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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Mar 28, 2008 |
"SAT composite scores increased by 41 points....High school proficiency scores increased from 53 percent to 78.4 percent since 2003. More than 80 percent of the 2006 Senior Class applied to college compared to 28 percent of the 2004 Senior Class." http://matr.net/articl ... .html
"A rural county in eastern North Carolina invested in a community wireless internet system five years ago and already has lots to show for it: higher graduation rates and new businesses. With new technologies on the horizon, low-cost WiFi may soon be with reach for all rural communities." If you're in a rural county that's facing economic and education challenges, you will find this story inspiring. http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Montana World Trade Center
Idaho TechConnect
- "Exporting Opportunities In Alberta, Canada", 4/2, Missoula, Montana
Canada is Montana’s Number 1 trading partner and Edmonton is the international gateway to the Oil & Gas Regions of Alberta. The incredible growth in the Oil Sands is having major impacts on all sectors of the economy, which means they need YOUR products and services to keep pace with the growth!
- Officials encourage firms to focus on exporting
Businesses that aren't considering exporting their goods or services are turning their backs on 75 percent of the world's purchasing power and 95 percent of its population.
- The Montana World Trade Center at UM will host a luncheon seminar with the Edmonton (that's in Canada) Economic Development Corp. on Wednesday, April 2.
The incredible growth in the oil sands has had major impacts on all sectors of the economy there, and the region is in need of an array of products and services to keep up with demand.
- The Montana World Trade Center will offer the second round of the Global Trade Certificate Program around the state this spring.
Trade officials and industry specialists will educate program participants on providing assistance to Montana businesses looking to increase their global opportunities and growth potential.
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- Partial Funding Restored for Technology Based Economic Development (TBED) Initiatives in Idaho Budget
Lawmakers allocated $150,000 for the TechConnect http://www.idahotechconnect.com/Home/ Centers within the Department of Commerce – down $150,000 from the previous two years.
Montana Meth Project
- America's grasslands vanishing amid agricultural boom
A generation of conservation accomplishments could be rolled back" if commodity prices remain near historic highs
Come Home Montana
- Montana leads the way in U.S. success in curbing meth. In two years, the state dropped from fifth to 39th in the use of the illegal drug. Its secret: good advertising.
Today all that's changed. Instead of struggling with America's fifth-worst meth problem, the state now ranks 39th. Teen use has declined 45 percent; adult use is down 70 percent.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Montana Career Opportunity - Economic Development Planner - Northwest Montana Economic Development District
This is a newly formed district serving Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders Counties and requires someone with excellent administrative skills to assist in developing the full potential of the organization.
- New railcar maintenance company, The Andersons Inc. moving to Anaconda, Montana next month
“We hope to find a workforce that is generally interested in helping us get the job done.”
- RightNow Technologies Inc. of Bozeman may expand to Great Falls - Talent Wanted
The company is having a hard time filling these positions in Bozeman because of the high cost of housing there, and is looking to expand to another Rocky Mountain location.
- Montana Career Opportunity - University System seeks deputy for 2-year education
The new deputy's salary, expected to be in the $120,000 to $125,000 range annually.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Chief Financial Officer - Missoula County
Requires five years of progressively responsible experience at a management level in governmental accounting, finance and payroll administration. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Montana Business
- Greene County, NC - Wireless and Way Ahead
"SAT composite scores increased by 41 points....High school proficiency scores increased from 53 percent to 78.4 percent since 2003. More than 80 percent of the 2006 Senior Class applied to college compared to 28 percent of the 2004 Senior Class."
Montana Economic Development
- Newest U.S. Eco-lodge: The Lodge at Sun Ranch Opens June 1 on Montana Eco-ranch
The U.S.'s newest eco-lodge, slated to open June 1, 2008, combines exceptional service, chef-prepared local and organic gourmet meals and guided backcountry adventures with serious environmental preservation practices and green education.
- Neptune Aviation a model Missoula business
The new five-year contract from the Forest Service is just further proof that Neptune is one of Missoula's great corporate success stories - a neighbor known for its integrity, professionalism, work ethic and community service.
- Missoulian code caper? Newspaper faces claims of website design theft
Missoulian programmers left Roanoke Times fingerprints in their website when they allegedly copied the code.
- Chinook Wireless changing names. It's now Cellular One
"We're still the same company; same ownership, same management, right here in Montana" explains Cellular One Business Development Vice President Ernie Peterson. "And we're just able now to offer better services and new rate plans."
- Public Invited To SBA Awards Banquet Honoring Montana's Top Small Businesses & Advocates, 5/1, Billings
Outstanding small business owners and advocate champions from across the state will be honored in various categories for their achievements and contributions to Montana’s economy.
- GE begins to hire for new Butte facility.
GE has also begun hiring the first wave of at least 150 employees who will work in the proposed 48,000-square-foot office building, at 3333 Hesper Road.
- Blixseth sells trophy Yellowstone Club lot. Facing three new lawsuits
The Yellowstone Club is for sale.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Canada forms vital ties with U.S.
Kalispell Chamber hears about trade issues. For anyone who has not been paying attention, Canada’s economy is booming.
Funding and Building your Business
- Partners with Angel Capital Foundation to Offer Seminar on Valuation and Portfolio Management Strategies
Bill Payne to lead workshop for investors in Whitefish, Montana on April 24th
Incubators and R&D
- Stimulus act has provisions to aid small businesses
The list of qualifying equipment ranges from machinery to office equipment to tractors, computers and other items.
- Inside Entrepreneurship: Use care when you seek out legal help
Funding sources are pleased when entrepreneurs select firms that have well-respected securities counsel on hand.
Montana Education Excellence
- State-of-the-art alternative energy technology at Montana State University-Northern
The end result is the only fuel certification lab in the state, and one of the best-equipped labs in the region.
University TechTransfer
- Conferences to draw thousands to Montana State University, area
In one international conference, approximately 125 physicists, climatologists and other interested scientists will discuss "Solar variability, Earth's climate and the space environment."
- Exploring the air: University of Montana seeks more research funding - $22.4MM
The University of Montana's wish list has 12 requests, fits on one page and totals $22.4 million.
- Montana lags in preschool education
Many children from low-to-moderate income families are denied early education opportunities that would help them succeed in school and in life
- Higher Education, Community Service, and Service Learning - The Montana Campus Compact
Montana boasts one of the highest ratings for civic engagement and community service per capita in the country, perhaps the best indicator of the quality of life in communities across the state.
- President Geoff Gamble outlines goals for Montana State University’s future
Montana State University has achieved remarkable things in the last five years, and in the next five years it will strive to become even better and achieve national recognition, President Geoff Gamble said Thursday.
- Bitterroot Valley Community College gathers community ideas, support
“The amount of support, ideas and conversation today has been truly been tremendous. It’s wonderful to see the level of interest from such a diverse group. We’ve talked about lots of wonderful things today. It’s been more than rewarding.”
Idaho Business
- More-Powerful Solar Cells from University Research - 1366 Technologies
A new kind of solar cell is 27 percent more efficient without being more expensive to make.
Oregon Economic Development
- Starting Up: Boise State a rich mine of entrepreneurial connections
Developing relationships at Boise State was fairly simple, especially because universities are always looking for opportunities to interface with the business community.
- MPC lands $10 million deal to provide desktop, notebook and laptop computers with Defense Logistics
"This contract speaks to the strength of the relationships that both MPC and Gateway have formed throughout the government sector."
- Mighty micropolitan - Twin Falls, Jerome counties rank 13th in growth among small urban areas
"The theory is that good jobs and higher pay, such as those in manufacturing and dairy processing, will attract more people to an area," said Bob Fick, public affairs officer for Department of Labor. "The population growth then fuels things like retail sales and services in the health care industry, and that creates more jobs."
- TechIdaho: Beat your rivals with higher wages
In the last two weeks, Boise has again landed on two national lists crediting the city for its positive business climate.
Wyoming Business
- Portland Ambassadors host business leaders on a "best practices" trip to Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
The Portland Ambassadors' first European Best Practices visit is the latest in a series of trips to top-rated, forward-thinking cities.
Education
- University of Wyoming adds solar energy expert to School of Energy Resources
"He is a valuable person to have on the faculty; his presence on campus will attract top young scientists to Wyoming, knowing that we have the infrastructure to do cutting-edge research in both solar energy and in adding value to the state's fossil fuels," Clennan said.
Connectivity & Communications
- Teachers Tap Video-Sharing In the Classroom
Video in the classroom has evolved since the days when teachers wheeled in film projectors on carts.
- Tech Training for Life
In an effort to invest in its youth, the city of Cincinnati has partnered with Dell and a local nonprofit, Uptown Consortium, to launch a six-week course designed to teach 12- to 18-year-olds important computer skills.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- 267 Million Dollar Loan for Rural Broadband Announced by USDA
USDA Rural Development’s investments in broadband are helping rural communities develop sustainable economic opportunities to improve the quality of life in communities across the nation. The loan to Open Range is expected to foster business development and create new jobs in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
- Cable Companies In Talks to Fund WiMax Network
Comcast would invest $1 billion and Time Warner would put as much as $500 million into the venture to create a next-generation, high-speed wireless network spanning the nation, according to the source.
- Phones Will Soon Tell Where You Are
Would you want other people to know, all day long, exactly where you are, right down to the street corner or restaurant?
Government Technology
- Regrowing Limbs: Can People Regenerate Body Parts?
Progress on the road to regenerating major body parts, salamander-style, could transform the treatment of amputations and major wounds
- Dean Kamen Solves the World's Water Problems on the Stephen Colbert Show
It is designed to supply a village with 1,000 liters/day of clean water.
- States get breathing room on Real ID
In the showdown with the federal government over making state-issued driver’s licenses more secure, all but three states have won a reprieve from more extensive security screenings for their residents at airports and federal buildings that were set to begin May 11.
- National Consortium to Provide Professional Development, Continuing Education and National Certification Programs for Local and State Government Technology Leadership
The program is focused on helping CIOs effectively serve their local government as part of the executive leadership team.
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