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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Jun 16, 2009 |
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"Conservation has to become an ethic in the West." Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, discussing water at the Western Governors' Association annual meeting that kicked off Sunday in Utah http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Congratulations to Gloria O'Rourke, the Agenda Committee and the Board of Directors of MEDA for bringing together the experts in state government on opportunities, programs and contacts for the stimulus funds that are now flowing into Montana. The 2009 MEDA Spring Conference objective was 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. If the evaluation feedback is any indicator, the objective was accomplished. I urge anyone who believers they should/could take advantage of the stimulus funding programs or who's looking for answers from state government or your local economic development professional to read this report. "The Montana Econonic Developers Association (MEDA) Spring Conference Summary - "Providing Leadership in a Challenged Economy " http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Glacier Raft and Outdoor Center
iConnect Montana
- Glacier Raft Crews Complete Unprecidented 123 Mile Float… In One Day.
The journey, completed as the river neared its peak flow, took just under 18 hours.
- Glacier Outdoor Center - Intro Fly Fishing Class: Holding Water & Choosing Flies, 7/2, Glacier National Park
This class is great for you if you understand the basics of your equipment; can cast with reasonable effectiveness; and have fished enough to become frustrated… oh, wait, that is all of us!
Highway 12 Ventures
- The race to build data centers
Cloud computing (delivering applications and services over the Internet) and utility computing (delivering server capacity on demand over the Internet) are expected to require massive data center capabilities.
City Club Missoula
- The Truth Behind VCs And Entrepreneurs?
Here are two slideshows that have been making their way around the web, one aimed at venture capitalists and the other at founders/entrepreneurs. Sometimes the truth can be humorous and painful.
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- City Club Missoula - Provost Royce Engstrom Speaks on why the University of Montana must educate more people at a more sophisticated level.
According to the study “Trends in College Spending” released by the DELTA Project in January 2009, Montana is ranked 50th in the country in terms of state spending per student at a public research university.
Montana Community Finance Corporation
- The Montana Econonic Developers Association (MEDA) Spring Conference Summary - "Providing Leadership in a Challenged Economy"
The 2009 MEDA Spring Conference objective was 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. If the evaluation feedback is any indicator, the objective was accomplished.
Come Home Montana
- Montana Community Finance Corporation - Helena-Moodle Implement Company, Great Falls, MT Benefits from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
Working with Mike Phillips of Basic Street Bank, Lewistown, Jim pursued financing utilizing the Small Business Administration's 504 loan program through Montana Community Finance Corporation in Helena.
Warren Miller Freedom Foundation
- Crown of the Continent Magazine, Issue 1 - Spring 2009 - “The Backbone of the World.”
Directly north of The University of Montana lie the scenic peaks, glaciated valleys and postcard-perfect scenery that constitute the Crown of the Continent ecosystem – a region some call “The Backbone of the World.”
- Obama creates Pacific Northwest Trail - Glacier National Park to the Pacific
"I anticipate that within 10 years, this will gain the same popularity as the Pacific Crest Trail,"
- Montana Career Opportunity - Graphic Designer - Vann's Inc
Position is responsible for graphic production of marketing materials and presentations including in-store product presentation, web design, graphic user interface design, and print advertising for regional and national markets.
Montana Business
- Teen Entrepreneurs Tell It Like It Is
There are even fewer panels more interesting than those made up of entrepreneurs who are all younger than twenty-five years old.
Montana Economic Development
- Checkmate at the Yellowstone Club
Marketed with the phrase “Private Powder,” Yellowstone is the anti-Aspen — luxurious, sure, but discreet and child-friendly.
- Montana Senator Jon Tester hosts contracting workshop in Great Falls - Federal agencies will emphasize local contractors for stimulus work
Some have been concerned that Montana is not getting its fair share of jobs from the Federal Stimulus Bill. Today, United States Senator Jon Tester tried to make sure that some upcoming federally-funded construction projects will be awarded to local contractors.
- Staves to stools - Vinoture, a Missoula business building premier furniture out of recycled wine barrels.
Reconstituted under Smith’s artistic hand and vision, the premium oak staves are transformed into lustrous, unique tables and chairs from wood that once served to age bordeaux or cabernet sauvignon from around the Inland Northwest.
- Bozeman-based Swift MD looks to tech to tamp down health care costs throughout Montana
A new telemedicine service aimed at making health care less expensie and more accessible hopes to roll out service in Montana next year, part of a growing trend that beams doctors into private living rooms, prisons and rural outposts nationwide.
- McKinstry: Seattle firm is nation's "green tech" central - New office opened in Missoula, Montana
The firm has found that being at the leading edge of guiding green technology has indeed paid off handsomely since McKinstry’s annual revenue have grown almost ten-fold over the past 10 years, and it has 11 offices around the West, and is considering adding a 12th.
- How do you recycle cardboard in Montana?
I was wondering if anyone else in Montana has ran into this problem and have a solution to this problem.
Regional Economic Development
- 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 and enhance business opportunities in rural communities," said Ron de Yong, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture.
- Governor Schweitzer Announces New Energy Efficiency Upgrade Grants for Montana Schools
"This initiative is a top priority because of the long-term benefits it provides," said Governor Schweitzer. "Quick Start is a real investment in Montana's schools and Montana students - who are the leaders of tomorrow. Quick Start is helping districts complete much needed energy improvements, which will result in cost savings for years to come. It's an investment in school infrastructure, which is an investment in our future."
- Missoula Expo Center feasibility study gets under way. Board members seek input from community
“This is about all of Missoula and everybody who lives here, not just the business sector,” said Kim Latrielle of the Montana Exposition executive board. “We want to hear from everybody.”
- Big Sky Chamber gets $250K for ad campaign
“Everybody is echoing the same thing: We’ve got to be aggressive. If we don’t, we’re really going to be behind the eight ball.”
Careers
- Southern States Poach Businesses Amid Downturn
Georgia quickly offered more than $100 million in tax and training incentives. State officials connected NCR with six Georgia research universities willing to license new technologies and train workers.
- Water, energy, climate top Western Governors' Association agenda
There are a few topics governors running states in the West just can't escape: water scarcity, a warming climate and energy development.
- Western governors focus on water woes
Quenching the growing demand for water in the warming West will require a bigger push for conservation, innovative technology and a rethinking of supply and demand, Western governors and water experts said Sunday.
- Montana Governor Schweitzer takes chair of Western Governors’ Association
In a report released Monday, the Western Governors’ Association, which represents the governors of 19 Western states and American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, identified 54 areas with renewable energy potential across the Western U.S. and Canada.
Funding and Building your Business
- Montana & Wyoming Virtual Career Fair - June 14-20, 2009
Job Seekers - Register Here
Montana Education Excellence
- Tweeting for profit. Smart entrepreneurs are now doing deals in 140 characters or less on Twitter.
"The only overhead is your time. You need to pay attention,"
Regional Business
- UM Open House Aims To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 6/23, Missoula
The University of Montana will hold an open house Tuesday, June 23, to bring people together to share ideas on how to reduce UM’s greenhouse gases and include sustainability in the University’s academic mission.
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
- Sign of the times...Seattle Times' annual ranking of Northwest companies comes up short of usual top 100. Only 87 make the grade.
The main culprit: last fall's stock-market slide, which pushed dozens of Northwest stocks below $2 a share.
Idaho Business
- House Ready to Steamroll Venture Capital Bill to change the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.
The most controversial provision would re-open these key government conduits of small business research grants to more venture capital firms.
- Venture Capital Industry Pushes Legislation to Hijack Federal Small Business Programs
If the NVCA is successful, millions of legitimate small businesses could be forced to close their doors.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- I can see by your outfit that you're from Idaho
Here's how it works: I make a guess about from which south-central Idaho county a fellow hails and then look at the license plate of the rig he gets into. Last week, I pegged 10 out of 10. Here's a handy guide.
- Hoku struggling to finance Pocatello, Idaho plant
Combined with turmoil in the credit and equity markets, and downward pressure on the spot market price for polysilicon, Hoku reported that it might be in for serious trouble as early as the coming year.
- Frank Muir is a heckuva nice guy! The Idaho Fry Company Hullabaloo
Just in case you spent last week in a coma, the broad outline of the controversy in question has to do with the use of the name “Idaho” by a local restaurant, the Idaho Fry Company.
Utah Business
- North Dakota Enacts First Shareholder Friendly Corporation Law - Carl Icahn company, American Railcar Industries Inc., setting up corporate residence in North Dakota
The new law provides a governance structure for publicly traded corporations that gives shareholders greater rights than they currently have under other state laws.
Wyoming Business
- 11 Utahns honored as Entrepreneurs of the Year
Utah's economy favors free markets, which is why a handful of national business publications have rated Utah's economy as No. 1.
Education
- New online school opens in Wyoming
Head of School Ed Weber said he has no doubt the Wyoming Virtual Academy can handle an influx of interested families.
Government
- I’m Going to Harvard. Will You Sponsor Me? Unithrive.org
Unithrive, which made its debut last month, matches alumni lenders and cash-strapped students, who post photographs and biographical information and can request up to $2,000. The loans are interest-free and payable within five years of graduation.
- Education chief hopes stimulus will push standards
Duncan said Sunday that the efforts of 46 states to develop common, internationally measured standards for student achievement would be bolstered by up to $350 million in federal funds to help them develop tests to assess those standards.
Community
- Updates From The Western Governors’ Association 2009 Annual Meeting
The Western Governors’ Association meeting kicked off Sunday with a discussion on Managing Water in a Changing World and a Keynote address from Frank Luntz on what is on the minds of people in the West.
Connectivity & Communications
- Fewer Cars for Better Cities
Cities are warming up to the idea that planning for the future means more car sharing programs and fewer parking spaces.
Energy and Climate Change
- Software change makes Twitter more accessible for the visually impaired
A simple change in security software recently made Twitter more accessible to the blind and visually impaired.
- Attorneys warn trademark owners to register marks with Facebook
Intellectual property attorney Emile Loza explains on her blog that Facebook announced earlier this week that it would start to let users register vanity URLs in the form: http://www.facebook.com/username.
- Can National Broadband Plan Handle Nation’s Dreams?
Big money is at stake. So too might be the future of the economy.
- Opera Unite reinvents the Web - Cloud computing and Web-based applications will never be the same
Opera Unite makes serving data as simple and easy as browsing the Web.
- UK plans universal access to high-speed Internet
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday that high-speed Internet access has become as "indispensable as electricity, gas and water" for most of the public.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- As Wind Power Grows, a Push to Tear Down Dams
Environmental groups contend that the Bonneville Power Administration’s shift to wind turbines buttresses their case for tearing down dams in the agency’s territory, particularly four along the lower Snake River in Washington State that helped decimate one of North America’s great runs of wild salmon.
- Portland's new Web site should spark the area’s booming solar business - Oregon Clean Energy Map
City officials say the tool, called the Oregon Clean Energy Map, will boost the profile of one of the state’s fastest growing industries and promote Portland as a national hotbed of solar energy activity.
- Back to the FutureGen: ‘Clean’ Coal Plant Gets New Backing
Rekindling the FutureGen project is a signal that the Obama Administration and Energy Secretary Steve Chu won’t just be supporting wind and solar power, but some new fossil fuel technologies, too.
- Glacier Park's ice fields may be gone by next decade
On the eve of Glacier National Park's 100th birthday, some of its distinctive features - glaciers - are disappearing and may not be around for the park's bicentennial party.
- Western Governors, U.S. Department of Energy report identifies promising areas for large-scale renewable development
The Western Governors’ Association and the U.S. Department of Energy today released a joint report that takes the first steps toward identifying those areas in the Western Interconnection that have both the potential for large scale development of renewable resources and low environmental impacts.
- High-Altitude Wind Machines Could Meet Global Electricity Demand a Hundred Times Over.
The first rigorous, worldwide study of high-altitude wind power estimates that there is enough wind energy at altitudes of about 1,600 to 40,000 feet to meet global electricity demand a hundred times over.
- Water California's Water Woes Threaten the Entire Country's Food Supply
Climate models show that California -- the source of one third of America's food supply -- is running out of its reliable water supply.
- Wyoming energy forum agenda (Oct. 25-27) takes shape - Western States Energy and Environment Symposium
Prime speaking spots are being left open in case Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Energy Secretary Steven Chu can attend, said state Rep. Tom Lubnau, R-Gillette and a member of the committee organizing the event.
- The Powder River Basin Summit to discuss energy development - 6/18 - Billings, Montana
The Powder River Basin Summit will explore tribal and settler history of the region and discuss the threats and economic costs to the environment and society from energy development.
- A Two-Pronged Water-Treatment Technology
Combining light and electrical current removes contaminants from water.
- Stanford scientists discover a possible successor to silicon
It is one of many competing ideas in the search for new tools that could accelerate the development of even smaller, cheaper and more powerful computers.
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