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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Jun 24, 2008 |
"The true measure of a man is how he (she) treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." -- Samuel Johnson
"A beautiful visit to Central Washington state to talk about developing the economic strength of rural communities" http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Developing an Angel Network in Montana
Boomtown Institute
- Angels "bake out" risk for VCs, says Angel Capital Association chair
If you're tempted to dismiss angel investor groups as social clubs, consider a recent ACA survey, which indicated that angel investor groups generated 2.6 times their invested capital in 3.5 years from investment to exit, roughly 27% internal rate of return, or IRR, a return that compares favorably to that of other private equity investments, including those of early-stage venture capital, according to the report.
Come Home Idaho
- Economic Gardening Gathering
The concept of Economic Gardening (EG) originated with Chris Gibbons in Littleton, CO who 20 years ago decided that it make more sense to work with existing, fledgling and new businesses in the town rather than trying to compete with the 35,000 other ED organizations in the country to recruit in businesses. It is a strategy that has worked well in Littleton and the dozens of other communities that have embraced the idea.
Come Home South Dakota
- A little better perspective on tech in Idaho
State leaders, either they get it or they don’t when it comes to tech. To me the bottom line is that we have a great tech story to tell. And it’s a story that we need to do a better job of getting out there.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Come Home South Dakota - Executive Director - Sturgis Economic Development Corporation
Ideal candidate will be energetic, results-oriented, and able to develop productive relationships and close projects.
Montana Economic Development
- Hate Your Long-Distance Commute? Then Move (to a rural community and work closer to home)
CA thinks the solution is to build more freeways.
Regional Economic Development
- Flight service to seven Montana towns up in air - economic development negatively impacted
The flights connect the towns with medical services in Billings and state government in Helena, and help spur economic development. Morehouse said the longer the seven cities go without air service, the more likely it is that the Department of Transportation will end the program.
Economic Gardening
- A beautiful visit to Central Washington state to talk about developing the economic strength of rural communities
With today's connective technology, "Place" is more important than ever. I don't see why every rural community doesn't have a similar offering to engage those who'd like to learn more about the qualities of the environment that surrounds their communities.
Funding and Building your Business
- Economic Gardening Conference in Steamboat Springs
If you are not familiar with economic gardening, it is a network-based model of economic development first designed by Chris Gibbons in Littleton, Colorado.
Incubators and R&D
- Google's Cutts: Good directions drive traffic to your website
Achieving visibility in Google's search rankings can be a mystery.
- Silicon Valley Launch: A Visit To Tech's Bleeding Edge
"This is going to be one of the all-time greatest times to be an investor. ... I believe we'll see another technology boom in five to seven years. Build your business now." Tim Draper, managing director at Draper Fisher Jurvetson
Montana Education Excellence
- Family's donation kicks off expansion at McLaughlin Institute
"This approach will transform the health care industry, even within the next 10 years" Dr. Leroy Hood
- Solving the brucellosis problem at Montana State University
If brucellosis can be eliminated from the Yellowstone Park bison, it could lead to a reduction of the disease in elk in the area.
Utah Economic Development
- Mad science: Helena High School grad, Maria Brown makes important discovery
Brown’s project grew out of work Montana Tech’s Phagedigging Program did last summer with a class of Helena PEAK gifted and talented middle school students, which Brown helped teach.
- Put college-in-high-school to work for Billings, Montana
Starting college in high school is an effective strategy for getting more students to explore college, earn a degree and complete it in less time.
Washington State Business
- Three companies, including eBay, get Utah incentives
In an application for state money, eBay said its new center would employ as many as 50 full-time people earning an average of $49,200 annually, not counting benefits.
Education
- Young entrepreneur takes charge - Credit him with business savvy
At 23, Dan Price heads the largest credit-card processor in Washington state
Connectivity & Communications
- Technology worker shortage has businesses, educators worried
"I do think it's serious and I do think we need to start at the elementary school level and get students talking about math and science."
- Fewer students pursue computer-related degrees- Business leaders worried about talent shortages
The colliding trends have some business leaders worried that they won't find enough workers needed to maintain expected growth.
Energy
- Your boss shouldn't read your text or e-mail messages without an OK, court says
A federal appeals court Wednesday sharply limited the ability of employers to obtain e-mails and text messages sent by employees on company-financed accounts.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- The New Trophy Home, Small and Ecological
Nevada, North Carolina and Virginia, not to mention Chicago, Cincinnati and Bar Harbor, Me., give tax incentives or other concessions, like expedited permitting or utility hookups, for construction that is up to the nonprofit council’s standards.
- NASA warming scientist: 'This is the last chance'
"We're toast if we don't get on a very different path. This is the last chance."
- Predicting Where You’ll Go and What You’ll Like
“We can predict tourism, we can tell you how confident consumers are, we can tell retailers about, say, their competitors, who’s coming in from particular neighborhoods.”
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