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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Sep 9, 2008 |
Congratulations to Gloria O'Rourke and the team that helped her organize the MEDA Fall Conference http://www.medamembers.org . Excellent presentations on state programs that are available to entrepreneurs, updates on the state of energy in Montana and eye-opening insights into the growing economies in Alberta and Saskatchewan. I'll try to develop an outline of the information provided for next week's newsletter. Great info that will benefit many in Montana and the Region. These conferences are invaluable to anyone interested in the economy. I hope to see you at the next one. Russ
Idaho National Laboratory
Boomtown Institute
- Evaluators Needed for 2009 Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer
If you are interested in helping the FLC continue its successful mission of promoting the transfer of technology between the public and private sector—as well as having a direct say in what technologies are worthy of the prestigious honor of an Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer—submit your resume
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- Operation Intern in North Dakota focuses on five industry groups
North Dakota has a special intern program and with a tax credit bonus for the companies, to boot!
Montana Ambassadors
- Amerrican Prairie Foundation E-Newsletter
Check out the Sights and Sounds link on the APF website which features faster loading video and audio clips. We have a great deal of visitation underway this fall, including people entering the area by boat on the beautiful Missouri River. We hope to see you there soon.
Come Home Washington
- Montana Ambassadors - Nominations for Governor's Awards due October 1st!
Nominees do not have to be a member of Montana Ambassadors (other than Ambassador of the Year)
Montana Business
- Here’s a good read: Amazon hiring by hundreds
In the past year, Amazon added 4,000 jobs worldwide.
Montana Economic Development
- MSE of Butte, Montana lands $3.1 million contract
A Butte research and engineering company has landed a more than $3.1 million contract for start-up testing of furnaces to be used to destroy hazardous and obsolete military munitions.
- The high cost of commuting
Gas prices have forced some hard decisions on commuters who work in Billings and live elsewhere.
- Brothers keep dream of video business alive - Add-A-Tudez Entertainment Co.
Zander Blewett and his mother, Fern, both of Great Falls, each donated $100,000 over the past several years to a fundraising effort to renovate the University of Montana's Law School in Missoula.
- Montana outperforms U.S. on jobs
Montana's economic growth rate this year is about 5.3 percent, the third best in the nation, trailing only the oil-and-gas titans Alaska and Wyoming.
- iMarkMySpot - Digital Photo Geotagging App for the iPhone Now Available on iTunes
Using iMarkMySpot in conjunction with digital cameras of any brand, including any digital camera by Canon, Nikon, Sony, Kodak, Fujifilm or any other manufacturer, the exact location of where a photograph is taken is stored in standard GPS / GPX waypoint files.
Funding and Building your Business
- Welcome To Success In The New West!, 10/17, Kalispell, Montana
Montana West Economic Development and Flathead Area Young Professionals present Success in the New West, an educational and entertaining two-part event with top-ranked regional and national speakers who will focus on the future, current business trends and the local economy.
- Building homes, building bridges in Indian country
For some reason he can’t explain, Robert Young couldn’t shake one front-page story he read in Indian Country Today. It reported that several more Native Americans had frozen to death in the 20-below winters of the American Plains. Frozen to death inside their homes.
- Montana Department of Commerce, Block Grant Program Awards $217,391 in Funding to the City of Wolf Point for GKH Properties, LLC to purchase the Sherman Motor Inn
“The Sherman Inn is one of the top private employers in Roosevelt County and an important part of the Wolf Point community,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “These funds will help keep this business and its employees going.”
Incubators and R&D
- Sun Executive Briefing Center (EBC) "On-The-Road" Summit, 9/18, Missoula
So let folks know if they want face time with any 4 of these vendors. They can get direct face time with SUN, AMD, VM Ware and AMD if they like. That's pretty rare and darn cool.
- Managers adjust to telecommuters
Business owners are discovering that allowing employees to telecommute can require a different management style, and some basic trust.
- BizEquity puts a price on small businesses
BizEquity is a free online service that allows small businesses -- in this case those with less than $10 million in revenue -- to discover their estimated value and that of their competitors.
- How do I do multiple closings for an angel round?
There are several ways to do this.
- How to Encourage a Candidate to Admit Their Weaknesses in a Job Interview
“This phenomenon is such a weird combination of naivete, arrogance, and lack of thoughtfulness, and it is happening so much lately that it's making me want to stab someone with a fork.”
Montana Education Excellence
- MSU receives $600,000 grant for research to detect contaminants in drinking water.
The MSU work will include an emphasis on water quality and associated health considerations on the Crow Reservation in southeastern Montana.
Idaho Business
- Nobel Prize winner, John L. "Jan" Hall at MSU: Pursue something fun, useful and transforming
"Please learn something from this," Hall said. It's important, he said, to provide opportunities to explore and think.
- Sound advice - Montana Tech grad, Chris Murphy applies engineering degree to business decisions
"It's a good thing I listened to my dad, because the decision to go to Montana Tech was one of the best I've made in my life."
- Montana State Superintendent Linda McCulloch Supports Community Mentoring Project
"I am proud to support such a wonderful youth mentoring project," said Superintendent McCulloch. "Together, these Montana students are taking the initiative to make a difference in their community by donating time and energy to some of Helena's most cherished organizations."
Oregon Economic Development
- Staats: How a Nampan built a business from his dorm room
Here's a story about a Treasure Valley boy who made good - and wasted little time doing it.
Washington State Business
- First Oregon Rural Congress Does More Than Gripe
The ORC began in frustration. Rural Oregonians have long felt what some term the "tyranny of the majority" in a geographically large state that has a majority of its population packed into just three counties. More recently, rural Oregon have had concrete reasons to feel, well, dissed.
Wyoming Business
- Biotech concern pushes frontiers Signature Genomic expects
$18 million in revenue, employs nearly 80 workers
Community
- Fat paychecks are luring Montana's teachers to Wyoming
The overall budget for K-12 education in Wyoming is about $1.2 billion this year, compared to approximately $704 million in Montana. Montana has approximately 140,000 students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grades, while Wyoming has 85,000 students. That means Montana spends about $5,000 per student, while Wyoming forks out more than $14,000 per student.
Energy
- Preserving the past. Deer Lodge, Montana business district achieves historic designation
"We are thrilled."
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Better Bug to Make Cellulosic Ethanol
A new strain of bacteria could make cellulosic ethanol cheaper.
Non-Profit News
- Google still innovating on 10th anniversary
"I think we will still use Google as the default word for search in 10 years as we do now with Kleenex for disposable handkerchiefs."
- Greg Mortenson's Central Asia Institute brings Fozia Naseer from Kashmir to Montana State University
The goal is for her to return to her country and work as CAI’s regional program manager, supplementing any income she’ll be able to make as the first female lawyer in her village.
- Boomers leave corporate world for nonprofit groups
"We're seeing the beginnings of a large work force for social change."
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