|
|
|
| MATR Newsletter - Fri Sep 26, 2008 |
"Local rural leaders need to push for broadband capacity and the hottest classroom technology available to build demand. Unfortunately, many communities resist change, even as it swamps them. This is bad news. The message is clear: Adapt or wither." http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
I attended the first in a series of discussions about the formation of an Angel Network in Montana by Bill Payne. Montana is so lucky to have Bill, who's one of the most knowledgeable and successful Angels in the country, to help us understand how to best build a network. If you're an Angel or know of potential Angels, I strongly urge attending the next session: "Forming Angel Organizations, 11/13, Billings, Montana" http://matr.net/events ... =2387 --- Hope your company has people signed up to attend: "Compete Smart 2008, 10/2-3, Missoula" http://matr.net/events ... =2415
Alberta Business and Economic Development
Idaho TechConnect
- Portrait of a boomtown - Oil-sands projects bring big money, big headaches to remote Alberta city
This is also what a boom town looks like: heavy traffic everywhere, buildings going up all over town, help-wanted signs on every other marquee. Some people have taken to calling it Fort McMoney.
MAPS™ : Media Arts in the Public Schools
- Kickstand Southern Idaho "Don't Market It - They Will Not Come", 10/2, Twin Falls, Idaho
Currier has been in the marketing business for more than 25 years. She has worked with a number of local clients since moving here 10 years ago, including the Twin Falls County Fair, as well as partnering with the Idaho Small Business Development Center on various workshops to benefit local businesses.
Come Home Alberta
- Senators Baucus and Tester announce grant for Hamilton-based education program - Media Arts in the Public Schools (MAPS)
“The grant is our seed money,” said Peter Rosten, a former entertainment industry writer, producer and executive who founded the Media Arts in the Public Schools http://www.mediarts.org/ , or MAPS, program at Corvallis High School.
Come Home Montana
- Alberta oilsands community gathers to share tips, recruit workers
With 10,000 registered visitors and exhibitors, it seems every firm has people on the ground. For job hunters, even from overseas, that's a golden opportunity to comparison shop.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Shelby, Montana housing program makes quality housing affordable to attract new residents
Shelby City officials are providing more housing options in hopes of attracting new residents to not only work, but also live in the City of Shelby.
- Ranch Life in Montana
Instead of reading about life in the West, or watching it on a movie screen, I witnessed it firsthand.
Montana Business
- Rural IT: Let's Look Beyond Friday Night Lights
Local rural leaders need to push for broadband capacity and the hottest classroom technology available to build demand. Unfortunately, many communities resist change, even as it swamps them. This is bad news. The message is clear: Adapt or wither.
- Trends emerge as companies grapple with talent crunch
Two factors are combining to exacerbate the so-called "war" for talent: the "significant aging of the workforce in North America, Europe and Japan [which is] shrinking the supply of experienced people in developed markets," and the rise of "rapidly developing economies, or RDEs, driving up demand."
- Premier Technology Inc. to open shop in rural Mackay, Idaho
The plant will have up to 50 employees, and workers could earn up to $60,000 annually.
Montana Economic Development
- Bozeman company creates new line of skis - Summit Corporate Services
He felt Bozeman would be the perfect place to headquarter the launch of a ski that is sure to attract skepticism along with excitement. “Part of it is building excitement,” he said. “Having it come from New York is one thing, but having it come from a Mecca of skiing is another.”
- Business closures cause concern about Spokane economy - Wheat Montana
With a slew of business closures around the city, Spokane seems to be feeling the tough economic times. Wheat Montana on the South Hill closed just the other day -- almost without warning.
- Big Sky, Montana resorts, Moonlight Basin Ranch and The Yellowstone Club struggling to pay the bills
As Wall Street flounders and bankers hide the checkbooks, Big Sky resorts are struggling to pay the bills.
- Report sees resilient Montana tourist industry
Montana ranks 42nd in the U.S. for tourist spending, but it ranks seventh in the nation in per capita tourist spending, according to a research report on the state's tourist economy in 2007.
Regional Economic Development
- Montana Association of Counties comes to Hamilton
Anxiety over federal funding for rural communities tops the agenda this week as the Montana Association of Counties gathers in Hamilton for its annual conference.
- Legacy Project may protect more Montana land than thought
The nation's largest land conservation deal may protect far more acres than it actually purchases, by allowing Missoula County to limit development through zoning.
- Great Falls Development agency supports creation of Tourism Business Improvement District
If approved, the TBID would collect about $372,000 annually, which could be used to market the Great Falls hotel industry by attracting conventions, sports tournaments and other events, said Gayle Fisher, director of the Russell Country tourism promotion area.
Careers
- Peter Gleick: Deal With the Water Crisis Now
Proposal: Put water at the center of your administration's strategic agenda.
- Hawaii venture funds exploring Seattle-area ties
Hawaii's entrepreneurial-support community, which has traditionally looked to California for the venture and angel-investor partnerships needed to help provide more capital for The Islands' emerging-growth companies, has recently developed a curiosity about similar the potential for similar partnerships in the Northwest.
- Grow Utah Ventures Names Concept To Company Finalists
The contest, which is looking to grow outdoor products companies in the region, will award $20,000 in cash and services to the first prize winner, and $10,000 to second and third prize winners.
Funding and Building your Business
- Midlifers live their dreams by changing careers
With the economy on the skids and retirement benefits being cut, many people realize they will need to continue working much longer than they ever expected, and they're rethinking how they want to spend those years.
- Boulder, Colorado Firms Team Up To Recruit Developers
A group of Boulder companies launched an effort to find and recruit developers from all over the nation this week, saying it will fly in 100 developers from around the country to apply to jobs at 20 local startups.
Montana Education Excellence
- Rocky Mountain Venture Capital and Private Equity Directory Now Available
While many professionals are familiar with the big Rocky Mountain investment names- Flywheel, Highway 12, Meritage, Sequel, vSpring-it may be surprising to know there are nearly 200 Venture Capital, Private Equity, Angel and Incubator investors with offices in the Rockies.
- Job discrimination bill to widen coverage
The legislation, which Bush has vowed to sign, overturns a series of Supreme Court rulings that limited who was covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act.
- How To Build A Killer Small Business Web Site
"For many businesses, a Web site is the first way that your clientele will look at you--even if it's just to find your address and phone number."
- Nine Leadership Development Strategies for a Performance and Potential Matrix
It becomes almost second nature to think about organizations using models like these.
- Google offers millions in contest Got an idea that's world-changing?
Entries will fall into eight categories -- community, opportunity, energy, environment, health, education, shelter and "everything else."
- Get In The Driver's Seat with a free "Dashboard" of your company metrics. MyBizHomepage
Keeping an eye on your growing business' critical operational factors can contribute to its success. Now, a new service provides that dashboard view of your company's metrics -- and they'll do it for free
- Entrepreneurs and...Hey, There's A Shiny New Thing! (Could be death to your startup)
Ask yourself the following 4 questions
- Inside Entrepreneurship: Turmoil likely to make angels cautious
"Since banks and investors have turned me down, can you give me the government bailout address to rescue my failing business?"
University TechTransfer
- Superintendent Linda McCulloch Presents Cash Awards at Montana Educators' Forum
The $3000 salary stipend is annually awarded to teachers who recently attained National Board Certification.
- Montana summit addresses kids' 'outdoor deficit disorder'
Keynote speaker Cheryl Charles said one way for young people to reconnect with nature is through schoolteachers, who can incorporate outdoor activities into lesson plans.
- Free College Prep Class Available For Veterans
Montana Veterans’ Upward Bound is offering free college prep classes for qualified military veterans throughout the state.
- Ski Academy Being Offered in Whitefish, Montana Middle and High School
The academy will offer programs for alpine ski racers, freestyle skiers and snowboarders.
- Montana State University research grants remain high at $96 million
“We’re definitely still very proud of the ability of our faculty to remain competitive and actually keep our expenditures at a level near $100 million during a time that’s seen precipitous drops in funding and a substantial increase in faculty ... applying for a much smaller pie,” said Tom McCoy, vice president for research.
Idaho Business
- Successful Tech Transfer = Market Commercialization
What Constitutes Successful “Technological Transfer?
Wyoming Business
- Trade report says 70 percent of Idaho exports are high-tech
If Egypt was the gift of the Nile, then Idaho is the gift of the semiconductor. At least that’s how it looks according to a report released Tuesday by technology trade association AeA.
- Boise Kount Inc. of Boise, Idaho receives patent for fingerprint technology
The patent describes a method for identifying a customer computer involved in an online transaction via a merchant Web site.
Government
- Sheridan, Wyoming-based teacher with Eleu-tian Technology imparts English lessons to students in South Korea
"We're hoping to have 50 teachers in Sheridan by the end of the year," said Misty Rios, the teacher manager for Eleutian's Sheridan center, "and 200 by the end of next year."
Community
- Missouri Hires First Employee from Second Life
"He came to our job fair as a tiny cat with a red bow tie on and expressed interest. That was followed by an in-person interview," said Ross. "He is a computer engineering graduate from a Missouri college who wanted to stay in the area, so it just seemed to be perfect match for us."
- Nebraska 'safe haven' law for kids has unintended results
"We really opened a can of worms," he says. "We have a mess."
Connectivity & CommunicationsEnergy
- Etiquette is essential when videoconferencing
When multiple people, travel costs and packed schedules are involved, videoconferencing can be an attractive alternative.
- Ich bin ein presenter: With new web tools, it's not your father's PowerPoint
To fully grasp the changing nature of presentations, you need to re-define how you think about your presentations - from transitory events into valuable content assets with residual value.
- Google Patent Could Kill Off Cellphone Contracts
According to the patent, users can either manually select the bid they like best or they can allow the device to connect automatically with the lowest-cost provider.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Western States, Canada Provinces Outline Climate Plan
The Western Climate Initiative, a collaboration of seven Western states including California and four Canadian provinces, has vowed to cut emissions by 15 percent of 2005 levels by 2020.
- Clean-Coal Debut in Germany
A new coal plant is the first to capture and store carbon dioxide.
Government Technology
- 10 tech developments headed for the mainstream
How about linoleum kitchen tiles that can monitor elderly people's movements.
Non-Profit News
- State Experts Offer Recommendations to Nation on Improving Health Care Through Information Technology
The report is meant to spur continued innovation in states to make the vision of an interconnected, efficient, quality-based health care system – and ultimately a healthier American public – a reality.
- Montana nonprofits hit hard by sagging economy
"Unlike more urban states, Montana lacks the financial resources, a large corporate base and an abundance of foundations that nonprofits can lean on when money is tight." Executive Eirector of the Montana Nonprofit Association, Brian Magee
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page
