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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Mar 20, 2009 |
"The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow." -Rupert Murdoch
Thanks again to Devan from Dorsey & Whitney for a very informative Roundtable. MATR Roundtable a patentable success thanks to patent attorney Devan V. Padmanabhan of Dorsey & Whitney LLP http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html You're missing a great opportunity if you don't attend the next one. Stay tuned --- Thanks to Sen. Baucus' staff, there will be several forums on the stimulus/jobs funding that's coming to Montana. You'll learn a lot if you can attend one of them. "Senator Baucus' Staff Holding Workshops Across Montana to Help Business Make the Most of the Jobs Bill " http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Do you know of resources or experts who could help a non-profit plan and implement a solar panel system on their roof? http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
MATR Roundtable Gatherings
2009 Montana Legislature
- MATR Roundtable a patentable success thanks to patent attorney Devan V. Padmanabhan of Dorsey & Whitney LLP
How fast is the clock ticking on that new idea you have for a billion dollar widget?
Montana Community Finance Corporation
- J.J. Adams, Aide for Sen. Baucus breaks down Montana's stimulus package
It’s the private sector, he said, that’s had more questions about how to take advantage of the package during listening stops around the state.
- Senator Baucus' Staff Holding Workshops Across Montana to Help Business Make the Most of the Jobs Bill
Baucus staff will help small business owners and community leaders make sure they are taking advantage of these programs as well as filing for tax relief measures that were included in the bill.
- Quick Facts and Contacts for Information on the Jobs Bill and Its Impact on Montana
Small Business Provisions in the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009
- Small Business Provisions in the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009
Many thanks to Sen. Baucus for providing this information:
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Community Finance Corporation elects board and officers
Montana Community Finance Corporation works in partnership with third party lenders from around the state, to provide this financing to eligible small businesses.
Leadership Montana
- Entrepreneurial Activity in Montana and the United States
How does entrepreneurial activity in Montana stack up to the national activity level?
- Montana kids learn business, finances, entrepreneurship
The Castle Rock student is among more than 220 Billings middle school students learning about entrepreneurship and other business topics through Junior Achievement.
Montana Business
- The ABCs of Leadership
There's another benefit to being authentic: it trains new leaders.
- How to Create a Motivating Work Environment
So what can a leader do to create this kind on environment? Here are 10 ideas, in order of importance:
Montana Economic Development
- Missoula Couple, Timothy and Suzy O’Leary, co-owners of Missoula’s Kettlehouse Brewery Named SBA’s Montana Small Business Persons of the Year
Today, the Kettlehouse Brewing Company is one of the oldest breweries in Montana and is a community gathering place and source of local pride.
- Missoula Company, The Milky Whey, Inc./TMW International, Inc. of Missoula Named SBA’s Montana Exporter of the Year SBA’s Region VIII Exporter of the Year SBA’s National 2nd Runner-up Exporter of the Year
Today, The Milky Whey, Inc./TMW International, Inc. is a thriving global trading company that buys and sells items such as nonfat dry milk, whole milk powder, buttermilk powder, whey powder, whey proteins, bulk butter and condensed milk and cream to companies that manufacture food and feed products for public consumption.
- Looking at Montana Business in 2009
“By now it’s obvious that the recession is not going to be short and mild,” said economist Paul Polzin, and it’s just as obvious that it isn’t going to miss Montana, as it did twice before.
- Slow Down for Manufacturing in Montana
Thirty percent of Montana manufacturers foresee a decline in their workforce.
Regional Economic Development
- The Montana Agriculture Development Council Selects Growth Through Agriculture Projects
"Growth Through Agriculture is a key program in the Montana Department of Agriculture's efforts to assist entrepreneurs in adding value to the state's agricultural commodities, thereby enhancing business opportunities in rural communities," said Ron de Yong, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture.
- Biomass power plant proposals floated in the Flathead
F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. has proposed generating up to 12 megawatts of electrical power in a co-generating plant that would replace the 100-year-old boiler at its Half Moon sawmill.
- The Global Economic Recession and Montana’s Energy Future
The fallout from global economic recession ripples through Montana. In addition to unsettling lives, the economic downturn has important consequences for Montana’s energy policies. Here are some.
Careers
- Local Economies Seek Own Revival
Cities, counties and states across the nation are launching home-grown economic-stimulus plans aimed at spurring local spending and keeping small businesses afloat during the recession.
- A Zooming Market - Want to make quick comparisons of potential office sites? Free help is available on the Web. Zoomprospector.com
"My mind goes first and foremost to the hundreds of thousands of dollars lost by making wrong decisions when opening in new markets," says Kaufman. "I wouldn't say that Zoomprospector would always avoid that, but in 90 percent of cases it can help us identify problems before going in." A happy prospect indeed.
- Wind Energy...and More?
It's one thing to get the turbines whirling away, producing electricity. Now's the time for states to get the jobs, too.
Funding and Building your Business
- How to Tweet Your Way Out of a Job
We here at Cisco are versed in the web.
- College enrollment in computer science, engineering on the rise
Relief may be finally on the way for engineering-starved employers.
- Staying Afloat in Today's Crowded Talent Pool
Jobs, while scarce, are out there, but differentiating yourself from others on the market will be more challenging than ever.
Montana Education Excellence
- Build Your Email List Through Knowledge Sharing
Email marketing can often be an outstanding source of both new business and especially repeat business. One of the greatest challenges of email marketing is email list building.
- The SBA - A Public Program That Actually Returns Money to the Treasury
Earlier this year, the National Association for the Self-Employed found in a member survey that less than 20% of microbusiness owners had ever made use of any of the SBA’s other programs. Why not? Well, about half of them (49%) said they didn’t know about them.
- Nvidia launches GPU Ventures Program to foster startups
the company will invest anywhere from $500,000 to $5 million in startups. Last year, the company invested $5 million in five startups. This year, he said the company will try to expand its investments, which mostly go into seed or first venture capital round investments.
- Cash, Not Pretense: An Entrepreneur's Guide to the Credit Crisis.
Rule No. 1: Stay away from people who rely on credit, not cash.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana Academy Day, 4/4, Great Falls, Montana
Do you have a high school or middle school student who may be thinking about a Military Academy education? Consider attending...
- Montana schools offer strong education
Over the years, the district has produced a high number of national merit scholars and finalists. And just last year, it was determined that 77 percent of the students in Great Falls who take advanced placement tests in a variety of subjects passed the college-credit-earning exams with high marks.
- Montana Board of Regents to revisit differences on issues with Gov. Schweitzer
Today, lawmakers are dealing with declining state revenue and deciding how to divvy up a one-time shot of federal money to stimulate the state economy.
- University of Montana business class to give $10,000 boost to local nonprofits
Through the foundation’s Learning by Giving program, the class will award grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 to nonprofits focusing on youth, education and health issues in Missoula County.
- Montana University Regents to honor former U.S. Rep. Pat Williams with emeritus status
Williams is humbled by the most recent honor and described emeritus standing as at “the top of the heap” of the many awards he has received during his distinguished political and education career. Standing in front of a classroom provides Williams with the “most joy in my life,” he said.
- Hands-on science paying off for grades K-5 in Billings, Montana
In 2008, seven of the top 10 research projects at the Billings Clinic Science Expo came from Central students, including the first-place winner. The students behind two of the projects were invited to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, with one team finishing in fourth place, while another competed for the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize.
Regional Business
- Internship opportunities at the University of Montana increasingly narrowed to unpaid positions
“Compared to the full-time (job) market, the internship market seems to be faring better.”
Idaho Business
- Mexico's new tariffs could cost Oregon millions
Mexican officials said the U.S. decision to block their truckers violates a provision of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was supposed to have opened cross-border trucking by January 2000.
Oregon Economic Development
- The age of aquaculture. Seventy percent of the nation’s farm-raised trout come from just south of Missoula.
Idaho is the nation’s No. 1 producer of farm-raised rainbow trout—about 70 percent of the country’s total.
Washington State Business
- Oregon-based firms press for more state investment support
"When we've got money to invest and people and talent, we should invest in that here," said Harvey Mathews, president of the Software Association of Oregon, which is helping organize tonight's gathering.
Wyoming Business
- Recession will push nearly 40,000 more Washington State children into poverty
The increase of children in poverty, says the report, can be mitigated by implementing state policies that increase family economic security and sustaining current government assistance programs for children.
Education
- Wyoming creates Web site to track stimulus
The state of Wyoming has set up a Web site to provide the public with information about federal funds available from the recent economic stimulus bill.
Connectivity & Communications
- Reengaging High School Dropouts - Early Results of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program Evaluation
This report presents very early results from a rigorous, independent evaluation of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, an intensive residential program that aims to “reclaim the lives” of young people ages 16 to 18 who have dropped out of school.
- Obama pushes to reward great teachers
His stimulus package adds $200 million to a fund that supports new teacher compensation systems.
- Learn how GIS is being integrated into the classroom
To help educators integrate GIS and other geospatial technologies into classrooms and district offices, eSchool News has assembled this invaluable collection of stories, best practices, and other resources to further enhance your arsenal of teaching tools.
- A New High School, With College Mixed In
At the five-year secondary school, called the City Polytechnic High School of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, graduating students would receive both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree.
- Western Governors University Launches Early Childhood Education Degree
Early Childhood Education is a growing career field -- The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2016 the demand for preschool teachers and kindergarten teachers will increase by 26% and 16%, respectively.
Non-Profit News
- Talks Tim Berners-Lee: The next Web of open, linked data
With all due respect, I hope that he finds a few more things that cause him some frustration. Keep up the great work!
- Coke is #2 Facebook Site with 3,310,209 fans
It is second only to Obama, but it is not a site sponsored by Coke according to the Facebook folks.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Nonprofit looking for assistance on finding grants and support for roof top solar array
If you know of any agencies, companies or organizations that can assist at any stage (planning, acquisition, installation etc.) of the project, please send me the info and I'll pass it along.
Transportation
- Dave Wilson: 40 years on country airwaves
For four decades, his deep, rich voice has resonated over the airwaves to communities throughout central Montana and southern Alberta, along with songs by the classic country artists he has championed through the years.
- Delicacy of the Wild West Lives on for Those So Bold ... Got Balls???
Of all the country’s gastronomic competitions, from “Top Chef” to pies at the county fair, perhaps none compare to the challenge facing the harried chefs assembled here in a parking lot for the 18th annual International Comstock Mountain Oyster Fry.
VIRUS ALERTS
- ‘Rocket ship' transit system proposed in Montana - Missoula to Hamilton in 15 minutes...
The U.S. Department of Transportation put $1 million into research for the project, Perkins said. Williamson said the grantees are three years into the four-year grant and are ready to launch a pilot project in Missoula.
- The Conficker Worm: April Fool’s Joke or Unthinkable Disaster?
The Conficker worm is scheduled to activate on April 1, and the unanswered question is: Will it prove to be the world’s biggest April Fool’s joke or is it the Information Age equivalent of Herman Kahn’s legendary 1962 treatise about nuclear war, “Thinking About the Unthinkable”?
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