MATR Newsletter - Tue Mar 18, 2008 |
"If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside." -- Robert X. Cringely
Come Home Montana
Boomtown Institute
- RightNow Technologies of Bozeman May Expand to Butte, Montana. Are there qualified workers available?
It is very important for us to encourage as many people as possible to look at the jobs and apply if they are interested.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Network Administrator - Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Prefer software development experience with an extensive knowledge of networks.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute - Time again for some good news..
The "dismal science" of economics typically focuses on "bad" news. We do face major challenges..no question. Recessionary pressures are intense..no argument here. However, there are many favorable developments taking place within the U.S. economy.
Funding and Building your Business
- Solo Entrepreneurs: Big Bucks From Tiny Computing Startups
One-person companies are earning upwards of $1 million in revenues annually. How do they do it?
Education
- Energized Entrepreneurship: Risk, Strategy, and Negotiations from Stanford Technology Ventures Program
Spend just two minutes and a few odd seconds to learn bright ideas to build, grow, or sustain your entrepreneurial drive. These bite-sized, informative videos offer a fast jolt to your fast-tracking career.
- USA's top principal could teach CEOs a thing or two
You can't lead if you can't see where you're going.
- Outsourcing bookkeeping helps business owners focus on job
Outsourcing finances allows owners to focus on building their companies.
Connectivity & Communications
- In a Time of Distracted Ears, Teachers Ensure They’re Loud and Clear
Now Mrs. Slater’s voice resonates over the drone of the ventilator through four speakers mounted on the classroom walls, thanks to the wireless microphone, resembling a half-moon pendant, that hangs around her neck.
- The Wyoming Virtual school now a reality
Any Wyoming school district can open a virtual school and also receive state funding.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- iPhone bliss in Bozeman, Montana thanks to Chinook Wireless
Chinook can’t sell you an iPhone. But its representatives will, if you bring them a properly tweaked one, activate it and hook you up with service.
- Long-Distance Wi-Fi
Intel has found a way to stretch a Wi-Fi signal from one antenna to another located more than 60 miles away.
- Montana Consumers Should Be Aware of February 2009 Digital TV Transition
Every U.S. household is eligible to receive up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes.
Montana Business
- The Most Dangerous New Technologies
Cutting edge technologies offer the hope of a better world, potentially bringing welcome solutions to everything from disease to environmental damage. But these same technologies can also bring danger, by aiding criminals and terrorists, invading personal privacy and even potentially creating diseases and damaging the environment.
Legislative Newsletters
- Start-up firm, Ensi-Med still trying to pay wages in Butte
Ensi-Med, a telemedicine start-up company in Butte, is still working to pay employee wages eight months after four workers filed complaints with a state enforcement agency.
- Bozeman company RightNow Technologies considers Butte and Great Falls for branch
The Mining City is in the running with other Montana locations to get a software development, quality assurance and technical support branch, said Mike Myer, chief technology officer and vice president of product development.
Montana Economic Development
- Denny Rehberg E-Newsletter March 2008
Balancing the Federal Budget is one of the most important responsibilities that Congress has.
Oregon Business
- Largest-ever donation to Montana Land Reliance. Conservation Easements are successful at preserving the best of Montana for future generations
“It’s going to help us preserve this landscape,” he said, “and hopefully preserve the ranching lifestyle as well.” “That’s a wonderful thing an easement can do,” said Chase. “We gave up some of our bundle of rights and we get some favorable tax relief.”
- Tech Web site hopes to help Montana inventors. "Big Sky Innovation"
Big Sky Innovation is a collaboration of several public agencies, including Commerce and the University of Montana School of Business Administration, as well as the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and other organizations.
- Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation March 2008 Newsletter
Montana Department of Commerce, MAEDC and WGM Group Partner for Greater Missoula Downtown Master Plan
- Bitterroot businesses awarded state grants - Yourganic Farm - Trapper Creek Winery - BVS
The grants are awarded on behalf of the MADC Growth Through Agriculture Program, a program that allots grants and loans for Montana agricultural development, in support of innovative ideas that enhance the state’s agriculture industry.
- Preserving Montana ranches, and more through conservation easements.
The latest to do so in perpetuity is the family that owns the Sieben Live Stock Company. The Hibbards recently donated a 40,064-acre conservation easement on their ranch to the Montana Land Reliance, the biggest easement ever given to the land trust in its 30-year history.
- Global Trade Experts & Specialists visit MT for Training Program!
Provide business leaders with the tools and resources needed to build a foundation that supports global business opportunities and growth.
Regional Economic Development
- Corvallis, Oregon named greenest city in U.S.
The magazine and Sperling's BestPlaces looked at 24 factors in five categories, including mass-transit use, green power policies, biofuel and wind power availability, number of green-certified buildings, farmers markets, organic producers and air and watershed quality.
Government Technology
- WIRED Offering "Green" Manufacturing Training
The Green Manufacturing Certificate Program will educate workers in the principles of clean manufacturing, energy conservation and waste reduction. Hourly and salaried workers who go through the training will receive certificates of completion.
- Where will we find the next generation of engineers?
“We need to recruit engineers from a broad cross-section of society, and this means reaching out to populations that are underrepresented in the engineering professions. Only 11% in the United States today are women, 3% Blacks and 4% Hispanics. These statistics reveal a large reservoir of potential engineers that is not being fully tapped.
- Entrepreneurial Sustainable Ag DVD-now available
—The Western Rural Development Center has released a DVD training video to help extension educators and agriculture producers increase the profitability of their sustainable agriculture enterprises.
Idaho Business
- State officials keep e-mail from view. "I don't care if it's delivered by carrier pigeon, it's a record."
"There seems to be an attitude throughout government — at all levels — that somehow electronic communications are of its own kind and not subject to the laws in the way that print communications are."
Oregon Economic Development
- Bucolic boomtown. State livestock lab and research center to land near Twin Falls, Idaho
It's hard to say how many research positions could be shifted to the site. Having all of the labs in one place is expected to increase efficiency, allowing for a reduction in total state employment.
- Qwest to expand Idaho Falls call center from 80 to 800 employees
It started with only 80 employee's six years ago, but in a few months one Idaho Falls company will expand to a work force of 800.
- Titan Spring Company of Hayden, Idaho Receives Aerospace Manufacturing Certifications
Titan Spring, a family owned and operated third-generation springmaker relocated from California last September to take advantage of Idaho’s business-friendly offerings and attractive quality of life.
Government
- Oregon Investment Fund beefs up local investments
Once the new fund is completed, the overall $108 million worth of investments will mark about a 25 percent increase from the end of 2006.
Other Economies
- Problems continue with Montana's public defender system
There are still many problems in not only Region 10, Richland County's region, but in most of the other Montana regions.
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
- Michigan must attract talent to achieve goal of high prosperity
In a flattening world, the places with the greatest concentrations of talent win.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- NVCA President Calls for More Federal Grants to Venture-Backed Firms
Testifying before the House of Representatives Committee on Small Business, Heesen said the SBA discriminates against venture-backed companies.
Careers
- How Yahoo lost its way - from investing in Google to missed opportunities
In cutthroat Silicon Valley, no good deed goes unpunished.
- Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana resort owner, Barbara McConnell Barrett tapped to become Ambassador to Finland
Barbara McConnell Barrett owns the Triple Creek Ranch resort in Darby, Montana.
Energy
- With Bad Mentors, It's Better to Break Up Than to Make Up
Successful people usually credit their rise to the good counsel of mentors who can work wonders.
- Learning From The Legends: Quick Insights From Buffett and Gates
Buffett On Ethics: Imagine that what you are doing every day is being scrutinized by a smart, skeptical reporter who is going to write an article about it every day on the cover of your local paper. If you ever think you actions would embarrass you or your company in front of your family, customers, peers, etc., don't do it.
Community
- From wind to fuel cells, wireless carriers look at making towers "greener"
They're talking about towers powered by wind turbines or solar panels, antennas that get backup energy from hydrogen fuel cells and geothermal cooling for computer equipment.
- Bike Trails: Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Nodes for Missoula
A high resolution image of the proposed Missoula Bicycle & Trails Network
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