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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Sep 25, 2007 |
"Education — lifelong education for everyone — from toddlers to workers well advanced in their careers — is indeed an excellent investment for individuals and society as a whole" Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke http://matr.net/articl ... .html ... "The State with the Best Education Wins!"...
In its mission to improve the economy and entrepreneurial success of Montana and the Pacific Northwest, MATR is offered free of charge to a growing membership from over 100 countries interested in the region. We'd like to thank our current Sponsors and Supporters and encourage your company or organization to consider increasing its visibility to this audience by becoming a Sponsor or Supporter of MATR. http://matr.net/articl ... .html Thank you.
Boomtown Institute
Come Home Montana
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute. Niche Farming - Going Organic
The demand for organic food is outstripping the ability of farmers and ranchers to supply it.
Come Home Wyoming
- Montana Career Opportunity - Combination Technician - InterBel Telephone
Knowledge of wireline voice and data services, DSL, RF CATV, CPE, geostationary satellite transmission as well as fiber optic RF is desirable.
Entrepreneur- America
- Wyoming Career Opportunity - Economic Development Executive Director
Duties include management and implementation of regional economic development programs, strategic planning, community development, and technical assistance activities.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Montana Entrepreneurs and those that dream of being in Montana, can earn a spot at the table at Rob Ryan's Entrepreneur-America Boot camp. Is your startup capable of becoming a large successful company?
Rob and Terry are going to conduct a new version of the Boot camp with up to 3 Montana based management teams presenting their companies and receiving individual analysis and guidance.
Funding and Building your Business
- How Teams Far Apart Can Work Well Together
IBM uses high-tech tools to grapple with an increasingly common problem: making far-flung teams work well together.
Education
- How Microsoft evaluates execs
The Microsoft proxy filing provided a detailed look at how the board evaluates company leaders and motivates them with company stock.
- The Top Ten (Sixteen) Lies of Lawyers
“Our firm is really excited about what you’re doing, so we’d like to invest in your company too.”
- 69 start-ups prepare for 6 minutes in spotlight
At this week's DEMOfall 2007 conference, companies will pay $18,500 apiece to show they have the answer to a vexing problem.
Connectivity & Communications
- The University of Idaho plans to attract more grad students with bigger stipends
She says the school is facing tougher competition for students from schools in Europe, Australia and Asia.
Incubators and R&D
- 10 Ways to Spice Up Your Blog
Bubble Guru adds a pop-up video bubble to your blog.
- Purchase a laptop, and child gets 1 free. Project aims to help developing countries
The One Laptop Per Child project expects that its "Give One, Get One" promotion will result in a pool of thousands of donated laptops that will stimulate demand in countries hesitant to join the program. It will be offered for only two weeks in November.
- WiMax expected to shine at show
At this year's WiMax World starting Tuesday, the spotlight will be on Kirkland-based Clearwire and Sprint Nextel, as they gear up to launch a nationwide mobile WiMax network early next year.
- RSS feeds can boost business. How to set up an RSS feed.
RSS, which generally stands for Real Simple Syndication, also is an easy way for you to be alerted when new content appears on one of your favorite Web sites.
- Selling a Long-Shot Idea: Free Internet Access
A start-up founded by a former telecom regulator hopes to someday build a nationwide network offering free high-speed Internet with family-friendly content filters.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Idaho State University working on realistic artificial hands for veterans
gineering professor at the school who is leading the project. "The Department of Defense is embarking on a research program to fund prosthetic research to revolutionize upper-body prosthetics and to develop artificial arms that will feel, look and perform like a real human arm guided by the central nervous system."
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana helps to define cause of Job's disease
Now, thanks largely to research lead by Frank DeLeo, Ph.D. at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in collaboration with a global research team, a specific mutation related to the cause of Job's disease has been found.
- The National Science Foundation awards $750K grant to Montana Tech in Butte, Montana
Joe Figueira, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and research, said the new award supports “new research directions on the campus and continues support for programs which introduce grade school, high school and college undergraduate students to the nation’s research enterprise.”
Montana Business
- Montana Art Economics: As Supply Increases So Does Demand
The Arts impact Montana’s economy directly, indirectly and through a creative osmosis that drives education and business.
Montana Economic Development
- Bozeman Creative Firms Launch Area’s First Ultra-Disciplinary Design Organization; Famed Advertising Icon Alex Bogusky to Speak 9/27
Off the Grid Targets Students and Professionals Inspired by Exceptional Design
- Spika Welding and Manufacturing Inc. of Kolin, Montana wins military contract eyes expansion in Lewistown
Spika said the building he wants to construct near Lewistown would improve access for employees, and for the trucks that transport his products.
- Montana Independent Contractors and Their Social Security Numbers - Judge sides with piano tuner in privacy case
A man who tuned a hotel's piano as a contractor and cited privacy in refusing to provide his Social Security number does not have to release it and must be paid, a judge has ruled.
Regional Economic Development
- Bozeman, Montana Leads the List for "The 10 Best Places to Retire" from U S News and World Report
The people of Bozeman, Mont., don't want this story to be published.
- General Electric bringing good things to Great Falls, Montana?
GE executives said they were attracted to Montana by "its quality of life and its educated, diligent workforce," according to the fedgazette, which also stated that Great Falls and Billings are the top candidates for the GE facility because of the rich incentive packages they can offer.
- Environmentalists blamed for collapse of proposed Glasgow, Montana wind farm
"Montana has a great wind resource, one of the best in the country. And the governor of Montana is an outspoken proponent of wind," said Gary Evans, chief executive of GreenHunter Energy, Inc. "But you can talk about this all you want. Business goes the place it's easiest to do business."
- Montana World Trade Center September 2007 Newsletter
In the entire state of Montana, and well beyond its borders, there is no other source of information and access to global trade opportunities that is comparable to the Montana World Trade Center.
Utah Economic Development
- "Education — lifelong education for everyone is best investment for society" Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
"Education — lifelong education for everyone — from toddlers to workers well advanced in their careers — is indeed an excellent investment for individuals and society as a whole" Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
- Firms in Northwest Struggle to Find Workers
In states like Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, unemployment is hovering around 2 and 3 percent.
- “The Power of the Rockies: Living with Energy in the Old West, the New West, and the Next West.”
The first thing that needs to happen is Westerners need to quit romanticizing the idea that life was better way back when
- Seven States to Increase Economic Capacity and Entrepreneurship through Clusters
"In the face of intensifying international competition, governors recognize innovation-based economic development is critical to states’ participation in the global marketplace," said Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, who heads NGA's Innovation America initiative, which focuses on better preparing America's future workforce and promoting investment in the businesses and technologies of tomorrow. "This academy will help states develop comprehensive economic policies and strengthen industry collaborations to ensure their success globally."
- A Big Push for Affordable Housing
A decades-old proposal is getting a new lease on life
Idaho Business
- Zions Bank and the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge Create Entrepreneurial Outreach Program
The UEC will establish a statewide entrepreneurial outreach program at seven colleges and universities throughout the State of Utah. This outreach program will allow students to participate in local business plan competitions.
Oregon Economic Development
- Idaho Gov. Otter moves state energy office to his direct oversight and elevates it to a cabinet-level position
Long-term energy supplies are "critical to the well-being and future of Idaho," Otter wrote in the executive order.
Government
- Portlanders Want A Future That's Similar, But Better
Portlanders want to preserve the city's progressive spirit and its caring, healthy, laid-back, environmentally conscious uniqueness. They also want to make sure all residents can share its prosperity.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- State office promotes building power lines in Montana
"We thought we needed more people plugging away at this," says Evan Barrett, the state's chief economic development officer. "It's more people, more talent to cover the bases on all the work that has to be done."
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Virtual reality pioneer Randy Pausch's last lecture. "Make me earn it"
He has terminal pancreatic cancer, but gave a wonderful presentation this week about his life and his involvement with VR and related technologies, entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams."
Careers
- Sidney, Montana High School program allows high school student to help in the workplace
The co-op program has been a part of Sidney High School’s curriculum for more than 30 years. This year, nearly 40 students are involved. “The idea is to get them some work experience and bring them into the field,” Elaine Stedman, co-op advisor, said. “I think, by and large, it’s been successful. Especially in the current job market where everybody is looking for workers, I think it’s a plus.”
- MSU-Great Falls College of Technology expands workforce development programs
"The change adds a computer class, some math and English," said Jason Harding, who heads up the auto body repair and refinishing program.
Non-Profit News
- Brazen Careerist: Five Ways To Make Yourself A Workplace Superstar
Career superstars get all the benefits, including the biggest: Control over their lives.
- Safeguards sought to protect users of major job Web sites
Two of the recommended safeguards: more rigorous background checks to certify that employers are legitimate and identity authentication methods that make it harder for hackers to access the database.
Energy
- University of Montana Offers Online Classes for Nonprofit Administrators
The courses are directed toward nonprofit professionals and interested students. Titles include Strategic Planning, Grantwriting, Building an Effective Nonprofit Board, Fundraising and Financial Management.
2007 Montana Legislature
- Arctic ice shrank 1 million square miles or six Californias this summer
“You can’t dismiss this as natural variability,” he said. “We’re starting to see the system respond to global warming.”
- Utility to test Web-connected devices to save energy in homes and small businesses
Power company will be able to control the thermostats of hundreds of Idaho homes and businesses.
- One Molecule Could Cure Our Addiction to Oil
The problem is cellulose.
Transportation
- Civics 101: Restore public's trust in the legislative process
"All of us are concerned about the loss of trust in government."
Montana Education Excellence
- NYC Gets Its First-Ever Physically-Separated On-Street Bike Path
New York City's Department of Transportation has installed the city's first-ever physically-separated bike path inside the urban core.
Leadership Montana
- Healing the Nursing Shortage - Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell, Montana graduates its first class of licensed nurses
“The college did an excellent job of bringing people in from the valley who hire in this profession and learning what we need, and then turning around and implementing our recommendations,” Fields said. “They’re actually living up to being a community college.”
- Montana Students Rank High in Reading and Math
"Montana's students remain among the top students participating in 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for reading and mathematics," said Superintendent Linda McCulloch. "Only 8th grade students in two other states scored higher than Montana students in reading. Montana 8th grade students ranked 10th in math."
- Workplace Coach: Great leaders learn how to coach
Managers are being asked to use coaching as a preferred management style and, as a result, are being required to develop entirely new skill sets.
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