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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Oct 6, 2006 |
"I don't say we all ought to misbehave. But we ought to look as if we could." -- Oscar Wilde
"Montana Governor and Mrs. Schweitzer join call for early education as a driving force for successful economic development" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
Montana Education Excellence
- Strategic IT talent: Offshoring not the answer
Offshore is rapidly becoming "dual shore," as Indian-based outsourcers expand their U.S. operations. For example, Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy Services says it plans to hire 1,000 stateside employees in 2006.
Education
- MSU-COT Dean: Bright future the result of vision
She said her walks around Great Falls often inspire her: "I feel like I'm walking among the ghosts of people who had vision," she said.
- Beloved Big Sky author, Ivan Doig advises young writers
"These are probably the future authors of Montana gathered here,"
Montana Business
- State Scholars Initiative RFP
The State Scholars Initiative is a multi-State business/education partnership effort focused on increasing the number of high school students who take a rigorous secondary-level curriculum designed to strengthen both college and workplace entrance and success.
- It's time for community college solution in Idaho
Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, thinks it's time to ditch a funding system that depends on unpopular property taxes.
- Sides vie for control of a Bitterroot college
The University of Montana and a Ravalli County community group have similar ideas about bringing a college to the Bitterroot Valley. However, they’re following separate paths to achieve that goal.
- Education Reform. The Finance Project’s Education Reform practice group
This practice group provides leaders with a wide range of policy-relevant reports, tools, guides, and information on promising practices, costs, funding sources, and strategies for financing and sustaining effective professional development, education leadership, comprehensive school reform models, and other education reform efforts.
- At colleges, real learning in a virtual world - "Second Life"
Some 60 schools and universities have set up shop inside Second Life — most in the past year. They join a population that includes real-world business people, politicians, entertainers, and more than 800,000 other "residents" of the virtual world. Some 90 Harvard law and extension school students taking the course, called "CyberOne: Law in the Court of Public Opinion," can receive real college credit. But anyone on Earth with a computer connection can also take the course for free. Students are participating from as far away as South Korea and China.
- Schools experiment with technology
Around the district, schools are using computer technology like never before to engage students and prepare them for careers.
Montana Economic Development
- GrupThink of Missoula in the Wall Street Journal
Grupthink is "more akin to a town hall in which the loudest voice is going to get to speak," says 37-year-old co-founder John Masterson. "But everyone else is going to get their say as well, if they want to participate."
- Industrial Manufacturing tour comes to Helena. Spika Welding and Manufacturing
Spika was one of dozens of manufacturers who took part in a tour of the industrial arts programs at UM-Helena College of Technology as part of the Montana Manufacturing Conference, hosted this week by the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center.
- Wheelsmith Fabrications Inc. of Big Timber is purchased by HB Performance Systems Inc. of Wisconsin - Operations to move to Milwaukee
Wheelsmith's operations will move to HB's Milwaukee facility -- the home of its Sun Components subsidiary -- and the Wheelsmith brand name will be retained, said the Milwaukee Business Journal.
- Butte-Silver Bow County blamed: Firm claims suit hurt its rep
“These guys (Tekton owners) have been abused in this case,” O’Leary said. The District 5 commissioner said the county needed Tekton’s name on the suit to assure the case stayed in Butte district court. He said they didn’t want the case to be fought in federal court or an out-of-state court.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Major new syn-fuels project planned at Roundup. Governor's advisor touts energy projects to City Commission
Tom Kaiserski, senior economic development specialist in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, said the governor announced Monday in Helena that a partnership, which includes DKRW Energy of Houston, wants to build a $1.5 billion to $2 billion coal-to-liquid plant and an accompanying “clean coal” power plant at the Bull Mountain Coal Mine site south of Roundup.
- The last best house? The region’s lack of affordable housing also appears to contribute to a problem increasingly facing Flathead employers: finding workers.
“We’re seeing it across the board,” he says. For example, Patrick notes, the city’s sewage treatment plant is currently understaffed. Recently, he says, the city found a candidate who agreed to take an open position there, but when the candidate couldn’t find an affordable home nearby, the deal fell through. The city, Patrick says, had offered $15 per hour for the job.
Funding and Building your Business
- "Investing In Outliers"
Savvy venture capital investors have headed to New Mexico, an underserved venture capital market where Forbes this year gave Albuquerque (#1) and Las Cruces (#2) top rankings in their size class as Best Places for Business and Careers.
- University of New Mexico helps build bridge for researchers over financial 'valley of death'. That black area where government funding for research ends and Angel Investment begin.
"We'll provide grants to help faculty span the 'valley of death' -- that black area where government funding for research ends, but where the technology has not yet been developed to the point that investors would be willing to risk their capital," Kuuttila says. "It's an opportunity for researchers to get money to turn not-ready-for-prime-time technologies into something the private sector might consider backing as a marketable product."
Regional Economic Development
- Model NDA that a Reluctant VC Fund May Sign (Before the Term Sheet is Finalized)
Some professionals have worked at developing a model NDA which is non-threatening to the fund, in the sense that it can minimize the danger the disclosing company will, if disappointed, make a nuisance claim that its information has been misused by some other company in the fund's portfolio.
- The 11 Pitfalls of Start-Ups
If you're in the initial phases of starting your own business, then I must warn you: Avoid these mistakes as if your life depended on it. Because it does -- your financial life, that is.
- The Case for Innovation
U.S. corporations often seek to make investments that provide returns only in the short-term, playing to capital markets and media stories that forestall any meaningful strategic engagement of global pressures. And the most enlightened corporations are moving research offshore, as has been pointed to in numerous studies, most notably in a Kauffman Foundation sponsored study by the National Academies.
- Lucrative store locations pinpointed by new model. - Location, location, location...then do the math.
THE old mantra about the three most important factors for a shop's success - location, location and location - has been borne out by a new mathematical model. It could help retailers pinpoint lucrative sites for their stores.
- Managing IT for a Flat World
In the age of the level global playing field, companies will need to rethink the way they compete, collaborate, and communicate
Government Technology
- SBA Newsline Eight October 2006
Newsline Eight is the monthly newsletter from the SBA's Region Eight Office in Denver. Our office serves the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Over 10,000 individuals across America receive Newsline Eight.
- 20,000 Residents Help Set Regional Economic Priorities
For the past 18 months, AmericaSpeaks has led Voices & Choices in partnership with a coalition of 80 local foundations, called the Fund for Our Economic Future. The historic effort was launched in the Spring of 2005 in order to address the declining economy of the 16-county region, which includes the cities of Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown.
- A Model For Regional Thinking
Suburban growth patterns and their attendant regional problems have opened some city leaders’ eyes to the need for cooperation and coordination with their neighbors. Transit planning, air and water quality, access to natural resources—all are problems that cross governmental boundaries and engender regional solutions.
- Report gives glimpse into West's future - “You've Come a Long Way, Cowboy: 10 Truths and Trends in the New American West”
How the West was won is not necessarily a very good template for how the West will win, as rapidly changing economic realities have, in recent years, shifted the demographic landscape in surprising ways.
- Leaders push for enhancing innovation
(Every State and Region - you fill in the blank) must create its own program to spur innovation or others will beat the state to the next industrial frontier.
Idaho Business
- Thousands Of Government Computers Infected By Bots
Thousands of government computers may be under the control of cybercriminals.
Wyoming Business
- Idaho Tech Councils Endorse Spending Proposals for Technology Based Economic Development
In a Sept. 12 teleconference, Idaho Gov. Jim Risch's Science and Technology Advisory Council agreed upon a $38.8 million package to attract and grow new technology businesses, as well as a tax credit program to encourage private investment in high-tech companies.
- Business professor promotes Boise's creative potential as economic resource
The class combines students from various disciplines — including engineering, biology, psychology, political science and business — in a single classroom to help spark ideas. Napier will be hosting an upcoming conference on creativity and economic development.
Government
- Combining straw and plastic at Heartland BioComposites in Torrington, Wyoming
Heath Van Eaton came up with the idea of using wheat straw and recycled plastics to produce a natural fiber composite as a wood substitute. He and his wife, Amy, decided more than a decade ago to pursue his ideas, “and to do it right.”
- Study says Wyoming tourism jobs top 30,000
"That's an encouraging trend and one that shows sustained growth in an industry that clearly has a great future in Wyoming," Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Thursday. "Young people willing to work their way up can have an extremely rewarding career in their home state."
Other Economies
- Governor: Communicate Performance
When she first came into office in 2005, she said, she conducted a series of listening tours to gauge what government services were the most important to citizens. At each of the meetings, which regularly attracted over 400 participants, Gregoire focused on two questions: What are your top priorities for state spending? And what would tell you that the state is succeeding in those priorities?
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- European Union Outlines 10-Step Innovation Plan
Regional innovation strategies comprise a central element of the planning and budgetary allocation of the action plan, and the list includes several components with relevance to the 50 states and the U.S. federal government.
- Michigan's Jobs Fund Commits $200M for Commercialization, VC
The inaugural round of 61 awards is expected to create more than 3,000 new in-state jobs and to fuel new business development in the life sciences, alternative energy, homeland security, and advanced automotive technologies.
- Oregon Tech Council Endorses Spending Proposals for Technolgoy Based Economic Development
At a meeting last month, the Oregon Innovation Council revealed its state Innovation Plan, which includes a $38 million economic stimulus package. Gov. Ted Kulongoski pledged to make the recommendations a top priority in his 2007-09 budget, should he be re-elected in November.
University TechTransfer
- Top Ten Quotes: America and Americans #12- Everyone has a right to a university degree in America, even if it’s in Hamburger Technology. Clive James
America...just a nation of two hundred million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns and no qualms about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us uncomfortable. Hunter S. Thompson
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Kauffman-Larta Technology Bundling Project
The Technology Bundling Project is focused on identifying and creating synergistic combinations of two or more patents, from two or more different research institutions.
- Research into herpes vaccine among seven new biotechnologies available for licensing at Montana State University
To date, MSU has licensed 111 technologies developed by faculty. Seventy of those licenses are with Montana companies.
Business Plan Forums
- Montana Governor and Mrs. Schweitzer join call for early education as a driving force for successful economic development
Children who have a good start from the beginning are better prepared to enter kindergarten, which leaves them better prepared to enter first grade, and so on all the way through college.
- COT’s new dean focusing on partnering with high schools, businesses
“The COT needs to continue making partnerships,” he said. Strong partnerships within the business and education community are important to colleges like the COT, Good said, for building new programs and custom training opportunities for students.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Presenting Companies Selected for 2006 Bend Venture Conference
The 2006 Bend Venture Conference is proud to announce the finalists who will be presenting at this year’s event. Six companies from around the region have been chosen to showcase their business to a panel of angel investors.
Careers
- Young filmmakers from around the world descend on Hatchfetch
As the third annual Hatchfest takes flight in Bozeman, a group of 10 young filmmakers from around the world are eagerly awaiting their shot at the big screen.
- Edward O. Wilson warns of mass extinction facing life. Thousands welcome ‘sociobiology' pioneer to Montana State University in Bozeman.
“I want to declare a truce in the culture wars, in order to deal with the real world we both inhabit,” he said. “I want to set aside philosophical differences to save the creation. If habitat conversion continues at present rate unabated, the world could lose half its species of plants and animals by the end of the century.”
Energy
- Words that Score On a Resume And Open Doors to Interviews
When you are searching for a new job, a successful resume is your first hurdle to employment. The way you present yourself and your skills via your resume can open the doors to a better variety of interviews.
Connectivity & Communications
- Montana Senator Max Baucus proposes expanding wind incentives
"We need to become much less dependent on foreign energy sources to have control over our own destiny," he said.
Transportation
- Older set crashes the party at MySpace
Just a year ago, teens under 18 made up about 25% of MySpace, the popular online hangout run by News Corp. That's now down to 12% in the comScore analysis released Thursday. By contrast, the 35-54 group at MySpace grew to 41% in August, from 32% a year earlier.
Community
- One step at a time. Amazing that we've gotten to the point of having a “Walk to School Day.”
As a nation, we drive everywhere unnecessarily when it is more than acceptable to walk.
- UM bike ambassadors / Advocates aim to make UM better for bicyclists
“Our mission statement is to make campus a better place for bikes,”
- Subsidies Keep Airlines Flying to Small Towns
The program is a good case study of how poorly the government sometimes keeps pace with the free market and consumer tastes, and how entrenched interests, even in the face of some creative map-drawing, can keep such a program aloft in the face of efforts to ground it.
Leadership Montana
- Retiring The 'Retirement' Community
Retiring Baby Boomers are eschewing traditional golf and resort retirement communities for more authentic 'community' experiences in dense urban centers, small towns, and even rural farms.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Connecting the Dots between Innovation and Leadership
How are leadership and innovation linked? "How exactly do we put those two together? How do we lead in a way that generates innovation?" he asked, describing the synergy as "a kind of high-octane fuel we ought to get as much of as we can."
- Where social networking may go next
On CyWorld, the Korean social network site, about $125 million is spent annually on stuff to decorate the CyWorld communities. In the virtual-game market, about $900 million is spent by players sprucing up their environment with castles, bigger castles, castles with moats, castles with moats and big round tables, castles with moats, big round tables, and knights, etc. And, we can't forget ringtones. Consumers spent $2 billion in ringtones back in 2001. Today, about $7.4 billion is spent on personalized ringtones around the world.
- Google launches search service for computer code
The Web search leader said late on Wednesday it is introducing Google Code Search, a site that simplifies how software developers search for programming code to improve existing software or create new programs.
- Making Water From Thin Air
"The program focused on creating water from the atmosphere using low-energy systems that could reduce the overall logistics burden for deployed forces and provide potable water within the reach of the war fighter any place, any time," said Darpa spokeswoman Jan Walker.
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