|
|
|
| MATR Newsletter - Fri Nov 14, 2008 |
"For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love. ... It seems to me that Montana is a great splash of grandeur. The scale is huge but not overpowering. The land is rich with grass and color, and the mountains are the kind I would create if mountains were ever put on my agenda. ... Montana has a spell on me. ... Of all the states it is my favorite." — John Steinbeck in Travels With Charlie
Thanks to all of you who've responded to my request for innovative companies that would like to develop a funding and or business relationship with Alberta. I've told them that the list is going to be considerably longer than the 10-15 companies they hoped to learn about. It's heartening to see so many great companies being developed in Montana. And many of our most progressive companies and institutions are focusing on becoming more green: "City Club Missoula "Environmental Sustainability From An Institutional Perspective", 11/17, Missoula" http://matr.net/events ... =2543 --- Russ
Montana World Trade Center
PrintingForLess
- MWTC November 12 Newsletter
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Montana Department of Commerce, Montana Department of Labor and Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) have formed a partnership that allows Montana to be one of several states to make the BEAR (Business Expansion and Retention) Program available statewide.
Alberta Business and Economic Development
- Bunny rabbit helps biz win Economic Stimulus Contest - PrintingForLess.com Announces October Economic Stimulus Contest Winner
“With the uncertain economy, it was uplifting to see all of the innovative marketing campaigns from small businesses across the country, and we hope to review even more ideas in the two remaining months of the competition” says Andrew Field, PrintingForLess.com (PFL) Founder and CEO. “Cottage Theatre won this month’s contest due to their creative, fun and cost-effective marketing ideas that helped them exceed their sales and networking goals.”
Come Home Montana
- Some oilsands math from Alberta
One day, it would be nice if the oilsands bashing lobby deigned to explain a few things to the rest of us.
- Edmonton, Alberta as a city of the future stirs public debate
In planners' vision, expanded LRT dethrones cars
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Loan Processor Position - The Great Falls Development Authority
The Great Falls Development Authority is seeking a full time Loan Processor to assist with processing, closing, and servicing commercial loan applications.
- Building for the future - Richland Economic Development banquet features comments by Sidney, Montana natives regarding future
Jay Frank, Mike Mohl and Jeremy Norby shared why they left and returned to Sidney, and the issues they see facing the area.
Leadership Montana
- Lock The Students Up!
Let me open by saying that I hate students just as much as Scott does — which is to say, I love them. As an entrepreneur, my motives are completely selfish. I want to keep as much raw, passionate and brilliant talent in the area as possible.
Montana Business
- New Research on Causes of Executive Failure
The typical diagnoses of reasons for executive failure include general causes such as communications skills, relationship building and the always popular “poor fit with the job.” What is missing is insight into the specific behaviors that can trigger new executive failure.
Montana Economic Development
- SwiftMD to Provide Telemedicine Services to New Montana Development - Ameya Preserve
Under the terms of the agreement, the first of its kind in the United States, the company will provide emergency medical services, via the phone, Internet or bi-directional video, to all residents and Ameya Preserve employees and their families. Each home will be equipped with all necessary technological components for the service - an important feature as the nearest healthcare facility is 45 minutes away. The homes are expected to be completed in 2011.
- Marwit Capital Partners II announces the acquisition of Bruce Seed Farm of Townsend, Montana
Bruce Seed has long been recognized as the best-in-class producer, processor and distributor of native seed products sold throughout the Northwest, Intermountain and Midwest regions of the U.S., as well as Southern Canada.
- Yellowstone Club Members Revolt Over Bankruptcy
Members of the Yellowstone Club for the ultrarich are opposing another loan to the financially-troubled Montana resort and demanding to know what happened to $463 million in club dues and past loans.
- Roundup, Montana couple fined more than $1 million for securities fraud
A Roundup couple has been ordered to pay almost $1.3 million in fines and restitution for defrauding investors in their companies, including selling fake bonds they claimed were backed by the federal government.
- Cost of living in Bozeman, Montana well above national average
Bozeman continued to be the most expensive place to live in Montana, a local business network reported Wednesday, with housing the likely culprit.
Regional Economic Development
- Anaconda Main Street Program Announcement
The Directors of the Anaconda Main Street Program are pleased to introduce Leslie Godleski as the new Executive Director of the Program. “My husband, David, and I are thrilled to be back home in Montana,” Godleski said. “We began making preparations to return four years ago. Anaconda is at a crossroads in determining its destiny, and there couldn’t be a more exciting time to be right here.
- Request for Proposals to Redevelop the Fox Site Portion of the Riverfront Triangle Urban Renewal District in Downtown Missoula, Montana
The Riverfront Triangle is located adjacent to the Clark Fork River and is the western entrance to Missoula's traditional downtown.
- 2008 Montana Kids Count Data Book
Montana Kids Count is a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and is a statewide effort to identify and track the status and well-being of Montana children by collecting and analyzing data about them.
- Shelby new member of Montana Main Street program
"The Montana Main Street program is a proven method to help revitalize downtown commercial districts," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "The affiliate program is a perfect fit for smaller, rural communities like Townsend, Whitehall, Shelby, and Glasgow. I look forward to seeing what these communities will accomplish in the future."
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- A conversation with Ed Gordon - "Winning the Global Talent Showdown: How Businesses and Communities Can Partner to Rebuild the Jobs Pipeline"
Ed's new book will outline what communities and regions are doing to form partnerships that cross both organizational and political boundaries.
- Helping America Keep Its Innovative Edge - The Kauffman Foundation
The Kauffman Foundation has made the broadest commitment.
Funding and Building your Business
- The Venture Capital model is broken
These days, the more you talk to folks about Silicon Valley’s venture capital industry, the more negative the message is becoming.
Incubators and R&D
- Seattle Accelerator adds $5 million to fund biotech startups
Accelerator's funding will allow it to invest in three or four more startups over the next few years.
Montana Education Excellence
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories intern, Lacey Taylor to present research in D.C.
At a symposium Friday in Washington, D.C., the Rocky Mountain Laboratories scientist will present her team’s latest research into a bacterium that causes sexually transmitted infections, blindness and other diseases.
- McLaughlin Research Institute announces grant from M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
“We are grateful for the continued support from this important funding source for projects in the Pacific Northwest,” said MRI Director George Carlson. “This is competitive grant and one of the important factors in M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust board’s decision to fund our request was the support from our board of trustees and the willingness of our employees to contribute to the project.”
- MSU researchers receive grant to study algae as a source of biofuel
"It's been known for 20 years that algae could produce lipids, but it really took the most recent spike in fuel prices to make getting fuel from algae an option."
Idaho Business
- Montana's First Lady Encourages Nominations for Presidential Math and Science Teaching Awards
First Lady Nancy Schweitzer encourages Montanans to submit nominations for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This award honors exemplary K-12 mathematics and science teachers for their contributions to improving teaching and learning.
- Montana trying to make higher education affordable
Though the current state of the economy could mean less funding from Montana’s legislature next year, President George Dennison hopes its members will realize it’s important to continue investing in higher education with the state’s future in mind.
- MSU online science program sets spring courses for teachers
The courses are designed to help elementary, secondary and community college teachers develop a deeper understanding of science concepts while interacting with and learning new techniques from other teachers around the globe. Some are open to non-teaching professionals.
Oregon Economic Development
- Idaho Innovation News - November 2008
"We Create Jobs, Strengthen Communities and Market Idaho."
South Dakota Economic Development
- Portland ties economy to green leadership
Portland’s City Council has approved spending thousands of dollars to market the city as the American hotbed of sustainable development – and to promote local businesses specializing in “green technology.”
- Billion-Dollar Transportation Plan Announced in Oregon
"Investing in transportation in tough times sets us up for success in good times."
Utah Economic Development
- South Dakota Techknowlogy Summit: Think smart
Decisiveness, agility are keys to success
Washington State Business
- Growth at Nelson Laboratories could bring 350 jobs to Utah
Nelson Laboratories, which currently employs more than 320 scientists and staff at its state-of-the-art facility in Taylorsville, can earn the incentives by hiring 350 new full-time employees over the next decade and paying them 125 percent of the average wage in Salt Lake County.
Wyoming Business
- Save money and resources: free energy assessments for 20 Seattle-area businesses
Energy experts from the University of Washington want to help local businesses cut their utility bills.
Education
- Unpredictable fuel prices, economy worry Wyo's guiding industry
"So it's really affected our income," she said. "We had no drop-off in clients. Most hunts were paid for before gas prices went up."
Government
- Gates Foundation turns attention to higher education
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Tuesday unveiled ambitious new plans to expand its education initiatives, including working to double the number of low-income students who complete some kind of college or post-high school degree and spending at least $500 million to improve teaching.
Other Economies
- Speakers call for state spending transparency by posting their complete budgets on the Internet
"Government spending should not happen in the dark."
- Montana's Justice System Reduces Number of Children in State Care
This year’s data book features an analysis of Montana’s juvenile justice system and highlights the state’s efforts to reform the juvenile justice system and improve outcomes for Montana youth entering the system.
Connectivity & Communications
- Sundown for California
Today our Golden State appears headed, if not for imminent disaster, then toward an unanticipated, maddening, and largely unnecessary mediocrity.
Energy
- IBM to help build broadband network in power lines
The technology has been around for decades, but most efforts to implement the idea on a broad scale have failed to live up to expectations.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Better Wind Turbines - ExRo Technologies
A more efficient generator could convert more of the wind's energy into electricity.
- Sun + Water = Fuel
With catalysts created by an MIT chemist, sunlight can turn water into hydrogen. If the process can scale up, it could make solar power a dominant source of energy.
Non-Profit News
- 'Elixir of youth' drug could fight HIV and ageing
A drug extracted from a plant used in Chinese medicine has helped immune cells fight HIV and raises the possibility of slowing the ageing process in other parts of our bodies.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Working to bridge the philanthropy gap in Montana
In the realm of philanthropy, as in so many other realms, it takes money to get money. And right now, when it comes to giving to local nonprofits, Montana is losing out big time.
Transportation
- Nurturing a Creative and Innovative Community
Cities across the globe are still struggling to reinvent themselves for the post-industrial economy and society.
- European Bike Sharing Programs Transform Cities
In increasingly green-conscious Europe, there are said to be only two kinds of mayors: those who have a bicycle-sharing program and those who want one.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page
