|
|
|
| MATR Newsletter - Fri Apr 4, 2008 |
This day in history - Bill Gates and Paul Allen create a partnership called Micro-soft. It will grow into one of the largest U.S. corporations and place them among the world's richest people. Allen was 22; Gates was 19. http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Congratulations to the Missoula Children's Theater http://www.mctinc.org/ - 2007 Montana Governor’s Export Marketing Program Award Winner http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html ---
Idaho National Laboratory
Montana Chamber Choices
- University nuclear experiments selected for Idaho National Laboratory testing
The ATR User Facility offers some of the most advanced nuclear fuels and materials testing and post-irradiation examination facilities and capabilities in the country.
Montana World Trade Center
- SBA - Changes in Family Health Insurance Coverage for Small and Large Firm Workers and Dependents
This study finds that family health insurance coverage for workers in both small and large firms is decreasing, and that firm size plays a role in the type of dependent coverage children have. Access to coverage through a large firm as a dependent remains very important to small firm employees.
Montana Meth Project
- Governor Schweitzer Announces New Record High for Montana’s Commodity Exports
“Montana is on the move. Over the past five years Montana has had the second highest annual growth rate in export value in the nation,” said Governor Schweitzer. “We have seen an increase in both our exports and in manufacturing employment, and Montana is one of only 22 states to see this growth.”
- Montana World Trade Center And Rep. Rehberg - Trade Mission To Canada, 5/29-30, Edmonton, Alberta
“This is a great opportunity for Montana businesses to explore the potential for increased exports to the Edmonton area,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.
MSU Leadership Institute
- Montana Meth Project unveils new ads directed by famed filmmaker
The graphic, 30-second ads are built around the theme "This isn't normal, but on meth it is."
The Burton K. Wheeler Center
- Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall and Shirin Ebadi, the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize to receive Presidential Medal for Global and Visionary Leadership, lecture at MSU - Montana State University Leadership Institute
Both women's appearances on campus in April are incredible opportunities for people in the area, said Carmen McSpadden, director of MSU's Leadership Institute.
Come Home Montana
- MSU's Wheeler Center hosts forum - "Climate Change in Montana: Impacts and Opportunities for Energy and Agriculture" May 12-13
"Climate Change in Montana: Impacts and Opportunities for Energy and Agriculture" will focus on the future of Montana’s agriculture and energy sectors.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Economic Development Director - Southeastern Montana
Must have knowledge of business economics, marketing principles, office management, budgeting, accounting, use of computers, power point, and internet, meeting and greeting public.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Development Professional - Intermountain
Intermountain is seeking an experienced development professional to join its growing team to cultivate relationships and secure leadership and major gifts.
- Silvertip Mountain Center carves out successful global business in remote Montana wilderness community - population 15
Luckily for the partners, the growth of their business online and in the store has made their remote lifestyle easier to finance. "That's what this store is about, trying to make it happen, make a living here," Hinck said. "There're only a few choices to make money from tourists. But the Internet business makes it so it's not so feast and famine."
Montana Business
- Local entrepreneurs inspire students at MSU Entrepreneur Day
MSU offers a minor in entrepreneurship for students who have the “fire in the belly” to want to start their own businesses, Semenik said. It gives students hands-on experience working with entrepreneurs.
Montana Economic Development
- 2007 Montana Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Award Winners Announced
Missoula Children’s Theatre received the Export Marketing Program Award for its excellence and innovation in efforts to develop and increase export sales.
- Montana Sec. of State Brad Johnson Alerts Businesses- ANNUAL REPORT DEADLINE NEARING
"Filing on time saves money and time for both the businesses and the state. By moving to online annual reporting, we saved over $100,000 for the businesses of Montana. This year, I hope even more businesses will file online."
- Montana Blue Cross nets $21M in income
Company spokeswoman Linda McGillen said the positive income figures are partly because of one-time financial events that helped the company's bottom line.
Regional Economic Development
- Montana Department of Labor receives grant for $250,000 to develop a strategy for training laborers for jobs in emergent industries
“The specific concept is to help a particular region-such as Lincoln County-assess where future occupations and industries are going and how to get there,” said Ingrid Childress, an administrator in Helena at the Department of Labor.
- USDA accepting grant and loan applications for Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program
Eligible applicants may seek loan guarantees to cover up to 50 percent of a project's cost, not to exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to 25 percent of a project's cost, not to exceed $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems.
- Tribes urged to prepare for possible federal carbon incentives
''For tribal governments and individual Indians who have large land holdings, this could become a very real economic market,'' said Ted Dodge, executive director of the National Carbon Offset Coalition. The group, which focuses on the sale of carbon credits via a non-federal trade program, has worked with a handful of tribes on monetizing their carbon collection portfolios.
Funding and Building your Business
- Apply now for the 2008 Excellence in TBED Awards!
Do not miss this unique opportunity to receive international recognition and showcase the excellence of your initiative.
- 11th annual Cyberstates report. How does your state rate in in the new technology economy and venture funding?
"The state needs, in my opinion, to continue investing in research and development and innovation for this to be sustainable."
Montana Education Excellence
- 2008 Small Business Institute Journal.
The Small Business Institute and Small Business Advancement National Center are honored to present the 2008 Small Business Institute Journal.
- Small Firms Best at Preparing for Aging Workforce
28 percent of the respondents reported that they had developed plans and strategies to transfer the knowledge and skills of their older and more experienced workers to younger employees.
- Saving money and the planet - green can be good for bottom line
Not only do you save money, you create an environment that is healthier for you and your employees.
- Saatchi & Saatchi's Kevin Roberts: 'It's All about Getting to the Future First'
Roberts is perhaps most well known for an idea he came up with called "lovemarks" -- which means creating a brand for which the consumer has "loyalty beyond reason."
- Starting Up: Hiring the right person is crucial to a startup's success
Quality begets quality. Hire the highest-quality people from the outset, then have them do the interviewing.
- Angel Groups - Angelic Or Not?
The Angel Capital Association (http://www.angelcapitalassociation.org/) was formed to promote best practices, and to allow angels and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas. While the ACA does not formally condemn charging a fee for presenting, many of the members are against this policy. The ACA is also a great resource for finding an angel group in your area, and for finding research, documents, and templates, etc. that may be helpful.
- Inside Entrepreneurship: Networking is key for information, money
Startup entrepreneurs typically wait too long to reach out to decision-makers in their industry for strategically insightful, mostly pro bono guidance. I encourage aggressive outreach before products are designed rather than after. (You can contact me at [email protected] ...)
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana can't afford to cut funding for education
After reviewing various letters to the editor and articles in the news about funding for education, it has become clear that neither side of the aisle is focusing on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for education.
- Patrick Barkey named director of U. of Montana business research
The UM Bureau of Business and Economic Research provides information to public and private decision makers about the state's business and economic climate through outlets such as the yearly Economic Outlook Seminar and the award-winning Montana Business Quarterly.
- Dealing with University of Montana's Broken Elevators
For disabled students, broken elevators mean they cannot attend class. Some buildings are not accessible.
Idaho Business
- Newly formed Butte-Silver Bow Public Schools Education Foundation raises $18,000 at kick-off
The grants — which will be given twice a year, in fall and spring — could be used by teachers for special programs, equipment or anything else the district cannot afford.
Utah Economic Development
- Idaho's future depends on small tech companies (Montana, Are you Listening?)
With the number of employees in high tech declining, yet the number of high tech companies growing we have created a scenario in Idaho where it is more critical then ever to put our resources into helping grow these small companies.
Washington State Business
- Investment in future takes seed in northern Utah
"We're really trying to build a regional economy. Economies don't really know that there's a county line."
Wyoming Business
- Spring 2008 Washington Technology Center News and Information
This annual CEO summit will focus on emerging trends in clean technology, renewable energy, global health, and advanced materials and manufacturing.
Education
- Eleutian Technologies of Ten Sleep, Wyoming partners with Korean city
The company, which is based in the north-central Wyoming town of Ten Sleep, has 150 teachers in Wyoming who instruct online English language classes.
Other Economies
- Mayor Proposes City Funded College Scholarships as Economic Development Tool
Lexington, Ky., Mayor Jim Newberry announced last week a college scholarship plan targeting students pursing degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields as a means to transform the local economy into a globally competitive community by investing in the city’s youth.
- The Push to Improve STEM Education - Detailed State Reports
U.S. schools face pressure on science, technology, engineering, and math.
- A Teacher’s Dream, Certified Online. Western Governors University
An online, non-profit university has special federal scholarships for rural educators.
- Fourteen States to Participate in National Early Childhood Symposium
"Governors' offices around the country embrace this opportunity to learn and work together with the legislative branch, early childhood experts and business leaders to improve the lives of children in their states," said John Thomasian, director of the NGA Center. "Many governors have made early childhood issues a high priority, and that's reflected in the number and quality of teams coming to the symposium."
- A good grade for Teach for America. High-schoolers taught by the program's novice instructors scored better on year-end exams, study says.
TFA has sent about 17,000 elite college graduates into two-year stints in the neediest urban and rural classrooms since it started in 1990.
Energy
- Canada must focus its support on Gazelle companies to stay competitive (Montana, are you listening?)
Gazelles are the companies that create new jobs and activity.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- U.S. Will Approve New Nuclear Reactors
"The politics is changing," she added, noting growing enthusiasm for nuclear power as the clean alternative to coal-burning plants. Even some environmentalists have begun to embrace nuclear power, because of its potential to reduce the greenhouse emissions that are blamed for global warming.
- U.S. Department of Energy Selects 12 Solar America Cities to advance Solar America Initiative
Cities designated as Solar America Cities, which will each receive $200,000 from DOE to integrate a variety of solar energy technologies throughout the city, include: Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Knoxville, TN; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Sacramento, CA; San Antonio, TX; San Jose, CA; Santa Rosa, CA; and Seattle, WA.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- April 4, 1975: Bill Gates, Paul Allen Form a Little Partnership
Allen was 22; Gates was 19.
Government Technology
- Snakelike Robots for Heart Surgery
More-flexible robots could allow for less-invasive operations.
- Montana's outdoors featured in interactive state Web site
If only all government Web sites could be like the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Web site.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page
