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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Jul 20, 2018 |
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"Since we can’t predict all of the skills needed to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce, our charge is to equip students with mental agility... and a mindset toward a lifetime of continuous learning, retooling, and re-orientation for the ever-adjusting world around them." --- Designing the Future of Learning for All Kids --- http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
"From Cold War to Hot Peace." - Glasgow, Montana-born Michael McFaul, The Former U.S. Ambassador To Russia to speak in Bozeman this Sunday - 7/22 http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
2018 Montana Politics
Big Sky Economic Development
- Bozeman sets stage for another sales tax push
With roughly five months before lawmakers meet in Helena, Bozeman leaders are once again building arguments to sway legislators to let Montana cities create a sales tax to collect money from out-of-state visitors.
Gov. Steve Bullock
- Billings Mayor Bill Cole and Big Sky Economic Development's Melanie Schwarz attend national entrepreneur conference
They said they learned how entrepreneurs, community organizations and local governments can work together to promote entrepreneurship and economic development.
- BSED Entrepreneur Meet-Up - 8/7 - Billings
This informal networking event will offer entrepreneurs, resource partners, and community leaders the chance to share ideas and learn more about how Billings is building its entrepreneur ecosystem.
- Big Sky Finance July Newsletter
Our 2018 fiscal year ended on June 30th and we would like to take this opportunity to share some highlights:
Northwestern Energy
- Enhancing Montana's Outdoor Economy - You Can Help Lead the Effort
Today, I signed an Executive Order creating the Get Outdoors Montana Advisory Council that will guide the efforts of my Office of Outdoor Recreation as we continue to enhance Montana's outdoor recreation economy.
- Governor Bullock Seeks Applicants for Get Outdoors Council
"Montana is rich in outdoor recreation experience - making it the perfect place for recreation-based industries to thrive and for businesses to grow, while providing employees a way of life that cannot be manufactured," said Governor Bullock. "Montana is a leader in identifying the importance of outdoor recreation, and we encourage Montanans to join us in making sure it continues to be that way."
Flathead Valley Community College
- NorthWestern Energy offers efficiency programs
At NorthWestern Energy, we continue to encourage customers to invest in energy efficiency and to use natural gas and electricity wisely.
Great Falls Development Authority
- FVCC College Center Project Receives $2.5 Million Gift in Recognition of Bill McClaren
To date, approximately $14.8 million has been raised toward the $18 million campaign goal.
Early Edge Montana
- GFDA Business Education Calendar: July-September 2018
Here is our upcoming educational event for business owners, managers, and professionals for July, August and September 2018
- GFDA 2nd Quarter 2018 Index
Miles travelled by GFDA during quarter on out-of-state business development: 22,343
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- A new Zaentz Foundation video: Civic and business leaders discuss the power of early childhood education
"For every 10 children in the U.S., six have access to some early education before kindergarten," Harvard's Nonie Lesaux says in the video. However, "Only two of those six are in a setting that we would consider high-quality."
Visit Montana
- Designing the Future of Learning for All Kids
Last week, at New Profit's 2018 Gathering of Leaders, Sherman Whites, Kauffman's director in Education, put forth the underlying challenge: how to scale innovation to serve the majority rather than the privileged few.
- We Can Build the STEM Workforce Our Future Economy Needs
Forbes recently profiled one such effort. Project Lead the Way https://www.pltw.org/ is a national nonprofit that serves millions of kindergarten- through high school-age students.
Energy and Climate Change
- Reigning in the Backcountry in Montana
Swan Mountain Outfitters has emerged in the last decade as one of the largest horseback outfitting companies in the state and the only horse guides in Glacier Park
- Examining The "Landscape of Fear" in Yellowstone
We're not exactly to the point where the wolves are dwelling with the lambs, but new research indicates that the impact of wolves on elk may be overstated, and the so-called "landscape of fear" may not actually exist.
- Horsin' Around now in Kalispell, Montana - The 17th annual Event at Rebecca Farm - Free Admission
The 17th annual Event at Rebecca Farm brings the world's finest horses and riders to Kalispell for a unique equestrian triathlon
Montana Business
- 25 green start-ups that are changing the world including Idaho's Solar Roadways
As well as generating power, Solar Roadway is an electric road that can recharge electric vehicles (EVs) anywhere.
- Montana's energy future: Positive action plan or doomsday report
The report, funded by the Montana Chamber of Commerce Foundation, paints a misleading doomsday view of the state's economy.
- Report: Montana falling behind nation in transition to renewable energy sources
Montana ranked 23rd for wind and 43rd for solar, the report said.
- No Longer a Novelty, Clean Energy Technologies Boom All Across the US
A new report documents the democratization of renewables, energy storage and electric vehicles in America.
- Will Natural Disasters Boost the Case for Grid Defection?
Clean energy companies note an increased appetite for off-grid solutions, while utilities fight to stay connected.
- New York Utilities: We Believe Blockchain Is 'Transformative'
Avangrid, Con Edison, National Grid, the New York Power Authority and Indigo Advisory Group describe the many attractive use cases for blockchain.
Montana Economic Development
- Hutterites: The Small Religious Colonies Entwined With Montana's Haute Cuisine
Waldner is "the chicken boss" at Cool Spring. He's responsible for raising about 8,000 chickens, 1,000 ducks and 1,000 turkeys each year on the colony's state-of-the-art farm, which encompasses 9,600 acres, including a 12-acre garden.
- Billings' hospitals, public health center, insurance company team up to share patient information to improve care
That's the idea behind a health information exchange (HIE) pilot project involving St. Vincent Healthcare, Billings Clinic, RiverStone Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana.
- ClassPass Ushers In a New Era With a Clean, Bold Rebrand
They've unveiled a new look for their five-year anniversary
Careers
- Economic development advocates hope to recruit businesses to Butte with site selector tour
Butte's economic development advocates have unleashed a new strategy in their effort to attract new businesses to Butte.
Rural Communities
- 5 Reasons Every Entrepreneur Should Start in Sales
Here are five skills why sales makes the perfect starting point for your career as an entrepreneur.
- These are the six things the best mentors never do
Some of the issues mentors have stem from good intentions, but miscommunication or misunderstandings can derail the relationship and its value.
- Moving Beyond LinkedIn: A Better Strategy for Switching Careers
"It's not enough to know people; what you have to do is create ambassadors."
Come Home North Dakota
- #Rural2pt0: Rural Renaissance and Digital Parity
The digital age has the potential to eliminate density and geographic proximity requirements that were so critical during the industrial age.
Government
- North Dakota Bolsters Its Leadership Ranks with New C-Suite Hires - Still looking for CDO
Riley, who was named CIO last year, is tasked with carrying out Gov. Doug Burgum's goal to consolidate and unify 17 cabinet agency IT departments down to one.
Idaho
- Senator Jon Tester Blasts 'swampiest, darkest, dirtiest decision' by Treasury Department
"This is the swampiest, darkest, dirtiest decision," said Tester. "We need more transparency in our campaigns, not less."
- 'Housing for All': Democrats push for big government response to soaring rents - Wall Street Is Raising More Cash Than Ever for its Rental-Home Gambit
In Illinois and New York, gubernatorial candidates are touting proposals that would free cities to impose rent controls on housing units, a policy also backed this year by the Democratic parties of Washington State and California.
- They built a $20k house-now they want to fix the housing system
After designing an incredibly cheap home, the 20K Initiative is now working with Fannie Mae and others to redesign mortgages and the other factors that make home ownership so expensive.
- "From Cold War to Hot Peace." - Glasgow, Montana-born Michael McFaul, The Former U.S. Ambassador To Russia to speak in Bozeman this Sunday - 7/22
The Associated Press reported Thursday McFaul's book sales have risen since he was put in the spotlight, climbing to No. 6 on Amazon.com on Thursday.
Incubators and R&D
- Japanese investors visit Idaho
The tour included the Koenig Distillery in Nampa, Idaho Milk Products in Jerome, Clif Bar in Twin Falls, the ribbon cutting of the NewCold freezer facility in Burley, Mart Produce in Rupert, Inergy Solar in Chubbuck, BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, and the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) in Idaho Falls, as well as meetings with local officials.
- Idaho National Laboratory specialists left plutonium in their car. In the morning, it was gone
Two security experts from the Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory drove to San Antonio, Texas, in March 2017 with a sensitive mission: to retrieve dangerous nuclear materials from a nonprofit research lab there.
- Need to rent an affordable apartment in Boise? It will be harder than you think
It's hard to miss the panic in Facebook posts, Craigslist ads, letters to the editor: I can't find an apartment to save my life. Can you help me? Please?
Other Economies
- Blood test to detect early-stage melanoma developed
"The ultimate goal is for this blood test to be used to provide greater diagnostic certainty prior to biopsy and for routine screening of people who are at a higher risk of melanoma, such as those with a large number of moles or those with pale skin or a family history of the disease," says Ziman.
Regional Business
- Oklahoma's process for developing entrepreneurs predictable, transparent
In Oklahoma, we have a very well-defined process for entrepreneurs.
Workforce Development
- Immigration nonprofit rejects Salesforce money as tech faces ethics backlash over borders
The decision is part of the unprecedented backlash tech companies are facing - particularly from their own employees - over work with government agencies that these employees say violate ethical standards.
Montana Education Excellence
- Missoula College launches IT apprenticeship program with local firms
The apprenticeship signing included four different local companies, including Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, First Call Computer Solutions, Univision Computers, and Blackfoot.
Community
- Montana University System still pays executives less compared to peers - Regents chair outlines directives to Montana University System leaders in region
A recent Chronicle of Higher Education survey of compensation for the leaders of public universities showed pay for the University of Montana and Montana State University presidents toward the bottom compared to pay for leaders at peer institutions.
- Bozeman schools make progress in STEM goals, struggle with early reading
"I really do feel this is going to change the future of our district."
Funding and Building your Business
- City leaders question what's next for Bozeman's future
Bozeman is the fastest-growing area of its size in the nation, according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates. Many residents feel that through longer commutes, higher prices for people to claim their spot in town and the need for more schools.
- Missoula earns national accolades for its 'arts vibrancy'
It is Missoula's second appearance on the Arts Vibrancy Index, which analyzes the "arts and culture ecosystem" in more than 900 communities nationwide.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Google Spent a Decade Researching What Makes a Great Boss. They Came Up With These 10 Things
You can learn a lot from their conclusions.
- How to create a great advisory board
LinkedIn is a powerful tool. Yes, it's a great way to quickly see how your high school rivals are faring, but it's also helpful for the board creation process.
- "The Founder's Mentality."
Through rich analysis and inspiring examples, this book shows how any leader--not only a founder--can instill and leverage a founder's mentality throughout their organization and find lasting, profitable growth.
Transportation
- The "Home for sale" sign gets its first major makeover in nearly 50 years
The real estate unicorn Compass, worth $2.2 billion, wants to connect front-lawn signage to the digital world.
- Exclusive: Inside Beyond Meat's innovative future food lab
The meat substitute burger company's diverse R&D team of tech, health, and chem experts want to make Beyond Meat products taste like the real thing.
Events
- Here's how much space U.S. cities waste on parking
In cities that are struggling to find space to build affordable housing, a simple solution might be found in the vast areas set aside for storing cars.
- Portland selected as a testing ground for self-driving car technology
The city hopes its role in the pilot project to test software that maps local traffic rules and restrictions will help it attract companies developing autonomous vehicles.
- How new additions let Austin intersections talk to self-driving cars
The boxes can feed information to autonomous vehicles, telling them when a light is about to turn red, that someone just ran a red light, that pedestrians are present and other data the cars need to make safe maneuvers.
- Autonomous Vehicles: Coming to a Road Near You (If They're Not There Already)
Here's a look at where autonomous vehicles are and where they're going.
- How General Motors is leading the race for self-driving cars
Self-driving technology is moving at lightning speed, with GM betting that autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be an important part of its business one day as people's transportation needs and preferences change.
- How Cars Divide America
Car dependence not only reduces our quality of life, it's a crucial factor in America's economic and political divisions.
- Zoox Flashes Serious Self-Driving Skills in Chaotic San Francisco
...if your robot can make it here, it can make it anywhere.
- Los Angeles to Install Intelligent Traffic Signal Controllers in Hopes of Improving Safety
Upgrades to traffic control systems in Los Angeles could make that city's streets safer for more than just the folks behind the wheel.
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