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| MATR Newsletter - Tue May 1, 2007 |
"Business opportunities are now less determined by location and much more determined by the amount and quality of education you’ve received.” Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates at the Montana Economic Summit ( As we've been saying... "The State with the Best Education Wins!"
Lots of excitement and enthusiasm for the future of Montana at the Economic Summit hosted by Sen. Max Baucus. Here's a compilation of the news coming from the summit so far: http://matr.net/news.p ... pment
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
Education
- Arlee students' business plan takes top prize. “Snack Shack”
“The students nailed their presentation, they were fearless and I was so proud of them,” said Tina Begay, the chapter's co-adviser. “They represented the Flathead Nation and Arlee community very well.”
- How to Start a College Entrepreneurship Club
While many young people are starting to understand and embrace the concept of entrepreneurship - they're being introduced to it as early as high school and college - those entering college for the first time may have no idea what entrepreneurship means and how it relates to their personal and professional goals.
Montana Business
- University of Montana needs to improve pay to attract professors
According to the National Education Association, average salaries at Montana’s public universities are the fifth lowest in the nation, coming in at an average of $57,000. Among states that allow collective bargaining for faculty salaries, Montana came in dead last. This presents a problem for recruiting knowledgeable faculty members to the institution. If UM hopes to be a viable option for quality higher education – both in the state and in the region – it cannot continue to offer salaries that do not adequately compensate professors for their time, knowledge and instruction.
- “Graduate Education: The Backbone of American Competitiveness and Innovation"
We can no longer take for granted America’s continued leadership in innovation and competitiveness. We face the risk of losing the highly trained workforce that is essential to maintain our economic leadership.
- Wisconsin 'covenant' opens access to college
Wisconsin is rolling out the nation's most expansive guarantee of higher education to students in hopes of raising aspirations and improving preparedness.
Montana Meth Project
- Monument business gets high-tech
Thanks to advanced computer technology, Orville Bealer's artwork continues to provide a personalized touch on grave markers and monuments on the Hi-Line, and in the Flathead Valley.
- Tiny Missoula tech company taking off. GCS Research
A small but growing technology company in Missoula is leading the way and changing the way we use geospatial information - and riding the growing wave of international demand.
- Elk River Systems Expands Management Team. Company Plans for Growth in Variable Data Technology and Online Ticket Printing
With the executive team in place, Elk River Systems, the parent company for TicketPrinting.com and PerforatedPaper.com, intends to capitalize on the fast-growing, Web2.0 “do-it-yourself” ticket design and printing market with superior variable data technology and customer-friendly Web services for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Three Bears Alaska opens its doors in Butte, Montana
“We as a company want to enhance the shopping experience in Butte and make Butte a shopping destination.”
- Florida company closes deal on Anaconda, Montana -basedRarus Railway
“Patriot’s management team forms strong partnerships with the customers, communities and employees where its railroads are situated,”
Montana Economic Development
- ‘Paint the State’ art featured in book. "The Montana Meth Project"
“Shattered hopes, dreams and all things imagined. With meth, it’s never a pretty picture,”
Funding and Building your Business
- The Montana World Trade Center would like to know if you would like to join their August trade mission to South America. Which country would you prefer?
I’ve outlined a sample of the leading sectors for US exports in each country, compliments of the US Commercial Services, at the bottom of this email. The proposed dates are August 18-25, 2007.
- Bresnan Communications and State economic leaders form partnership to assist small businesses in Montana
Through a public/private partnership, the Bresnan Business Incubator makes money available to entrepreneurs in the state’s 10 regional Small Business Development Centers.
- Catch the Montana Economic Summit on TV - live
Bresnan Communications is pleased to provide key portions of the 2007 Montana Economic Development Summit live on its Montana cable network on April 30 and May 1.
- Officials prepare for Montana economic summit. Butte is booming
“When we do this right, it will show people Montana Tech is a great place that can do so many things.” The summit kicks off Monday morning with six foreign ambassadors discussing Montana and the global economy.
- Sen. Baucus shows off Montana's economic engine to group of five ambassadors
The ambassadors toured Montana this weekend leading up to Baucus' Economic Development Summit, scheduled for Monday in Butte.
- The May MEDA Online News is now available
Between our MEDA Working Groups, the BEAR Program, training opportunities and news updates, there is always much to report.
- Summit: Technology opens world to Montana
Business opportunities, he said, are now less determined by location and “much more determined by the amount and quality of education you’ve received.”
- Arlee philanthropist donates million-plus to economic development in Montana
Mary Stranahan’s gift will be used to kick off a $10 million fundraising campaign to grow MCDC’s loan fund to $15 million in order to continue providing business loans and consulting in Montana.
- Baucus kicks off jobs summit in Butte
Armed with the best workers, innovative technology, abundant energy resources, and an entrepreneurial spirit, Montana's economy is poised for long term growth, U.S. Senator Max Baucus told a capacity crowd today at his fourth Montana Economic Development Summit in Butte.
- Computer, Internet spell opportunity. Report from the Montana Economic Development Summit
Host and sponsor U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., encouraged entrepreneurs to “think outside the box” and “maximize potential” by taking advantage of networking opportunities at the summit.
- CEOs hype Montana's resources at Economic Summit
"As a whole, the world is becoming one large market place," said Scott Billadeau founder and CEO of Liquid Planet and Planetary Design in Missoula. And there's no reason Montana can't play a key role in global development, he said.
- Montana Economic summit’s intent includes making big international connections
“Montana must exploit its international connections, think forward and grow outward,” Baucus said. “It’s the excitement, the attitude of working Montanans that will be a big part of their success.”
Utah Business
- 2007 InformationWeek IT Salary Adviser. How do you rank?
How does your pay rate? Use our new and improved tool to compare your pay against the results of our 2007 National IT Salary Survey.
- Supreme Court douses patent wildfire. Firms laud a ruling making it harder to own an idea
Ruling makes it easier for firms to defend against accusations that they infringed on an existing patent.
Idaho Business
- Utah entrepreneurs face venture funding hurdle. The investors are in control
Entrepreneurs often seem surprised that the law of supply and demand, an immutable law of economics, also applies to raising money for their entrepreneurial ventures. This revelation seems to befuddle those who somehow want to have their cake and eat it too when it comes to raising money for their business ideas.
Washington State Business
- University of Idaho research money dips below $100 million
“We need to re-ignite this research engine because it is so much of what the University of Idaho is and needs to be in this nation of ours.”
Wyoming Business
- Startup money fueling Washington State's biodiesel boom
"We are moving as fast as we can,"
Other Economies
- Afterschool network would strengthen programs in Wyoming
Wyoming afterschool programs need trained workers, links to schools and a network of professional support if they are to be successful in helping families, children and the economy develop, advocates say.
University Business Plan Competitions
- Growing Vermont’s Next Generation Workforce: Discovery Report
Economic vitality depends on the skills and initiative of the next generation workforce.
Incubators and R&D
- Montana University Business Plan Competition Prize Money set at $35,000 for 2007!
The 18th Annual Business Plan Competition will be held on May 10, 2007 and will include $35,000 in prizes.
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- Yahoo rounds up up-and-comers
Unlike typical incubators that provide start-up companies with office space in exchange for an equity stake, Brickhouse, in San Francisco, will provide Yahoo employees with offices in exchange for ownership of what they produce.
Connectivity & Communications
- Why the Buffalo Still Roam - The American Prairie Foundation
There's an undercurrent of despair and even hopelessness in recent reports about global warming -- a drift that carries a real risk of paralysis, the sense that it's too late to do anything. But while our landscape is scarred by centuries of environmental abuse, there are also monumental environmental victories, and therefore hope.
City Club Missoula
- Has Google been poking through your Gmail?
Google has the ability to trawl your e-mail and chat transcripts--in other words, Gmail and Google Talk--in order to figure out which blogs and blog posts are being talked about the most.
- City Club Missoula Special Evening Event - Endangered Places In Missoula?, 5/11, Missoula
Treasure Hunt. The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the 17th Annual Missoula Historic Preservation Awards.
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