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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Jan 26, 2007 |
The sages do not consider that making no mistakes is a blessing. They believe, rather, that the great virtue of man lies in his ability to correct his mistakes and continually make a new man of himself. -- Wang Yang-Ming (1472-1529) Chinese Philosopher
Two outstanding event. One happened last night: "Six Montanans earn Courage and Advocacy Awards for helping disabled. - "ONE MONTANA" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html ----One's coming in February. The Montana Ambassadors Conference is open to all Ambassadors as well as those who'd like to learn more about Ambassadors and their efforts to improve the quality of life and business success in Montana. I hope you'll consider attending. Rich Karlgaard has a powerful message for rural America. "Montana Ambassador’s Annual Conference With Rich Karlgaard, Publisher Of Forbes Magazine, Sen. Max Baucus and Gov. Brian Schweitzer, 2/15-16, Helena, MT"
Come Home Montana
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Montana Career Opportunity - Lead Programmer and 10 other Tech Positions
Diversified Financial Incorporated, a leading Innovative Technology Group is seeking talented Engineers and Developers to immediately fill up to 10 positions in the beautiful state of Montana.
- Temporary assignment in Hamilton, Montana turns to permanent quality of life for lab family
“We were so surprised by the community meetings here, and people who are so friendly,” Christy said. “You could have the same event in Michigan, and people could care less. All the neighbors are so friendly. There's nice people here. Our children take music lessons. The Canyons (Athletic Club) has just been great. Men open doors for you. Our boys are being trained to open doors.” Chase even gets wears his spurs and a cowboy hat, “and nobody makes fun of him,” Christy said. “Jack did take a step down with his job, but it's a lot for the better, and you can't measure it with financial gain.”
- Growth brings waves of people, water issues. Retirees have vested interest in Bitterroot valley of Montana
“The mountains here are basically unchanging. But the valleys are changing a lot, and in ways we find very worrisome,” said Barbara and Dick, who retired in Stevensville a little more than a year ago. “We're concerned about the lack of people investing in planning.”
- State of the State: 'Montana is open for business'
"And boy, are we open for business," Schweitzer said, citing the state's 2.8 percent unemployment rate, the lowest in its history; the creation of 1,000 new jobs a month over the last two years and wages that are increasing at one of the fastest rates in the country.
- Montana Career Opportunity - ISD Coordinator - PPL Montana
PPL Montana operates electric generation facilities with a combined capacity of more than 2,800 megawatts in Montana and is seeking highly motivated, qualified candidates
- Amid Relics of Copper Mines, Artistic Revival Takes Root in Butte, Montana
Community leaders hope the lure of cheap square footage in the 19th- and early 20th-century structures will transform the decaying former mining-company town into a refuge for artists, whose creativity will spark reclamation.
- Plein air tai chi at Glacier National Park: Woman brings the tiny community of Apgar, Montana together through ancient art
Apgar, Montana has long been considered a special place.
Montana Ambassadors
- Tech titans draw fire on U.S. expansions because of incentives and ecological questions
"Instead of trying to woo giant businesses, governments should encourage entrepreneurship."
- Jobs on the coast going inland to cheaper locales, state study shows
``It just makes sense that the jobs and the population begin to flow inward.''
Education
- Montana Ambassador’s Annual Conference With Rich Karlgaard, Publisher Of Forbes Magazine, Sen. Max Baucus and Gov. Brian Schweitzer, 2/15-16, Helena, MT
Rich Karlgaard, Publisher of Forbes Magazine and author of “Life 2.0 How People Across America Are Transforming Their Lives by Finding the Where of Their Happiness” will be our keynote speaker.
Montana Business
- State Profiles on Policies Leading Students From High School to Careers
Does your state have activities and policies that effectively guide students from high school and prepare them for college and careers?
- Incubator and autoclave. High School farm girls take on ambitious science projects
This winter, two seniors in his projects class are taking advantage of Filer High's fine collection of lab equipment - and of Richards' passion for pairing students with professionals in real-world industry and research.
Montana Meth Project
- Science of soil - Scientia, LLC in Stevensville
“With Rocky Mountain Labs and GSK, we've become specialists in biology and chemical science,” Irwin said. “And I thought this analytical lab would fit in here nicely.”
Montana Economic Development
- Meth Report Encouraging. Montana is making significant progress against methamphetamine.
According to the semi-annual Drug Testing Index, Montana's overall rate of employees testing positive for meth fell more than 70 percent between 2005 and 2006. It was the biggest decrease in the country.
Regional Business
- Affordable housing sought at new project in Kalispell
“‘Affordable’ is not a $200,000 house,”
- Great Falls Development Authority helped create 641 new jobs paying $21 million
The GFDA did so by helping attract eight new businesses to the region and assisting 21 others in expanding.
- The 33rd Montana Governor’s Conference On Tourism & Recreation, 4/2-3, Helena, MT
Set your coordinates for Helena this April for the 33rd Montana Governor’s Conference on Tourism & Recreation. Participate in a variety of educational, entertainment and networking sessions along with special events and field trips to Helena area attractions.
- Montana World Trade Center January E-News
The Montana World Trade Center, a program of the University of Montana, helps businesses establish and strengthen their international commercial capabilities.
- Plan unveiled for Blackfoot Valley lands in Montana
The Blackfoot Cooperative Landscape Stewardship Pilot Project would add 87,000 acres to the Bob Marshall/Scapegoat and Mission Mountain wilderness areas northwest of Helena, and open 2,000 acres in Lake Creek for snowmobiling.
Regional Economic Development
- When you patronize local businesses, the money stays in your town
Small companies have gotten smarter. With strong competition from mega-corporations, it's hard for a small business to survive unless they offer better products or services at competitive prices with outstanding customer service. Business improvement districts (BIDs) have brought new life to Main Streets.
Utah Business
- Housing Boom Revitalizing Small Town America
“They are coming back to reclaim what they remember as the vibrancy of downtown.”
Utah Economic Development
- Utah logs venture capital drop for 2006
Utah's economy may be booming, but venture capitalists were cautious for much of 2006, spending more than 30 percent less than they did in 2005.
Idaho Business
- Utah wins $5M (WIRED) grant for biotechnology program
Utah has received a second financial boost for a program designed to pump new talent into the state's biotechnology and biomanufacturing industries.
Washington State Business
- Coeur d’Alene-based technology startup plans to launch communications software package to help doctors while they make patient rounds at hospitals and other health-care facilities.
The company, InstiComm LLC, has just three full-time employees now, but expects within a year to employ 35 to 40 people and to have 500 to 600 doctors using its product.
Wyoming Business
- Big boost for biofuel maker. $100 million funding could make Imperium Renewables leader in field
Imperium Renewables, formerly known as Seattle Biodiesel, is gearing up to announce more than $100 million in equity and debt financing, according to a source familiar with the transaction.
- Ignition Partners fires up a new way to grow
Ignition has shown a greater appetite for later-stage investments in sectors that stray from the firm's original sweet spots.
Incubators and R&D
- Wyoming gets supercomputer
Construction on the $60 million data center for the geosciences will begin this year, according to a Tuesday announcement from the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
- Wyoming Business Council CEO, Tucker Fagan to exit
The Wyoming Business Council is a quasi-governmental agency that encourages business development.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Research Roundup at Montana State University (#268), Windows into wonderland, Enron effect?, Horse chips, Small businesses, big disasters
How do small family businesses fare when a natural disaster occurs and their counties receive federal assistance?
Careers
- Flathead Valley Community College hires firm to build college brand, Web site
In a unanimous vote, trustees approved a proposal from Stamats Communications, one of six firms competing for the contract. The firm proposed to develop a brand and design a site for $70,375.
Energy
- Ten Ways to Improve Your Job Hunt
Today's job hunt is more like a marathon than a sprint, because a job hunt never really ends -- it just pauses when you find a job you want to stay at for a few years.
Connectivity & Communications
- Lobbying effort signals corporate climate change. Business leaders urge reduction of greenhouse gases
The companies -- including PG&E, Alcoa, DuPont and General Electric -- have formed a coalition with four environmental groups to lobby Bush and Congress for action.
- The 7th annual Harvesting Clean Energy Conference will begin Sunday, 1/28, in Boise, ID
The 7th annual Harvesting Clean Energy Conference http://www.harvestcleanenergy.org/conference will be held from Sunday through Tuesday at the DoubleTree Riverside Hotel in Garden City.
Transportation
- Microsoft riles Wikipedia. Company offered to pay blogger to fix 'mistakes'
Paying for Wikipedia copy is a definite no-no.
- Municipal Wireless: Evaluating "Public-Private Partnerships" and Other Private Business Models
What follows is an overview of business models in which the private sector owns the infrastructure, and an assessment of their risks and benefits to the public sector.
- Nonprofit begins work on statewide Wyoming health information network
It is Smith's hope, along with the Wyoming Health Information Organization (WyHIO), to get other health professionals in the state using electronic medical records and linked to a regional health information exchange network so information can be shared.
Community
- Car-sharing catching on with Bay Area drivers. Firms provide autos for those who don't want hassle of ownership
So many people in the Bay Area are interested in car-sharing that two for-profit companies have joined nonprofit pioneer City CarShare in the market -- and all three are surviving and growing.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Ellen Buchanan & Brent Campbell Named 2006 Missoula Downtowners of the Year
The two were nominated collectively after co-chairing the River City Roots Festival, which generated more than $50,000 in sponsorships and more than 4,000 attendees in its inaugural year.
- Missoula and Whitefish, Montana included in 100 'best communities' for youths named
The winners in this year's competition are rural and urban communities in 38 states. Their programs, government and private, are geared toward the five resources that Powell's group says society must make available to children: caring adults, a safe environment, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others.
- Six Montanans earn Courage and Advocacy Awards for helping disabled. - "ONE MONTANA"
At an awards dinner with the theme "One Montana," the honorees were recognized for outstanding achievement in fighting for the rights of Montanans with disabilities.
- Battery Breakthrough?
A Texas company says it can make a new ultracapacitor power system to replace the electrochemical batteries in everything from cars to laptops.
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