The State with the Best Education Wins!
	MATR Newsletter - Tue Jul 28, 2009

This MATR newsletter sponsored by: Add an event... Upcoming Events Broadband Project Stimulus Funding: What's Available And How To Secure It - Webinar, 7/28 DOE Webcast July 29 For State And Local Officials: "How To Estimate The Economic Impacts From Renewable Energy" Grant Development Workshop, 07/29, Browning Eureka! Profit 101 Half Day Workshop, 07/30, Helena City Of Bozeman Update, 7/30, Bozeman, Montana Glacier Raft Company River Safety Education For Professionals, Community, And Local Youth, West Glacier, Montana Economic Blueprint Project In West Central And Northwest Montana, 7/31, Polson, Montana Montana Telecommunications Association-Annual Meeting, 08/03-5, Kalispell The Art Of Marketing, 08/04, Browning MATR supporter: New Events Broadband Project Stimulus Funding: What's Available And How To Secure It - Webinar, 7/28 City Of Bozeman Update, 7/30, Bozeman, Montana Eureka! Profit 101 Half Day Workshop, 07/30, Helena Economic Blueprint Project In West Central And Northwest Montana, 7/31, Polson, Montana Sen. Max Baucus Hosts: "Make Health Happen: Promoting Wellness And Prevention In Rural Communities", 8/9-10, Bozeman Eureka! Profit 101 Half Day Workshop, 08/11, Kalispell Showcase Your Business As The Western Montana Fair Débuts "West Lawn Market", 8/11, Missoula Eureka! Profit 101 Half Day Workshop, 08/19, Helena Going To The Sun Road Rally, 9/10, Western Montana Micro Nano Breakthrough Conference, 9/21-23, Portland, Oregon MATR supporter: MATR Web services provided by: To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page

"Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don't believe is right." -- Jane Goodall

"New Stinger Welding factory in Libby, Montana will net 200 jobs" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- "New Website Encourages Montana Youths to Explore Apprenticeship Careers" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html ---

PrintingForLess

• Livingston, Montana’s Printing for Less.com banks on employee enthusiasm
  "We could have been anywhere in the world, and we chose to be here."

TechRanch

• The County Fair - An Enviable Business Model
  The marketing folks behind the fairs are absolute geniuses.


• The Downside of Network Upgrades
  The network infrastructure industry is an absolute racket driven by marketing departments that sell fear, vulnerability and guilt to business managers, C-Level executives and board members.


• Tech Ranch Awards Bridger Photonics with the Outstanding Achievement in 2008 award
  Continuing their success, Bridger Photonics plans to offer mid-wave monolithic lasers by mid-2009. These lasers can reach a variety of atmospheric transitions in the mid-infrared.

Come Home Montana

• Montana Career Opportunity - Human Resources Generalist or Senior Human Resources Generalist - PPL Montana
  PPL Montana operates electric generation facilities with a combined capacity of more than 2,800 megawatts in Montana and is seeking highly motivated, qualified candidates for the following position: Colstrip, MT Human Resources Generalist or Senior Human Resources Generalist


• Montana Career Opportunity - IT Project Manager - State of Montana
  


• Montana Career Opportunity - Web Programmer - Carroll College
  


• Montana Career Opportunity - Richland County recreation coordinator position - Physical Activity Action Group
  The position, which can direct interested persons to activity opportunities, will also make it easier to acquire funds for activities.

Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities

• Moving to Reloville, America's Cross-Country Careerists
  “You can escalate your career if you want to move around. The ones who don’t move around don’t get the calls . . . because ­nobody knows who they are.”

Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana

• MSU Billings College of Business dean to teach fall class on entrepreneurship
  Young said while the class will be good for university students, it will be of value to anyone in the community who wants to learn strategies on how to be a successful in a small business or how to deal with issues that relate to family businesses.


• Focusing in student entrepreneurs
  Increasingly, we're seeing ecnomic development efforts focus on a prmising new frontier: students. Here are a couple of examples.

Montana Business

• GM Says No to Montana Senators Baucus and Tester Over Stillwater Contract
  As it emerges from bankruptcy, GM is keeping contracts with suppliers in Russia and South Africa while cutting ties with Stillwater Mining Co., one of Montana's largest private employers.


• Staycation (or Home on the Range) - Butte, Montana's backyard guest ranch offers a surprising getaway. Iron Wheel Guest Ranch
  "They don't want sirens, and they don't want traffic. They're looking to relax — get away from cell phones and all of that."


• Diversification keeps the Rocking Z Ranch near Wolf Creek, Montana going with 50 to 60 percent of its clients coming from Europe
  Zack Wirth realized more than 15 years ago that the economics of ranching would not let him make a living on his ancestral home, a scenic slice of Montana tucked in the Rocky Mountains between Helena and Great Falls.

Montana Economic Development

• Montana Stuck in Hollywood Bidding War
  “Since the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act was implemented in 2005, film productions have contributed over $38 million to Montana’s economy and helped employ 183 people a year,” Gov. Brian Schweitzer said. “That’s a significant impact – and Studio 406 is going to capitalize on the progress we’ve already made.”


• Governor Schweitzer Presents $5.7 Million in Commerce Funds to Stinger Welding Project in Libby, Montana
  “Montana is open for business,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “The State of Montana is proud to welcome Stinger Welding to Libby. This project will provide hundreds of good paying jobs, many of which pay at least $13.55 per hour, on top of benefits. This project will play a prominent role in attracting other businesses to the Libby area and to Montana.”


• New Stinger Welding factory in Libby, Montana will net 200 jobs
  “It's huge,” said Paul Rumelhart, executive director of the Kootenai River Development Council. “It's a complete change from Libby's historic past.”

Careers

• What's in Your Future?
  You may not be concerned with surviving beyond the current recession, but you should be.


• Reinvent Yourself Online
  If your online persona has become a digital albatross, it's time for a makeover.


• Professional social networks that take on LinkedIn
  Whether you want to hang out at some professional parties or you're more interested in sharing best practices, there are some really neat business-centric social networks on the Web you'll want to visit.

Funding and Building your Business

• Twitter Launches Tools For Businesses
  The micro-blogging service hopes that its search widget and user manual will help businesses use Twitter for marketing --- and boost its own revenue.


• How to Create a Shared Vision Statement
  Having a clear vision can give a team direction and inspiration, and be the foundation for goal setting and action planning. In today's uncertain economic climate, having a sense of hope, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, is more important than ever.

Incubators and R&D

• Technologies for the Blind and Deaf Could Have Much Broader Impact , Says University of Washigton’s Richard Ladner
  Although designed with the deaf in mind, MobileASL could be used by anyone who wants better quality video phone calls.

Montana Education/Business Partnerships

• New Website Encourages Montana Youths to Explore Apprenticeship Careers
  "We want the next generation of Montana's 21st Century workforce to be educated about the fulfillment and success of Apprenticeship careers," said Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner, Keith Kelly. "Our kids need options, when a 4-year college program isn't a fit. This exciting new website introduces our kids to Apprenticeship career possibilities."

North Dakota Business and Economic Development

• North Dakota, a Place to Go for Employment - a total of more than 9,000 openings in the public and private sectors.
  Just a few years ago, North Dakota’s unemployment rate was so low that officials traveled to other states, trying to convince people to move there. Now officials don’t have to do that; the economy is doing it for them.


• Minneapolis aviation manufacturer eyes North Dakota
  The Minot City Council is considering a loan to a Minneapolis company that may help lure 100 jobs in the next two years to this city.

Oregon Economic Development

• Once-booming Bend, Oregon feels recession’s pinch
  This city in Oregon’s scenic high desert once had one of the nation’s hottest economies. Resort developers, bankers, construction workers and luxury car dealers rushed for a piece of the action. Now some locals call Bend “poverty with a view.”

Washington State Business

• Device safely removes Taser darts - Global Pathogen Solutions Inc.
  Plastic tool takes stun gun hooks from skin to protect emergency workers

Education

• How to help struggling high school students? Send them to College
  

Connectivity & Communications

• For Mozilla and Google, Group Hugs Get Tricky
  For several years, Google has been Mozilla’s biggest ally and patron. But in September, it also became Mozilla’s competitor when it unveiled its own Web browser, Chrome.

Energy and Climate Change

• Hydropower conference set for Spokane 7/27-30
  A micro-turbine paddle that can be dropped into small streams or irrigation canals is one of the innovations featured at the conference.


• A Biofuel Process to Replace All Fossil Fuels
  A startup unveils a high-yield process for making fuel from carbon dioxide and sunlight.


• Cheaper Solar Thermal Power
  A simpler design could reduce the cost of solar power generated by concentrating sunlight on Stirling engines.

Cool Stuff That's Coming

• Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man
  Their concern is that further advances could create profound social disruptions and even have dangerous consequences.

Government Technology

• Montana Secretary Linda McCulloch Launches New Website To Enhance Customer Service
  The new site features user-friendly navigation tools and improved access to information including business scam alerts, elections updates, and the latest office news.

The Creative and Cultural Economy

• Makers of short films long on ambition - “Bozeman, Montana’s film is going to be awesome if it works.”
  “Between Seattle and St. Louis, there ain’t much,” Mills said. Plus, the pair was impressed by the landscape and wanted a chance to visit Yellowstone National Park. “And it’s a fun word to say, ‘Bozeman,’” Mills said.

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