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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Dec 8, 2009 |
"I think if climate change is in motion, we have to plan on it. There's lots of really smart people thinking about this." Patrick Barkey, director of the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research. http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Highway 12 Ventures
Come Home Montana
- Highway 12's Newest Investment: SendGrid
By using SendGrid instead of their current outbound email servers, companies can improve their delivery rates and solve scalability problems.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Fighting Spirit Lives On In Northern Community of Shelby, Montana
A combination of “can do” spirit and strategic investments to support growing local companies and new infrastructure to feed new industries fitting with the region’s strengths place the Shelby, MT region in a strong position to beat the recession.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Big city blues Could a more affordable life, away from the Bay Area, actually be better?
"I'm still as ambitious as I've always been," he says. "I'm just interested in making different trade-offs. I'm still interested in advancing my career ... but I'm willing to work with maybe somewhat of a handicap by not being in a major (urban) hub."
- Attracting Retail Entrepreneurs to Rural Communities: The Role of the Institutional Environment
Resilient rural communities foster an environment that supports and encourages change.
Montana Business
- Government's Positive Role in Kick-Starting Entrepreneurship
Boulevard of Broken Dreams: Why Public Efforts to Boost Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Have Failed—and What to Do about It.
Montana Economic Development
- Mountain Mudd coffee hut founder, Brenda Burkhartsmeier, has 2 weeks to pay $508K
In 2006, Chicago resident Lana Vlahakis and Brenda Hyde won a judgment against Mountain Mudd and Burkhartsmeier for failing to deliver a “ready to go” coffee kiosk business.
- Montana's Goomzee Mobile Technology Solution Selected By North Carolina Multiple Listing Services To Help Connect Buyers and Sellers
Goomzee’s real estate text message marketing solution, Realty Connect®, combines integration with MLS data systems and innovative features to help connect buyers and sellers.
- Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock Reminds Consumers That Gift Cards and Certificates Don't Expire in Montana
"Montanans have a right to use these cards and certificates - regardless of any date that's stamped on them. Consumers who have questions or are unable to use their cards should contact my office." Steve Bullock
Regional Economic Development
- National Wind, a Minneapolis-based wind developer, puts together Montana deal
National Wind is joining with a Montana wind company to form Judith Highlands Energy, which plans to develop the estimated $1 billion project over the next five to eight years.
- Poll Shows Pulse of Montana Voters - Respondents Give Answers on Economic, Political and Business Issues
“Candidates for the legislature need to focus on the economy, jobs, and growing the business sector,” explained Bennion, “Voters are worried about how much the government is trying to do, so candidates need to offer solutions that center around responsible development of our natural resources, controlling government deficits, and free enterprise.”
Careers
- Growing Today's Green Jobs Requires Solid Economic Development Policy
In fact, the answer to job creation is definitely not financially supported and government-mandated green energy policy that focuses its efforts on wind and sun. The reasons why that policy won’t work include:
- Timber law becomes vast entitlement
Nicknamed "county payments," the timber program was supposed to assist counties shortchanged when national forests limited logging to protect the northern spotted owl and other endangered species.
- Western Governors' Chairman, Gov. Brian Schweitzer To Demonstrate Montana's Decision Support System For Wildlife Tracking and Mapping at Winter Meeting
The mission of the WGWC, consistent with WGA policy, is to identify key wildlife corridors and crucial wildlife habitats in the West and to develop and coordinate implementation of needed policy options and tools for conserving those landscapes.
Funding and Building your Business
- Western Governors University Announces New Scholarship for Nurses
Despite the current recession, the shortage of registered nurses in the U.S. is projected to grow to 260,000 by 2025.
Montana Education Excellence
- How to Write an Operations Manual
Every business, no matter how small, needs to have standards, and developing your own set of policies and procedures (often called an operations manual) will help your business run more smoothly— especially when you can't be there.
- Bootstrapping taken to new extremes
Now, with investment dollars scarce but job-seekers plentiful, Internet entrepreneurs are taking the lean, Spartan ethos to new extremes.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Bozeman, Montana English-language school thrives - A.C.E. Language Institute at Montana State University
"Most of our students have MSU as a goal," said Rick O'Connor, A.C.E. director. "We can prepare them for language proficiency at the university."
- Pharmacy techs on the fast track - MSU Great Falls College of Technology launching a new distance learning program
The idea is to meet a growing demand for pharmacy techs both in hospitals and retail pharmacies, while providing a good paying medical job without years of schooling.
- Montana Schools Superintendent Juneau Awards $119,000 in Grants to Advance Agriculture Education
"We are pleased to be a part of the efforts to encourage agricultural education in Montana's K-12 schools," said Superintendent Juneau. "Agriculture is an important industry in Montana and vital piece of Montana history and heritage. Agriculture programs in schools will help ensure that it is a part of our future."
- Montana Virtual Academy at the University of Montana distance learning project for school-aged children hires director
MTVA is based in the new Phyllis J. Washington Education Center at the University of Montana. It was created to offer kindergarteners through high school seniors access to high-quality, online instruction.
Utah Economic Development
- UM Competition Spotlights Web Designs Created For Local Nonprofits, 12/10, Missoula
The competition connects local Web experts with nonprofit clients who may be unable to afford Web design and development services. In addition, the competition provides an experiential learning opportunity essential for MIS students to translate classroom skills into workplace solutions.
- Professional training Fairview, Montana students think about their future during job shadowing
The job shadowing is part of Career Exploration, a class that examines and discusses various careers. Students come up with three choices for job shadowing and ask questions of their mentors to gather as much information as they can about the job.
Wyoming Business
- Sponsored Research at Utah's Research Universities has a Significant Impact on the State's Economy
"Our research universities are powerful economic engines and the money they receive from grants and contracts for research can have a significant impact on Utah's economy," says EDCUtah President & CEO Jeff Edwards.
Education
- Grads of Climb Wyoming job program struggle to find work
Climb Wyoming has provided a helping hand for single mothers in Wyoming since it began in 1986.
Energy and Climate Change
- Utah State University's business school angling for the top -- $25 million gift to Huntsman School plants seed for new programs in international business and entrepreneurship.
Anderson identified USU's niche as leadership, a concept that he believes should be associated with Utah the way oil is associated with west Texas. "We want Utah to stand for something. I think it stands for leadership."
- Eyeing stimulus money for education, states adopt reforms
The Department of Education has outlined four priority areas for states receiving stimulus money, with particularly stringent requirements for those applying for a Race to the Top grant:
- Success at Every Step: How 23 Programs Support Youth on the Path to College and Beyond
Twenty-three program evaluations are briefly summarized to give policymakers and practitioners an understanding of the research findings on effective programs along with a description of why the programs work.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Spokane-developed electric car catches Leno's eye - Tango
"Goes like stink" Jay Leno
- Businesses have nothing to fear from Copenhagen
Companies like Coca-Cola, Chevron and Wal-Mart have learned that going green is a quick way to save money and improve their public image. "We should get over the misimpression that American business cares only about immediate profits, and we should reward companies that work to keep the planet healthy,"
Non-Profit News
- Video: Man Controls Robotic Hand with Mind
For a month, Pierpaolo Petruzziello's amputated arm was connected to a robotic limb, allowing him to feel sensations and control the arm with his thoughts.
- Nonprofits needed in Montana now more than ever
Nonprofits are avenues for community building, fostering civil society, and strengthening our social fabric. Indeed, nonprofits are essential to the quality of life in our state and the communities we call home.
- Vote Every Day! - Ovando, Montana's Rolling Dog Ranch in running for national animal rescue prize
The rescue shelter is, perhaps, the most noted in Montana and has worked hard to earn its national reputation.
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