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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Jun 2, 2009 |
"Those who are positioned for the future have great public school systems, great universities and an infrastructure to support entrepreneurship. The rest of us will live on betting bubbles or low cost/low educated labor." Chris Gibbons --- Economic Gardening International Conference - June 17 - 19 in South Dakota http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Intent to infuse only confuses. Govt. stimulus money for Montana projects awarded to California companies. http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Great opportunity for everyone to participate in developing the roadmap for the Montana economy: "MEDA Conference: "Providing Leadership In A Challenged Economy", 6.11-12, Fairmont Hot Springs, Montana" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Idaho National Laboratory
PrintingForLess
- Idaho National Laboratory engineers tackle graphite challenge with innovative new device
A critical step in developing new Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTR) is certifying the graphite that is to be used in many parts in the reactor’s core.
Vision Net
- PrintingForLess.com of Livingston, Montana Goes to the Dogs and Increases Productivity
“Here at PrintingForLess.com, we bring our dogs to work on a daily basis,” says Andrew Field, PFL Founder and CEO. “Our dog-friendly policy helps staff morale and builds camaraderie among employees, so it is important for us to celebrate this fun day and help increase awareness for pet adoptions on a regular basis.”
Highway 12 Ventures
- Vision Net connections bring people, events closer
Vision Net is wholly owned by nine independent telephone companies, and offers data, voice and video networking applications (over ethernet, satellite, wireless and more), direct Internet access and customized wide-area network management.
Boomtown Institute
- The Intermountain West (Part II)
After spending the first 35 years of my life in New York, Chicago, San Francisco & Boston, it’s been tremendously gratifying to live and work in a part of the world where you can get lost in the great outdoors at the drop of a hat.
City Club Missoula
- Heartland Entrepreneurship - Boomtown Institute
Today's economic muddle, which resembles the 1970s, is a classic breeding ground for entrepreneurship.
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- City Club Missoula June Forum Featuring UM Provost Royce Engstrom, 6/15, Missoula
Please join us for a discussion on the need for academic innovation to prepare students for today's world.
Come Home Montana
- MEDA Conference: "Providing Leadership In A Challenged Economy", 6.11-12, Fairmont Hot Springs, Montana
Conference objective: To equip Montana’s economic developers with up-to-date information on new recovery programs, new technology, and the tools necessary so they may serve as resourceful leaders in revitalizing Montana’s economy.
- The June issue of MEDA Online News is now available.
Also…it is not too late to register for the MEDA Conference http://www.medamembers.org/meda_conference.php , coming up fast on June 11th and 12th. Do review the agenda http://www.medamembers.org/AgendaSpring2009.doc as a few more speakers have been added.
Warren Miller Freedom Foundation
- Montana Career Opportunity - Quality Control Analyst - Glaxo Smith Kline
Opportunity Available in Hamilton, MT.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Executive Director - Human Resources Development Council, District VI
District 6 HRDC is dedicated to promoting individuals, families and communities to become strong and independent.
- State of Montana hiring programmers to fix MERLIN vehicle-records glitch - State's record on computer systems less than auspicious
The Legislature allocated $28 million for MERLIN in 2003 and $6 to $7 million remains in the budget to finish the project, Fasbender said. MERLIN went live in April, and slow processing times and long lines have been the norm in motor vehicle offices ever since.
Leadership Montana
- Fresh Faces in Tech: 10 Kid Entrepreneurs under 21 to Watch
Here are 10 people—one only 15 years old and none yet of legal drinking age—who have created companies that in some cases are already bringing in millions of dollars in revenues.
Montana Business
- Leadership Advice for the Class of 2009 Graduates
In honor of the class of 2009, here’s a collection of advice on leadership from commencement speakers Robert Gates, Madeleine K. Albright, William Weldon, Steve Jobs, and Conan O’Brian.
Montana Economic Development
- Gov. Schweitzer visits Bozeman, Montana based Miralogix that has developed a more energy efficient way of cooling large delivery trucks.
Miralogix is a company that has come up with a more energy efficient way of cooling large delivery trucks.
- State stimulus money for Montana goes to out-of-state firms
Ken Richardson - who in addition to his work at CTA also sits on several statewide economic development boards - concludes that “if the intent is to stimulate the broader economy, then they're going at it all the wrong way.”
- Billings, Montana -made harvester from Native Seedster designed for native grasses
To get the seedsters into fields across the country this year, Native Seedsters will be locating copies of the machine across the United States in six regions. Lee Arbuckle said by making the seedster available in select areas, the company will be able to quickly gather data on how its machine performs on different grasses in different conditions.
- King of the rails: Refurbished Anaconda, Montana short-line thrills newbies and train aficionados
Last season, more than 5,000 passengers rode the Copper King Express. As the train hummed, riders peered out the windows for animals and called them out. A running elk, a fox and an antelope all made appearances, and Fitzpatrick was lucky enough to spot the antelope. “It's beautiful, because you wouldn't get to see this country in a car,” Fitzpatrick said.
- Western Montana InBusiness June 2009
We're a little envious of the new offices atop the First Interstate Bank building, where our reporter and photographer ventured this month to write about office space, pricing and availability in Missoula. Now there are some sweet digs (although I'd probably spend way too much time lookie-looing!).
- Farmers to get compensation from Missoula-based fuel company, Sustainable Systems
Regulatory filings show that Sustainable Systems had contracted for oilseed in 2008 at rates far greater than current values.
- INROADS Paving the Way for Montana’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprises
Do you know someone who could be a DBE? If they are a small business owned by a minority or a woman and have less than $750,000 in personal net worth and less than $22.41 million in sales averaged over the last 3 years, they may qualify! Tell them to contact Wendy Stewart, DBE Program Manager at 406-444-6337 or [email protected] for an application packet.
Regional Economic Development
- Gov. Schweitzer Invites Montanans to “Working Forests, Managing Communities” Conference
The conference is an opportunity for folks to voice their concerns and participate in the discussion on the critically important issues facing Montana as development continues.
- Hardin, Montana offers new prison to take Guantanamo prisoners
On Capitol Hill, politicians are dead-set against transferring some of the world's most feared terrorists from Guantanamo to prisons on U.S. soil. But at City Hall in this impoverished town on the Northern Plains, the attitude is: Bring 'em on.
- Renewable Energy for America Program - NOSA - $60 Million available
Agriculture producers and rural small businesses are eligible to apply for this funding.
- Intent to infuse only confuses. Govt. stimulus money for Montana projects awarded to California companies.
Montana companies should at least be given the right to bid on the construction projects.
- Montana Centers to Focus on Local Food & Bio-Energy
"We see this as an exciting new avenue for farmers and ranchers to diversify their operations, and for entrepreneurs to add value to Montana commodities,"
Economic Gardening
- Economic Gardening International Conference - June 17 - 19 in South Dakota
Our little band of believers who support entrepreneurs is changing the way economic development is done. In 50 years, they will look at the old photographs of these small gatherings around the country and marvel at the vision and foresight.
Funding and Building your Business
- 50 Colorado companies: Fueling the economic fire - The Edward Lowe Foundation “Companies to Watch” programs
The program focuses not only on traditional measures of success but on such metrics as the impact companies have on their communities and how they have embraced technology. Even in economically distressed places like Michigan – where this year’s awards event had its highest attendance ever – the program is finding dozens of silver linings.
Montana Education Excellence
- Put Ad on Web. Count Clicks. Revise.
“It’s nice to be able to tell your brand manager or the chief marketing officer which audience is interacting with the unit, what time of day, what day of the week, and what the response is on certain types of offers. Before, nobody could really tell you that.”
- Some businesses wrongly classify workers to avoid payroll taxes
"Don't set up a system where you make it more attractive for me to break the laws rather than follow them. Don't make it so my competition can put me out of business by breaking the law."
- Brand strategist and University of Montana Grad, Ken Quinn (WMQ Strategic Studio) shares insights on successful corporate branding, and how that translates to small businesses
His is important advice at a time when businesses are competing for shrinking dollars and increasingly cash-strapped and brand-savvy customers.
Idaho Business
- 46 States, D.C. Plan to Draft Common Education Standards
Led by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, the states, including Maryland and Virginia, are aiming to define a framework of content and skills that meet an overarching goal. When students get their high school diplomas, the coalition says, they should be ready to tackle college or a job. The benchmarks would be "internationally competitive."
- Governor Schweitzer and State Superintendent Juneau and join other States to develop Common Education Standards
Montana is currently working on draft standards for English-language arts and mathematics. To view and provide comment please go to: http://www.opi.mt.gov/Math/index.html and http://www.opi.mt.gov/Accred/CArts.html
- Four Capital High School seniors are finishing high school this week with college-level milling knowledge — a first in Montana for this particular training.
“The Helena community has so much to be proud of,” Cobb said. “This is done because of the foresight of administration — they understand that importance. The jewel of the whole Pacific Northwest is at CHS.”
Washington State Business
- Energy ignites Idaho economy
But Idaho ranks near bottom of Western states preparing to add generation capacity
- Eagle-Star Technology Corridor spreads its message
The chairman of the Valley technology corridor says UGOBE's demise hasn't hurt efforts to recruit California companies.
- Nampa, Idaho cheese factory, Sorrento Lactalis, begins large expansion
Sorrento will create hundreds of jobs during construction and more afterward.
- Idaho Potato Commission orders Idaho Fry Co. to change its name
Watch these words: If you want to use “Idaho potato,” “Idaho fry,” or a similar term in your business, you must get a license from Idaho. Blake Lingle learned this the hard way.
- Meridian (Idaho) Development Corp. plans incubator to help startups
The development corporation would use the ground floor for the incubator, which would provide a home for entrepreneurs who now work out of their homes or coffee shops.
- Idaho exports to foreign countries decline
The U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division said Idaho's sales fell to a four-year low of $791 million at the start of 2009 compared with $1.28 billion at the start of 2008.
Wyoming Business
- Wind turbine blade plant could bring 600 jobs
Strategic Composites, which makes carbon nanotube products for the aerospace, marine and racing industries, plans to open a wind turbine blade plant in or near Dayton that could begin producing lightweight blades this fall, said Mark Kean, Strategic Composites’ director of sales and acquisitions.
Education
- Incentives recommended for 4 Wyoming film projects
The Legislature modified the state's film industry program this year to make it easier for smaller projects to qualify. The program now offers 12- to 15-percent reimbursement to film projects that spend at least $200,000 in Wyoming.
- Wyoming grants may fund study of energy research
It's one of the first opportunities for researchers to apply for competitive grants funded by the federal stimulus bill.
Community
- Montana's Gov. Schweitzer calls for engineer training
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer told Connecticut Democrats on Monday that teaching future engineers will fuel what he calls "the most powerful engine for economic growth in the United States."
Energy and Climate Change
- Butte, Montana a safe haven against barbarians
The only safe haven is Butte.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Biomass Power Generates Traction
Electric utilities may soon face new rules requiring them to generate 20% of their power from renewable sources by 2020, according to terms in a bill to combat climate change being considered by the House of Representatives.
- Expecting New Tax, Hara Prepares Software Package to Track Carbon
Hara http://hara.com is selling software to help businesses measure and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Government Technology
- Google Explores "Eyes-Free" Phones
An adaptive interface with tactile and audio feedback could make it easier to ignore
Transportation
- Montana Motor Vehicle Announces County Motor Vehicle Offices Closed Monday, Tuesday to address significant technical issues that have occurred since full implementation of the Montana Enhanced Registration and Licensing Information Network (MERLIN)
"Anytime you undertake a major overhaul of an outdated computer system it's inevitable that you'll come across unexpected problems."
- City of Missoula Launches New Website
Hydrogen News
- California dreaming? Allegiant ponders Great Falls, Montana to L.A. flight
Could air travelers have the option of a direct flight between the Great Falls International Airport and Los Angeles soon?
- The Pedaling Revolution
How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities
- Fusion tests set at new Livermore facility - Goal is limitless supply of clean electrical energy with no carbon waste.
If the coming years of experiments, which start next year, are successful, a truly limitless supply of clean electrical energy with no carbon waste would be created using the limitless hydrogen fuel in the world's oceans.
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