|
|
|
| MATR Newsletter - Fri Nov 2, 2018 |
Love like there's no tomorrow. Vote like there is.
Live Storytelling Comes To Butte, America On November 8! - Tell Us Something "Work" http://www.matr.net/ev ... =7123
2018 Montana Politics
Montana Business and Govt. Agency Collaboration Success
- Too Late To Mail Absentee Ballots, Hand Deliver Instead
Montana voters who have not yet mailed in their absentee ballot are out of time to do so and county election officials now suggest hand delivering ballots to make sure they are counted.
- Why doesn't Montana mandate that companies give employees time off to vote while the majority of states do?
The majority of US states have time-off-to-vote laws, also referred to as voter-leave laws, and have different requirements and exceptions for employers and employees.
Montana Department of Commerce
- Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund program created 123 Missoula jobs at 8 companies
Over the past year, concerns have risen that the program administered by the Montana Department of Commerce may be targeted by the 2019 Legislature as a potential area to cut.
Northwestern Energy
- Montana Fair Housing Community Survey
Where you want to live is your choice. Fair housing is your right. We want to hear from you.
- Montana Building and Construction Businesses to Exhibit at Canadian Tradeshow
"Montana businesses provide high-quality equipment, materials and services for the building and construction industry," said Commerce Director Pam Haxby-Cote. "As our closest neighbor and our biggest trading partner, Canada has great potential to grow this industry for Montana."
PFL
- NorthWestern Corporation Makes Strategic Investment in Kilowatt Labs
"The technology that Kilowatt has developed is compelling. It aligns closely with our thinking about the evolution of the infrastructure that serves our customers, from rural to industrial, and at multiple layers of the network. We look forward to working together to incorporate Kilowatt technology into our network as we work to meet our customers' changing and increasing expectations." Bob Rowe, NorthWestern's president and CEO
TechLink
- PFL - A Vintage Way to Get Ahead
Shopping on the internet is great when you know exactly what you need. Sometimes you need to go Retro for a little inspiration to find the right gift.
Zoot Enterprises
- One-handed tourniquet technology that could save lives, and so much more - TechLink - The best in technology transfer news.
Navy launches first UAS test squadron; drone tech available for product development
STARS Montana Early Education Program
- Announcing Zoot's New Podcast: The Finance Frontier - "Blockchain - A Whole New World"
Gary Fan, founder of blockchain-based payment platform Ivy, joins the podcast to talk about how fraud is being addressed now and into the future through emerging technologies.
The Telecommuting and Gig Workforce in Montana
- First year of Montana's state-funded preschool seen as success
"We think it's going great," said DeAnn Jones, who operates Discovery Place Child Care near Chief Joseph Middle School. "We love it."
Visit Montana
- Myths of the Gig Economy, Corrected
The gig economy has not only turned millions of Americans into contractors, but it's given the more successful entrepreneurs the tools to grow even faster.
Energy and Climate Change
- Montana's Greatest Wonder: The Missouri River
When the Missouri River puts Cascade behind, it looks out toward the sunset and the distant Rocky Mountain Front, the range of mountains that gave Montana its label "Land of the Shining Mountains."
- Discover the ghost town of Montague in central Montana's Chouteau County
It's worth a visit just for the sign. It lists the town's population as 3 nice folks and one old grump. There's one ordinance: "No medical marijuana shops, Wal-Marts or Bobcats ALLOWED. RADAR ENFORCED." A board is tacked to the sign reads "Molineville!"
Come Home Montana
- We Have to Save the Planet. So I'm Donating One Billion Dollars.
I will donate this sum over the next decade to help accelerate land and ocean conservation around the world.
- Montana School District soars into the future on solar energy
A next step for the school district could be more ability to function off the grid. "We would love to partner with any organization in order to expand our use of renewable energy," Shipman said.
- GE Wants to Build Virtual Power Plants Using Blockchain
GE is investigatingblockchainto potentially incorporate the technology into a virtual power plant offering, likely delivered via the company's Predix platform.
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- Julia Crain's passion for her hometown inspires role as urban planner in Butte
"I love what Butte has contributed to me, given me in my life," she said. "I love that there is a place like Butte where you can be at home ... and take all of the little bits of gold you have in yourself -- and it's not just me, but everyone -- and make it a better place."
Montana Business
- MEDA November News
The MEDA November Newsletter is ready for your review.
Montana Economic Development
- Clearwater Properties - 2019 Volume I Real Estate Magazine- Montana | Idaho | Washington | Wyoming
600+ Property Listings
- Montana Made: Antler Chandeliers & Lighting Company
Breathtaking, rustic, elegant and very Montana are just a few words that come to mind when you gaze up at Jim Swanson's creations. And it all started out as a hobby.
- Discover student living with authentic Missoula spirit at The Sawyer
The Sawyer at Old Sawmill District is a home base for pioneering students forging their own paths as they build and connect the community in new and exciting ways.
- GoFundMe: Help bring the first vegan cafe to Missoula
I aim to create a simple, bright, and welcoming cafe that can appeal to everyone.
- Whitefish will host session on Montana's $7.1 billion outdoor industry Dec. 4th and 5th.
It's no secret that outdoors recreation in Montana is big business. Gov. Steve Bullock wants to see the growth continue.
Careers
- Expansion of Lockwood economic development district is one step closer to final
At the meeting, business owners in the area spoke up in support of the expansion, arguing it would bring more industry and better employment opportunities to the Lockwood vicinity.
- Great Falls, Montana Pedlet program to be highlighted at national conference
Great Falls was the second city in the county to implement pedlets downtown. Mighty Mo was the first downtown eatery to add a pedlet and the owners said they saw a 20 percent increase in sales that summer.
Come Home Idaho
- Hunting for a Hot Job in High Tech? Try 'Digitization Economist'
Amazon has more economists on staff than any university economics department, and technology firms are snapping them up the minute they graduate, says Michael Luca. Why?
- Today's TED Talk - How to let go of being a "good" person -- and become a better person
How the path to becoming better starts with owning your mistakes.
Idaho
- Desperate Idaho manufacturers raise wages, but skills gap keeps job seekers on the hunt
With the economy roaring, manufacturers looking to grow are getting desperate for candidates, with some expanding benefits or raising wages to compete. Idaho's 2.7 percent unemployment rate is the lowest it's been in the last 10 years.
Regional Business
- Mayor David Bieter says a successful future depends on Boise's strength: Kindness
Boiseans embrace their neighbors, welcome diversity and pull together in times of adversity.
- Idaho Commerce launches Gem State Prospector with improved design and new features
The revamped Gem State Prospector provides a simplified layout that presents decision-making data about available sites and buildings across the state of Idaho.
- College of Western Idaho fills a critical need as state's economy grows
CWI began offering classes in 2009. Nine years later it has an enrollment of 33,000 students, the highest enrollment of any college or university in Idaho. According to CWI President Bert Glandon, it is the fastest growing community college in the United States.
- U.S. Says China State-Owned Company Stole Micron Secrets
The U.S. also filed a civil case seeking to stop exports to America of any products manufactured by the companies that were created using the trade secrets at issue.
- Capital management companies bringing startup money to Idaho - Greenbriar Capital Corp., Aspatore Ventures, Trolley House all setting up shop in Boise to fund ideas.
One of the perennial complaints - accurate or not - from Idaho entrepreneurs is that there's a lack of investment money for startups. But that's changing as an increasing number of capital management companies are setting up shop in Idaho.
Education
- The Cost of Utilities: Which States Pay the Most? - Idaho Has the Lowest Rates - Montana Third Lowest
No matter what you're saving for, utility bills are a burden we all have to bear. But which states' residents bear the largest burden?
- Federal Reserve Bank 2018 Small Business Credit Survey
This voluntary survey is sponsored solely by the Federal Reserve Banks. The questions are best answered by an owner or key financial decision maker and will take about 10 minutes.
- Google employees worldwide staging walkout to protest response to sexual misconduct claims
"All employees and contract workers across the company deserve to be safe," read a column from organizers published by The Cut. "Sadly, the executive team has demonstrated through their lack of meaningful action that our safety is not a priority."
Montana Education Excellence
- Amazon's new goal: Teach 10 million kids a year to code
Amazon said it will pay for summer camps, teacher training and other initiatives to benefit kids and young adults from low-income families who might not have learned to code otherwise.
Community
- List of 125 Montana State University 'Extraordinary Ordinary Women' who contributed to university history now on display
They touch every area of the university, ranging from Montana State University's first female mathematics teacher to one of the country's first Extension poultry experts to MSU's first female president.
- Montana students expand leadership skills at 25th annual LEAD conference
250 students from 34 schools took part in the conference, which helps students meet with business leaders and attend workshops to expand their leadership skills.
- Glitchy software hinders University of Montana recruitment efforts
Prospective students signed up to receive emails and mailers from UM because they were interested in coming. The system marked some materials as sent when they had not been. It has since been fixed, but had been malfunctioning since at least May, if not longer.
Funding and Building your Business
- Bigfork, Montana: a little town with big plans
What's refreshing to learn is that there's no agenda to this civic exercise of mapping out community development, but rather, as one planning committee member put it, a place "for gracious conversation to happen."
Government Technology
- Make Meaning in Your Company
Guy Kawasaki, founder and Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures, believes that those companies who set out to make a positive change in the world are the companies that will ultimately be the most successful.
- Does Your Company Have a Data-elitism Problem?
If your data is controlled by a coterie of elite specialists, even though not many outside that group may show much interest, your organization is likely to be far less effective.
- There Are 2 Types of Investor Questions. Here's How to Nail Both
Research shows that investors put female founders on the defensive more than they do their male counterparts. Now there's a strategy to turn the conversation around.
- Startup Daivergent connects autistic workers with jobs suited to their skill set
A new company matches autistic workers with jobs that match their unique skills.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Oracle Launches Land Use and Development Software
The product uses artificial intelligence to manage zoning, code enforcement, and permitting for local governments.
Transportation
- Despite the "good economy," only 28% of Americans are financially healthy
Only 45% of people in a new survey said they have enough to cover three months of living expenses.
Events
- Oak Ridge's wireless charging system comparable to plug-in high power fast chargers
There's also talk of developing dynamic charging systems, where wireless charging pads are installed under road surfaces that will allow for top-ups at highway speeds.
- Waymo gets green light for robot cars in California; no humans needed
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has given Waymo a permit for up to 40 fully autonomous cars to drive both day and night on city streets, rural highways and highways with posted speeds up to 65 mph.
- EV Charging Infrastructure Moves Toward Interoperability
Electrify America has worked out a deal with EV Connect, Greenlots and SemaConnect to allow members of all three charging networks to use its electric car recharging locations.
- Missoula must pay American Airlines $94K for empty Missoula-to-Dallas seats
The years-long effort to establish the revenue guarantee needed to bring American Airlines to Missoula now has backers looking to restructure the program, known as Take Flight Missoula, and explore new ways to grow air service.
- This Lego-like bike path is made from recycled plastic
In the Netherlands, three companies partnered up to collect your recycled plastic and turn it into bike paths.
- TEDx: The Autonomous Vehicle Revolution Is An Everything Issue - Cities and States That Think Ahead, Stay Ahead
AVs are more than just a transportation issue, and planners need to prepare for the coming changes.
- Driverless Cars Threaten Guru's Vision
The Times is referring to Peter Calthorpe, one of the few people who might be considered an urban planning guru and the one who has the most to lose if driverless cars are successful.
- EV Car-Sharing Initiatives Take Root in Sacramento, Calif.
Envoy Technologies deployed electric Volkswagens as part of a car-sharing program in two neighborhoods as part of a push to introduce the technology.
- Women In STEM: Pumpkin Chunkin, 11/03, Bozeman
- International Conference On Advances In Computer Entertainment Technology - 12/10-14 - Missoula, MT
- Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) Investment Subcommittee - 11/2 - Boise
- Save The Date - Rotunda Day - 1/23 - Helena
- MWTC's TechEx European Union's GDPR Seminar, 11/27, Missoula
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page
