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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Aug 3, 2007 |
“The real source of wealth and capital in this new era is not material things. It is the human mind, the human spirit, the human imagination and our faith in the future.” – Steve Forbes , President & CEO, Forbes Inc .
In keeping with the comment above, we found this very interesting: "Oregon Innovation Council - 2007 Innovation Plan. Oregon Governor Signs $28.2M Innovation Plan" http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Come Home Montana
Come Home Washington
- In the interests of going "green," Choteau, Montana is getting a little yellow around the edges.
The program is gradually introducing a fleet of yellow bicycles to provide tourists with cost-free, environmentally friendly transportation from motels and campgrounds to storefronts, and to reduce downtown traffic.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Washington Career Opportunity - LOAN SPECIALIST (COMMERCIAL) (COMM PROGS DIR) - USDA
Rural Development works with low-income individuals, State, local and Indian tribal governments, as well as private and nonprofit organizations and user-owned cooperatives.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught in a Class?
Should aspiring entrepreneurs pursue M.B.A.s?
Funding and Building your Business
- The Power of Information: Using Data to Create and Refine Your Economic Development Strategy
“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” Peter Drucker
- Lower Cost Domestic Sourcing: A Niche Opportunity for the US
This report synthesizes those opinions and provides a view of how the US can become a more cost effective global sourcing destination by encouraging and nurturing job creation in smaller, often economically disadvantaged American communities, thereby enabling more cost effective IT services delivery in the US.
Education
- Tax Considerations in Choice of Entity, and Working with LLCs, Part 1
Choosing the best business entity generally entails a two-tier analysis.
- An Alternative For Insuring Staff
Many small businesses have trouble providing health coverage because the costs of paying benefits for a handful of ailing employees drive up the premiums for their entire staffs.
- Angel investors look for 'secret sauce'
"What do they do that's different? Is the market big, unmet ...."
- Accelerator Corp. raises cash for up to six biotech startups
Since it was founded by a group of top-tier venture capital firms in 2003, Accelerator has received more than 400 business plans. Of those, it has backed just six.
Connectivity & Communications
- An American Imperative: Transforming the Recruitment, Retention, and Renewal of Our Nation's Mathematics and Science Teaching Workforce.
The report proposes a comprehensive action plan to elevate the status of the teaching profession and focuses on transforming three key components that contribute to a robust, world-class teaching workforce: recruitment, retention, and renewal.
- Are Dual Enrollment Programs a Good Option for Increasing Postsecondary Opportunities?
With the goal of improving the competitiveness of their workforces, many states and regions are searching for the best policies to encourage participation in educational opportunities beyond high school. Dual enrollment plans are one type of such policies that enable students to enroll in postsecondary level courses while still in high school.
- Beyond making coffee, site for interns gives tips. "Intern Memo"
"In the last 10 years, internships have become a prerequisite for entry-level jobs,"
- A Study Finds Some States Lagging on Graduation Rates
The report found that state-set goals for raising graduation rates are “far too low to spur needed improvement.”
Incubators and R&D
- Campers demand WiFi link
"Eight out of 10 people that pull in here make sure you have it," said Lisa Koehler, whose family owns the North American RV Park in Coram. "If you don't have it, you lose rentals."
- Set The WSJ Free!
Rupert Murdoch should make the WSJ as free to use online as Google is. And he should do that the first day he owns the paper.
- Municipal Wi-Fi "experts" have egg on their faces
You get what you pay for. When you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- University of Washington achieves $1 billion research milestone
The UW has been the top public university in federal research funding every year since 1974 and among the top five universities, public and private, in federal funding since 1969. Federal grants comprise nearly 80 percent of the UW research funding. In 1974 the grant and contract awards totaled just over $90 million.
- Science research gets boost in funding
One innovative provision in the bill creates an independent agency to foster ventures in energy, including alternative and renewable sources. It will be modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that developed the precursor to the Internet.
- Montana scientists to focus on large rivers, hydrogen with renewed $9 million grant
Montana's program "is an example of great cooperation between the two university systems for the benefit of the whole state."
Montana Business
- Casting calls set for Ennis movie
A stand-in for the actor Kevin Bacon is being sought by HBO Films for the movie “Taking Chance,” which will be shot in Bozeman and Ennis locations Aug. 16-24.
Idaho Business
- New Startup, Ensi-Med of Butte, MT, faces money woes... employees fired after giving this interview
At least three current or former workers at Ensi-Med filed complaints with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry Wage and Hour Unit in July, claiming they haven't been paid for one to three months.
- Big Sky launches own Trout Slayer beer
“This is what we think is a strong and thriving brand,” Leathers said. “For many reasons, but mainly because we have a lot larger distribution, and the folks who owned that brand name were looking to get beyond just Montana distribution.”
- Ensi-Med employees fired after talking to newspaper
Two employees were fired Wednesday from Ensi-Med, a telemedicine start-up company in Butte, after talking to The Montana Standard about not being paid.
- MAN ON FIRE: Chef and co-owner of the 515 restaurant in Missoula demands perfection
Dining at 515 is an experience because all the components of a first-rate restaurant come into play, starting with the greeting by Myers' wife, Carrie, the attentiveness of the trained and knowledgeable wait staff, and Myers' heartfelt and imaginative way with food.
Oregon Economic Development
- Cabela's to start hiring 250 people in N. Idaho. Applicants encouraged to apply online before Monday
"I felt like I'd won the lottery," Brekhus said of his hiring. "It's beautiful here.
- Micron to trim 130 more jobs. The new round of layoffs will bring the total to more than 1,100 by the end of this month.
Despite the layoffs, Micron will still remain Idaho's largest nongovernment employer.
- Idaho Gov. Otter has plan to thin traffic. Wants more state employees to work from home
He said he has asked Toni Hardesty, head of the state's Department of Environmental Quality, to develop a plan to let more state employees work from their homes two or three days a week. He also wants more state services available online, so people don't have to drive to the Department of Fish and Game to renew a hunting license, for example.
- Idaho Office of Science & Technology August 2007
Highway 12 Ventures has raised its second venture capital fund, Highway 12 Ventures II, totaling $75 million.
- Idaho's corporate income tax rate scares some off
Panel members say Idaho should adjust other taxes as well to draw business.
Washington State Business
- Oregon Governor Signs $28.2M Innovation Plan
Oregon lawmakers have agreed to fund nearly all of Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s innovation proposals, including investments in seven new industry initiatives and the creation of two new signature research centers.
Government
- 15 to lose jobs when Klir Technologies closes
"At the end of the day, we just didn't have enough gas in the tank to turn the corner."
- Washington State not so hot for small business
Far too many small business owners question if our government officials really care about small businesses as well as big businesses.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Incoming NGA (The National Governors Association) Chair Unveils New Initiative. "Securing a Clean Energy Future"
"America is at a tipping point," remarked Gov. Pawlenty. "Our country is too dependent on imported sources of energy and greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow too quickly. Governors have a tremendous opportunity to lead the country toward a cleaner, more independent, more secure energy future."
Non-Profit News
- Montana State University management class seeks businesses for consultation
During the four-month course, students will help manage special consulting projects requested by area businesses.
Energy
- BNSF Foundation donates $500,000 to Glacier Fund
‘‘We are ecstatic about this wonderful gift,’’ said Jane Ratzlaff, the fund’s executive director.
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- Flying windmills could harness the jet stream
Flying windmills tapping jet stream wind currents may sound far fetched, but groups in the US, Netherlands and Canada say such devices may soon be within reach. If successfully developed, they could harness an enormous amount of reliable, renewable energy.
- A More Efficient Engine
Tests suggest that a new type of internal combustion engine could be practical and relatively cheap.
2007 Montana Legislature
- The American Prairie Foundation Newsletter August 2007
We hope you enjoy this August newsletter and hope you will come experience some prairie adventure for yourself very soon.
Commuter Rail Development
- The 2009 biennium State of Montana Fiscal Report
The 2009 biennium Fiscal Report, prepared by the Legislative Fiscal Division (LFD), is posted on line. The Fiscal Report summarizes legislative appropriation action.
Montana Education Excellence
- What To Consider When Planning Commuter Rail
8 habits of highly successful commuter rail lines
Community
- Web site includes MSU's Native American links and free e-book
"MSU has many resources for Native American students and community members," said Florence Garcia, IPD chair and director of MSU's TRiO/Student Support Services. "And it's helpful to be able to access them all in one place."
- The University of Montana College of Technology in Missoula will offer Saturday classes for the first time beginning this fall semester.
Five general education courses will be offered Saturdays when the semester begins Aug. 27.
VIRUS ALERTS
- Missoula Urban Demonstration Project helps out members with trucking needs. "Truck Share"
Truck Share is designed to be affordable, accessible and self-sustaining. To that end, prices reflect the fact that MUD has taken on the insurance burden of the truck, meaning those who rent it don't necessarily have to have personal auto insurance.
- Creating A Sense Of Place With Modern Day Main Streets
Cities across the region are reinvesting in their downtowns or creating new ones out of empty fields — all in the hopes of luring or keeping folks just like the Bedards. And they're spending millions of public and private dollars to do it.
- DoS Attack Feared As Storm Worm Siege Escalates
The massive Storm worm attack has built a botnet of 1.7 million computers -- large enough to unleash a highly damaging denial-of-service attack, researchers fear.
- Hackers Promise 'Nude Angelina Jolie' Pics To Plant Malware
Cyber tricksters are luring curious users to open a malicious attachment by promising nude photos of celebrity beauties. Instead of pictures, they get a Trojan downloader.
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