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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Jan 19, 2010 |
“If we’re serious about growing our economy and giving our children opportunities to pursue their dreams right here at home, we have to give them a great education. Our students simply cannot succeed without an education – whether that is reflected by a GED, an industry-based certification, a high school diploma, or better yet, a postsecondary certificate or college degree." Louisiana Governor Jindal http://matr.net/articl ... .html
"Appropriation Announcement: Forms Available for Montana Economic Development through Senator Baucus and Senator Tester" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- "The Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology is accepting proposals for funding. Proposals are due March 1, 2010" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
2011 Montana Legislature
Glacier Raft and Outdoor Center
- Montana State Senator, Mitch Tropila of Great Falls Encourages Citizens to Participate in Montana Legislature
Even if you are tired of politics, State Senator Mitch Tropila of Great Falls says here in Montana, we have the ability to change the face of public policy. That includes everything from school funding, to taxes, and the state budget.
Missoula Public Schools Excellence
- Happy Glacier National Park Centennial Year-- January eNews!
Due to endless efforts by thousands of employees, partners, communities, and visitors, Glacier National Park has been formally preserved for one hundred consecutive years. Glacier’s significance of place and meaning lies in its cultural worth, nearly intact ecosystem, and international importance.
- 100 DAYS IN THE PARK: Photographer’s dedication rewarded in images of Glacier National Park
Hundreds of stunning and often surprising photos of Glacier from every angle – now is considered an official Glacier Park centennial event, and in addition to filling a special edition of Glacier Park Magazine will form the core of a traveling photographic art show.
TechRanch
- Missoula County Public Schools superintendent, Alex Apostle, to roll out initiative to keep students in school
"Everyone's invited, because everyone's involved," said Apostle. "I want people to realize that the problem of keeping kids in school isn't just a school thing. It's an issue for everybody."
The Burton K. Wheeler Center
- TechRanch Presents: "The First Mover Advantage", 1/26, Bozeman, Montana
Tuesday, January 26th, at noon in the TechRanch conference room, please join us for a discussion on a popular tactic of the First Mover Advantage used in segmentation and positioning during the product development process.
Bill Payne
- The Burton K. Wheeler Center at Montana State University announces our Spring Conference - “The ‘Next’ Economy: A Statewide Public Discussion On Jobs And Innovation”, 4/5-6, Bozeman, Montana
"An informed people is the basis of, and a necessity for, successful democratic government. The people of the United States are entitled to hear all sides to a question..." - Burton K. Wheeler
Highway 12 Ventures
- US VC Trends are Driving Angel Groups Towards more Angel-only Deals
Why are VCs moving away from angels, that is investing much larger sums in later stage deals and exacerbating the capital gap between deals that angels typically fund and the size of deals VCs are willing to make as their earliest investments?
Come Home Montana
- 5 More Minutes with Eric Hansen of Portas Ventures
The investment thesis and ideas at Portas Ventures are the same – focused on renewable energy and sustainable approaches to reducing energy consumption.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Montana Talent - Computer Programmer - Zander Thompson
I would love to speak with you further about my qualifications and career goals.
- Reality TV series captures every move of Montana ranch families
The show, titled "Cowboys," follows three families that own and operate cattle ranches in Montana through the ups and downs of a season.
- Montana Career Opportunity - VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary - Northwestern Energy
VP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Butte, Montana or Sioux Falls, South Dakota Serves as the chief legal counsel for a $2+ billion in assets, dynamic and growing publicly traded utility company with operations in SD, NE, and MT.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Trip Planner, Sales - Adventure Life Travel
Competitive compensation, base + commission, health insurance, retirement, bonus, travel perks, dynamic work environment
- PPL Montana plans $1.2 million in wildlife enhancement projects. “Restoring the Treasure”
“Restoring the Treasure,” a 17-minute film that highlights the cooperative restoration effort that began in 2003.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Software Developer I - SimBiotic Software
This is an opportunity to join a fun and highly collaborative group in Missoula dedicated to helping students around the world learn science.
Montana Business
- HP executive escapes from Silicon Valley
The couple always had wanted to see the country. Philip took a buyout. The couple rented out their house, bought a Dolphin motor home and set off to find a better place to live. "It surprised me a little bit," says Nigel Ball, a friend and one of May's HP bosses. "I thought, 'It will probably last a few weeks.' "
Montana Economic Development
- Montana Disadvantaged Business Enterprise 2010 Needs Assessment Survey
Please take a moment to complete the survey. This is an important tool that we use to establish our annual Statement of Work for the DBE Supportive Services program and your opinion matters!
Regional Economic Development
- The Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology is accepting proposals for funding. Proposals are due March 1, 2010.
The Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology encourages economic development through investment in research and commercialization projects.
- Appropriation Announcement: Forms Available for Montana Economic Development through Senator Baucus and Senator Tester
"Every year, I am proud to secure federal funding for high priority projects across Montana. This funding creates good paying jobs, supports research, improves our infrastructure, and grows small businesses." Senator Max Baucus
- MATL could unleash torrent of wind projects in Montana
The project is part of more than $2 billion in proposed transmission projects in Montana that could progress this year, with the lines a direct response to demands from wind developers who are banking on the lines to ship power from the boondocks to big cities.
Funding and Building your Business
- Movie Production Incentives: Blockbuster Support for Lackluster Policy
Based on fanciful estimates of economic activity and tax revenue, states are investing in movie production projects with small returns and taking unnecessary risks with taxpayer dollars.
- Broadband Helps Create Jobs, Not Higher Wages
Increased availability of broadband tends to result in more jobs for companies with high concentrations of professional, administrative, and scientific needs, and fewer for manufacturing firms, according to the research.
Incubators and R&D
- For many startups, going public is no longer the goal
"IPO has become a bad word in the Valley."
Montana Education Excellence
- Two Universities put together grant request to encourage research collaboration and cooperation between schools to benefit the state.
Either campus can take the lead on a research project, but at least 25% of the work must be done by the partner campus.
- Asia gaining on U.S. in science spending
U.S. science retains the lead, but Asia is surging in the global $1.1 trillion research and development enterprise, says a federal report.
- Montana State University receives $1.37 million to create "viral tree of life"
"We are known for finding bizarre viruses."
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Bozeman High opens doors to technical revolution in Montana
Instead of fighting students’ passion for connecting to each other and the world through personal gadgets, the Bozeman schools have decided to join them, and turn what could be electronic toys into tools in a technologic revolution in education.
Regional Business
- Scholarship Opportunities in Electric Field Offered by Hill County Electric
Applicants will be judged based on employment history, personal statement, letters of recommendation, high school and/or college transcripts and their likeliness to complete an apprenticeship and work in Montana.
- Montana industry, unions work to backfill exodus of aging 'boomer' workers
Montana business and labor leaders worry that there may not be enough skilled workers to staff big manufacturing plants and build large industrial projects when the economy recovers.
- Montana Farmers Union funds C.M. Russell High School greenhouse in Great Falls, Montana
The high-school program, which will start in the fall, is aimed at giving students a core set of classes for career development in the agriculture industry. The Montana Farmers Union donated $13,500 to the program so a greenhouse can be purchased and used at C.M. Russell High School.
- The University of Great Falls Receives Grant from the Montana Space Grant Consortium to fund the university's science programs
"Inquiry-based learning" will be instituted in the school's biology program, which encourages students to use critical thinking to guide research and learn how to solve real-world problems.
Idaho Business
- America's Agricultural Angst
In this high-tech information age few look to the most basic industries as sources of national economic power. Yet no sector in America is better positioned for the future than agriculture--if we allow it to reach its potential.
Washington State Business
- Why big box stores are closing in the Treasure Valley of Idaho
Time may be running out for some retailers trying to hang on in a brutal economy.
- The Ground Floor business incubator is ready to launch in downtown Meridian, Idaho
The 3,000-square-foot downtown office space funded by Meridian Development Corp. is the latest in a series of so-called business incubators to spring up in the Treasure Valley, joining the WaterCooler and the Green House in Boise.
Education
- Goal: Create 40,000 jobs in Washington - Commerce chief asks what state can do to encourage private investment
In all, the Department of Commerce has set a goal to create 40,000 new jobs in the state as a result of this strategy. That number falls far short of the roughly 154,000 jobs lost statewide in the past year due to the recession.
- Seattle falls in small business vitality ranking
The most promising region for entrepreneurs is the South, which is home to 12 of the 20 best metros for small businesses.
Government
- Time for class? Hip-hop hooray!
"I want to come to class every day," said Saint Mary's junior Anthony D'Tiole, a student in the "Hip-Hop Politics" course. "I've never had a class like that."
- Opposition to Federal Education Grant Program Emerges
Several rural states, including Montana, have said they will not apply, at least for now, partly because of the emphasis on charter schools, which would draw resources from small country schools.
- Want an MBA from an entrepreneurial hot spot? Look to Israel.
Long known as a center for innovation and entrepreneurship, Israel offers MBA programs that give Westerners an opportunity to refine their skills in a nation of start-up firms.
- Tying student scores to teacher ratings in Oregon and Idaho, while WA takes a go-slow approach
“Schools will be expected to use those results to improve teaching practices and could use them to help decide which teachers they should promote, give bonuses or let go.”
Connectivity & Communications
- Re: Revenue Generating Ideas for Montana - Thirty Thousand Pounds
Montanans consume about 30,000 lbs of marijuana a year.
- Montana's Governor Schweitzer does it his own way
The unusual Democrat continues to do it his own way, even if it makes staffers cringe and causes fellow Democrats to curse.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Federal Agencies Split for Second Funding Window of Broadband Stimulus
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration will focus on funding middle-mile broadband projects, while the U.S. Rural Utilities Service will award last-mile projects.
Non-Profit News
- Intel joins search for thought-controlled tech
"If we could access the global information network simply by using the power of our thoughts, it would open up incredible new opportunities for computing technology."
Transportation
- Intermountain's Permanency Program receives a $10,000 gift from Gallagher Foundation to improve the lives of Montana families affected by abuse and neglect
We are working with consultants to create a distributed learning strategy which will reach more than 108,000 students, parents and professionals in Montana who can directly help our children.
- New Web site: Online volunteer center slated in Anaconda, Montana
Interested volunteers access the site at http://www.serveanaconda.com, and fill out an application that includes their contact information. Organizations create separate profiles of their own, and post volunteer jobs under their name, Thayer said.
- Resources for Haiti Relief Effort - Montana Nonprofit Association
We would like to share some of the information we have been gathering on these efforts in the links below, encourage you to participate in any way you can, and to share your stories with us of your organization's involvement in these efforts.
- Don't Call It 'The Bus' - Cities Develop Alternative Bus Networks to Combat Perceived Disadvantages of Mainline Routes
Cities across the country are experimenting with free "shuttles" that circulate people through top destinations and have a unique brand to take away the stigma of riding the bus.
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