MATR Newsletter - Fri Jan 12, 2007 |
In every person who comes near you look for what is good and strong; honor that; try to imitate it, and your faults will drop off like dead leaves when their time comes. -- John Ruskin (1819-1900) English Art Critic
"Funding bill for the Montana capital equity investment act - Update HB34. Your support is requested" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Boomtown Institute
Come Home Montana
- Montana Regional Initiatives
North Central MT has learned of the importance of leveraging their wonderful natural assets with a regional approach.
- Canary in the Mine Shaft - Labor
If you aren’t starting to look for solutions to the growing labor shortage, you should be.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Online Producer - The Montana Standard
Butte, Montana is nestled on the west side of the Rocky Mountains. From Butte, you're a short drive from hiking the Highland Mountains, fishing the Big Hole River, boating Georgetown Lake, skiing Discovery Basin, or golfing the Jack Nicklaus-designed Old Works golf course, and Fairmont Hot Springs Resort's golf course.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Grant Writer - Missoula
Seeking person with demonstrated success record specific to disability/publishing/digital services, with international and U.S. based targets.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Systems Administrator - Merlin Information Services
If you have the talent and motivation to excel in a dynamic environment, Merlin Information Services welcomes your inquiry.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Web Media Project Developer - Montana State University Bozeman
Web Media Project Developer at MSU in Bozeman, Montana.... what more could you ask for?
- Montana Career Opportunity - Software Developer/Programmer - WaterStreet Company
The ideal candidate will be participating in designing application components and new product features within a small team environment.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Smart Startup Ideas for '07
Experts pinpoint emerging trends and tell entrepreneurs planning their next ventures which opportunities to consider, on and off the Web
- Nature, nurture key factors for young entrepreneurs
Keep in mind that kids think a bit differently than adults, especially when it comes to the extraordinary step of running their own businesses.
Education
- Jobs effort aims to lure local talent back to Central Louisiana
If mom's cooking isn't enough to bring adult children back to Central Louisiana, maybe a high paying job will do the trick.
- Many jobs, little help. Growth in Southern Utah leads to employee shortage
"Our immediate challenge is the ability to hire and retain over 100 employees needed for our start-up operation," said Bill Wright, vice president of Viracon Inc., a commercial glass fabrication business now building a massive factory in the Ft. Pierce Industrial Park.
Montana Business
- Parents, teachers and school officials from across the state call all-day kindergarten a proven way to boost test scores, reduce behavior problems and level the playing field for poor and minority students.
“With a billion-dollar budget surplus, now is the time to make sure all of our students are achieving at the highest level they are capable of,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch told the Senate Education Committee.
Montana Meth Project
- Industry leaders tout Great Fall's business climate. Brett Doney ready to roll.
Some 350 business and community folks reveled in a hearty stew of favorable Great Falls economic development news Tuesday.
- Rising demand, concern – As Montana grows older, health care services will increase, but with a shortage of trained workers costs will go up
Western Montana's expanding health care sector is showing no sign of slowing, and, in fact, is projected to grow even more rapidly in the coming years as the region's population ages and drives up demand for medical goods and services.
- Big Sky may surpass MSU as an economic engine for state
To put it in perspective, the $478 million spent last year -- largely on residential and commercial construction, plus infrastructure projects -- is more than Montana State University's combined budget of $385 million for this year. It's almost as big as the $513 million in statewide spending by the entire University System in 2004, the last year for which figures were reported.
- World Class Information Technology services available on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation from Integrated Solutions, Inc. and Fort Peck Tech Services, Inc.
The respective costs of completing respective transactions with domestic corporate and governmental clientele are lower on the Fort Peck Reservation than those which may be available from comparable enterprises throughout rural America.
- GlaxoSmithKline Expanding in Hamilton, Montana
A vaccine for cervical cancer that has yet to be approved in the United States or Europe is propelling a grand-scale construction project in the Bitterroot and adding jobs to the local economy.
Montana Economic Development
- Graphic ads could be centerpiece of Idaho anti-meth campaign "Not Even Once"
The "Not Even Once" campaign was started in Montana back in 2005.
- Documentary on meth use in Montana to air on HBO
The hour-long film eventually was picked up by HBO, and will air in March as part of a week-long series on addiction.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Western Montana InBusiness - New calendars convey optimism, hope
Reporters Lori Grannis, Michael Jamison, Vince Devlin and Perry Backus joined Christensen in reporting on the individual segments of Montana's economy: tourism, manufacturing, retail, energy, natural resources, the arts, health care, construction, financial services, transportation, agriculture, technology and small business. The result is a fascinating portrait of our state, reaping the benefits of the energy boom, struggling to redefine the timber industry, desperate to hold onto the family farm.
- The National Main Streets Conference. Are you going?
The National Main Streets Conference is now only a little over two months away. Our designated Montana Main Street communities will be attending the conference. I would like to learn, however, if other Montana communities plan to send a representative(s). I ask for two reasons:
- Montana Mobile Glass Pulverizer is a Crushing Success
Recycling glass is difficult in Montana because there is no existing glass facility located in the state nor is the population large enough to create enough demand to supply a manufacturing facility. Therefore, secondary markets must be created in the state for the crushed glass, also known as glass cullet.
- Montana Manufacturing Center - Fall-Winter 2006/07 Newsletter - Marching toward Success One Leg at a Time
Where there is chaos, there is opportunity.
Funding and Building your Business
- Funding bill for the Montana capital equity investment act - Update HB34. Your support is requested
Rep. Keane's funding bill for the capital equity investment act was heard yesterday in appropriations. Funding for the act is also in the Governors budget, which was reviewed for the first time yesterday morning as well by an appropriations subcommittee. Both had good hearings.
Economic Gardening
- Six ways to keep your business alive
Your start-up is more likely to succeed if you commit to a "failure is not an option" mindset.
- Drug testing improves business
While employee turnover is still high, Force said the policy -- with pre-employment, random, suspicion-of-use, and post-accident testing -- did away with the 400 percent a year turnover rate.
Regional Business
- "Cherry Tomatoes" Welcomes 16 to Class of 2007...
The concept comes from Kern EDC's award-winning Tomatoes on Steroids program which offered assistance with financial, workforce, and information resources to small businesses (with between 10 and 50 employees) and has created 103 jobs to date.
- The 2007 Economic Gardening Conference, Valdosta, Georgia May 31, June 1-2
Registration information, hotel, and airport information will be available soon. Please save the date for this event.
Regional Economic Development
- Will global warming doom ski resorts?
Global warming could force the snow sports industry out of business by dramatically reducing the amount of snow and shortening the ski season to a mere two months, according to a new study.
- "Global Warming in the Northwest" to cost us. Millions will be spent on higher prices, fixes, study says
Global warming is known to be destructive, but a study released Wednesday shows it also will be expensive, costing Washington state and its residents millions of dollars in higher prices and remedial measures.
Utah Economic Development
- Deep Competitiveness: new Issues in Science and Technology article
In the current issue of the National Academy of Sciences’ Issues in Science and Technology, ITIF President Rob Atkinson argues that current proposals to stimulate U.S. competitiveness are necessary but not sufficient to meet the challenges posed by a rapidly evolving global economy and the aggressive policies of other nations.
- New offering at Wal-Mart. Retailer reaches out to local small businesses
Now, in a first for Wal-Mart, the company is pledging support to its smaller rivals. It is offering to pay for local newspaper advertising to showcase the independent stores on Wal-Mart's in-store TV network and donate funds to the local chambers of commerce. The catch: The program is only offered for economically disadvantaged inner-city neighborhoods.
Idaho Business
- Utah wants to increase movie incentive fund
Like movie budgets that grow during filming, the Governor's Office of Economic Development wants to see an increase in the state's Motion Picture Incentive Fund.
Oregon Economic Development
- Slowing growth in Idaho high-tech jobs sparks debate
Some analysts see beginnings of a trend; others say employment picture remains relatively healthy
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
- Funding lines up for sustainable tech research center. Oregon Bio-Economy and Sustainable Technologies (Oregon BEST)
Practical applications - The center will draw on researchers at all seven state university campuses
Incubators and R&D
- Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI) Newsletter
Wyoming 2006 SBIR/STTR Awards Again Exceed National per capita average
Careers
- Montana researchers receive money for water studies
The Montana University System Water Center, based at Montana State University in Bozeman, awarded the grants and fellowships to researchers and grad students at MSU, the University of Montana and Montana Tech. The grants totaled $45,600, and the fellowships $10,400. Both were funded through the federal Water Resources Research Act.
Energy
- How to Follow Up With a Hiring Manager
"If you take the initiative, you might get hired over other candidates,"
- Jump-Starting Your Search? Six Essentials for Job Hunters
If you're starting a job search, here's guidance on getting-started basics, and links to more advice that can help ensure you make your best shot at success.
Connectivity & Communications
- Vice Admiral keynoting Clean Energy conference coming to Boise this month
The seventh annual Harvesting Clean Energy Conference taking place in Boise, Idaho Jan. 28-30 will be a meeting ground for people interested in learning more about agriculture can make a significant contribution to providing clean and secure energy for the nation.
Leadership Montana
- U.S. Senators Dorgan and Snowe Introduce Internet Freedom Preservation Act. Qwest CEO: Net neutrality act is 'nuts'
would ensure that Internet use -- by consumers, content providers, and businesses -- remains free from interference by broadband service providers.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Olympic Wrestler Rulon Gardner To Speak At Montana State University, 1/24, Bozeman, Montana
“Never Give Up, Never Stop Trying: 7 Points to Success”
- Five Leaders on What It Takes to Get to (and Stay at) the Top
Whether you are scaling the world's fourth-highest summit, running the world's second-largest company, or trying to restore the tarnished reputation of a government-backed mortgage securities company, some leadership traits seem to be universal.
- Technology cuts the cord. Wireless power transfer may end the tangle of cables
In the age of Bluetooth, Wi Fi, and cellphones, a number of companies also unveiled solutions to help cut those cords, with everything from batteries that charge using solar energy to wireless power.
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