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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Aug 26, 2008 |
How many programmers does it take to screw in a light bulb? --- None, it's a hardware problem. "Understanding Geeks - A field guide to your tech staff." http://matr.net/articl ... .html
2 great events if you're interested in developing a stronger and more vibrant Montana econony. Both welcome anyone interested in contributing to solutions: "Register Today For MEDA's 2008 Fall Conference, 9/8-9, Billings, Montana" http://matr.net/events ... =2423 --- "Downtown Revitalization Is Topic For Montana Main Street's First Statewide Conference, 9/29-30, Butte" http://matr.net/events ... =2404
Idaho National Laboratory
Boomtown Institute
- The Cost of Not Building Transmission: Economic Impact of Proposed Transmission Line Projects for the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region
To attract new industries and keep pace with rapid growth, world-class communities require a reliable infrastructure of water, energy, transportation, law enforcement, and health-care services. Furthermore, communities must have access to these resources and services at an affordable cost.
Come Home Montana
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute - Banking the "Unbanked"
"Access to affordable financial services, and taking steps to avoid bad credit or unmanageable debt, are the keys to financial stability and the broader economic vitality of our community."
Come Home Nebraska
- Montana Career Opportunity - Chief Legal Counsel - The Montana Association of Counties
The Montana Association of Counties is seeking an attorney, admitted to practice in Montana, with five years of experience in civil litigation and work comp to serve as General Counsel for the Association and its Insurance Trusts.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Tech Support - Remote-Scan.com
The job will be well-compensated. In most cases, we will be able to match or better your current level of pay and provide you with Benefits including: eligibility after 1st year of matching 401K, two weeks paid vacation per year, *flexible arrival / departure time.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Now here's a novel recruitment tool ...Nebraska: Abandon unruly kids at hospital
Amazing...I wonder how many people will now move to Nebraska?
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Holland, Michigan launches $300,000 marketing campaign to attract talent
“We have a good story to tell and we’re choosing to tell it,” says Dye. “We want a strong vibrant city in years to come.”
- America's challenge is to turn innovation into jobs here at home. Maine Technology Asset Fund
What about encouraging winners from the bottom up? States -- including Maine -- are taking the lead.
Montana Biotech
- From Entrepreneur to Titan: Can Canadian Entrepreneurs Grow Technology Start-ups into Domestic Multinationals?
Specific recommendations included building stronger mentoring programs for new business owners, including establishment of global network of Canadian executives who could provide coaching and support for these firms.
- Stanford Offers Entrepreneurship Podcasts and Video Clips
The Entrepreneurship Corner (ECorner), sponsored in part by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, features clips recorded during guest lectures at Stanford University.
Montana Business
- Montana BioScience Alliance Newsletter
The new 2008 Montana BioScience Alliance directories http://www.montanabio.org/PDF/Directory%202008.pdf were unveiled at the conference and were well received.
Montana Economic Development
- Barrett Productions of Missoula, Montana sold to company in New York
Barrett Productions employed 40 people with a payroll of more than $1 million last year.
- 6 Montana Companies Earn Recognition in the INC. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies for 2008
Congratulations to all.
Regional Economic Development
- Interns power county's wind Web site.- "Cascade County Wind - Putting the Wind to Work for Montanans."
The new site, which "automates" the county's wind information, wouldn't have happened without the hustle and know-how of the students, Commissioner Peggy Beltrone said.
- "Fish Out Of Water" in Madison County, Montana
This is the only time all of the sculptures will be in one place before the auction in 2009.
Careers
- The Northwest Intermountain Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA) Helps Idaho and Washington grow skilled workforce base through high school programs
The Northwest Intermountain Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA) identified workforce development as a primary objective of the organization in response to the memberships’ concerns over the quality and quantity of the workforce available to sustain and grow our region’s manufacturing businesses.
Funding and Building your Business
- 14 Key Elements of an Executive Talent Profile
This information isn’t just for HR; it’s also for managers that are interested in maintaining “Talent intelligence” about their own teams or organizations.
- The Case for Mentorship for Women in Business
These three steps can help you to be an engaged member of your business community:
Incubators and R&D
- Niche Web links 100s of employers and 1000s of women - BeyondMotherhood.com
"I wanted to be able to look for jobs that fit my schedule. I had many conversations with friends and other amazing women who faced the same challenge."
- The Challenges of Innovation
While just about every CEO and senior executive of a company pays lip service to innovation, many do not really mean it.
- Eight Ways To Ruin Your Business: A Cautionary Tale
The best companies are families at best, communities at a minimum. Of all the fundamentals we overlooked, this was most important.
- Great Falls Small Business Expo 2008 Planning Well Under Way
The Expo is free of charge and will provide existing businesses in Montana the opportunity to learn more about how they can expand their market share with international trade and sales to state and federal government agencies, view a showcase of successful agriculture innovation and resources, gain minority business development resources.
- Workplace Coach: How to avoid 10 common hiring mistakes
Many green managers simply don't prepare or spend enough time on the hiring process.
- Understanding Geeks - A field guide to your tech staff.
Here is everything you need to enter your company's dimly lit IT lair with confidence. Just make sure to knock first.
- Five most important lessons I've learned as an entrepreneur.
I hold these truths to be self-evident and hope you can use them to kick butt and change the world.
Montana Education Excellence
- Research aims to put tongues in control of devices
Georgia Tech researchers believe a magnetic, tongue-powered system could transform a disabled person's mouth into a virtual computer, teeth into a keyboard - and tongue into the key that manipulates it all.
Regional Business
- Jobs for Montana’s Graduates Program Recognized Nationally for Third Year in a Row.
“The JMG goal is for students to secure a quality job or post-secondary education that leads to a meaningful career. We believe the best way to achieve this objective is to keep students in school and to improve their success in the workforce by helping them acquire employability skills before leaving high school.
- Helena's Angel Fund starting another year helping families who need assistance buying required school items
It also provides field trip fees, materials for classroom projects and awards Montana post-secondary scholarships to graduating seniors based on academic success and financial need at each high school in Helena.
- Tony Rudbach remembered as 'visionary'
“He was a visionary and doer,” said Evan Barrett, the state's chief business development officer.
Idaho Business
- Unearthing a profit through easements
"The laws were meant to help ranchers and farmers keep their land, not to allow the wealthy to become more wealthy at the expense of the state."
- Why No Doctors in Them Thar Hills?
By ‘hills’ I’m implying rural America
Oregon Economic Development
- Idaho pipeline of new businesses starts to dry up
Don Dietrich, the Idaho Department of Commerce director, told the Idaho Statesman he usually has a list of 50 new companies considering a move but that began changing in January.
- State board rejects U of I proposal for Boise law school
It declined to approve the university’s in-depth plan to have a “two-location” law school with 250 students in both Moscow and Boise.
Wyoming Business
- Venture capital is blowing through the Columbia Gorge - Angels and VC's increasing their activity
The first Gorge Angel Conference on Sept. 23 will showcase local startups competing for $100,000 in seed money.
Education
- $60M supercomputer on track in Wyoming
"The supercomputer center in Wyoming is a long-term project. It's going to be a year or more before they're breaking ground."
Other Economies
- Those involved with youth and teaching might be interested in this fellowship opportunity.
The Fellowship offers promising education entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop and launch their break-the-mold education ventures and the support necessary for success.
- Americorps jobs now available
Participants can earn a $1,000 education award for their post-secondary education or student loans.
- Online scholarships offered to moms. Five schools part of “Project Working Mom”
The campaign awards working mothers full-ride scholarships to five online schools, which provide the financial aid for the awards. The scholarship deadline is Aug. 31.
Connectivity & Communications
- Ohio's plan for higher education and how it will lead economic development in the state
"There's a lot of people in pain around here," Hopkins said. "Higher education is really a way to change this."
Energy
- Internet providers' usage caps irk customers
Cable companies have been at the forefront of imposing and talking about usage caps, because their lines are shared between households.
- Remote Montana area losing cell phone service
Their concerns on the pending phone service loss is more than just local — they are worried about all Western rural areas that are in the same situation.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Power-purchase agreements reduce cost of solar panels
"I talk to people about what almost seems impossible when I look at the numbers,'' Pambianco said. "I could pay less up front and less overall. That's magic.''
- Northwestern Energy offering online tool for predicting energy costs for homes
The online Calc-U-Pal tallies the estimated costs of appliances and lighting and estimates residential utility costs.
- Deerlodge, Montana biogas plant under consideration
The proposed plant would use manure and food waste from the prison, as well as other waste materials to generate electricity and heat to grow algae for oil production, and to purify the city’s wastewater.
Entrepreneur- America
- A Home Network Where Your TV Talks to Your Fridge
The convergence of telecommunications, consumer electronics and computing is bringing together a new set of competitors.
- Q & A: Futurist Ray Kurzweil on the future of speech technology
We caught up with the visionary inventor at SpeechTek 2008, where he talked with InformationWeek about speech technology, his new cellphone reading machine, and two new movie projects.
Non-Profit News
- Entrepreneurial Boot Camps Light the Way for New Ventures - Rob Ryan's Entrepreneur-America in Hamilton, Montana
“There are a lot of inventors who are not entrepreneurs. Just because you invent something does not mean you are an entrepreneur. Boot camp turns inventors into entrepreneurs. Having someone coach you can be very helpful.” Stephen S. Hau, the founder of Boston-based PatientKeeper
Transportation
- Free Online Resources and New Grant Opportunities for Non-Profit Organizations
The Google for Nonprofits website provides information on how nonprofit organizations can use free Google tools to promote their work, raise money, and operate more efficiently.
- Horizon Air Providing Only Link Between Key Cities and State Capitals in Montana and California
"Our business is all about creating connections, in this case between state capital decision makers and their constituents in these major business centers."
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