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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Aug 3, 2018 |
The future is here - it's just not very evenly distributed
Rep. Greg Gianforte Field Hearing - "Wildlife Management And Response: Challenges And Opportunities" - 8/7- Hamilton, MT - http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Innovate Montana Symposium Invitation For Early-Stage Businesses - 8/9 - Billings - http://www.matr.net/ev ... =7002
2018 Montana Politics
Montana Economic Developers Association
- Commission places Literacy Bitterroot levy on ballot
"We do a lot more than adult literacy," Stark said. "We teach reading, writing and math. We help people prepare to enter college and have a broader scope than adult learning programs."
- MontanaPBS Announces Debates Featuring U.S. House, Senate Candidates
Both debates will broadcast at 7 p.m. across the state on MontanaPBS and will be studio-based without a live audience.
- Debate - Democratic Incumbent Sen. Jon Tester And Republican Montana Auditor Matt Rosendale- 9/29 - PBS
Both debates will broadcast at 7 p.m. across the state on MontanaPBS and will be studio-based without a live audience.
- Debate - Republican Incumbent Rep. Greg Gianforte And Democratic Challenger Kathleen Williams - 10/6 - PBS
Both debates will broadcast at 7 p.m. across the state on MontanaPBS and will be studio-based without a live audience.
- Facebook allows people to track political ads - including Montana's U.S. Senate race
In an effort to increase "transparency" about Facebook's' political content, the social-media giant has set up its own website allowing anyone to track political ads, their cost, who paid for it, and who the ad is targeting.
Montana Governor's Office of Economic Development
- Tick Tock and...Registration is open for the Unconference! - Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA)
The clock is ticking for you to submit your 2018 MEDA Awards. Click on the newsletter link to get full information.
Northwestern Energy
- Missoula tour spotlights Montana's outdoor recreation economy
The goal of ORE is to "oversee state efforts to grow and enhance Montana's $7 billion outdoor recreation economy."
PFL
- NorthWestern Energy's Holter Dam celebrates 100 years in Montana
NorthWestern Energy owns and operates the facility as a part of its Montana Integrated Hydro system. The system forms the foundation of the electric supply for customers.
TechLink
- Print Gets Noticed!
Is your marketing falling on deaf ears?
The Telecommuting and Gig Workforce in Montana
- TechLink - If you haven't yet taken advantage of the opportunity to license leading-edge technology invented in defense labs, this month's issue is sure to motivate you.
Get the inside scoop on Darryl Nowak, a serial entrepreneur in New Jersey, who shops our patent database like we shop supermarkets.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- This Entrepreneur Is Teaming Up With Silicon Valley Royalty to Bring Short-Term Disability Insurance to Gig Workers
The former executive director of the Freelancers Union is turning her attention to gig workers in a whole new way.
Energy and Climate Change
- Could more collaboration close the skills gap for new graduates?
A report examines the troubling issues contributing to the persistent skills gap employers face as they seek out highly-skilled graduates
- How This Entrepreneur Is Teaching Millenials About Finance - Napkin Finance
75% of Americans would struggle to gather $1,000 in case of an emergency.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change - NY Times
Thirty years ago, we had a chance to save the planet. Almost nothing stood in our way -- except ourselves.
- After Missoula talk, kids' climate change suit against U.S. headed to trial
Two dozen kids who claim the federal government knowingly created climate change have cleared the final barrier to trial: the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to intervene, calling the government's request for a stay of the trial "premature."
- With values on the line, Missoula City Council adopts Zero Waste Plan
"We're decades behind on climate change, we're decades behind on waste, so we act out of necessity and out of duty," said council member Jordan Hess. "It will be difficult and contentious at times, but we have to do it. Setting a plan is the first step at setting meaningful action into motion."
- New study touts clean-up benefits for Colstrip power plants
The more extensive the clean-up - the more jobs involved, according to the study.
- Calif. governor blames climate change for fires; Death Valley has hottest month ever recorded on Earth
"There are more fires to come, there will be more for a long time until we shift the weather back to where it historically was." California Governor Jerry Brown
- Electric company creates individual carbon calculator - Flick Electric Company
An electric company has created an app to send live updates on carbon and electricity usages while also altering users when to switch things on and off.
Montana Business
- Montana Leads The Country In Entrepreneurship, University of Montana Study Says
Montana leads the country in entrepreneurship, according to a new study by the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
Montana Economic Development
- Helena School Board adds $1.75M to school construction costs due to tariffs, saturated subcontractor market
Facilities Director Kalli Kind told board members Tuesday that tariffs on steel are part of the reason for the increase. Three months ago, the district paid $1,100 for one ton of rebar. Now rebar costs are up 32 percent and cost $1,450 per ton.
- WGM Group Recognized by Engineering Inc for Helping to Revitalize Missoula, Montana's Old Sawmill District
"There were other significant site issues just because of the land use," says Brent Campbell, president and CEO of WGM Group http://www.wgmgroup.com/ , Missoula, which has been instrumental throughout the cleanup and redevelopment.
- Missoula tech company TOMIS aimed at tourism industry opens $3M investment round
"That's to beef up our product development and implement our data science and customer support team," Tipton told the Missoula Current. "We launched what you might call your Alpha product last October. We've got product market fit and all the pieces are there for us to start scaling on up."
- Owner looks to sell TV stations in five Montana towns
The five stations are KTVQ in Billings, KXLF in Butte, KPAX in Missoula, KRTV in Great Falls and KTVH in Helena.
- Montana outdoor recreation director: Industry responsible for 71,000 jobs, $7.1B in revenue
A study by the nonprofit research organization Headwaters Economics in Bozeman showed that Montana's economy is outperforming the U.S. overall in some key areas.
Careers
- the Impact - Butte Local Development Association
June and July were very successful months for the economy of Butte-Silver Bow.
- Conference aims to work on on economic development among Native American community
The Native American Development Coorporation held a conference that focuses on businesses within Native American tribes, promote healthcare, and present those who have succeeded in the business world.
Next Generation Broadband in Montana
- How to Benefit From the Blockchain Job Boom
'This is a world where you can create money out of thin air if you know how to do it,' one expert says.
Canada Business & Economic Development
- Bozeman high-speed internet company struggles to pick up customers - Bozeman Fiber Inc.
"Our sole purpose is to improve the business environment in Bozeman."
- Bozeman Fiber bringing high-speed gigabit internet to local businesses
Bozeman becomes an elite city with it now having this service. It gives businesses the chance to prosper and compete across the world.
Government
- The seeds of commercialization start at the beginning of innovation
To make investment in university R&D more impactful, we need to bring everyone to the same table.
Idaho
- Helena mayor Wilmot Collins shares his life story
He came to the United States 24 years ago as a refugee after escaping his native Liberia during a civil war.
- The Realities of Evolving the IT Workforce
Acting Illinois CIO Kirk Lonbom weighs in on the importance of change management and preparing for a retirement wave.
- Rep. Greg Gianforte Field Hearing - "Wildlife Management And Response: Challenges And Opportunities" - 8/7- Hamilton, MT
There will not be an opportunity for public comment.
- Montana state government gets cyber threat
"The State of Montana has a robust cybersecurity program in place to mitigate cyber threats."
Regional Business
- Top 10 U.S. cities for flipping houses. Idaho has 2 in top 3
WalletHub, a personal finance site, developed a list of the best and worst U.S. cities to flip houses. Two Idaho cities, Nampa and Boise, are in the top three.
- Idaho Virtual Reality Council Newsletter
It's hot in Idaho this time of year and what a better way to cool off than in one of the multiple VR arcades around the state!
Wyoming Business
- Here's How America Uses Its Land - MOOO!
There's a single, major occupant on all this land: cows. Between pastures and cropland used to produce feed, 41 percent of U.S. land in the contiguous states revolves around livestock.
Montana Education Excellence
- Wyoming needs to create an immersive art destination
The state needs to be doing all it can to retain the artistically minded residents that are born here, as well as utilize its strengths to become an epicenter of cultural pilgrimage.
Community
- New VP of University of Montana enrollment Cathy Cole: "You're going to see some different things here"
"When I came here for my interview, every single person I talked to said to me, 'I want to be part of the solution. I want to help.' I'd never heard that at the other institutions I've been a part of."
Social Media, Connectivity & Communications
- One chart that shows how much worse income inequality is in America than Europe
The income share of the poorest half of Americans is declining while the richest have grabbed more. In Europe, it's not happening.
- How do you want Bozeman to grow? City leaders want to hear from community
Over the last ten years, much has changed in Bozeman.
Government Technology
- The Expensive Education of Mark Zuckerberg and Silicon Valley
Facebook, as well as Twitter and Google's YouTube, have become the digital arms dealers of the modern age.
- Rural ISP Director Says Report Gives False Impression
Merten said it is invalid to compare the two datasets because they report different things. FCC Form 477 reports the fastest speed a consumer could purchase. The M-Lab data reports the speed users actually obtain.
Non-Profit News
- Beyond The Hype Factory: 7 Steps To Make Cities Smarter
From New York City to Dubai, cities across the globe are racing to exemplify the best model of what it means to be smart.
- States turn to blockchain technology for growth, efficiency
The emerging blockchain industry has recently caught the attention of some state political leaders and economic development officials as a potential driver of economic growth as well as a potential solution to improve government services.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Nonprofits serve communities, not candidates
Efforts to limit the influence of anonymous donors in elections recently took hits on two fronts; in both cases, nonprofits were used as the vehicle for increased secrecy in campaign finance.
Transportation
- Most Americans will happily try eating lab-grown "clean meat"
Do you feel squeamish about eating a burger that didn't come from a cow? Most Americans don't when confronted with how bad meat is for the environment.
- Sacramento Eases Into the Self-Driving Scene
Today, Sacramento rolls out a partnership with Phantom Auto, a company dedicated to building remote-driving solutions for self-driving vehicles.
- Mass. Lawmakers Set Storage Target, Raise RPS, Overturn Rooftop Solar Demand Charge
It was a big day for distributed energy. But the solar industry didn't get everything that it wanted.
- How Do You Fix A Broken Street? Portland Tries On Division - How about Reserve Street in Missoula?
Instead, the driver switched lanes. "He hit Joe in the crosswalk going 36 miles an hour," Kim Stone said. "Joe was like maybe two steps from the median, the center median, and it threw him 71 feet."
- Colorado Will Develop a Digital Highway Using Connected-Vehicle Technology
Colorado is moving forward with the development of a "digital highway," as the state sets the foundation for the rollout of "connected" vehicles that can share data with one another and transportation officials.
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