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| MATR Newsletter - Fri May 6, 2005 |
Governor vetoes Sen. Mangan's investor tax-deduction bill - Just when you thought the Legislature was done for now . . . We need your help again! http://www.matr.net/article-14522.html If you have questions about this bill to help develop a more attractive funding environment for Montana startups, please add your questions to the comments section of this article.
Thursday, May 12 The 16th Annual John Ruffatto Business Plan Competition, 5/12, U Of M Missoula http://www.matr.net/events.phtml?showdetail=1130....Also congratulations to Bacterin and Endobiologics - See Montana Business below
Come Home Montana
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Featured "Come Home Montana" Community~BILLINGS
- Montana-Jobs.net Featured Career ~ Loan Officer
- Montana-Jobs.net Featured Talent ~ Network Engineer
Education
- Awakening the Entrepreneur Within You
An entrepreneur is not a person, but a personality, the personality living inside of each and every person on the face of the earth, the personality who dreams.
- Utah High schoolers to gather for Business Week - Is there a program like this in your state?
- Montana State University College of Business Management students work as consultants for local company
When Dustin Diefenderfer, Jesse Woodson and Bobby Bachman finished presenting their Montana State University College of Business Management 475 project, there was a "stunned silence," said Nicholas Bourdeau, Treasurer of Montana Mediation Association (MtMA).
- Butte COT students organize competition with high schools
Welding students' older college counterparts say that the welding program at the COT has opened a world of opportunity for them. Some are already working — demand for proficient welders is high — while others wish to pursue further education.
Montana Business
- A Report on Remaking Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century
Outstanding opportunities!
- Governors Seek Input from 10,000 High School Students - NGA Launches Online ''Rate Your Future'' Survey in Ongoing Effort to Redesign America's High Schools
By the end of this school year, the National Governors Association (NGA) hopes to survey more than 10,000 high school students on their expectations and frustrations about America's high schools and how the work they do affects their futures.
- Ireland added to list of expanding UM exchange programs
- Montana ranked high in student access to technology - 11th in the Nation, Wyoming is ranked 3rd
Education Week's 2005 "Technology Counts" report ranked Montana 11th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia in its ratio of students per computer
- Report Highlights Governors Leadership on Pre-Kindergarten
Governors' leadership on pre-kindergarten is growing, according to a national report by Pre-K Now.
Montana Economic Development
- Corixa bought by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline - will likely mean expansion for the Seattle-based biotechnology firm's 100-employee facility in Hamilton.
GlaxoSmithKline purchased Corixa, a biotech company with offices in South San Francisco, Seattle and Hamilton, for about $300 million.
- GCS Research Delivers Web-based Syndromic Surveillance Information System for School of Pharmacy, The University of Montana:
“We are pleased that OTC Drug Web project is a success. We enjoyed the collaboration with the Intralogix and the University of Montana Pharmacy professionals on this project,” states Alex Philp, President of GCS Research.
- Growing Zoot Enterprises appoints new president
Zoot Enterprises was started in September 1990 to provide rapid credit checks. The company now works with seven of the top 10 banks in the United States.
- Sage Spa Salon Opening Downtown Billings, Montana
Sage International focuses on inspiring their guests to live a healthy, positive life by celebrating their individuality, providing an escape from the demands and stresses of everyday life and continually impacting the communities where we all live, work and play.
- New Building System Offers Revolutionary Alternative to Natural Wood Logs - Cultured Log Systems
A Montana based company has invented a building system that replaces the need for natural wood logs in building a variety of log structures.
- Bozeman company's (AdvR Inc.) laser to be tested for space flight
- Bacterin of Belgrade, MT selected as one of "25 Breakout Companies of 2005" by Fortune Magazine
The Pentagon has given Bacterin $1.4 million to fight infections by coating the metal rods and pins medics use to treat arm and leg wounds on the battlefield. With an IPO possible by 2008, that's a fight worth investing in. — Matthew Boyle
- VaxGen signs research deal with EndoBiologics International Corp.of Missoula
Missoula, Mont.-based EndoBiologics is a privately held company which does research for the government on a vaccine against bacterial dysentery.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- MSU's brain drain reversing: More grads finding work in Montana, especially booming Bozeman
"Having a place I could raise a family, similar to where I grew up, is a big deal," said Mauritsen, 30, who grew up around Kalispell.
- Butte, MT - A Different Kind of Hot Spot
The fundamental challenge for Butte is to move from Old West to New West, from a post-industrial relic to a quaint, historic mining town with fishing, hunting and other recreation in the mountains around it. Unlike Bozeman, Mont., which is so full of Southern Californians that Francis calls it "Bozangeles," Butte's mother lode is its abundance of history, its extraordinary, if decaying, Victorian architecture, and its authenticity. "I truly think Butte is on the verge," Francis says. "I feel strongly about it."
- Sen. Burns brings together Montana Medical Professionals to discuss Health Technology
Health care officials as well as state leaders envision a system connecting hospitals and physicians with patient history instantly, saving time and hopefully lives.
- Montana Ambassadors Spring (2005) Newsletter
Character, competence, contacts and creativity: the mix needed for effective leadership. This describes well the traits of our membership.
- Digital concierge to aid tourists visiting Billings, MT
Accent Media Vice President Adam Steadman said the travelers can access GPS directions to the places they want to see. The kiosks also will give advertisers feedback on which videos tourists are viewing, so they can evaluate the success of their sales pitch.
- Montana Governor Schweitzer signs bill to promote job growth
Rep. Monica Lindeen, D-Huntley, the bill's primary sponsor, said the Big Sky Economic Development Fund, a new trust fund within the coal tax fund, will generate up to $4 million a year for economic development projects at the start. As the trust fund grows, it will generate as much as $10 million a year, she said.
GIS Technology
- Butte native, Steve Huntington pioneers investments in Montana businesses
"Here sits Butte, in the middle," he said. "Isn't there a way for Butte to find a niche? It's got to be a place that embraces its sister cities. That's where the opportunity is, to capitalize on the growth around us."
- Site unites 'angels,' start-ups
"There's a lot of people that could be angels in this community that aren't in an organized group," Richards said.
- Governor vetoes Mangan's investor tax-deduction bill - Just when you thought the Legislature was done for now . . . We need your help again!
Sen. Mangan said he was "disturbed" by the tone of the letter, which he thought suggested that Montana business owners are always looking for ways to avoid paying taxes. "I have a better feeling about Montana businesses," he said. "Their goal is to build their businesses, and not spend their time figuring out how to avoid their tax burden. ... With similar deductions in other states, these things haven't happened."
Funding and Building your Business
- Pierce County, Wash. Expands GIS Capabilities
Overall, the GIS is accessed by 35 county agencies spanning law enforcement, natural resources management, land development, and utilities, as well as several municipal governments.
- Rapid 3-D Urban Modelling The speedy way to capture a city
The concept is similar to building a virtual reality model, but the process is very different.
Legislative Newsletters
- Blogs Will Change Your Business - Our advice: Catch up...or catch you later
First, a few numbers. There are some 9 million blogs out there, with 40,000 new ones popping up each day.
- 10 Ways to Sink your Business
- Fundraising Forum Seeks Women Entrepreneurs
- Web-Security Rules Loom for Small Firms - Is your firm ready?
"It's difficult as far as the cost and meeting the requirements in such a short time frame. Everyone is feeling that pain."
- The Basics of Branding
Learn what this critical business term means and what you can do to establish one for your company.
- Business Ethics for Unseasoned Entrepreneurs: Trends and Concerns for Professionals and Stakeholders
To develop an organization that normally operates ethically in all of their dealings the founder needs to set the trend early in the company’s life span.
- Four VCs on Evaluating Opportunities
It's the market size!!
- Ten Laws of the Modern World
Does your company subscribe to Ogilvy's Law?
- Microsoft intellectual property funds start-ups
- Tips for effective use of blogs for businesses
- Evaluating A Patent System Gone Awry
Some corporations have internal teams whose sole mission is to file for and acquire as many patents as possible. Patent examiners are overwhelmed, and are waving on patent applications -- especially in technology areas -- that would be called head-scratching if one were being polite.
- Startups opting to keep VCs out of equation ... Venture Capital Remains Scarce for Start-ups
Less early-stage seed money means more companies must rely on themselves to get their products to market and many wouldn't have it any other way.
Regional BusinessRegional Economic Development
- Former HP workers discover a world of opportunity after getting laid off
"There's a ripple effect. HP has seeded the Treasure Valley with more than 40 high-tech companies," she said. "They're everywhere."
- Utah venture capital hits high note - bucks national trends with big investment boost
- High-tech firm plans to remain in region: Premier Technology still evaluating sites
Premier decided to remain in southeast Idaho so its 178 employees won't have to move, and because Premier has been selected to assist with a small portion of a $2.9 billion cleanup of the Idaho National Laboratory, Wittrock said. Premier will be responsible for designing and building stainless steel equipment to use in the cleanup, Wittrock said.
Government Technology
- In an increasingly 'flat' world, Wisconsin must adapt to compete
Across Wisconsin, business and education leaders are waking up to the fact that competing in the 21st century economy is no longer an automatic "win-win" for America. Globalization has collapsed time and distance and introduced the new reality that people living half a world away may be able to do your job cheaper, and perhaps just as well.
- North Dakota Legislature Commits $50M for Centers of Excellence
The initiative, unveiled during Gov. Hoeven's 2004 State-of-the-State Address, is designed to pursue academic excellence and spur R&D, new technology, and job creation.
- The buzz about Bend, Oregon is drawing a high-tech crowd
The so-called Juniper Ridge project could become the cornerstone of an invigorated regional economy based on science, engineering and innovation.
- A Skilled Workforce: If you Build IT, Business will Come
It is my contention that if states start building a nanotechnology workforce today, the businesses will come in the near future – even to relatively low-ranking states in the middle of nowhere.
- SBA Newsline Eight May 2005
- Southern Task Force on Venture Capital to Build Investments in Region
The multi-state task force, called VentureSouth, will create a Southern network of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and policy makers to increase the flow of venture capital funds to the region.
- Idaho Office of Science & Technology May 2005
- Jobs created by small businesses may save small-town main streets
An emerging school of thought among economic developers suggests nurturing small entrepreneurial startup companies like Soy Basics might be the answer for building long-term stability in rural and small-town economies.
- The Innovation-Entrepreneurship NEXUS: A National Assessment of Entrepreneurship and Regional Economic Growth and Development
How does your area rate?
- New task force hopes to bring Hollywood to Idaho
"Film and television projects produced in Idaho have an immediate economic impact. They create new jobs and a demand for Idaho products and services, and they are a tremendous opportunity to showcase our state to a national and international audience."
- Rural Idaho still lags behind cities....Counties close to urban areas are thriving, plus quality of country life is good
Most Idaho counties rely on just one sector of the state's diverse economy. In many rural areas, agriculture is still the most important resource industry, but ag income is becoming more and more concentrated in the largest farm and animal operations.
- 'The secret is out' and Forbes agrees: Boise is No. 1
Experts said the Forbes ranking confirmed that the local economy continues to grow, attracting new businesses and residents to the Treasure Valley.
University Business Plan Competitions
- Montana Promotion Division Selects Siebel Systems and Tier1 Innovation to Further Expand State's $2 Billion Tourism Industry
"Our priorities for evaluating solutions were clear -- minimal risk, strict budget alignment, and broad product capabilities out of the box," said Betsy Baumgart, Administrator, Montana Promotion Division.
- Blogs for Local Governments
Outside of election years, and those times when those "big" issues emerge, the public pretty much goes about their business, blissfully unaware of the workings of their local governments.
Incubators and R&D
- Eight Great Business Plans, But Only One Is the Winner ... The 2005 Wharton Business Plan Competition
See if you can pick the winning team (announced at the end of the article; don't look).
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- New Jersey pays to keep the brightest here
"First, it will encourage our best and brightest young minds to stay here rather than finding work in some other state. Second, it will build ties between business and academia, which will help both be more effective."
- MSU University News Research Roundup at Montana State University (#247) - Cellists to China - Chasing air - Organic weeds - Elusive mosquitoes
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Donation of Helicopter from Silver State Helicopters to the UM-Helena College of Technologywill benefit Helena aviation program
"It's an extremely valuable tool because it will provide students with the training that manufacturers and operators require," said Rena Smith, an instructor in the program.
Small Diameter Timber Utilization
- International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula is One Wild Party this week.
For more information on the International Wildlife Film Festival, call the IWFF at 728-9380 or visit them online at http://www.wildlifefilms.org.
Careers
- Will wood help fill US energy needs?
Forget corn processing. Don't wait for switch grass. The real key to producing enough ethanol for America's cars and trucks this century is wood.
Non-Profit News
- Write a Thank-You Letter That Helps Clinch an Offer
Using a thank-you letter as a critical element of a job-search strategy is a new development.
- Always the Runner-Up For Jobs? Learn Why, Then Tweak Your Pitch
The lessons you glean from this all-too-common setback could make you the successful pick someday.
Energy
- Big Sky Institute for the Advancement of NonProfits - Major Projects for 2005 and Beyond
The mission of the Big Sky Institute for the Advancement of Nonprofits (BSI) is to strengthen and increase the capacity of the nonprofit sector in the philanthropic divide states of Montana and those nearby.
Hydrogen News
- In Wisconsin, tilting at windmills is a serious matter
Scores would profit from turbines on their land, including Mr. Oechsner, who, together with his father and brother, would earn $46,200 from 11 turbines on the 750 acres they own in common.
- Washington Sets Green Building Standards for State Facilities
Governor Christine Gregoire recently signed the high performance green building bill, making Washington the first state with a law requiring new public buildings to meet "green building" standards of energy efficiency, water conservation, and other environmental standards.
- Exploring Our Nuclear Potential
On the 35th anniversary of Earth Day, I’ve recycled my interest in nuclear power. I urge you to join me in exploring the multiple dimensions of its potential.
- Billion-barrel Utah oil field?
"They are a legitimate company by anyone's standards and they have a good track record. And they wouldn't have spent any money in the area if they didn't think they had something."
- Microgeneration: Power By The People, For The People
Microgeneration is the local production renewable power by individuals and small communities.
Connectivity & Communications
- Fuel Cell Converts Biomass into Hydrogen
By applying a boost of just 0.25 volt, the researchers succeeded in generating four times as much hydrogen as conventional fermentation does. What is more, the cell can be used with any biodegradable dissolved organic matter.
Lewis and Clark Bicentennial
- Nanotechnology White Paper Released for Journalists
- Speakeasy spreads wireless Net over central Seattle - Whose Wi-Fi is it?
A precursor to the much-anticipated WiMax technology, Speakeasy's wireless network can beam data and voice over unlicensed airwaves at tremendous speeds -- penetrating nearly every building in the coverage area.
- Bandwidth Advance Hints at Future Beyond Wi-Fi
Many computer and consumer electronics executives think that UWB will become the next big thing in the second half of this decade, a convenient alternative for all the cables that are now used to connect everything from high-definition television monitors to stereo speakers and anything in between. Moreover, some experts think that UWB also has a future as a wireless networking technology that will eventually replace the now ubiquitous Wi-Fi wireless standard.
- EarthLink To Test Wi-Fi Phones
EarthLink expects that the makeover of its Internet telephony services will yield a half billion dollars in telephone revenue by 2009, and ultimately will serve 2 percent of all U.S. homes
- Stoned On E-Mail
"We've found that Info-Mania, if unchecked, will damage a worker's performance by reducing their mental sharpness."
- VoIP, Wi-Fi, And Last But Not Least: VoWi-Fi
Panelists in a session Tuesday titled "802.11 and Wi-Fi: What's Next?" unanimously agreed that VoIP and Wi-Fi will have a major impact on companies and industries.
- Internet Phones Arrive at Home (and Some Need No Computer)
For those with high-speed connections, Internet calling and videoconferencing are finally taking off. And as their use grows, so does the selection of tools.
- Bluetooth, UWB developers discuss future of short-range wireless
Wireless developers plan to work together to meld Bluetooth, the short-range technology that links cell phones and cordless headsets, with an emerging technology designed to beam video and other large content short distances between TVs, home entertainment systems and computers.
- The Road Map to a Broadband Nation
Tired of asking "Are we there yet?" Communities across the United States are rolling out sophisticated broadband technologies to take the future for a test-drive. Here's where you'll find them.
Transportation
- Crowds coming to Montana for Lewis & Clark
David Cain, who is portraying expedition member John Colter, said the expedition is fulfilling it main mission by making the Lewis and Clark expedition accessible to the public while experiencing many of the same sights and sounds as the original Corps of Discovery. "What we're seeing is real. What Lewis and Clark saw and felt is what we're seeing and feeling. We're fighting the river and sleeping on the ground, just like them," he said.
Leadership Montana
- Pro-Amtrak whistle-stop tour planned for Hi-Line
Bear Paw Development Corp. is working with the governor's office to coordinate the tour on a grass-roots level, Tuss said. Bear Paw officials will work with economic development agencies along the route to coordinate the tour.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Five Marks of a Great Leader
What makes a real leader? How can we recognize one?
- MSU Leadership Institute: Defining Responsibility
How much of what you do in any given day makes you feel good about yourself?
- Mountaintop view - First blind person to summit Everest shares his perspective on success at any level and in any venture: Teamwork is the key
"There is something beyond independence - that's interdependence. I knew what would get me to the summit was the help of the people that I surrounded myself with," he said.
- Inventor creates soundless sound system
"That sold for $5 million," Norris laughed. "That really made me want to be an inventor."
- Gates speech peppered with politics, predictions
Within six to eight years, you'll probably be getting news from hand-held computer instead of a paper or a magazine, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said yesterday at a conference of business journalists in Seattle.
- The Future of Artificial Intelligence - AI's Next Brain Wave
"The problems where we know all the details are fewer in number than those we encounter on a daily basis. But we don't know how to write a program to do that. ... Any technology that requires you to specify everything you know up front is going to be doomed."
- Profiting from obscurity ..... What the “long tail” means for the economics of e-commerce
The short answer is a shift from mass markets to niche markets, as electronic commerce aggregates and makes profitable what were previously unprofitable transactions.
- Army to get energy-converting sheeting
The Army is bringing to the battlefield flexible plastic sheeting that converts light into energy — technology that could someday find its way into the casing of laptops or even clothing to power portable devices.
- Time Travelers to Meet in Not Too Distant Future
"If you subscribe to alternative-world theory, then time travel makes sense at some level," said Professor Demaine, who would like future-guests to bring answers to mathematical mysteries.
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