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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Jan 15, 2010 |
We could sell every parcel of state land and log every tree on state lands, but we don’t … because we want to sustain Montana’s lands for future beneficial use … keeping Montana ‘Montana.’” Public Instruction Superintendent Denise Juneau "Boost Montana's economy with nature, not natural resources" http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Hope to see businesses and individuals supporting this important initiative for Missoula's future: 'Graduation Matters Missoula' Campaign Launches Tuesday, Jan. 19 http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Globalization Partners International
Missoula Public Schools Excellence
- Globalization Partners International Teams Up With The Montana World Trade Center to Enable Its Website For An International Audience.
GPI worked with MWTC staff closely from scoping the project to approving designs and feature sets, through localization and website testing. GPI provided comprehensive design, development and translation, as well as CMS deployment and hosting for the new multilingual website.
University of Montana Tech Transfer
- 'Graduation Matters Missoula' Campaign Launches Tuesday, Jan. 19
Missoula County Public Schools has been working with community leaders from a wide variety of local organizations to develop a lasting campaign to encourage students to stay in school through graduation.
- Unlocking the mind: Missoula Writing Collaborative seeks funds to help student program
"The main feature of our program has always been the in-depth nature of it," said Megan McNamer, the program's administrative director. "The students build this trusting relationship with the writer. It allows them to think and write more creatively, but beyond that, they just perform better in school."
Idaho National Laboratory
- Ohio University makes a bundle on sale of company School's share in sale of Diagnostic Hybrids could total $41 million
"This is really a story about Ohio University wanting to assist its faculty in its research and help invest in that research."
- Flower power - Critics question stimulus funds spent on science research at the University of Montana
"The general population I don't think understands how important university-based basic research is to the economic well-being and the future of this country," Dwyer says.
TechRanch
- Idaho National Laboratory studies graphite for use in reactor
Graphite is extremely resistant to heat and has some of the other properties the researchers are looking for.
Highway 12 Ventures
- More Investment Tips from My Father
In my early years of learning the venture capital business, both my father and his business partner instilled upon me to beware of the entrepreneur who names the business after him or herself.
- Married to the Business and to Each Other
As the saying goes, buy the rumor, sell the news.
Modwest
- The Future Of Innovation In Idaho - (The following is an open letter to members of the Idaho Legislature)
How does the inquisitiveness of a child create innovation and economic growth?
Come Home Montana
- Why Hello There, 2010, Plus Modwest News and Info
at Modwest we know our own success is linked to listening to you, our customer. So, this month we are unveiling 5 major improvements we've made to our service based on your feedback. Read on to get the details of these significant changes.
Warren Miller Freedom Foundation
- Internship Opportunity Available in Rep. Denny Rehberg's Washington, D.C. Office
Do you love Montana? Are you interested in politics and public service? Would you like to spend a semester living and working in the nation's capital?
- Montana Career Opportunity - Manager District Operations - Northwestern Energy
- Montana Career Opportunity - Computer Software Engineer - Montana State University Bozeman
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Warren Miller’s Annual Medical Advice for Skiers, especially those with bum knees
I still haven’t had my knee replaced.
Montana Biotech
- Experiential Learning Course on Business Plan Development Available to all Montana Businsses Through the University of Montana School of Business
Do you need to do a business plan, marketing plan or a feasibility study but don’t have the time? Your business does not need to be in Missoula to participate.
- Entrepreneurship May Work Like A Clock, But It Still Needs Winding: Exploring the Kauffman Study on New Firm Formation
What if it turned out that the number of new companies created by entrepreneurs is pretty much the same every year—and that things like how much money venture firms are handing out, or how many companies are achieving lucrative exits, or how many students are graduating from business school, or how many startup incubator programs are springing up, make no difference whatsoever to the nation’s overall levels of entrepreneurial activity?
Montana Business
- Biotech strong but faces challenges in state
Biotech and medical device industries are selling more products and employing more people despite the recession, but industry leaders said the state needs to invest in education and get more competitive on taxes to keep its lead in a field that was born here.
Montana Economic Development
- Great Harvest Bread of Dillon, Montana Launches The Bread Business Blog
I'm going to share stories with you in this blog http://blog.greatharvest.com/ about the people that create Great Harvest bread every day in communities around the U.S.
- New Technology Venture in Billings, Montana - Altitude Technologies LLC
“We go in and help the small and medium business market and run their technology, at a reasonable price." While large companies have such expertise in house, most small businesses cannot afford it. “We help them make good solid investments.” Founder, Kirk Porter.
- Senator Tester To Host Second Workshop For Montana Contractors, Businesses, 2/19, Bozeman
Senator aims to bring jobs, federal contracts to Montana
- Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC launches new tool rich web site - Innovative Tools Show Business Owners How to Prosper and Grow During Dynamic Economic Times
“We have completely redeveloped our web site to provide business and non-profit organizations more creative resources to use through these turbulent economic times”, said Dr. Joe Michels, Principal, Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC.
- Challenges ahead for Missoula economy
For those of us who keep score on regional economic performance, there are two kinds of lessons here.
- Big Sky Resort Offering Valuable Lift Ticket Coupons
Big Sky Resort, Montana is home to the Biggest Skiing in America and a favorite Rocky Mountain Ski Resort.
- Ladies- Want to be a better skier? Women's Ski Camp, 1/21-23, Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana
This camp is designed for blue run skiers looking to expand their horizons off-piste through double black diamond & expert terrain off the peak - Led by women, for women. Learn more...
Funding and Building your Business
- Kalispell Chamber puts focus on jobs - National ‘Dream Big’ campaign lauds free enterprise
“We have the ability to do it. We’ve done it before and we can do it again.”
- Economic roundtable in North-Central Montana
Another topic at the roundtable was increasing the production of alternative energy, including utlizing the facilities for research, testing and product ion of biofuel s at Montana State University- Northern and the creation of the Montana Agro-Energy Idustrial Park set for construction southwest of Havre.
Incubators and R&D
- Three Options for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
When people consider entrepreneurship, they often think about starting a new business. What should startup business owners consider in their planning?
- How to Craft a Candidate Rejection Letter or E-Mail (Yes, You Have Time To Do It!)
If you don't send timely rejection notices to job candidates, the damage to your company's reputation can quickly go beyond disgruntled candidates.
- Winter reading for entrepreneurs: Three books on building your business
It's time to relax with a few good books and read away your winter blues.
- What's Your Company's Sentence?
It's not good enough to be pretty good at everything. You have to be the most of something: the most elegant, the most colorful, the most responsive, the most focused.
- Everything You Want To Know About The Most Secretive Startup In The World (Next Jump)
In the annals of stealth startups, Next Jump deserves its own chapter.
Montana Education Excellence
- New Technology and Renewable Energy Incubator Launches in Southern Utah
Technology and green energy incubators have proven to be successful in other “rural” areas around the nation. In fact, recent research suggests that businesses involved in an incubator are successful 87 percent of the time, compared to the less than 60 percent success rate for non-incubated companies.
University TechTransfer
- Montana State University College of Business takes students from backpack to briefcase
The College has created a Professional Advantage program designed to give graduates an edge in their job searches and careers.
- Bigfork High School senior tries hand as marine biologist
"Every single day I was out of my comfort zone," Bakker said. "I did something new every single day."
- University of Montana Sustainability Project Garners National Attention
The project has grown to become not only a teaching resource, but also a student and faculty research forum for projects related to sustainable living.
Idaho Business
- UC San Diego launches student-assisted venture fund
The Rady Venture Fund will give the school's Master of Business Administration candidates and other UCSD graduate students hands-on education in funding startups and encouraging entrepreneurship.
Oregon Business
- Gov. Otter aims to cut 458 jobs from Idaho government
Wayne Hammon told the Joint Finance-Appropriations budget committee Thursday said 637 full-time positions are currently vacant, out of about 18,000 total state jobs.
- Green is greener at Idaho ECO-nomics Expo
North Idaho could be a trendsetter in organizing efforts to make ecology an economic plus for businesses.
- Tax law change could net $500K from out-of-state business execs
The proposal deals with income taxes collected from partners, members and shareholders in “pass-through entities” like business partnerships, limited liability companies and s-corporations.
- Micron cuts deal with Australian solar energy company
A new international partner will help the Boise company take another step toward green energy.
Education
- Taxes and tech: Oregon's industry leaders aren't engaged
I've been asking tech industry execs about the issue for the past six months and have heard a consistent refrain: Whatever their opinions about these individual measures, they'd like to see broad reform in Oregon's fiscal policy, taxes and education system.
Government
- Workforce Investment Now
An investment in education is an investment in the future.
- Texas Shuts Door on Millions in Education Grants
“We would be foolish and irresponsible,” Mr. Perry said, “to place our children’s future in the hands of unelected bureaucrats and special-interest groups thousands of miles away in Washington.”
- Governor wants to transform education
Creating an education system with higher student achievement, increased accountability, improved teacher and principal effectiveness, and a reformed school day and year will require redirection of school district money, Heineman said, including "diverting resources from lawyers and lobbyists to the classroom."
- High school class engages students in academics, career skills through sports marketing
The business teacher's advanced course has become so popular among Tigard High School's 2,000 students that more than 80 kids applied for 32 slots this year.
Montana Meth Project
- Montana Governor Schweitzer's administration cancels almost $48,000 in raises in budget office
"These are tougher times," Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Tuesday. "We're going to ask you to do more and pay you the same."
- Governor Schweitzer Announces Montana Accountability Partnership Contest – Citizens Encouraged to Help Save State Money
“Just like Montana families have to make tough decisions about finances in these times, so does state government,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “We will continue to be accountable for every dollar.”
- 'Governing Montana at the Grass Roots: Local Government Structure, Process and Politics" publication released
The updated book, based on 2009 legislation, is the first that deals exclusively with municipal and county government in the Big Sky State. The authors examine the architecture, politics and needed reforms of Montana's local governments within the context of the American federal system and within the constitutional framework of Montana state government.
- Newt Gingrich Enlists Montana Gov. Schweitzer’s Help In Good Government Project
The governor told Gingrich that Montana is doing better than other states financially because it set some money aside during good times and was prudent with its budget.
Community
- Montana Meth Project Unveils New Media Campaign
Renowned Cinematographer Wally Pfister Directs Television Ads that Encourage Teens to Speak Up and Help Prevent Meth Use
Connectivity & Communications
- 52 weeks - Disability Rights Montana
52 weeks is a blog featuring People, Places and Issues that are part of the everyday reality of people with disabilities.
Energy and Climate Change
- How to Make Municipal Wi-Fi Work
The idea of free Internet for all Americans looks good on screen, but the concept also raises crucial questions.
- Broadband Funding: Yes, in Your Backyard
Rural communities intent on providing broadband networks can't wait for help; they have to look inward. Downhome investors are making IT advancement real.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- New Transmission Development Benefits Montana’s Economy --- Montanans being asked to fund their own energy demise
Editor's Note: The following comments are provided by Dave Gates, Vice President, Wholesale Operations in response to Commissioner Brad Molner's opposition to building new electric transmission in Montana, which Mr. Molner has expressed in local papers.
- Clearing the air in the Missoula Valley
When Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.'s linerboard plant in Frenchtown stopped making paper last week, it also stopped spouting what for years has been the largest plume of emissions rising out of the Missoula Valley.
- Business Groups Win Out over Montana Greenhouse Gas Proposals
Board members said their December decision to move on state greenhouse-gas rules was meant to protect Montana businesses from potentially onerous regulations coming down from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Glacier High School’s biomass boiler is a budget boon
If the biomass boiler at Glacier High School keeps running as smoothly as it has in recent months, Kalispell Public Schools’ energy bill could be about $58,200 lower than it was last year.
Government Technology
- Free Dragon app for iPhone, iPod Touch nails dictation
Dragon Dictation is handy when it's inconvenient to type on a virtual keyboard.
- Morphine May Help Traumatic Stress - Meth Could Effectively Treat Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury
University of Montana Research Could Provide Effective Treatment for Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury - Sinapis Pharma
Non-Profit News
- State of Montana Telephone Directory Available Online at mt.gov – Saves Taxpayers about $20,000
“Just like Montana families have to make decisions about finances in these times, so does state government,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “We will continue to be accountable for every dollar.”
- Montana Nonprofit Association January MTc3 eNews - MNA’s New Vision and Business Plan Take Shape
MNA has shaped a new vision for the nonprofit sector, which we are pleased to share with you at this time.
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