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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Oct 24, 2008 |
“Getting scared is a good thing. When you see a grizzly bear, the adrenaline courses through your body. You're not going to get that playing Nintendo.” Conrad Anker http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Two stories about the efforts to improve the economies of Montana's rural communities: " Lima, Montana Celebrates Success of Partnership with MEDA Resource Team " http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- "The Horizons Project is on the move in Montana communities and we're going to post their stories starting with Anaconda" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- and a new tool that may help your community see its future potential " SimCity for Real - Combining CAD, GIS, and gaming, CommunityViz lets planners and residents see the future in 3D." http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html - You may also want to have a look at the revised plans for higher education in Montana " Montana Board of Regents Strategic Plan Updated - October 2008" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
The Horizons Project
Idaho National Laboratory
- The Horizons Project is on the move in Montana communities and we're going to post their stories starting with Anaconda
The Anaconda Community Foundation is being established to help the people of Anaconda/Deer Lodge build a permanent financial legacy to support charitable work in the Anaconda area forever.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- 2008 Transformational Energy Action Management Awards Announced
Special Achievement Award for Energy Security: Idaho National Laboratory
Leadership Montana
- A Work Strategy for a Good Life: Attracting and Keeping the Best
How we think about work is fundamental to almost everything else we do.
- Yahoo to announce plans for Nebraska facility
If the company goes ahead with the project, within four years it would have to invest at least $100 million and create at least 50 jobs with a minimum average salary of $68,700.
Montana Business
- America's other deficit: leadership
A staggering 80 percent of survey respondents say we have a leadership crisis.
- How Great Leaders Thrive in Tough Times
If you look at many of the famous leaders throughout history, you'll notice they became famous because they navigated through seemingly impossible times. They held the flashlight at the end of the tunnel.
Montana Economic Development
- Flat Earth Imports of Bozeman, Montana Announces Exclusivity Agreement with Italian Fine Linens Manufacturer Tessitura Pardi S.r.l.
“We are privileged to bring such beautiful and storied products to market in the United States, primarily targeting an audience of independent retailers and trade professionals,” said Kitch Walker, President of Flat Earth Imports.
- Montana landowners see potential profit in land stewardship
“NCOC is sending checks now,” said Neil Sampson, technical advisor for the National Carbon Offset Coalition, which aims to take advantage of economic opportunities arising from curbing climate change. “There’s real money out there now.”
- Montana electric co-ops concerned about future
As Montana electric co-ops face increasing pressure to maintain power at an affordable price for a growing population, expected 2009 legislation has many worried about the future.
Regional Economic Development
- Madison Valley Hospital Foundation and Madison Valley Properties Launch $2.2 Million Capital Campaign
Funds raised will bring state-of-the-art radiology equipment to the community, improving quality of care for residents and visitors
- The Montana Alberta Tie Line gets green light - could trigger millions in green energy production in northcentral Montana.
The state of Montana has given the green light to a high-voltage transmission line that could trigger millions in green energy production in northcentral Montana.
- Lima, Montana Celebrates Success of Partnership with MEDA Resource Team
Community members have worked tirelessly since the initial Resource Team visit and were able to celebrate the completion of all four of these original goals. Lima now has a cell phone tower, DSL access, a community park they can be proud of, and continuing community clean up and beautification efforts.
Funding and Building your Business
- National Governors Association Launches Newsletter on State Economic Issues
As states struggle to meet the challenges of the economic downturn, NGA, in collaboration with the National Association of State Budget Officers, has launched a new monthly publication that examines the economic status of states.
- Four Organizations Receive National Award for Achievement In Building Tech-Based Economies
“A crucial component to growing the nation’s economy is supporting programs that are successful in developing and implementing initiatives that create high-paying jobs and provide U.S. businesses with the tools they need to compete in the global economy,” said Dan Berglund, SSTI President and CEO.
- Population Brief - Trends in the 13 Western U.S.
The first step in advancing an effective rural development program is to carefully assess baseline conditions. In response, the Western Rural Development Center (WRDC) is providing a set of population briefs that provide some of this baseline information.
- SimCity for Real - Combining CAD, GIS, and gaming, CommunityViz lets planners and residents see the future in 3D.
Instantly see associated socioeconomic and environmental impacts, calculate the development capacity of your land, automatically rate different locations, and view multiple scenarios side by side.
- Government expands geothermal energy leasing of 190 million acres of federal land in a dozen Western states
"These lands hold a huge energy potential," said Kempthorne.
Incubators and R&D
- Starting up: Techies, hire CEO to run your company
It's well documented that less than 25 percent of founders of tech startups are still running their businesses after two years. Why? The same reason that I never pitched for the Yankees: Despite my burning desire, I didn't have the skill sets.
- Inside Entrepreneurship: Knowledge, experience are keys to fundraising
What about big-idea entrepreneurs who have to rely more on selling a vision than presenting interim progress to raise millions in startup funding? How do they demonstrate confidence in their strategies without seeming arrogant or irresponsibly idealistic? And how do entrepreneurs get in the door of deep-pocket investors?
Montana Education Excellence
- Washington State University gets $156M in new research grants
The grants covered projects like studying animal diseases capable of infecting humans, learning how vegetable oils can provide a renewable energy source, and helping Afghans rebuild their higher education infrastructure.
- Idaho State University researchers aiming to detect nuclear bombs
Researchers at Idaho State University are trying to devise an efficient method to search for a possible nuclear bomb in the 6 million cargo containers that enter the United States each year.
- Research Roundup at Montana State University (#281), Sensing trails, Hospital hypothermia, Communicating with Libby, New job for weed-eaters
Lots of research has been done in Libby because of asbestos, but what's the best way to communicate the results and how do Libby residents feel about research?
- The Power of Place: A National Strategy for Building America’s Communities of Innovation
A strategy to cluster research and incubator facilities (along with housing and amenities) in innovation zones is an important aspect of our future U.S. technological and ecological competitiveness.
- Montana State University unveiling labs for big-chill research - minus 80 Fahrenheit
Scientists on the Bozeman campus have developed the labs to broaden the university’s work in areas such as avalanche studies, climate change and research into the cold tolerance of roadways and bridges.
Regional Business
- MSU-B, Idaho State partner on 2 year energy degrees
Education officials say state schools in Billings, Great Falls and Havre will offer two-year degrees to produce workers for coal plants, biofuel refineries and other energy industry projects in Montana.
- Candidates, lawmakers tour the crowded reality at The University of Montana College of Technology
The University of Montana College of Technology's newly accredited nursing program is stuck in double-wide trailers out back. Nearby, paint is peeling off the exterior of several older single-wide trailers, which faculty members call their office.
- New University of Montana Entertainment Management Student Group Annouces Events
The BCEC has a bright horizon, with future endeavors including producing a spring festival benefitting the Montana Meth Project. We hope to provide Missoula community with quality entertainment while benefiting our members and community organizations.
- Kathie Heusel, an educator at Morningside Elementary in Great Falls, Montana teacher wins $25,000 Milken Family Foundation award
The honor is given to teachers who display a commitment to excellence, and inspire both their students and fellow educators.
- Montana Board of Regents Strategic Plan Updated - October 2008
In July 2006, the Montana Board of Regents adopted a comprehensive strategic plan intended to define goals and set the priorities for higher education in the state of Montana. It's now updated - October 2008.
- Creative, collaborative office culture is key in leading design firm, says Montana State University alum, Jack Anderson, CEO of Hornall Anderson Design Works in Seattle
Among the company's best-known clients are Starbucks, the Seattle SuperSonics, K2, Microsoft, Holland America Line, T-Mobile, Safeco and Tommy Bahama.
Idaho Business
- Medical program yields fewer Idaho family doctors
The WWAMI Medical Education Program was developed in 1971 and allows students from Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska and Montana to attend the University of Washington School of Medicine and pay the same tuition as Washington students. The program emphasizes family medicine in rural or underserved areas and encourages graduates to work in the Northwest.
- Tri-Cities, Spokane, Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton and Boise have the lowest cost of living in Northwest
More than 350 communities are included in the index.
Washington State Business
- Sun Valley by Knobby Tires, Not Skis
“Sun Valley is prized for its grooming. The bike trails are just as smooth.”
- Consultant: Blaine County, Idaho losing workers
Cox said that based on existing demographic trends, the percentage of Blaine County residents between the ages of 20 and 34 is projected to be 14 percent in 2030, falling from 38 percent in 1980. That translates into a lack of employees needed to help spur economic growth.
Wyoming Business
- Washington Governor calls few shots on state's economy
Even though governors are largely at the mercy of factors far beyond their influence when it comes to the performance of Washington's economy, they are not without tools to cope.
Education
- Wyoming: Drill Baby, U.S. A.
America's energy quest brings welcome and unexpected change to life on the still-wild frontier.
- Downturn may have hit Jackson Hole, Wyoming
According to Jackson Hole Real Estate & Appraisal, home prices are flat and third-quarter home sales were off 50 percent compared with the same period in 2007.
Community
- Report: Kids less likely to graduate than parents
One in four kids is still dropping out of high school.
- Interactive Technology Helps School District Revamp Math Courses - TI MathForward
As seen on the TI MathForward Web site testimonials, he said the program made him think differently about math. "I want to know more and go into more detail," he said. "I started thinking about college; maybe taking a math class in college. It gave me confidence." What more could we want for our struggling students?
Connectivity & Communications
- Turns Out There's Good News on Main St.
This clustering of families, after decades of dispersion, will spur more localism, which has a simple premise: The longer people stay in their homes and communities, the more they identify with and care for those places.
- Affordable Housing That Improves the Neighborhood
In a neighborhood where many residents struggle to climb the economic ladder and others are down on their luck, the new housing affirms that uplift can be part of daily life.
Energy
- "Meeting The Public's Information Needs In Montana", 10/25, University Of Montana
Are Montana citizens getting the information they need in order to solve community problems, coordinate civic activity, maintain public accountability, and foster the human connectedness that is the backbone of both community and democracy?
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Mass Production of Plastic Solar Cells
In a significant milestone in the deployment of flexible, printed photovoltaics, Konarka, a solar-cell startup based in Lowell, MA, has opened a commercial-scale factory, with the capacity to produce enough organic solar cells every year to generate one gigawatt of electricity, the equivalent of a large nuclear reactor.
- Northwest SEED Community Partnership Project - RFP for community clean energy projects
Through this RFP process, Northwest SEED will select up to four Partners to receive technical assistance. Partners will work with Northwest SEED to substantially advance their clean energy project ideas by June of 2009. The selected Partners will receive Northwest SEED’s staff time and expertise at no cost.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- The sun is getting hotter and the only solution is to move the earth.
There's a little problem with the Sun.
- Bill Gates' mysterious new company - bgC3 LLC
Public documents describe the new Gates entity -- bgC3 LLC -- as a “think tank.”
GIS Technology
- Robot Mimics a Canine Helper
A robot inspired by helper dogs could assist the disabled and the elderly.
- Darpa Wants to See Inside Your House
The Pentagon wants to be able to peer inside your apartment building -- picking out where all the major rooms, stairways, and dens of evil-doers are.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Inside Information - After mapping the great outdoors, GIS finds a new role to play indoors.
Washington State is mapping all of its K-12 buildings and its community colleges. Localities in at least 20 other states are mapping schools and other public facilities as well.
Transportation
- Adventurer Conrad Anker emphasizes importance of outdoors
“We have a nature deficit,” he said. “Kids don't make tree forts and dam creeks and float sticks. We're getting to be such a risk-averse society. There's railings all over the national parks. We should accept more risk.”
- Bike Programs Cut Cars on Campuses
The University of New England and Ripon College in Wisconsin are giving free bikes to freshmen who promise to leave their cars at home. Other colleges are setting up free bike sharing or rental programs, and some universities are partnering with bike shops to offer discounts on purchases.
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