MATR Newsletter - Tue Aug 11, 2009 |
“Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever.” Aristaphanes
An outstanding opportunity for University of Montana entrepreneurs. This could be the beginning of a new entrepreneurial spirit in the Bitterroot Valley - "Rob Ryan's Entrepreneur-America Opens Its Doors to the Finalists of the Montana University System John Ruffatto Business Plan Competition" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Entrepreneur- America
Idaho National Laboratory
- Rob Ryan's Entrepreneur-America Opens Its Doors to the Finalists of the Montana University System John Ruffatto Business Plan Competition
Montana should be proud that this relationship between Rob Ryan and the University of Montana has been and is developing.
Highway 12 Ventures
- Hire Brash Young Turks, Create the New Bell Labs for Energy, Says Secretary Steven Chu
The national laboratories have an opportunity to make groundbreaking fundamental discoveries, even while being mission-driven. The national labs can collaborate across disciplines, which Chu says is something that seldom happens in universities because they corral researchers within departments, which he calls “stovepipes.”
Come Home Montana
- Boulder, Colorado
Boise, Idaho is the most perfect town to live in the world.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Montana Career Opportunity - Economic and Communit Development Professional - Havre Bear Paw Development
Manage large portfolio of community infrastructure projects in five-county area.
Montana Economic Development
- Why Do Some Rural Towns Thrive? — and Other Questions
It turns out that thriving towns make their own fun and they encourage newcomers to join in. It’s not a question of money. Thriving towns have thriving cultures.
Regional Economic Development
- Ideas from Missoula April Economic development forum still coalescing; another forum set for September
“If you push too hard, people don't get there,” Swanson said. “If you're not in a hurry, you get there faster. That's what I've been told by a wise man.”
- Sen. Baucus Hosts Healthcare Summit in Bozeman, Montana - Better health starts at home - Obama to discuss health care in Bozeman
Healthy communities are built upon foundations that encourage active behavior, which requires unplugging from technology.
Funding and Building your Business
- SBA Chief: I Know 'What It Will Take'
Karen G. Mills has a big job: Get struggling small businesses the help they need to power the U.S. into economic recovery.
- Extended Interview: Water use in Western states - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Montana Senatirs Max Baucus and Jon Tester.
- Dan Hannaher named SBA regional director - Esther H. Vassar Named SBA’s National Ombudsman
A Fargo man has been named a regional director of the federal Small Business Administration.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Recession pushes young techs to create own startups - Entrepreneurship alive and well among college students, recent graduates.
"I knew if I took the safe job and let (my company) kind of die, for the rest of my life I'd be wondering 'What if?' "
- I.T. Grants Available
Grant award amounts vary widely, from $10,000 for a private foundation grant for example to $15 million for a regional economic development project. The average technology-friendly federal grant is in the range of $250,000-$500,000 and funds a project for 18 months.
Idaho Business
- Invenergy gives turbine blades to MSU-Great Falls
The two donated wind turbine blades will help with the college's newly approved wind energy technician program.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- The dawn of Boise's tech age - "Ray Smelek - Making My Own Luck (The harder I worked - the luckier I got)."
It all began in the '70s with an HP employee who liked a local golf course and thought his family would enjoy living and skiing here
Utah Economic Development
- North Dakota Research Center to Develop Fuel from Algae
As an example of its potential, just one acre of algae produces between 5,000 and 15,000 gallons of fuel, compared to only 50 gallons from 1 acre of soybeans.
Washington State Business
- Utah Rural Summit in Cedar City, Aug. 5-7: Smart Strategies for Tough Times
"Our whole focus is dealing with the tough economy. Rural areas are generally the hardest hit in a recession and we are hoping to provide some ideas for people to latch on to, that will help them improve their local economies."
- USTAR Announces Grants Program for Higher Ed Innovators and Companies
In an effort to bring innovative new technologies to market from Utah's regional public colleges and universities, USTAR has launched the Technology Commercialization Grant program.
Wyoming Business
- 10 tech firms you've never heard of in Clark County, Washington
Amid rounds of downsizing and generally slow business as a result of the recession, a collection of Southwest Washington technology companies are surviving and thriving, spinning out creative new products and services in near anonymity. The sector is downright vibrant.
Education
- 'What's in it for Wyoming?' Symposium tackles wind development issues
Wyoming is used to dealing with natural resource industries, but the surge of wind energy developers with designs on the state has created a new slate of issues for Wyoming to address, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said.
Other Economies
- States Close the Achievement Gap in Advanced Placement Courses
Six States in National Governors Association Center Pilot Project See Rise in Number of Students Taking and Succeeding on AP Exams
Connectivity & Communications
- Nevada renews push to poach businesses from California
Talk about kicking a neighbor while he's down: Nevada is spending $250,000 for an ad campaign that compares California legislators to talking chimps and tells business owners they can "kiss their assets goodbye" if they stay put.
Energy and Climate Change
- New Wi-Fi Standard Promises Blazing Fast Data Speeds
Products based on the final 802.11 n standard could offer up to 600 Mbps connectivity speeds, plus the ability to have up to four simultaneous streams of high-definition video, voice and data through the house. The standard also promises easy backward compatibility, which means new devices will work smoothly with older products.
- Disability Group Boosts Google Book Search
Google’s Book Search program will help the blind and wheelchair-bound read more, a disability group told a federal judge Wednesday, giving Google some much needed support in its attempt to create the online library and bookstore of the future.
- Telco companies to provide data for broadband map
The country's biggest phone and cable companies have agreed to hand over information about their broadband networks to help the federal government produce a national map showing where high-speed Internet connections are available across the U.S.
- Bringing Broadband to Rural America
Many are working with the company Connected Nation to map their state's connectivity, while states like Alabama have launched their own intiatives.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Solar Thermal Power Tower Debuts in U.S.
This week, eSolar debuted the first solar thermal power tower in the U.S., which they say is a step forward in technology and affordability.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- A Metal Coating That Repairs Itself
Electroplated metal could be used to make self-healing construction materials, car parts, and machinery.
- Artist's bronzes honored at Calgary show
With his success last month at the Calgary Stampede Western Art Show, the work of the soft-spoken Mayernik shouted for all to hear.
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