|
|
|
| MATR Newsletter - Tue May 15, 2007 |
"A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit." -- John C. Maxwell
Based on the focus area of the recent successful Montana Economic Summit http://matr.net/articl ... .html , here's a good follow-up story --- "Globalization and Rural America" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Boomtown Institute
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute - Elk River Systems of Montana
"Small towns are great, vibrant centers with incredible histories and good people. It's a competitive advantage for us."
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Strategies for Expanding Rural Entrepreneurship
The report, Voices of the People: Strategies for Expanding Entrepreneurship in the Rural South, issues recommendations and case studies on creating an entrepreneur-friendly climate in the region. The “must do” items include cutting red tape for new companies, providing entrepreneurship training at the K-12 and postsecondary level and redirecting funds that traditionally support big companies towards smaller entrepreneurs.
- Inventor's Seminar, 5/25, Montana State University - Great Falls College Of Technology
The Inventor’s Roundtable will be from 9 a.m. to Noon and will be in a discussion group format to help inventors to determine their next steps. Please leave your invention at home, but come prepared with questions and problems to discuss with the innovation expert.
Montana Education Excellence
- Boomtowns '07
Just look at the big movers on Inc.'s annual survey of the nation's boomtowns.
- Getting Clueful: Seven Things the CIO Should Know About Telecommuting
IT workers who telecommute share advice for their bosses about the process, technology, and attitudes necessary for staff to be productive when they work from home.
- Policy Options for a Changing Rural America
Prosperity for many rural communities will depend on innovative income-generating strategies that attract people and jobs.
Education
- University of Montana Journalism school rejuvenated: News flash - Neon sign welcomes visitors to new Kaimin office
Nearly half a century later, Talbot paid tribute to her father's legacy. “He would be so proud of these young men and women he would be happy to call sons or daughters,” she said. “Now, thanks to the generosity of many people, these fine students, faculty and staff will be teaching and learning in a beautiful setting.”
- Montana's EPSCOR Program (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) Winter 2007 Newsletter
Over the past six years, 972 undergraduates have been exposed to the idea of research as a career path, to necessary experience for acceptance into graduate programs, and to knowledge required for graduate-level and professional research. There is so much to report about this program, the students and the professors who have mentored that it is the primary focus of this issue of the Montana NSF EPSCoR newsletter.
Montana Business
- New rule requires supervision for distance learning in Montana
Over the objections of school administrators and parents, the Montana Board of Public Education on Friday unanimously passed an online-education proposal backed by the teachers' union.
- Congressman: Poor Science Education Could Unravel U.S. Economy
Gordon argues that China and India will crush the United States unless there are substantial improvements to American science education.
- College recruiters enlist student bloggers
Colleges seeking a competitive edge are increasingly enlisting and sometimes paying student bloggers to chronicle their lives online.
- Laptops in the classroom: Mend it, don't end it
Teachers: Step down as the sage on the stage and learn to be the guide on the side.
- With simplified code, programming becomes child's play
The program gives novices the ability to create dynamic programs without wading through a manual, teaching computer programming concepts while encouraging students to play
- Calculators tell teachers which pupils need help
Texas Instruments, whose calculators helped make the company a household name, has found a way to help teachers quickly identify students who may be failing math, Chief Executive Rich Templeton said Monday.
Montana Economic Development
- Montana City entrepreneur transforms hobby into profit "The Fish Queen" Montana Mountain Smoked
Montana Mountain Smoked products are never frozen after the three-day curing, smoking and packaging process is complete, which means they are fresh, she said. The salmon and halibut she uses are caught in the wild.
- The World is Flat - Announcing the new Montana Web Designers & Developers Association blog
The underlying buzz of the recently held Montana Economic Development Summit was that technology is the key to connecting Montana businesses to the world.
Funding and Building your Business
- Montana Job Service Workforce Centers Reorganizing To Improve Service
By reorganizing our internal labor we move toward improving our pipeline of services that extend beyond the geographic limitations of our local offices."
- Auroras Entertainment, a Kalispell based telecommunications company, announces merger. Avail Media, Inc. Closes Series-B Round with $17 Million in Funding
This is a very significant business event for our community. It's the largest venture backed launch of a Montana based company in d a very long time. Congratulations to Diane Smith and her talented team for an amazing two and half years of very, very hard work.
Regional Business
- Mentor match found online
Companies are adopting Web-based programs that mimic popular dating sites
- Another Renaissance? Trends for the Future of Work
Traditional ideas about work have become antiquated, yet companies have not yet been able to place new ideas in a workable framework. This is the challenge for businesses and human resources professionals.
- The Perfect Pitch
How mastering an elevator speech can take your business to the next level
- Find an angel to fund your growing business
A large and growing source of capital for entrepreneurs is individuals who invest their own money in businesses.
Regional Economic Development
- Working world due for wave of retirees - Who will keep the lights on and the computers running?
Keeping the lights and heat on is a constant challenge requiring expertise and experience, especially when Mother Nature is plotting to leave the population shivering in the dark.
Idaho Business
- The Value to Banks of Small Business Lending
This study investigates the contribution of relationship lending to the value of banks by estimating the market premium placed on the small business loan portfolios of banks.
- On the Snake River, Dam’s Natural Allies Seem to Have a Change of Heart
Some farmers and business owners who rely on the four lower Snake River hydroelectric dams, which critics say impede salmon populations, are starting to have a change of heart and advocating for those dams to be removed and replaced by wind farms and a regional rail line to move products.
- Economic Development Today Telecast: Now Online!
Joseph McClure demonstrates how a rural area incorporated volunteers into a program known as Business Expansion and Retention, or BEAR, that has evolved into a three-tier network of volunteers.
- Globalization and rural America
There is growing concern that U.S. rural communities will lose not only their share of agricultural trade but also nonfarm jobs to global competition.
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
- Idaho college presidents get raises
University of Idaho President Tim White received a 2 percent raise, seeing his salary increase from $286,188 to $291,912
- Personal finance magazine ranks Boise one of five best for mid-level professionals
In choosing Boise, the magazine credited its diverse economy and a cost of living that was slightly below the national average.
Incubators and R&D
- Learn How You Can Be A SBIR Success Story - 5/23, Sheridan, Wyoming
Over the past ten years, nine knowledge-based Sheridan area small businesses have received more than $7.5 million in federal R&D grants to develop their innovative product concepts - an average of more than $800,000 per business.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana State University joins NASA team investigating universe, receives $6 million
"It's a fantastic validation of the work being done at MSU," Douglas said of MSU's selection.
Business Plan Forums
- University of Montana program boosts profits for area growers. "Farm to College"
UM’s dining service is purchasing 15.6 percent of its $3 million food budget from regional producers as part of its Farm to College Program.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Entrepreneurs could learn from students
The entrepreneurs know they have a lot at stake. A business they've dedicated a couple of years of their lives to will live or die on funding. But they can be overconfident with their pitches.
Connectivity & Communications
- Once nearly extinct, Missoula's International Wildlife Film Festival celebrates 30 years
The 30th Anniversary International Wildlife Film Festival is here in Missoula, Montana May 12-19!
- Disaster alert? Check your cellphone.
California weighs using text messages to warn residents during emergencies.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page
