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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Nov 11, 2008 |
"A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing." -- Emo Philips
If you're in Billings on the 14th, this should be a very worthwhile event: "Chris Nelson Owner Of Zoot Enterprises To Speak At Business Owners Social Society (BOSS), 11/14, Billings, Montana" http://matr.net/events ... =2540 -- "Zoot named Bozeman-area business of the year by Prospera Business Network" http://matr.net/articl ... .html and here's an amazing success story for University Tech Transfer: "The University of Utah - From Bureaucratic Tech Transfer to Entrepreneurial Tech Commercialization" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Three Cups of Tea - The Central Asia Institute
- Dorsey eUpdate: Protecting Your Brand in DotChaos and Updates from ICANN's Meeting in Cairo
Are you concerned about how the upcoming expansion of the world’s domain name system will impact your brand and your budget?
2009 Montana Legislature
- The December issue of Outside magazine features Greg Mortenson, a co-founder of the Bozeman-based Central Asia Institute.
The institute fosters community-based education, especially for girls, in an attempt to alleviate poverty and fight Islamic extremism.
City Club Missoula
- Montana Legislators Seek Housing in Helena for 2009 Session
"This can be a great chance for snowbirds to find caretakers to watch their houses while they fly south for the winter," Sager said. "And it can be a great way for landlords to fill their vacancies."
Montana Community Finance Corporation
- November, 17 City Club Missoula to focus on institutional sustainability
The speakers Nov. 17 will be Jeff Fee, president and CEO of St. Patrick Hospital; John Engen, Missoula mayor; James Foley, executive vice president at the University of Montana; and Jim Kenyon, senior manager of the Missoula Federal Credit Union.
Come Home Montana
- Montana Community Finance - SBA 504 Loan Program Continues Small Business Lending In Spite of Current Credit Crisis
Montana Community Finance Corporation (MCFC) of Helena is a Certified Development Company that stands ready to assist in keeping Montana’s economy going through the 504 loan program.
2008 Montana Legislature
- Montana Main Street Fall 2008 Edition - Flathead County
In this issue of Main Street Montana our focus is on the diverse economy in the Flathead Valley and how that diverse economy has helped sustain the area through various economic cycles.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- THE INTERIM - A Monthly Newsletter of the Montana Legislative Branch Volume XVI, No. 18 Helena, Montana November 2008
LAWS DEMONSTRATIONS--TRACKING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON LINE
Montana Business
- Computer prodigy. Billings, Montana entrepreneur, Jonathan Porta builds OSP Enterprises Inc. when high school classes don't get in the way
"I really love the entrepreneurial spirit, but I still don't really know," Porta said when asked about his career aspirations. "I'll go to Rocky and double-major in computer science and business management. But otherwise, I'm going to keep running my company and serving my clients."
Montana Economic Development
- Qwest Settlement Cuts Telephone Rates by $16M, Expands DSL Service
Qwest, which serves 260,000 telephone customers in Montana, has agreed to settle a five-year-old dispute over its rates and services by cutting rates $16 million a year and expanding high-speed Internet into 27 small towns.
- Zoot named Bozeman-area business of the year by Prospera Business Network
Also receiving awards Thursday night were Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, Lone Mountain Gymnastics & Swim School and Cleanwaste, formally Phillips Environmental Products.
- Exclusive Yellowstone Club files for bankruptcy
The members-only club in Montana's Gallatin Mountains boasts a private ski hill and golf course and counts former Vice President Dan Quayle and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates among its members.
- Semitool laying off 100 workers
The firm has about 800 Montana employees " including 37 workers in Libby " so the layoffs will affect just under 13 percent of Semitool's Montana work force. Workers were told to consider the layoffs permanent.
Careers
- Montana Main Street Affiliate Program Announces New Affiliate Members
"The Main Street approach encourages communities to use their unique assets - distinctive architecture, pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, local ownership, and personal service - to rebuild their downtowns," said Anthony Preite, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. "Countless Montana communities already have these distinct qualities to build upon."
- Great Falls Development Authority's new Web site up and running
Enhancements to the Web site include improved navigation as well as new features such as facts and data, success stories, investor relations, the business development center, real estate information, news and events notices, and drop-down boxes providing direct access to web pages.
Funding and Building your Business
- 'Tis the Season to Ace Your Performance Review
"By the time you walk into that meeting, there should be no surprises."
- 150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs
"Nobody's job is 100 percent secure, but you can take steps to reduce your chances of being laid off in the event of an economic downturn and to increase your chances of bouncing back if you are laid off anyway."
Incubators and R&D
- How the President Should Help Entrepreneurs
What is the single most important step the new Administration could take to help small businesses?
- Entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki doesn't accept failure
"What I lack in talent, I compensate with my willingness to grind it out," says Kawasaki, flashing a huge grin. "That's the secret of my life."
- The Insider: Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz dishes out advice for businesses to think of their long-term benefit
"Now is the time for business leaders to step up -- and to lead." Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz.
- 6 steps to profitability in a recession
In a recession, few businesses shrink their way to success.
- Attention Montana Businesses: Are you forecasting a profit this year? Keep more of your hard earned money!
Under Section 179 of the tax code a business can purchase or lease business equipment such as computers or phone systems and expense the entire cost in 2008 reducing taxable income by the amount of the investment.
- Focus, Not Austerity, Is Google's Watchword
Eric Schmidt, the chief executive, said that Google was better positioned than other advertising companies to survive a recession.
- Women in the Boardroom and Their Impact on Governance and Performance
We find that gender diversity has significant effects on board inputs.
Montana Education Excellence
- University of Montana researcher Cory Cleveland contends that many mountain ecosystems, hammered by years of pollution, may be approaching toxic conditions.
Human activities have essentially doubled the amount of nitrogen that circulates throughout the world every year,” he said. “We sometimes feel like this issue is overlooked a little bit. We should be paying attention to this other element.”
University TechTransfer
- Several hurdles later, C.M. Russell High School of Great Falls, Montana ready to install campus wind turbine
Industrial technology teacher Mark Yaeger said it was a long and arduous process — one that he wasn't expecting — to get a permit from the city to build the 60-foot tower.
- the Center for Advanced Supramolecular and Nano Systems (CASANS): Montana Tech of The University of Montana
CASANS efforts will be concentrated primarily in three niche areas: green technology, composite materials and actuators/sensors.
Idaho Business
- The University of Utah - From Bureaucratic Tech Transfer to Entrepreneurial Tech Commercialization
60 university spinouts in 3 years. 94% still alive. Lowest cost per spinout in the US. The 'book' on successful technology transfer is to find multiple ways to substitute bottom-up entrepreneurial approaches for top-down bureaucratic mechanisms.
Oregon Economic Development
- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho schools hire leadership trainers
"Principal training is being done across the country. The research on effective schools is abundantly clear that the skill set and ability of the principal directly affects the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom," Bauman said. "I can think of very few better ways of spending taxpayer dollars than principal and teacher training."
Education
- Amazon.com builds huge data center in rural Oregon
It is the second data center to locate along the river in Oregon's part of the energy-rich Columbia Basin. Server farms typically use lots of electricity and water.
Connectivity & Communications
- Gonzaga University program to prepare American Indians to teach entrepreneurship at tribal colleges is evolving
The three-year program, which results in a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis on American Indian entrepreneurship, so far has been offered free to participants.
- Clearing a Path to College for Children in Foster Care
A 2006 study found that only about 10 percent of youths who have grown up in the foster-care system enroll in some form of post-secondary education.
- New Guidebook for Addressing the Dropout Crisis
America's Promise Alliance recently commissioned Grad Nation, a new tool comprising the best evidence-based practices for keeping young people in school paired with suggestions for effectively preparing them for life after high school.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Location, location, location -- oh, and broadband
In less than a decade, broadband has gone from a luxury to a must for many people, and for some of them, it's started to influence their real estate decisions.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Dancing with the universe - Dancing for joy.
This is a high-definition commercial for hope.
Government Technology
- Honda shows wearable device that helps you walk
The experimental device, unveiled Friday, is designed to support bodyweight, reduce stress on the knees and help people get up steps and stay in crouching positions.
Non-Profit News
- Missouri Governor's Accountability Portal Exceeds 14 Million Hits
"Missourians continue to log on to the Missouri Accountability Portal to map how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent."
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- PPL Montana awards grants to 17 nonprofit organizations throughout the state
“In tough economic times, when nonprofit groups can have a harder time raising the money they need, PPL Montana is particularly happy to be able to provide assistance from our grant program to help these groups improve the quality of life across our state,” said Lisa Perry, manager of community affairs for PPL Montana.
- The 'Creative Class' Takes Over
Obama's triumph reflects a decisive shift in the economic center of gravity away from military contractors, manufacturers, agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, suburban real estate developers, energy companies, old-line remnants on Wall Street and other traditional backers.
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