host Free Credit Seminar - 2/15 - Kalispell, MT
David Boye, Broker/Owner of Black Diamond Mortgage, and Maria Phelps, Operations Manager/Loan Officer will cover what you can do now and in the future to improve your credit score.
VR/AR, Blockchain, Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence and The Internet of Things
- Above Bozeman - 4K Drone Film on Vimeo
No words necessary.... just enjoy
Montana Manufacturing Extension Center
- How Artificial Intelligence Is Edging Its Way Into Our Lives
"If you look at the evolution of technology over the course of decades, tech doesn't eliminate work; it changes work."
Come Home Montana
- MMEC celebrates more than two decades of helping Montana manufacturers grow, innovate
"MSU's engineering college is well-known and respected throughout Montana," said Paddy Fleming, MMEC's director. "It gives us a set of resources that we can call on when helping our clients."
Montana Business
- Montana Career Opportunities - Business Banking Specialist, Financial Service Representative - Missoula Federal Credit Union
Every day we work to build thriving and sustainable communities.
Montana Economic Development
- Podcast - Can Do: Missoula's Biomimicry 3.8 Uses Nature to Solve Business Problems Worldwide
On this episode of "Can Do," Nicole talks about the the lessons she has learned while managing a startup whose product is a bit esoteric.
- Montana's Hero Coffee Works - Espresso Machine Sales, Repair, Service & Parts Supplier
We service any coffee or espresso machine, and also offer parts and machines for twelve different manufacturers.
- Invizeon Shareholders - Investigating Former FSC Securities Corporation registered representative Barry Hartman
Our attorneys are currently available to assist those who invested with Barry Hartman and can be reached toll free at 877-410-8172.
- Study: Montana 6th most prosperous state
The state also ranked first in the nation for its high small business ownership, around 2 percent.
- VidCon, created by Missoula entrepreneur Hank Green, is sold to Viacom
"We'll keep our staff the way it is. We want to expand our vision around the world, but the staffing in Missoula will stay here."
Careers
- A Phoenix rising from the asbestos Libby, Montana hopes brand management will help reverse Superfund stigma
"We need to pull the good parts to the surface," he said. "It will help to overcome the negative issues and economic problems."
Disability Rights Montana
- TED Talk of the week - Guy Winch: How to fix a broken heart
Our hearts might sometimes be broken, he says, but we don't have to break with them.
- The Value of Soft Skills in the Labor Market - The job market is way ahead of the ivory tower in emphasizing soft skills.
We are not witnessing an end to the importance of cognitive skills -- rather, strong cognitive skills are increasingly a necessary -- but not a sufficient -- condition for obtaining a good, high-paying job. You also need to have social skills.
Rural Communities
- The growing acceptance of autism in the workplace - CBS Sunday Morning Video
Disability Rights Montana envisions a society where people with disabilities have equality of opportunity and are able to participate fully in community life by exercising choice and self-determination.
Business Plan Forums
- When a Montana town wants to grow -- but not too quickly
Three Forks has weathered much. Facing new pressures, can it stay in control?
- A Montana town clings to its small-town identity under pressure
Manhattan, Montana, has become a bedroom community with full schools but few businesses.
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Have a New 'Duty' to Serve Rural America
New rules require these mortgage giants to do more business in rural America, freeing up more capital there for additional home mortgages.
City Club Missoula
- Polar Bear Pitching: where startups pitch in freezing conditions for funding
Talk about motivation to keep it short.
- Debut event: Micro-fund pitch competition tests, rewards Missoula startups
With beer on tap, the evening raised $245 with the proceeds going to Missoula Works, an upstart employment and placement agency founded by Paige Pavalone. For the other competitors, the event presented an opportunity to hone their pitch to a roomful of seasoned entrepreneurs.
Government
- City Club Missoula - University of Montana President Seth Bodnar: UM will be bold
The City Club forum includes a chance for participants to ask the presenter questions and, in response to an audience member's question, Bodnar offered comments on the surprises he found at UM.
Idaho
- Crumbling national parks mired in $11 billion backlog, but experts scoff at jacking up fees
"Most people would be horrified to look behind the curtains of parks," said Robert Manning, professor emeritus at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources.
- Wyoming legislation seeks conservation fee at Yellowstone to benefit Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
Sublette County Rep. and cattleman Albert Sommers, the proposed resolution's primary sponsor, said the idea is to generate money for the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho to deal with issues like wildlife collisions, large-carnivore conflicts and preserving migration routes.
- Addressing National Parks maintenance will create Montana jobs
Maintenance funding has not kept pace with rapidly expanding visitation, and repairs to roads, water systems, buildings, and other assets that should be completed get put off year after year.
- The 22 agencies and programs Trump's budget would eliminate
14. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds public television and radio stations including Public Broadcasting Service and NPR.
Incubators and R&D
- Early childhood education: Too many Idaho children are starting school too far behind
It is time to have a serious conversation.
Regional Business
- Functional human kidney tissue created from stem cells for the first time
For the first time, scientists have successfully grown functioning human kidney tissue in the lab that is able to produce urine.
Utah Business
- How Travois is bringing affordable houses to Indian Country
Decreased federal assistance has caused a dearth in affordable housing.
- Sinclair Broadcast Group solicits its news directors for its political fundraising efforts
Sinclair’s policy “violates every standard of conduct that has existed in newsroom for the past 40 or 50 years,” said Lewis Friedland, a journalism professor at the University of Wisconsin and a former TV news producer. “I’ve never seen anything like this. They certainly have the right to do it, but it’s blatantly unethical.”
Workforce Development
- 11 government employees quit after election of first woman mayor in fundamentalist Mormon city
11 city employees resigned from their positions last week -- and one of them cited his religious objections to working for a woman as a primary reason.
Wyoming Business
- Worker shortage spurs uncharacteristic partnerships connecting colleges, business
The $60 million collaboration is meant to help solve the confounding disconnect between what colleges teach and what graduates need to know to fill jobs that are sitting empty in some of the nation's fastest-growing industries.
Education
- 4 Wyoming Bills Could Boost Blockchain, Tech Growth
Wyoming legislators are seeking economic development through bills to make it easier to invest in blockchain and cryptocurrencies in the state.
- Governor Mead warns against deep cuts to education in State of the State address to Wyoming Legislature
Speaking on opening day of the Legislature on Monday morning, Mead sternly warned lawmakers not to unduly slash education spending, saying that maintaining the quality of Wyoming's public schools must come before cost reductions.
Montana Education Excellence
- Universities Rush to Roll Out Computer Science Ethics Courses
Universities that helped produce some of Silicon Valley's top technologists are hustling to bring a more medicine-like morality to computer science.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Proposal guarantees Montana high school grads a good job -- if they give a year of service first
Known as "American Jobs for American Youth: A Montana Proposal to the Nation," the proposal guarantees a job at a living wage for every high school graduate who wants one.
- MSU spring enrollment sets record for 10th year in a row
Montana State University announced its spring headcount this week: 15,496 students, a record, and one that marks 10 straight years of spring enrollment growth.
Community
- Missoula Downtown Association looks to partner with UM to boost enrollment
Could a trip down the vibrant Higgins Avenue for some shopping and a meal convince a prospective college student to choose Missoula over, say, Bozeman?
Funding and Building your Business
- Out of the shadow: Belgrade, Montana aims to 're-seek' identity amid shifting economy, planning struggles
"We all work in Bozeman, but when we come home we're not just shutting our doors and windows," said Liesel Christensen. "We have a quiet neighborhood with room for our kids to play. It feels like a small town even with the growth."
- FIVE New Grant Opportunities
Connectivity & Communications
- The secret ingredient that makes some teams better than others
In a fascinating study of collective intelligence, Thomas Malone, together with a team of MIT researchers, analyzed groups that proved exceptionally effective at creative problem solving.
- Why Family-Business Entrepreneurs Should Embrace Private Equity Funding
Trump's tax plan means it's wise to get better-acquainted with how to identify the right private equity investors and maximize relationships with them.
- A CEO who gives his employees $2,000 to go on vacation says there are 5 reasons the policy is good business
The entire company takes a 3-day weekend every month, which Douglas branded "SteelHouse Days."
- Google makes its special AI chips available to others
"We are trying to reach as many people as we can as quickly as we can,"
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- How some cities are attracting 5G investments ahead of others
They are doing so by finding new ways to collaborate with network and equipment providers, creating a set of "best practices" that other local governments can follow.
- How Can the U.S. Improve Internet Security, Speed and Access?
"Thinking that there's a simple answer to this is itself an indication that someone who is in a position where their job is to be smart about this and to understand it deeply, just doesn't get it -- that, to me, is the scariest thing in this story."
Transportation
- 'Life After Google' Why Technology Prophet George Gilder Predicts Big Tech's Disruption
Over the last four decades, George Gilder has been one of the most influential writers on economic growth and prosperity, and technology's key creative role in them.
- The Most Important FinTech Innovations that Will Change Our Lives in the Near Future
Start ups are reimagining every kind of financial activity including wealth management, banking, payments and more.
Events
- To Power the Future, Carmakers Flip on 48-Volt Systems
While automakers sketch out a world of sleek and silent electric cars or even self-driving pods that are more den than dragster, the all-electric future is further off than it may appear.
- Why transit nerds are so jealous of Seattle
The city's tweeting traffic engineer explains how small changes to streets are adding up to big improvements
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