MATR Newsletter - Fri Sep 7, 2018 |
"Believe always in the greatness and promise of America because nothing is inevitable here." Senator John McCain
"1 in 3 veterans — of the roughly 250,000 service members who transition out of the military each year—end up taking jobs well below their skill level." - Grow with Google - Helping veterans make their next move in civilian life - http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
2018 Montana Politics
Montana Businesses For Sale
- Public lands are Montana's latest wedge issue. What's behind the rhetoric, and how is it shaping the debate?
The prospect of widespread WSA releases in Montana is the latest issue driving the public lands debate in the state.
TechLink
- Great Opportunity! - Planet Natural owners retiring, put up business for sale in Bozeman, Montana
It has grown to be a year-round garden supply vendor, with an online shop shipping across the U.S., as well as a retail space here in town.
Great Falls Development Authority
- TechLink Pulse Sept. 2018
Why your business should develop inventions from defense labs
The Telecommuting and Gig Workforce in Montana
- GFDA Top 11
The national standard is that roughly 80% of a community's growth is from existing businesses growing and expanding. The Golden Triangle is no exception and we need your help.
Montana Ambassadors
- Bill would aid mortgage applicants who rely on the gig economy for earnings
It would expand lenders' permissible sources to verify incomes beyond the relatively narrow range specified in current QM regulations.
- Easy Ways to Defray Expenses While you are an Entrepreneur
You could consider part-time options for your free time to generate extra income
Visit Montana
- University of Montana Marketing Professor Jakki Mohr Named Montana Ambassador Educator of the Year
"Jakki delights in mentoring the next generation of marketers and innovators, particularly young women," said Susan Hay Patrick, CEO of United Way of Missoula County, who nominated Mohr for the award. "She is at once brilliant, accomplished, inspirational and caring, and very generous with her time as a mentor."
Energy and Climate Change
- 11 trails just a short drive from Helena
Great trails for your next visit.
Come Home Montana
- How this Idaho scientist's firm found a way to mine a vast new source of nuclear fuel
Together with researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Sequim, Washington, they have created a technology that is capable of filtering uranium and other heavy metals from the open ocean.
- University of Montana ecologists: Forest Service should use wildfires to thin, restore forests
Wildfires today are very different because of the Earth's changing climate.
- Coming soon to Portland: net-zero-energy units for rent
Green Hammer Inc. The design-build firm, based in the Pearl District, has built a portfolio of buildings with performance greater than required by current building codes for Oregon and beyond.
Hellgate Venture Network
- Montana Career Opportunities - Data Engineer, Senior DevOps Engineer, Software Engineer, and more... - Figure
We have open positions in Reno, San Francisco, and Bozeman where you'll find a culture based on intellectual honesty, mutual respect, and results. We work as a team and focus on delivering innovative solutions for our customers.
- World Spice Merchants of Seattle moves operations and warehouse to Montana's Flathead Valley
It might sound a little backward, to move the company's base further from an international port city, but owner Amanda Bevill has known for years that the Flathead Valley is where she wants to be.
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- Hellgate Venture Network Presents: Elephant Friendly Tea - 9/13 - Missoula, MT
This month our meeting will feature Elephant Friendly Tea https://elephantfriendlytea.com/ , which is sourced from tea plantations that meet high standards for protection of elephant habitat and water resources; reducing human-elephant conflict; and reducing barriers to elephant movement between elephant habitat areas.
Montana Business
- The MEDA Unconference All are invited to "un" - 9/19-21 - Missoula
Unconventionally inspiring collaboration
MSU Leadership Institute & UM Global Leadership Initiative
- First of 7 new Montana Panera Bread locations opening in Kalispell
Cothran says the grand-opening of Montana's first Panera Bread in Kalispell will be next Wednesday, Sept.12. The restaurant will be open seven days a week.
- Montana based company, Cowboy Cricket Farms Inc, is one of 11 startups in the 11th cohort of BoomTown Accelerator.
"We see our potential growth as endless and we are really excited to be a part of BoomTown and to accelerate that growth."
- Creston Water Bottling Plant Starts Operation Despite Backlash
Montana Artesian Water Company is stocking its water bottles at a local convenience store and at a few area offices and events under a private label.
- Governor Bullock Presents 2018 Labor Day Report
Bullock highlights low unemployment, rising wages, strong entrepreneurial climate, and workforce development initiatives key to growing Montana's economy
- The End of the Line - 125 years after the the Great Northern Railway in Montana
It is also entirely possible that they won't realize that the railroad was responsible for the development and early prosperity of the town they now call home.
- Missoula company teams up with foundation to give improved mobility with prosthetics
"There was not a good answer for pediatric sizes on the market," said Halseth. "And so it was kind of something that we approached from the standpoint of, well this will be something that we can do that nobody is really specifically going after."
- Billings Clinic Announces Montana's First-Ever Psychiatry Residency
"The great thing for Montana and for the region is that this is going to increase the number of psychiatrists and deal with the shortage that we have in our region for mental health services."
Careers
- When the dean of Harvard Business School meets someone who wants to go to HBS, he asks them a simple question
To be sure, grades are important, but there's something else even more so.
- MSU Leadership Institute To Host Astronaut Scott Kelly On April 4 At MSU
Kelly, who is also a bestselling author, is expected to discuss his space travel experiences, share lessons on leadership, reflect on his commitment to discovery and tell stories of perseverance.
Government
- Nike Video: "Don't ask if your dreams are crazy. Ask if they're crazy enough." Colin Kaepernick
Nike wants the country to listen to what Colin Kaepernick has to say.
- Grow with Google - Helping veterans make their next move in civilian life
1 in 3 veterans--of the roughly 250,000 service members who transition out of the military each year--end up taking jobs well below their skill level.
- 10 Powerful Attributes of Insanely Successful People
Everything they do is possible for you.
Idaho
- ServeMontana is still seeking community input on what Montanans think are the most critical needs facing their communities.
The more information we receive from the people we serve, the better we can develop services to meet those needs.
- Millions of Acres of 'Public' Land Are Not Legally Accessible
Private holdings block public access to nearly 10 million acres of federal land in the West, hampering growth in the recreation economy, a new report says. The federal program that could help purchase access expires September 30.
- Minneapolis Federal Reserve president talks interest rates, wages at Montana State University
Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari didn't pull any punches at Montana State University on Wednesday, discussing everything from trade wars to interest rates and Bozeman's housing shortage.
- Money (in Politics) Doesn't Just Talk - It Screams
A ballot initiative in Missouri would set limits on political contributions in an effort to keep Big Money from running the state. If it passes, ordinary citizens will be the ones who benefit.
Regional Business
- "The Site" Here's how Idaho became home to the nation's top nuclear lab
Some of the world's most important advancements in nuclear energy have taken place there over the past 70 years.
- Apprentices learn manufacturing in Idaho's Magic Valley
Similar to the software engineering apprenticeship program and the healthcare apprenticeship program the Department of Labor also offers, the manufacturing apprenticeship program - focused on the food processing industry in the Magic Valley - is intended to help those industries find skilled workers, especially during historically low unemployment rates.
- Idaho Virtual Reality Council Newsletter - Sept. 2018
September means Immerse-a-thon time, so get your team together for your chance at the $2,000 grand prize!
- Idaho can still be 'an unknown quantity' for tourists. But once they come, they love it.
Know any 24-to-45-year-old mothers outside Idaho? Idaho tourism promoters want them
- No, says judge: Mining company can't pay pollution fine through cryptocurrency sale
U.S. District Judge Mikel Williams in 2012 found the mining company at fault. He ordered Atlanta Gold to pay $2 million for repeated violations of the Clean Water Act, and to fix the problems or face additional financial penalties.
Regional Economic Development
- Charter launches wireless plan as cable companies diversify
Charter and Comcast agreed last year to cooperate on back-end operations for mobile networks, including leasing Verizon's cellular network, but they're offering their services separately.
- Levi Strauss CEO Chip Bergh: Why Business Leaders Need to Take a Stand on Gun Violence
While it might be unpopular with some, doing nothing is no longer an option.
- Why You Should Hope Your Next Tomato's Grown Indoors by Robots
The new generation of farming promises to feed more people while doing less environmental damage.
Workforce Development
- One-third of states consider creating incentives for investments in Opportunity Zones
Offering additional incentives may provide a lever to either require or encourage Opportunity Funds to coordinate with local governments and provide data on investments being made.
- The Wit & Wisdom of an Economic Developer
This book is a great read for both humor and ideas for practitioners that want to stimulate their economy and have fun doing it.
- Cities need to be more creative in building a tech-driven economy
What could your city be doing to better support startups?
Wyoming Business
- Montana will offer registered apprenticeship in brewing
The apprenticeship in brewing is first being implemented at Blackfoot River Brewing Company and already has three people enrolled.
Education
- Invest 2% of Wyoming's Investment Portfolio on Home-Grown Companies
We must be a state of innovators and swiftly create the necessary ecosystem for new technologies to thrive.
MAPS : Media Arts in the Public Schools
- Kids of divorce less likely to earn college degrees
"In most divorce proceedings, child support cuts off at 18. Just because a child turns 18, that does not mean they still do not need help financially from their family."
Missoula Children's Theatre
- MAPS (Media Arts in the Public Schools) celebrates 15 years of serving Montana's youth
Afterschool classes in filmmaking, graphic design, music production and new technologies for students in grades 8-12 will extend throughout the school year, culminating in the annual Media Arts Festival in May at the Pharoahplex Theatre in Hamilton.
Montana Education Excellence
- Fascinating Conversation about Creative Arts Entrepreneurship, with Missoula Children's Theater Executive Director Michael McGill. Well worth a listen
Start limbering up because on September 22, MCT will host an eight-hour dance party!
Funding and Building your Business
- Missoula County Public Schools early kindergarten program looking for applicants
Missoula County Public Schools is seeking students from some specific Missoula neighborhoods near Lowell, Franklin, Hawthorne and Russell elementary schools.
- Montana State University hopes to raise graduation rate to 65%
Unfortunately, MSU says it currently has no way to track why students drop out of or leave the school.
- New tuition-free program brings 99 high schoolers to Carroll College this semester
Unlike the dual enrollment program that allows students to earn college credits for courses taught by their own teachers in their own high schools, the Early Access program brings students to campus to learn along with Carroll College's undergraduates.
- The University of Montana must strengthen Humanities
It is time for UM to live up to its claim of "the flagship" university and strengthen a curriculum of Humanities in a more vigorous and effective manner.
- MSU's first-year outdoor orientation program blends backcountry with new beginnings
The basis of the program is to take a small group of first-year students to remote corners of Montana with ASMSU Outdoor Recreation Program student staff leaders for an intensive community-building outdoor experience before the academic term begins.
- More Than 100 University of Montana Students Embark on Wilderness Adventures Before Starting Classes
Groups of 10 freshmen, each led by two trained student leaders, backpacked through mountains and paddled down rivers while navigating the challenges inherent when traveling long distances over rugged terrain in unpredictable weather.
- Alumnus Richard Lee Merritt Donates $2 Million to University of Montana's Mansfield Library
In a final act of generosity, Merritt willed the bulk of his estate to the Mansfield Library. He wanted to support the university he so treasured and instill a passion for reading and learning in others.
Social Media, Connectivity & Communications
- The Hidden Benefit of Giving Back to Open Source Software
Firms that allow their software programmers to "give back" to the open source community on company time gain benefits--even though competitors might benefit too, says Frank Nagle.
- Former Cosby Show Star Geoffrey Owens recently quit his job at Trader Joe's. The company's response was brilliant.
While simple, Trader Joe's' response is a perfect example of emotional intelligence--the ability to make emotions work for you, instead of against you.
- Improving Work Performance: These Eight Steps Could Help
Performance in the workplace is something that every company focuses on. Is it the individual employee that ends up being responsible for it in most cases?
- Google Unveils Search Engine for Open Data
With this new search engine, it is now much easier for would-be developers and others to look for files and databases that have been released to the public.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Get ready for the "splinternet": The web might not be worldwide much longer
Rising protectionism, nationalism, and security fears could see an internet sequestered by national borders.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Filmmakers gather works from around globe for inaugural Montana International Film Festival in Billings
"I know the community was ready to move forward with our arts and culture and humanities as a community, and a film festival really moves that and drives that forward," Murnion said.
Transportation
- Startups Flock to Turn Young Blood Into an Elixir of Youth
While much work remains to be done on how this regenerative process actually works, Stanford's parabiosis studies have since inspired the creation of a handful of ambitious startups aimed at producing similarly dramatic effects in humans.
- This Hearing Aid Can Translate For You--and Track Steps Too
They can even listen to another language and whisper a near real-time translation in your ear, Star Trek style.
Events
- The Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District gets $50k to study traffic in West Yellowstone
"We're trying to find solutions that will free up the traffic in town. We're not looking for solutions that will degrade the tourism in any way."
- Self-Driving Cars Will Keep Getting Better Forever
If all self-driving vehicles were to do was eliminate traffic accidents, that would still be a huge accomplishment. 37,000 Americans die each year in automotive accidents, and over 1 million automotive fatalities occur worldwide.
- MDT says York Road Roundabout in Helena could save lives
There will be delays, but whether folks like it or not, the project will move forward. MDT is set to start construction next year.
- Spokane's Monroe 'road-diet' exceeded expectations
These projects do more than repair roads and improve sidewalks; they really change the DNA of an area from a place to be driven through to a place to live.
- Essential Grant Skills - 9/13-14 - Helena, Montana
- The Wheeler Center Presents: Return Of The Repressed Todays European Populism In Historical Perspective - 9/26 - Bozeman
- The American Computer And Robotics Museum Honors Computer And Biology Pioneers - 9/21 - Bozeman
- Vietnamese Delegation To Present Seminar At UM On Sept. 10
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