MATR Newsletter - Fri Sep 7, 2007 |
“For you to imply that we’re doing something wrong is just bullshit,” Duringer, UM’s vice president for administration and finance snapped. -- Elton John ticketing system collapses at the University of Montana http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Take a look at this new program to help entrepreneurs get their startups off the ground - BOOTSTRAP MONTANA - Micro-Loan Funds Available http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Come Home Montana
PrintingForLess
- Montana Career Opportunity - Economic Development District Program Assistant
The Program Assistant is responsible for providing financial management for the Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District and Northern Rocky Mountain RC&D Area, Inc.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Development Director- Non-Profit Community Relations
Excellent opportunity for talented individual with marketing, fund raising or business development background and superb communication skills.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Inc. Names PrintingForLess.com One of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies
America’s Print Shop at http://www.PrintingForLess.com, leading provider of quality four-color printing and excellent customer service, recognized as sales-growth leader on Inc. 5000 list
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. - On the Road to an Entrepreneurial Economy: A Research and Policy Guide
The sustainability of a healthy US economy hinges improvement of educational facilities, infrastructure and visa relaxations, building a talent pool for the future, reforming healthcare policies, maximizing innovation and reducing inefficient bureaucratic procedures.
- Ever-younger entrepreneurs. Internet, low costs lead to early-in-life startups
Steven Bao sold a Facebook program to a Silicon Valley venture capitalist and started the Facebook Developers Meetups in Boston this summer, while reading "The Grapes of Wrath" for 10th grade honors English.
Funding and Building your Business
- Grads go full circle — back to state
"I think a lot of younger alumni do find their best first opportunities out of state. But we do see, and I do meet, plenty of alumni who reach a stage of career where they'd like to find a way to move back to the Midwest for a combination of family and lifestyle reasons."
- Rock Island, IL engineering firm moving to Iowa
"The quality of life and cost of living will help us attract engineers from all around the United States."
Education
- Business of LinkedIn is ... business
"So many dot-com start-ups are flash-in-the-pan companies that weren't built on core values for the long term," Nye says. "If you want to build a great company, you need high-quality people and high-quality products that matter to the world."
- Find out what your business is worth to buyer
Although many formulas and tools can help you determine the selling price for your small business, there is no magical solution that will come up with the correct price for every instance.
- Mobile workstation - Cisco bus brings technology demonstrations to small businesses in Missoula
The company started offering mobile demonstrations of its products and services about seven years ago, he added. The NOWVan Program now counts eight buses traveling the nation, plus a ninth in Canada. “The reason we did this is we realized that remote cities don't really have access,” Wendler said. “Instead of making the folks come to us, we go to the folks.”
- Mentor or Tormentor?
Lots of agencies use mentorship programs for Gen Y workers. Big mistake.
- “How To Build A Corporate Web Presence: Strategic Insights And Tactical Tools;” Mario Schulzke, 9/27, U Of M
He will focus on the importance of not just “putting up a website,” but, rather, pro-actively managing a company’s web presence.
- Inside Entrepreneurship: An 'incubator' can be good way to get your startup off the ground
As much as the more respectable incubators will ask questions about you, ask questions about the incubator in return. Sign up only if the services offered match your current needs.
University TechTransfer
- Western Governors University Offers Scholarships for Rural Teaching
Western Governors University is working to increase the national pool of highly qualified rural teachers, particularly with the nationwide shortage of math and science teachers.
- Goal is to get students walking, bicycling. State using $4 million to help kids reach school safely, under own steam
That such an educational program is deemed necessary suggests how much society has changed from a time in the late 1960s when more than half of the students in the country walked or biked to school.
- Financial aid gets an overhaul
House and Senate negotiators reached a compromise late Wednesday on a bill that makes sweeping changes to the federal government's college financial aid programs.
- Prevention Education in America's Schools: Findings and Recommendations from a Survey of Educators
Did you know that teaching about the dangers of alcohol and drugs is included in the education requirements of 37 states?
- Virtual schooling growing at K-12 level
Students get their lessons online and communicate with their teachers and each other through chat rooms, e-mail, telephone and instant messaging. "It's more one-on-one than regular school," Kelsey-Anne said. "It's more they're there; they're listening."
Connectivity & Communications
- Technology Transfer: A New Paradigm - How State Universities Can Collaborate with Industry
In some states, policymakers, pressed by local and regional industrial interests, are debating how to “reform” technology transfer at public universities.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Electronic books reach new chapter. Amazon, Google join fray this fall
Two new offerings this fall are set to test whether consumers really want to replace a technology that has reliably served humankind for hundreds of years: the paper book.
- Montana Telecommunications Association (MTTA) "dealing with “soft dial tone” and “early termination fees.”"
Fortunately, Montana’s rural wireline telephone companies consistently look out for their customers and provide valuable services like soft dial and consumer-friendly service contracts—without early termination penalties!
Incubators and R&D
- Toyota, Sony working together in robotics to develop an innovative, intelligent, single-seat vehicle.
Toyota has shown a futuristic-looking single-seat vehicle called i-swing at various events.
- Venture capitalist: We need to prepare for artificial intelligence
One of the main goals of the research center is to ensure that these new forms of super-powerful artificial intelligence are friendly to mankind.
Regional Business
- Research Grants Now Available from Washington Technology Center Notice of Intent Deadline is September 13
Research & Technology Development funding pays up to 80% of the cost of research projects -allowing you to channel your capital to other business growth needs or continue working on breakthrough scientific discoveries.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Venture Capital: VC veteran, Tom Simpson of Northwest Venture Associates says fund model 'is broken'
"I think the fund model is very broken for a variety of reasons," Simpson said. "One, there is just too much money out there. ... As a result, valuations are getting bid up.
Montana Business
- A novel(ized) scam. Kalispell businessman David Tacke’s high-tech startup company Venue Tech. "Masters’ Con"
“We would like the reader to come away with a healthy dose of skepticism and some insight regarding the type of research they need to do to protect themselves before investing in new or existing business opportunities,” Bradford says.
Montana Economic Development
- No More Privies, So Hikers Add a Carry-Along - the "Wagbag" from Phillips Environmental Products of Belgrade, Montana
“Most people are using it,” Alexis Rife said. “The few who don’t are ruining it for everyone else.”
- Pleasure to the people - Chef and owner of Scotty’s Table in Missoula offers a personal touch
"The ringing of cell phones disrupts the Coq au Vin: Chickens have very sensitive hearing, are enticed by gossip, and highly prone to preoccupations. Please do not cause them undue angst."
- Synesis7 struggles to repay Butte Urban Revitalization Board
“(The URA) can be as flexible as we can,” she said. “We don’t want to put anyone out of business. They’ve been working with us and talking and keeping dialogue open. They were already deferred for over a year, and how they’re asking for additional deferment. I did make it clear that it is time to start paying something.”
- The best jobs in (the best) town.
Chances are, the job you have is not your dream job, and you’re lucky to have it anyway, because this is Missoula, where we take our salaries in pride of place and chew the scenery for lunch when our stomachs start to grumble.
- Elton John ticketing system collapses at the University of Montana
“For you to imply that we’re doing something wrong is just bullshit,” Duringer, UM’s vice president for administration and finance snapped.
- Cultured Log Systems of Missoula, Montana Completes "The Natural Dream Home" in Larkspur, Colorado. And it's for sale!
Cultured Log Systems has partnered with Sotheby's International to promote and sell the home.
- New Montana magazine, "Signature Montana" launches in February
Winston Publishing is a locally owned Great Falls company that specializes in high-end magazine publishing with distribution throughout a 19 state region.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- MAEDC Newsletter - 8/31/2007
Impact Studies Regarding Wildfires, Progress Report, GSA Training Schdule and more!
- Senators: Montana to receive big bucks for health projects. Baucus, Tester say money is a ‘shot-in-the-arm’ for Montana health care
“This money is a shot-in-the-arm for health care in Montana,” Baucus said. “From disease research to making sure parents have a bigger role in their kids’ health care, these are smart, innovative projects that will help make our state a better place to live.”
- Montana World Trade Center September Newsletter
“The challenge we face is raising awareness on Main Street USA of exporting opportunities and the resources available.” — Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez
- BOOTSTRAP MONTANA - Micro-Loan Funds Available
Company must not be located in a larger Montana city (e.g.: Bozeman, Missoula, Great Falls and Billings)
- Ammo bid under fire: Butte TIFID board questions history of A-Square.
Jim Smitham, director of the Butte Local Development Co., said Alphin was upfront about his past struggles “from the very start” and provided legal documents to support his innocence and document the fraud.
- Rehberg promotes synthetic fuel plant
U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., said he met Thursday with a top U.S. Air Force official to promote the idea of building a plant at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls to convert coal into liquid fuels.
Regional Economic Development
- Bruce Gjovig is fostering innovation in North Dakota -- The Center for Innovation at the University of North Dakota
The center helps innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers to launch new ventures, commercialize new technologies and secure access to capital from private and public sources.
Government Technology
- Transforming Regional Economies: The Essence of Tech-Based Economic Development
We invite you to join your peers at this special event.
- Closely Connected Northwest Cities Need To Plan Together
Consider the issues -- we choose to regard them as opportunities rather than problems -- that daily remind us how snugly we're all in this urban boat together. Traffic. Air. Water. Salmon. Crime. Culture. A surfeit of fun recreational resources. A shortage of fine Italian restaurants. From gridlock to gnocchi, we are one.
- EPA Funds a model job development and training program for workers in communities affected by brownfields.
This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities and nonprofit organizations to provide environmental job training projects that will facilitate the assessment, remediation, or preparation of brownfield sites.
Idaho Business
- NASCIO on E-Discovery: An Impact Statement for State CIOs
State CIOs Must Prepare Now for E-Discovery.
- Montana OPI Provides Infinite Campus Montana Edition Statewide
"The Montana Edition allows districts to control access and manage student information locally, and yet will provide data in real time to the Infinite Campus State Edition used by OPI."
Oregon Economic Development
- Idaho Office of Science & Technology September 2007
"We Create Jobs, Strengthen Communities and Market Idaho."
- Outside investors pour $371,000 into Lucky Bums of Boise, Idaho
"Our goal is to become the experts in technical gear for active kids."
- Idaho company helps doctors sleep at night. Nighthawk Radiology Holdings provides nighttime readings to hospitals.
The firm has built a $150 million business out of relieving doctors of nightime readings.
South Dakota Economic Development
- Oregon Colleges get easy test: Spend more cash
"It puts us on the right track, and it gives the campus hope that higher education may become more of a priority in this state."
Washington State Business
- $100M drive to pump research for South Dakota State
South Dakota State University will begin a drive in 2009 to raise more than $100 million to back the school's expanding role in the state's economy, its president, David Chicoine, said Tuesday.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Microsoft adds to list of perks
Microsoft appears to be positioning the downtown locations and the bus service as recruiting tools in a bid to remain desirable to workers who may also be considering jobs with competitors such as Google and Yahoo, both of which are increasing their presence in the region.
- UW business school will be renamed for major donor - Michael G. Foster
"Our ultimate goal is to be the best public business school in America, frankly," Dean James Jiambalvo said. "This is a gift that moves us way closer to achieving that goal."
Careers
- Through the Looking Glass - The Post-9/11 Era Has Caught Up With William Gibson's Vision.
Back when it was a more meaningful phrase, Gibson achieved renown for writing "science fiction." He famously invented the word "cyberspace" in his 1984 novel "Neuromancer," which has sold more than 6 1/2 million copies.
Transportation
- Making a Good Impression When Networking Online
More and more people are turning to professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn, to reach out to customers, exchange ideas with colleagues and form impressions of potential hires.
Montana Education Excellence
- Car-sharing service offers alternative to University student parking
For college students who pay for music by the song, movies by the month and pizza by the slice, paying for a car by the hour may not be a stretch.
- Montana education report highlights schools' progress
The number of school districts in Montana that met annual progress on federal education requirements increased slightly in 2007, but the real progress was among individual schools, Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch said.
- Leo Bird Jr. wins $6,500 Milken grant, goal to teach lodge building to students
"It's kind of a gift deed to the community," Bird said, "so we're involving as many community members as possible on the project." Bird said the aim of creating a cultural center for the Tribe is one that has been in the works for several years, but this time he believes it will become a reality since so many community members and organizations are involved.
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