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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Feb 2, 2010 |
""There is no point in waiting until everything falls off a cliff to do something that could cushion the fall. We will fall if we don't do something dramatic.Otherwise, the university system will continue to starve financially, which threatens to destroy the state's economic future and render it a "stagnant backwater," Dave Frohnmayer "Make universities public corporations" http://matr.net/articl ... .html
"City Club Missoula- "College! Montana" With Sheila Stearns, Montana's Commissioner Of Higher Education, 2/8, Missoula" http://matr.net/articl ... .html --- "MonTEC - Dave Desch Of MBRCT Now Accepting Proposals For Research Funding In Montana, , 2/5, Missoula" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
2011 Montana Legislature
Montana SBA
- Montana Governor Schweitzer rips Legislative Fiscal Division reports as ‘never right’. - Republican leaders say special legislative session is needed
Now I haven’t been governor that long, just five years. But I do know this, that the (legislative) estimates have never been right. Not only have they never been right since I’ve been governor, they’ve never been so wrong for so long.”
University of Montana Tech Transfer
- Montana District SBA Office E-News
In 2010, the SBA will find ways to support the fastest growing small businesses that are the cornerstone of American competitiveness.
Idaho National Laboratory
- Damage-Reducing Stroke Drug from University of Montana Spinoff, Sinapis Pharma, Moving To Human Trials
Our whole goal is to try to create startup companies that stay here in Montana,” he said. “This has been fun. I get as excited about the business of science as the science of science. It’s exciting to have the chance to develop something that actually gets into the clinic and changes lives.”
Bill Payne
- Gov. Otter celebrates new technology at INL Honors Banquet
"Idaho National Laboratory actively supports Gov. Otter's Project 60 goals to grow the regional economy," said Brent Stacey, INL Technology Deployment director.
- Idaho National Laboratory offers grants to enhance science education for Idaho students
The 2010 INL STEM Mini Grants will provide funds to enhance public and private elementary, middle school and high school programs. Teachers can apply for up to $2,000 to fund technology or lab equipment, material for special projects, or professional development. This grant cycle has $60,000 available for teachers statewide.
Highway 12 Ventures
- National Organizations of Angels and Angel Groups
I am now convinced that national angel organizations are a critical component of domestic angel investing environment in all jurisdictions.
City Club Missoula
- Saying No Sucks…
Imagine working in a maternity ward and telling every new mother that their baby is ugly. Unfortunately, it’s part of our job and something we have to do every single day.
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- City Club Missoula- "College! Montana" With Sheila Stearns, Montana's Commissioner Of Higher Education, 2/8, Missoula
Montana's higher education system is ready to meet the challenges of the next five years and beyond. Stearns will talk about the why, how and who of some interesting directions in Montana. She'll touch on topics ranging from the rising dual enrollment for high school students to the creation of a virtual community college.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Economic Developers Association February Newsletter
Also posted online is the 2009 Statewide BEAR Annual Report. Take a few minutes to see the great work BEAR Teams have accomplished all across the state.
- BEAR program helps Montana businesses survive
The BEAR program, which dates to 2001, is designed to help businesses that are already in the community.
Montana Business
- Enterprise builders
An "enterprise builder" sets out from the get-go to change the world and in the process builds an enterprise that creates wealth and jobs. Much, much different than Stage I companies that create a job for the owner and a few others.
- Entrepreneurs face challenges of starting a small business
We are a nation of dreamers.
Montana Economic Development
- NorthWestern Energy grapples with question of source, cost on future power - New power lines’ effect on Montanans hard to predict
NorthWestern officials said the best way to protect against that scenario is to build or buy power sources dedicated to its customers and that the company is already doing that.
- Montana InBusiness Feb. 2010 - "Work Shift"
Missoula jobs growth will mimic national trends
- Blue Cross donates $650K for Montana children's dental care
"The lack of dental health seriously impacts overall health," said Sherry Cladouhos, president of Blue Cross and chairwoman of the Caring Foundation, a charitable group founded by the company. "This initiative literally puts the money where the mouth is: in dental care for kids."
Regional Economic Development
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has millions of dollars looking for a home in Montana.
“It just about encompasses anything a community could want,” said Kim Maines, area director for the USDA Rural Development office in Missoula.
- MonTEC - Dave Desch Of MBRCT Now Accepting Proposals For Research Funding In Montana, , 2/5, Missoula
The Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology is accepting proposals for funding. Proposals are due March 1, 2010.
- Montana Association of Community Development Extension Professionals: February 2010 E-Newsletter
We have 16 members this year and look forward to new initiatives through our new MACDEP program development subcommittee. Stay tuned for more info.
Careers
- Pres. Vailas: "Idaho State University is in the knowledge business"
“No other engine exists in this country with the sum total impact of universities on the growth of our economy; but if you take away the tools to deploy that knowledge, then what is the economic outlook of that region? I don’t think it’s very good.”
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Community Resource Fair, 2/16, Missoula, Montana
If you feel you have something valuable to add to this Resource Fair, please contact the Missoula Job Service http://wsd.dli.mt.gov/local/missoula/ ASAP.
Funding and Building your Business
- Brookings Institute recommends regional venture capital ‘superfund’
It recommends that a $2 billion superfund be created with money from state pension fund investments and be managed by a private-sector firm.
Montana Education Excellence
- How Lean Manufacturing Can Backfire - Toyota
Toyota's recent problems highlight how certain elements of this approach—eliminating overlap by using common parts and designs across multiple product lines, and reducing the number of suppliers to procure parts in greater scale—can backfire when quality-control issues arise.
- Make your employees manage themselves
I’d rather be on a team that has no bad people than a team with stars.
- How to Hire Employees
When you can't run your business by yourself, it's time to hire your first employees.
Universities and Economic Development
- Loyola-Sacred Heart of Missoula, Montana wins state speech and debate crown, now holds nation's longest championship winning streak
For Loyola, the stakes included bragging rights to the longest current state championship winning streak in the nation. Missoula's private Roman Catholic school tied Rhode Island's Mount St. Charles Academy hockey team last year with 26 wins. Now with the total at 27, Loyola-Sacred Heart is alone in the field.
- Superintendent's severance deal after resignation has Havre, Montana buzzing
Walk into a Havre restaurant, the post office or even the gym and the conversation probably will be the same — complete exasperation that the former school superintendent is being paid two year's salary for a few months of work.
- Career Advice Part 2: Never Stop Learning - MOLLI in Missoula
The institute offers a diverse collection of exceptional learning opportunities in the form of noncredit short courses delivered three times a year by some of UM’s outstanding faculty members and others in the community.
- Montana Superintendent Juneau Encourages Teachers to Apply for Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program
A teacher may qualify for loan repayment assistance of up to $3,000 per year for up to four years—a total of up to $12,000.
Idaho Business
- Business the buzz at Brigham Young University Globally astute students set Marriott school apart.
"My goal was to build such a strong program in research [at BYU] that no one would have to apologize for coming here."
- Why it matters who leads research universities
Outstanding scholars are more likely to be selected as presidents in the top US universities, a move that is associated with improved research performance
Education
- Idaho Power's powerful policies
As saving energy becomes a rallying cry for utilities and the government, Idaho Power is in the vanguard. Since 2004, it has been paying farmers such as Erwin to cut power use at crucial times, resulting in drop-offs of as much as 5.6 percent of peak power demand.
- Virtual tours provide new opportunities for businesses, realtors and tourists - GeoData Technologies
The GeoData tool in a Web browser allows one to fly through any area of the state, with detailed views of tourist attractions, hotels, boat ramps, golf courses and camping areas.
Government
- State universities want more students to graduate
"If they succeed, it will not only represent significant improvement in the life chances of the young people, but also big contributions to their states' economies as well as our international competitiveness," said Kati Haycock, president of The Education Trust, which is overseeing the "Access to Success Initiative."
- States struggle to keep top teachers
States are using "broken, outdated and inflexible" policies that ultimately hurt how children learn.
- The Washington Post Higher Education Page
Here's a great way to keep up with the news from institutions of higher education from throughout the world
- State preschool programs save $1B a year in crime, education costs
“In a K-12 system, we spend $`1 billion a grade, but we don’t spend anywhere close to that where it would get the biggest bang for the buck” which is preschool programs.
Other Economies
- State agencies propose $46M cuts to Montana budget
As the state’s projected mid-2011 budget balance dipped dangerously near red ink, Gov. Brian Schweitzer gained the legal authority Friday to cut spending as agencies offered up $46 million of proposed reductions.
- National Governor's Association - Congressional action critical to retaining vital services in rural counties
The Western Governors' Association supports efforts that will ensure forest-dependent counties continue to receive a fair share of guaranteed revenue.
Community
- Home-grown firms key to growth, study says
Massachusetts should focus its economic policies on nurturing home-grown entrepreneurs and companies, rather than working to entice out-of-state firms to relocate here, a study concludes.
Connectivity & CommunicationsEnergy and Climate Change
- North Idaho town's Internet access goes from two-lane to high-speed
In North Idaho, Ferdinand is the first of several communities that will benefit from a federal grant program to give residents alternatives to dial-up and satellite service
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Forest biomass offers Montana promise, pitfalls
Done right, using biomass for energy can promote forest health, community prosperity and jobs, as well as help protect communities from forest fires. However, it should never be allowed to sacrifice our forest’s clean water or abundant wildlife.
- China Leading Global Race to Make Clean Energy
These efforts to dominate renewable energy technologies raise the prospect that the West may someday trade its dependence on oil from the Mideast for a reliance on solar panels, wind turbines and other gear manufactured in China.
- In Portland, Going Green and Growing Vertical in a Bid for Energy Savings
The G.S.A. says the building will use 60 percent to 65 percent less energy than comparable buildings and estimates a savings of $280,000 annually in energy costs. Solar panels could provide up to 15 percent of the building’s power needs. The use of rainwater and low-flow plumbing fixtures will reduce potable water consumption by 68 percent. And energy for lighting will be halved.
- VideoTech: Electric Car Feeds Grid
V2G technology can turn an electric car into a moving power station.
- Eric Grimsrud of Creston, Montana pens climate change book “Thoughts of a Scientist, Citizen, and Grandpa on Climate Change.”
“It’s difficult to get science across to the public,” Grimsrud said. “I learned a bit about getting a serious environmental threat to be recognized.”
Transportation
- Your Health: Too much sitting puts the body on idle
The bottom line, if you will: Sitting kills.
- More exercise better in long run, study finds
"Most often, once patients start exercising on a regular basis, they feel so much better that they try to exceed that level on their own."
- The great electric car race of 2010 - VideoTech: Electric Car Feeds Grid
This year, more automakers will roll out electric cars to American roadways.
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