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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Oct 23, 2007 |
"We're exporting our well-educated young people and replacing them with blue-collar workers who really have no attachment, and no interest in being attached, to this state." Sylvia Jones, senior analyst with the Wyoming Department of Employment
We'd also like to highlight an forward reaching report to address the challenges facing our education system: "A National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education System." http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Boomtown Institute
Come Home Montana
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute - Baby Boomers and Social Security
By 2032, there will be almost twice as many older Americans as today -- from 38 million today to 72 million.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Recreation, retirement keep demand up in Bozeman, Montana
Many people who grow up in Bozeman and move away to pursue careers eventually return to raise families, says Tricia Bailey, president of the Gallatin Association of Realtors.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Boulder's new 'Stars': TechStars grads stay in town
But it's not only the companies that are seeing the fruits of that labor — Boulder managed to inherit some new entrepreneurial blood as a result to TechStars.
Funding and Building your Business
- Outsourcing comes home
Companies are turning to 'home agents' in the US to provide customer service. Workers like the hours – and the 15-second commute.
- Upstate New York Needs Regional Cooperation
"For the first time, a generation of upstate New Yorkers has had less economic opportunity than their parents _ and many have been forced to leave for opportunity elsewhere," Spitzer said.
Education
- Rise to New Heights - Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium
For more than 20 years, the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium and its predecessors have helped fuel Wisconsin's high-growth economy by matching investors, companies and entreprenuers.
- Economic downturn is time for fresh ideas
QUIZ TIME: Multiple choice, in the category of "business strategy during a cyclical downturn."
Connectivity & Communications
- DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack.
At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.
- A National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education System.
The plan calls for creating a number of new organizations including a non-federal National Council for STEM Education to coordinate key policies, a new pre-K to 20 STEM education program at the NSF, and new offices to focus on STEM education at the National Science and Technology Council and at the US Department of Education. The plan also recommends a host of measures to promote vertical integration (across different grade levels) and horizontal integration (between local, state, and federal authorities) of STEM education initiatives.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Careless Move Teaches Valuable Lesson
I set my laptop next to the car and forgot it was there. When I backed up, I felt a little bump and thought “Hmmm, what was that?”
- Enemybook - it's payback time. Program lets users heap scorn on those they hate the most
With Enemybook, a new program that runs on the social networking site Facebook, you can connect to people you loathe, display their photos and evil deeds and give them the virtual finger.
Incubators and R&D
- World-changers meet in Maine
Each year, Pop!Tech brings dozens of world-class thinkers and doers, along with hundreds of listeners, to a three-day retreat in rural Maine. Their goal: Save the world.
- 'Bioplastics' carve niche in market
So-called ''bioplastics'' offer the world a way to wean itself off oil, and most biodegrade to varying degrees.
Regional Business
- Bacterial Films Could Lead to Self-Repairing Materials. MSU leads the way.
"In papermaking facilities, the pulping liquor contains a lot of organic carbon, which grows huge biofilms," said Paul Sturman, a senior research engineer at the Center for Biofilm Engineering, a National Science Foundation-funded engineering research center at Montana State. "The bacterial colony is so thick that you can pick it up and hold it in your hand."
Universities and Economic Development
- Web 2.0 Summit wraps up with focus on industry's increasing maturity
WEB 2.0 is the label for Internet companies that live on hype, hope and swelling online audiences.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Sounding the alarm: Universities must be catalysts for growth
“Business as usual in our country will no longer work. A few years from now will be too late to reverse these trends.”
Montana Business
- Venture capitalist, Jon Marchi upbeat about Montana start-ups
"Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it in Montana. You can."
Montana Economic Development
- Insure Montana faces big rate boost
Montana Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the company that sells and underwrites the policies, has said it needs to increase premiums by an average of nearly 32 percent.
Regional Economic Development
- Montana Department of Commerce Director to Present Over $1.3 Million in Grants to Economic Development Projects in Eastern Montana
Montana Department of Commerce Director Anthony Preite will present more than $1.3 million dollars in economic development grants to five projects in northeastern Montana.
- Big Sky EDA/EDC Approve Cash Incentive, Lease for GE Corporation in Billings, Montana
According to Joe McClure Director of BSEDA/EDC the deal is subject to GE’s commitment to create 15 new jobs at 120% of the county average wage (which is currently $16.18 per hour).
- Helena gets grant to woo air service
"It's a great deal - good for the community," said airport manager Ron Mercer.
- PPL gives grants to 18 groups
For its fall grant cycle, PPL Montana donated a total of $100,000 to 18 groups dealing with everything from education to economic development.
Utah Business
- Transportation Fuels for the Future from the Western Governors' Association. University of Montana Students Produce Program on Alternative Fuels
Through their 2006 resolution, “Transportation Fuels for the Future,” Western Governors placed a priority on assessing the West's alternative and replacement fuels to supplement traditional sources.
- The Future Is Drying Up. Towns to start auctioning off waste water.
Diminished supplies of fresh water might prove a far more serious problem than slowly rising seas.
- America's Greenest States. Vermont, Oregon, Washington Ranked Greenest
Sure the Western U.S., with its big skies and open spaces feels green--but when you look at broader measurements of humans' impact on the environment, including consumption patterns, air and water quality, and waste, as well as policy, they don't fare as well.
- Planning for 'Sustainable Retreat'
Controversial scientist James Lovelock is convinced that current conceptions of "sustainable development" are hopelessly wrongheaded. We're facing a climate catastrophe, he believes, and only radical solutions will be up to the challenge.
Utah Economic Development
- Utah Valley State College gets $20M gift for school of business
The Woodbury Corp. donated $20 million to the school, which is now called the Woodbury School of Business.
- MountainWest Capital Network Announces Utah’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies
“You’re innovative. You’re creating a lot of the companies and breakthroughs that are going to make us even more dynamic in the years ahead.” Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Idaho Business
- Governor Signs Order to Make Utah Model Employer of People with Disabilities
"This Executive Order raises the bar in the hiring practices of state government and will lead the way as a model in hiring qualified people with disabilities."
Washington State Business
- Hundreds more jobs to be cut at Micron in Idaho.
Memo: "We are planning for the majority of our production processes to run in (China)"
- E-mail scammers rip off$10 million from SuperValu
The fraud began after the supermarket chain received two e-mails — one from someone purporting to be an American Greetings Corp. employee and another claiming to be with Frito-Lay, according to court documents. Both e-mails claimed the companies wanted payments sent to new bank account numbers.
- R.I.P. Idaho Tech and Science Advisory Council
"I want to find out whether or not you believe your role is one of advisory rather than advocacy," Otter said at the time. "You’re not the advocates, you’re the advisers. And if I’m wrong I need to know now."
Wyoming Business
- Clean technologies propel venture capital funding
Venture-capital activity must be measured in longer terms, Waite said. In Seattle, the funding rhythm remains "pretty good," he said. "For about a year, things have been pretty steady."
Government
- Wyoming entrepreneurs may get a boost
"We're trying to get a little bit more strategic look at economic development, not just attracting all new investment from outside but maybe help in some local startups."
Experience Tourism Cluster
- CSI: Montana: DNA evidence stacks up due to paltry pay
Wages were so low, the lab didn’t attract a single qualified person to fill the vacancies after several national searches.
Careers
- Agritourism might be growing, but is it sustainable?
From 2000 to 2001, 62 million adults visited farms and ranches across America, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Energy
- Prevent your employer from maligning you to others
Did your manager tell a falsehood about you?
Montana Education Excellence
- 'Million solar roofs' program gets off to a bright start, report says
This year through mid-September, the PUC says, applications for solar incentives for projects that will represent 160 megawatts of power have been received. That compares with 198 megawatts of solar power installed statewide over the previous 25 years.
Leadership Montana
- New Web site helps Montana families prepare for college
The Web site -- at http://www.knowhow2gomontana.org -- is an extension of a national initiative to encourage and prepare more low-income and first-generation students to get into college.
- University of Montana Establishes Native American Research Laboratory
The laboratory is the first research lab at any university in the nation developed specifically to provide hands-on cross-disciplinary research training opportunities for Native American undergraduate and graduate students.
- Leadership Improv Comedy , 10/29, Montana State University
“This is a new a way to demonstrate Leadership, without using a lecture, celebrity, or hero.”
- Workplace Coach: Avoid the baby boom gap -- invest in new leaders today
It's smart business to invest in top performers and rising stars.
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