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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Nov 30, 2007 |
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"The most important thing you can do is invest in a world-class school of engineering. Engineering schools beget engineers. Engineers beget ideas. And ideas beget companies. End of discussion." Guy Kawasaki
"Starting up: Idaho's engineering investment at BSU has paid off" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- and speaking of education - "Rural administrators strategize ways to keep Montana schools alive" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
Funding and Building your Business
- Small-town America: The new Bangalore? Northrop Grumman in Helena, Montana
Los Angeles-based Northrop picked Corsicana and six other small cities, including Lebanon, Va., and Helena, Mont., as locations for employees who develop software and troubleshoot technical problems for clients hundreds or thousands of miles away.
Education
- Incentives to attract workers
Many small businesses provide some kind of stock incentive to their employees.
- The Lessons of Kiva
There’s a lot any entrepreneur can learn from the Kiva story.
- The Best Tips for Courting Angels
Laura Bennett recently co-founded Embrace Pet Insurance after securing $1.1 million of angel funding. Her top tips:
University TechTransfer
- In US classrooms, 'tech sherpas' assist teachers with computers
In a role reversal, students provide the tech support, creating a 'culture of respect' between teachers and teens.
Connectivity & Communications
- Starting up: Idaho's engineering investment at BSU has paid off
What happens when a state invests heavily in high technology? Boise State's College of Engineering is an investment that paid off for Idaho thanks to strong industry and community support.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Catalogue Choice Helps Keep Your Mailbox Free of Unwanted Catalogues. Simplify Your Life and Save Natural Resources
Catalogue Choice is a free service that lets you decline paper catalogues you no longer wish to receive.
Regional Business
- Cancer survivor pitches 'virtual' drug firms
Tenenbaum's plan, simply put, is to create workflows and supply chains that are unique to each product, rather than making all drugs fit one process. He argues that the concept is proven in industries as diverse as personal computers and cars.
- Software That Learns from Users
A massive AI project called CALO could revolutionize machine learning.
Montana Business
- Summit to tackle dearth of workers
The State's estimated work force shortage to reach 150,000 over the next five years.
- Frazier Healthcare Ventures raises $600 million life science fund
The new fund brings total capital under management to $1.8 billion and maintains Frazier as one of the largest venture capital firms in the Pacific Northwest.
Legislative Newsletters
- SkiMovieMusic.com welcomes RiderTunes.com to increase the availability of ski and snowboard soundtracks.
“People like using the site so they tell their friends and then help us add more soundtracks,” Lakes said. “It’s a great cycle that benefits everyone.”
Montana Economic Development
- Denny Rehberg's E-Update
"In many of Montana’s western counties, the Secure Rural Schools Act provides vital funding for local schools and transportation projects. So, one of my top priorities is to get this legislation reauthorized long term before Montana counties are impacted."
Regional Economic Development
- Discussion set for Dec. 3, on community priorities in Eureka, Montana. Follow up to MEDA Resource Team Analysis
The purpose of the Dec. 3 follow-up is to set community priorities, and as many people from throughout the valley as possible are encouraged to attend, McIntyre said.
- Boards in Billings get guidance on economic development conflicts
"Absolutely, I have never seen anybody do anything unethical," Ostlund said. "Quite honestly, I believe everybody on that board is committed to the greater good of our community, and I hold them in the highest regard."
- 35 Montanans Earn Global Trade Certificates from the Montana World Trade Center
Program participant Kitch Walker, president of Ripple Marketing, which recently launched Flat Earth Imports, said, “The certification program is invaluable for new and growing businesses embracing the challenges and opportunities of doing business in an international business environment. The program greatly expands your global business knowledge and skills. Plus, the certification program fosters and supports public and private sector relationships that will last well beyond the program’s agenda.”
- MEDA November 2007 Newsletter
Idaho Business
- Highest Quality Public Education Key to Community's Economic Success
“If you decide an economic de-velopment goal is to build great public schools, it will drive your community in ways you would never believe.”
- Report touts wildlife refuges
National wildlife refuges more than make up for their cost to taxpayers by returning about $4 in economic activity for every $1 the government spends, according to a federal study released Tuesday.
Oregon Economic Development
- Tourism key to economic health
We believe that when the economy softens -- and it most assuredly will -- tourism will ease the blow of job loss, housing slumps and other fiscal ills. A strong tourism revenue stream will make everyone here look smart.
- Pet craze pays off for Idaho firm. Meridian's MWI grows into biggest supplier for veterinarians
"We crossed the $100 million mark in 1998 and in the past nine years we've grown by about seven times," says MWI Veterinary Supply President and CEO Jim Cleary.
- Boise's Healthwise has been recognized for its design, perks and atmosphere
"The wellness program has been part of the culture the whole time," said Jan Nissl, wellness coordinator and an 11-year employee. "A well workplace is a productive workplace. We support people trying to work from home when they're sick."
- Residencies may be best way to draw Idaho docs
A study funded by the Legislature looks at ways to stave off shortage ranked among worst in nation.
Washington State Business
- Take Another 'Big Look' In Oregon
Planners and politicians are calling for a revival of Oregon's "Big Look" -- a broad effort to refresh the state's urban growth and land use planning policies.
Wyoming Business
- Students, state urged to fill the void in the work force. College isn't the only career option
"It's very worrisome that we are not focusing all our attention right now" on the job-skills gap. Sen. Patty Murray
- Scientists form new Seattle biotech, backed by $12M. Fate Therapeutics
The $12 million in funding came from venture capital firms Arch Venture Partners, Polaris Venture Partners, Venrock and OVP.
Government
- Wyoming’s Fist Commercial Colocation Data Center Goes Green. A state historically known for minerals production leads green data center push.
The company’s ‘green’ data center facility is one of the nation’s only 100% renewable energy powered data centers.
- Wyoming firm plans to produce whiskey. Wyoming Whiskey
"We're going to release a premium product, and our goal all along is to produce a value-added Wyoming product that the agricultural growers can be proud of."
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Raids on Montana investment pool reach $247M
Earlier this month, Bloomberg Markets magazine identified Montana and Florida as states where some public money is invested in risky funds.
Careers
- Marketing Guidance from University of Montana Marketing Students Inspires Gift to School from Karl Tyler Chevrolet
“We feel the 18- to 25-year-old market is the future of the economy and therefore the future of our business,” said dealership owner Karl Tyler. “The strategies UM marketing students presented to us will help us relate and communicate to this very important marketing segment.”
- St. Pat's, UM partner for cancer research
“We feel that we can do something unique here, and we can build a research program that will help everyone in Montana,” said Dr. Pat Beatty, an oncologist and co-founder of the new foundation.
Energy
- Don't Slow Your Job Search During the Holiday Season
Question: What advice do you have about how to approach the job market during the holiday season?
Hydrogen News
- Google's big bet on renewable energy
Search giant vows to spend hundreds of millions on new technologies
- Study Details How U.S. Could Cut 28% of Greenhouse Gases
A large share of the reductions could come from steps that would more than pay for themselves in lower energy bills for industries and individual consumers, the report said, adding that people should take those steps out of good sense regardless of how worried they might be about climate change.
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- Creativity buoys outlook for hydrogen economy
Hydrogen from bacteria, from coal – and how about a hydrogen generator small enough to power your lawn mower?
Montana Education Excellence
- American Prairie Foundation November Newsletter
We are also pleased to announce three new additions to APF’s National Council: author David Quammen, Dallas Center for Performing Arts President Bill Lively and DreamWorks Chairman Roger Enrico.
- Ted Turner's land grab generates suspicion in Nebraska
His front men say their boss doesn't have a secret agenda - he just wants to be a rancher.
- Rural administrators strategize ways to keep Montana schools alive
"We need to plan for the worst and hope for the best."
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