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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Apr 18, 2008 |
"Nearly all men and women can stand adversity, but if you want to test their character, give them power." -- Abraham Lincoln
A few notable events to consider: If you're an entrepreneur and are either looking for funding or would just like to know what your company may be worth: "Bill Payne Of Frontier Angels Leads Startup Valuation Seminar, 4/24, Whitefish, Montana" http://matr.net/articl ... .html --- It's a global economy. Are you participating? "Montana World Trade Center - Global Trade Certificate Program, 4/24-25, Montana State University- Billings Campus " http://matr.net/events ... =2278 --- Great way to see the new generation of entrepreneurs "19th Annual John Ruffatto Montana Business Plan Competition, 5/8, University Of Montana - Missoula" http://matr.net/articl ... .html --- For those of you who missed it, this was one of the most moving and thought provoking City Club Missoula luncheons ever " City Club Missoula - Doctors discuss ethics of candidates' health plans" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- If you see stories that don't get posted on MATR and you think they should, please either post them yourselves or send them to me [email protected] . Information and education are the keys to a successful future. Russ
2009 Montana Legislature
Montana World Trade Center
- Legislators told they should raise school funding by $260 million a year
“I'm not sure the state can impact (adequacy of education) if it's a minority partner in funding schools,”
PrintingForLess
- MWTC Opening Reception &Dinner - The Global Trade Certificate Program, 4/24, Billings, Montana
Take this opportunity to network with speakers, sponsors, government officials, businesses, and community leaders.
- “Doing Business In South America: Legal Safety Measures And Protection”, 4/25, Billings
Joào Batista Lira Rodrigues Junior, Partner of Veirano Advogados is making a special trip to Montana for the Global Trade Certificate Program.
City Club Missoula
- Practice Sustainability and Receive High-Quality Printing at PrintingForLess.com
Now, small business owners can fulfill their high-quality printing needs while doing their part to be environmentally responsible.
MSU Leadership Institute
- City Club Missoula - Doctors discuss ethics of candidates' health plans
“This is actually a moral tragedy nationally and it is also a community tragedy,” said Dr. John Stone, a professor and former Missoula cardiologist.
Come Home Montana
- MSU Leadership Institute - Nobel Peace Prize winner warns against U.S. war on Iran
“The Iranian people are very critical of their government,” Ebadi said, speaking through a translator. “But you must understand that war against Iran, or even a threat of war against Iran, will put human rights in a worse situation and give the government the pretext to suppress the voices of dissidents.”
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Ted Turner puts money where his heart is
Meet Ted Turner, world citizen and part-time resident of the 120,000-acre Flying D. Though it’s one of the biggest ranches in Montana, it comprises only 5 percent of his real estate holdings.
- Trying To Get Back
I hope one day to drive through Montana again.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Technology Consultant - First Call Computer Solutions
We offer industry leading products & services, proven systems, engineering support & a professional company & team you can count on.
Montana Business
- Outsourcing Comes Full Circle. India's Tata Consultancy Services opens development center in Ohio
While India is still a great deal for many companies that want to cut costs on high-tech workers, some experts predict the labor savings there could evaporate in 5 to 10 years.
Montana Economic Development
- Bozeman Job Service Job fair benefits employers, job seekers
People seeking jobs ranged from high school students and college graduates to experienced professionals and retirees returning to the work force.
- NorthWestern Energy says future unknown
Commissioner Ken Toole told the company he believes there are strategies, such as conservation, that could mitigate the risk of fuel prices. Other commissioners also talked about the need to develop resources that don’t use fossil fuels.
- Corporate loopholes are sinking Montana's state coffers
The Legislature will be working with significantly less money this upcoming session.
- Montana PSC Approves Five-Year Rural Cellular Expansion Plan
CellularONE has constructed more than 50 new cellular towers across the state of Montana in 2007 and is aiming for more in 2008.
- How to fan fiery growth - Nomad Technologies of Kalispell, Montana
The 23-employee company, which had sales of more than $3 million in 2006, recently landed a -multimillion-dollar contract to build training vehicles for the U.S. Army and has moved into a larger facility.
- The buzz around geo-tourism in Montana. Governor Schweitzer expects big returns from tourism industry
The geotourist wants to know where and how to visit family farms, see homestead churches and experience indigenous cultures.
Business Plan Forums
- Montana Board of Housing Approves Tax Credits for Development of Affordable Housing
Credits will leverage more than $30 million in construction investment
- Agriculture at the crossroads in Montana
Most of the Bozeman-area land now hosting subdivisions, box stores and car lots was productive farmland not that many years ago. Between 1997 and 2002, 80,000 acres of Gallatin County farmland was taken out of production, according to the Montana Agricultural Statistics Service.
- Conservation in the New West of Montana
“You see this huge house out there, and nobody’s home.”
- Roger Lang is trying a new approach to conservation in Montana. Bring in more millionaires.
“It’s maybe a little ahead of its time. But Roger’s been able to get it started. Word travels pretty fast in those circles.”
Funding and Building your Business
- Technology well represented in Governor's business plan finalists that came from the original 250 entries.
“The business plans in the final round reflect some of Wisconsin's core technology strengths, as well as the fact that entrepreneurs can be found in all corners of the state.”
Incubators and R&D
- Creating a web site is easy. Creating a successful international e-business takes more thought.
To help you revolutionize your e-business strategy, the Commercial Service is bringing together three global e-business icons—Google, FedEx, and Baker & McKenzie—to share best practices in our Web Revolution half-day seminars.
- Harnessing the Simple, but Effective Art of Referral Marketing
Referrals work because they are credible.
- Start-ups tread cautious economic pathway
"As an entrepreneur," Cheng says, "your biggest worry is running out of money before you get your idea to the market. So saving a dollar buys you time."
- Starting Up: When starting a business, focus on teamwork and motivation
Motivating a team can be the most challenging aspect of running a business.
- Despite Downturn, Financing Exists for Small Companies
“What I like about these conferences is that I find small, growing companies before everybody else does.”
- Inside Entrepreneurship: How to fund a company with debt
Raising money for a new business is always front and center in the minds of startup entrepreneurs. The matter is not just about where to find funding but also how funds are invested in the company.
Montana Education Excellence
- Research View WINTER 2008 - A Publication of The University of Montana
The future must have looked rosy indeed to residents of Cinnabar, Mont., in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
University Business Plan Competitions
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce gives Montana schools a mixed report card.
Montana received an A in academic achievement, but got Ds in both rigor of standards and achievement relative to money spent.
- The Montana University System - Everybody wants you to thrive, and help is all around - "College 101" is a greart resource
Montana's College 101 is a good place to start, with information on academics, college life and what is often the biggest hurdle — how to pay for school.
- Nine members of Students for Economic and Social Justice take over University of Montana President Dennison's office and are later arrested
Nine members of Students for Economic and Social Justice barged into University of Montana President George Dennison’s office at noon on Wednesday and refused to leave until the University signs an agreement with the Designated Suppliers Program.
- Groseth named President and CEO of Alumni Association
For the business she conducts on a national basis and in meeting with colleagues from other institutions, she will carry the new title of President and CEO of the Alumni Association.
- MSU College of Business Accreditation Reaffirmed
“We are honored and extremely pleased to maintain this prestigious and rigorous accreditation by AACSB particularly since it was reaffirmed unconditionally.” said Rich Semenik, Dean of the College of Business at MSU.
University TechTransfer
- 19th Annual John Ruffatto Montana Business Plan Competition, 5/8, University Of Montana - Missoula
The competition invites students from across Montana to present their business plans to a group of outstanding business and community leaders.
Idaho Business
- Federal Laboratories and State and Local Governments: Partners for Technology Transfer Success
It has long been the policy of the federal government to ensure the full use of the nation's investment in research and development by actively supporting and encouraging the transfer of technology developed in federal laboratories to state and local governments and the private sector. This brochure highlights some of these technology transfer successes.
- Technology Transfer-University Spin Game-Success is rare and slow for spinoff companies, but the potential rewards -- visibility and income - keep schools playing.
To help universities commercialize their technologies, the 2007 Florida Legislature set up the Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research and provided $1 million in funding under the auspices of Enterprise Florida, Florida’s economic development partnership. The institute will augment the work of tech transfer offices and will help market the research to angel investors and venture capital companies.
- The Florida Institute for Commercialization of Public Research to Promote Tech Transfer in State.
The institute will house the business plans and product proposals of start-up companies growing out of research from Florida's public universities.
Oregon Business
- Boise's Cougar Mountain Software finds success being slow and steady
Thousands of former customers still use the company's original DOS-based software without a problem.
- TechIdaho: Parting thoughts from Ken Dey. Idaho still needs to beef up support for tech
The Governor's Science & Technology Advisory Council is no more, the State's Office of Science & Technology remains woefully underfunded, and efforts to improve the state's education system and encourage more Idahoans to go to college are floundering.
Utah Business
- The Most Bicycle Friendly City In America - Portland, Oregon
Two local transportation advocates shed light on the plans and policies that have made Portland, Oregon the bicycle capital of the U.S.
Washington State Business
- Three Utah Companies Named Red Herring North America Finalists
Non-profit venture accelerator Wayne Brown Institute has recognized three Utah-based technology companies — @task, Control4 and Sendside Networks —as finalists for the Red Herring 100 Award, an annual juried selection of the most innovative private technology companies based in North America.
- Sandy, Utah, SecureAlert device monitors offenders, keeps them out of jails. N. Idaho agency to use GPS bracelets on juveniles
Secure Alert has been marketing the TrackerPAL since 2005, and is currently tracking about 3,500 offenders across the United States.
Education
- Science and tech workers see major pay gains in Washington state.
The state reports the pay for professional, technical and scientific workers shot up 22.8 percent, year over year, to an average of $1,431 a week (or roughly $74,400 a year).
- Researchers, startups talk innovation at Washington Technology Summit
"Everywhere I look, we are at the forefront of innovation — from clean-energy technology to global health to advances in manufacturing and materials," Gov. Christine Gregoire said in a speech to kick off the event.
- State of Washington awards $22 million in life sciences grants
Seventy-five groups applied in November and had their projects vetted by experts assembled by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Nine of those groups were interviewed in March.
Government
- Making a Difference? The Effect of Teach for America on Student Performance in High School
The findings show that TFA teachers are more effective, as measured by student exam performance, than traditional teachers. Moreover, they suggest that the TFA effect, at least in the grades and subjects investigated, exceeds the impact of additional years of experience, implying that TFA teachers are more effective than experienced secondary school teachers. The positive TFA results are robust across subject areas, but are particularly strong for math and science classes.
Other Economies
- Stop the revolving door of lobbyists
Maybe the best we can hope for is a new rule that would require staff members to wait for a period of years - say, a full election cycle - before accepting a job as a lobbyist.
Energy
- Governor forms Kansas Innovation Consortium. Key industries to work together to continue state’s economic growth
“By bringing leaders from these key industries together, we can chart a course for moving our economy forward.”
- A Drought in Australia, a Global Shortage of a Food Staple
The Deniliquin mill, the largest rice mill in the Southern Hemisphere, once processed enough grain to satisfy the daily needs of 20 million people.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Technology Smooths the Way for Home Wind-Power Turbines
In New York, “we have incentive levels for different installations, but a homeowner could expect to get approximately $4,000 per electric meter for a wind turbine,” said Paul Tonko, president of the New York State Renewable Energy Development Authority, which administers the state’s renewable energy incentives. “That would cover about 30 to 40 percent of the project cost.”
- Repowering Montana, One Community at a Time. AERO conducts renewable energy seminars across Montana
These questions and others will be tackled at town hall style meetings on April 22 in Gardiner, Mont.; on April 23 in Kalispell, Mont.; on April 25 in Bozeman, Mont.; and on April 29 in Seeley Lake, Mont. Each meeting focuses on energy conservation and renewable energy actions specific to the area.
Legislative Newsletters
- US man gets $2.6m for domain name pizza.com
"It's crazy, it's just crazy."
Non-Profit News
- Montana Sen Jon Tester launches new Senate website and newsletter
“The whole site is user friendly, interactive and stuffed full of handy information,” Tester said. “It’s a sharp tool for all Montanans and it will only get better in the future.”
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Missoula's Adventure Cycling Honored as One of Outside Magazine's Best Places to Work 2008
Adventure Cycling Association is the premier bicycle travel organization in North America with more than 43,000 members.
Transportation
- National Geographic and Partners Launch Geotourism Program in Greater Yellowstone Region
National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations has joined with partners in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho in a project to celebrate and help sustain the world-class natural and cultural heritage of the Greater Yellowstone region.
Small Diameter Timber Utilization
- United Airlines to Initiate Service Between Missoula and San Francisco June 14, 2008!
Beginning June 14, 2008, United Airlines will offer non-stop service to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) for the full summer season.
VIRUS ALERTS
- Biomass bummers
Even with the mechanical problems, she adds, the school has saved as much as $20,000.
- Spear-Phishing Attack Uses Fake Subpoenas To Steal From CEOs
"We've gotten a few reports that some CEOs have received what purports to be a federal subpoena via e-mail ordering their testimony in a case."
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