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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Dec 7, 2007 |
“If you decide an economic development goal is to build great public schools, it will drive your community in ways you would never believe.” Vince Orza, an author, entrepreneur, corporate executive, former gubernatorial candidate and current dean of Mein-ders School of Business at Oklahoma City University.
Boomtown Institute
MAPS™ : Media Arts in the Public Schools
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute - College Classes in Alternative Agriculture
"This is a great opportunity for students who might otherwise not have considered agriculture as a career. In addition, alternative agriculture does not require a large amount of acreage."
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Peter Rosten, founder of Media Arts in the Public Schools (MAPS) announces bid for Legislature
Rosten said a major reason why he decided to run was because of the students involved with MAPS.
Funding and Building your Business
- “Gateway To Opportunity”-a Regional Entrepreneur And Small Business Development Forum, 1/10, Glendive, Montana
Gateway to Opportunity” is an exciting day of seminars that will help new and existing small businesses in Montana and North Dakota develop their ideas into opportunities to strengthen rural communities.
- Young entrepreneur: Darian Barton opens her own espresso shop at ripe old age of 13
In between customers, Barton - home-schooled all her life - does her schoolwork inside what was once her father's tool shed. It's no time to be sampling her wares and nodding off.
Business Plan Forums
- High Tech Startup Valuation Estimator
We've been told by several investors that our valuation model produces reasonably good valuations. Of course, every situation is different, so your mileage may vary.
- Is there a Web 2.0 Bubble? This is a great video that's worth your time.
Is your company bubble worthy?
- Finding employees the easy(er) way
Outside of the geek world, "assembler" means "someone who puts things together". Whodathunkit?
- Inside Entrepreneurship: Take steps to protect patent filings
What protections does my patentpending status give me?
- Starting up: Can't attract investors? Try bootstrapping
With 20 years of corporate experience, I thought it would be easy to raise small-business money.
Education
- Governor's Business Plan Contest open for 2008 entries
The mission of the contest, which features a Grand Prize worth $50,000 in cash and services, is to encourage entrepreneurs in the creation, start-up, and early-growth stages of high-tech businesses.
Montana Meth Project
- Girls dominate Siemens science contest but U.S. Teens Trail Peers Around World on Math-Science Test
"Math and science are traditionally male-dominated fields, but with women rising to the top, it shows that with hard work and dedication, women can be just as successful as males," Amanda says.
University TechTransfer
- Montana Attorney General talks about Meth Project's success
According to the Montana's Youth Risk Behavior Survey, meth use among teens has dropped nearly 50% since the start of the program two years ago.
- Idaho Meth Project ad campaign to start in early January
Officials previously said the campaign, modeled after the Montana Meth Project, would not start until about $2.7 million was collected so the ads could run steadily without fear of being stopped due to lack of money.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- 'High-end' bicycle like no other. Another BYU tech transfer success
It looks like it was spun by a spider on steroids and attracts long looks wherever it goes.
- AUTM 2006 Data Shows University Tech Transfer Creeps Upward
The 189 research performing institutions that participated in the survey also reported the creation of 553 start-ups during the year and almost 5,000 new licensing relationships with companies.
Incubators and R&D
- Too old for an avatar?
"A number of people past the age of 37 are completely like your grandparents who got offended when they saw Elvis on TV shaking his hips."
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Virtual Labor Lost
The failure of a highly anticipated game shows the academic limits of virtual worlds.
Montana Business
- Montana Tribal Tourism Alliance working on the development of "Seven Lodges - A Visitors Guide to Montana’s Indian Country"
Opportunity for American Indian Small Business Owners in Tourism
- Montana Arts Council - Nov. /Dec. State of the Arts online
Montana Economic Development
- MBAC recognizes local entrepreneurs
A nascent drive-thru coffee stand earned the Building A Business Award from Montana Business Assistance Connection at the local economic development authority’s annual meeting Wednesday.
- Aerospace company, Summit Aeronautics Group gains tentative support from commissioners
Summit officials say the expansions will produce about 50 new jobs in Helena over the next five years, with salaries averaging $38,832.
- Computer ER establishing itself in new service area
"In this size of a community, we have (to have) integrity," she said. "We're not going to sell people something they don't want. We have to see them at the grocery store, and we feel that's more valuable."
Regional Economic Development
- Kalispell residents say "Give us affordable housing"
And at least 50 percent of the responses from renters said they are interested in programs to help them buy homes.
- Montana Gov. Schweitzer battles creation of special tax district
Fallon County wants to create an unusually large district that includes the county’s oil field, and proposes to use revenue to build up a section of Baker to entice oil-field service companies and perhaps other businesses — or even an oil-processing plant — in the future.
- Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation Newsletter
Happy Holidays from MAEDC!
Utah Business
- O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, The University of Montana Newsletter - December - January 2008
The Canadians are coming .. again
- USDA Rural Economic Development Loan Program Has Dubious Record
More than three decades after the loan program was created, USDA officials still don't know whether it works.
- The Fraser Institute: U.S. States Best at Encouraging Entrepreneurs and Small Business Start Ups; Atlantic Canada the Worst
Nevada had the highest net small business creation rate at 5.2 per cent, followed by Florida (4.7 per cent) and Utah (4.5 per cent). They are followed in order by Idaho, Montana, Virginia, Georgia, Missouri, Arizona, and Delaware, which shows a diverse geographic pattern of entrepreneurial success across the United States.
Government Technology
- Peterson Partners Announces $4.6 Million Investment in Corrugated Packaging Innovator, Packsize
“Working with talented and visionary business leaders, like those at Packsize, is at the heart of our business.”
Idaho Business
- Government in the Age of YouTube: A Report on the eC3 Symposium Executive Summary
"Nobody can ignore the potential that Web 2.0 represents. If it is a tipping point, then all the 2.0 tools -- civic networking, blogs, wikis, simulations, testbeds etc. -- are key to reaching the stakeholders to every function of government."
- Florida Partners with Google to Improve Open Government
Google has helped state officials implement these Web site improvements at no cost to Floridians.
- Planning for state-of-the-art computer buildings under way in Montana
Boyer said the state will call a series of public meetings in Billings, Miles City and Forsyth early next year in preparation for picking where the second computer building will be located. They’re the only towns that expressed interest.
Oregon Economic Development
- Scam alert: BBB is all about promoting integrity, trust with consumers
Trust, integrity, family, the value of our business community, the importance of informed consumers. The list goes on.
- Idaho Office of Science & Technology December 2007
"We Create Jobs, Strengthen Communities and Market Idaho."
South Dakota Economic Development
- County is better risk to venture capitalists. New businesses - Portland and Multnomah County officials repeal taxes to try to attract more venture funds
Robert Ward, managing director of Capybara Ventures, said the tax has driven several venture capital firms to move from the county to Beaverton or other nearby cities. "It's a huge deal," said Ward, whose fund is rare in being based in Portland. Ward said he's spoken with at least one firm that is considering moving back to Portland with the tax change, though he declined to say which one.
Washington State Business
- Blazing network sought for research in South Dakota
The Board of Regents is seeking $75 million in bond authority as part of a $117 million project to upgrade science facilities and research laboratories at the public universities to provide state-of-the-art equipment to students and faculty.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Palouse Knowledge Corridor Economic Development Efforts Earn Recognition
The recognition emphasizes the success area economic development leaders have had in exemplifying the slogan the “Palouse Knowledge Corridor.” That theme emphasizes the vast human capital that both counties possess through their status as university communities, and positions the area as an attractive location to grow knowledge-based businesses.
- E-mail alternative startup, Fyreball lands cash
It is building an alternative to e-mail that allows users to track messages and discussions as they circulate around the Web.
Careers
- Thinking of switching to a Mac? Here's why you might
Why are Macs special?
Non-Profit News
- To Get Ahead in Your Field, Consider Stepping Backward
To figure out the best way to move ahead by moving backward, we interviewed successful executives who have made contrarian career moves.
- Common Networking Blunders That Can Sabotage a Job Hunt
An email that a veteran marketing executive recently blitzed to 12,000 contacts begins: "On Sept. 11, to my complete and utter surprise, I was terminated..."
2007 Montana Legislature
- Proposals Sought From Montana Residents for Humanities Research Fellowships -
The humanities include such areas as history, philosophy, languages, linguistics, archaeology, jurisprudence, ethics, comparative religions, the history and criticism of art and literature, and those aspects of the social sciences and environmental studies that involve humanistic perspectives.
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation names new CEO. Welcome to David Allen
David Allen, who directed marketing for Dale Earnhardt’s NASCAR team, takes the reins.
- Now the Good News...Venture philanthropy. Patient capital. For-benefit corporations. What if you could actually make a profit while changing the world?
What if money traveled quickly and efficiently to the points of greatest need, fueled by the sort of incentives and supported by the infrastructure that make for-profit markets hum?
Transportation
- Montana Gov. Schweitzer agrees to accountability goals
The debate is over something Cobb and other legislators have been pushing for some time: A detailed set of goals and objectives from the executive branch, to show how it’s spending money as approved by the Legislature.
Montana Education Excellence
- Community Mobility Issues More Of A Concern As Boomers Age
Access to transportation for the elderly is of increasing concern as baby boomers approach retirement. Though the problem is major, many communities already have some programs in place to improve mobility for seniors.
City Club Missoula
- VISTAs work to better their lives, communities
Volunteers gain lifelong friendships, in-depth professional skills and networking opportunities.
- Montana State University - "Mountains and Minds" Fall 2007 (Outstanding!)
Jim Alderson's courage rectifying an injustice has saved Americans billions of dollars in healthcare costs.
- City Club Missoula December Forum-"Art In Missoula: Left Brain – Right Brain", 12/21, Missoula, Montana
City Club Missoula’s December forum promises to educate and intrigue you with a discussion of the left brain (economic values) and the right brain (intrinsic values) of art in our community.
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