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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Mar 19, 2010 |
“If you want to reform high school, you need to reform early childhood. You don’t reform high school in high school, you reform very early on in life,” incoming Minneapolis Public School Superintendent Gregory Thornton http://matr.net/articl ... .html
"Nominate Missoula Today! - Many at Missoula meeting laud benefits of Google connection - Rally For Google Fiber For Missoula, 3/20, Missoula" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- "New Study Documents Growing Role for Higher Education in Driving Economic Development Efforts in the States" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- " Montana Career Opportunity - General Manager/CEO, iConnect Montana LLC" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Glacier Raft and Outdoor Center
Idaho National Laboratory
- Crown Of The Continent E-Magazine Available
The University of Montana launched the Crown of the Continent Initiative to provide an educational catalyst for collaboration between UM and Glacier National Park.
TechRanch
- The BlackHawk Project Secures Patent on Wind Turbine
The Blackhawk Project, LLC is dedicated to the development and improvement of Alternative Energy Systems for the benefit of all.
- Idaho National Laboratory User Facility welcomes three new experiments at the Advanced Test Reactor National Scientific User Facility (ATR NSUF)
"The ATR NSUF continues to offer researchers from around the country access to unique national assets to conduct cutting-edge nuclear technology development research projects."
Missoula Children's Theatre
- Interest-Free Loans available to Montana's small businesses. BOOTSTRAP MONTANA LOAN PROGRAM
The program loans funds ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to Montana’s entrepreneurs who embrace the business development philosophy of ‘bootstrapping’—or growing a company without the aid of outside investment capital.
Come Home Montana
- Good kids from Missoula Valley high schools have fun being bad in MCT's ‘Grease' (Get your tickets now!) - By supporting children, you’re investing in their future
"Anyone coming with the expectation to see children performing will be pretty much amazed at the level these kids are giving," said Caron, noting that the band of accompanying musicians and the stage crew are also made up almost entirely of high school students. "It's a real testament to the phenomenal quality of the high school drama programs that exist around Missoula, so if you come to our show and like what you see, you'll like what's going on in the local high schools as well."
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Montana Career Opportunity - General Manager/CEO, iConnect Montana LLC
The General Manager must be able to provide direction and leadership toward the development and achievement of iConnect Montana’s philosophy, mission, strategy, and its goals and objectives. Expertise in the financial, sales & marketing, competitive and technical arenas affecting the data center industry is essential.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- America in 2050 -- Where and How We'll Live
This growth will include everything from the widespread "infilling" of once-desolate inner cities to the creation of new suburban and exurban towns to the resettling of the American heartland -- the vast, still sparsely populated regions that constitute the majority of the U.S. landmass.
Montana Business
- NEW PUBLICATION - MIT Entrepreneurship Review
If you are interested in entrepreneurship, I’d add this to your must read list.
Montana Economic Development
- Big Sky, Montana: bargain basement property available in the land of "The Biggest Skiing in America"
It's an uncoordinated fire sale fueled by foreclosures and cash-strapped homeowners looking to unload property. All of which is causing property in the land of "The Biggest Skiing in America" to move again.
Regional Economic Development
- Montanans Encouraged to Participate in On-Line Speed Tests to Map High Speed Internet Availability
“These tests are quick, easy and important,” said Anthony Preite, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “The data collected from these speed tests will help us plan for broadband services. Broadband technologies are key to bringing good jobs, educational opportunities and cost-effective services to Montana. I encourage everyone to take the speed-test to help promote this project.”
- Montana Chamber Releases 2010 MT Supreme Court Review of Impact on Economic Development in the State.
Fifty-five cases were selected in the study and each justice received a rating based on the justice’s position in each case.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Mountain West output, jobs trail nation in economic recovery
It particularly needs export businesses.
Economic Gardening
- Angels step into venture capital void
For entrepreneurs, there is reason for optimism as angel investors are slowly starting to emerge as an alternative source of financing.
Funding and Building your Business
- Success Through Economic Gardening Focus
It has been met enthusiastically by local businesses and has a number of local partner agencies around the state.
Incubators and R&D
- The compensation mistake every company makes
If human resources adopts the message that compensation should be viewed as an investment -- and not a cost -- then organizations will be better equipped to attract and retain key talent.
- From Main Street to Wall Street—10 Things a Startup Should Do to Groom Itself for an Eventual IPO
Respect Former Employers
- A Bump in the Road? Prepping for Preggo Employees
For some business owners, creating a maternity or paternity policy isn't top of mind— until a staffer becomes pregnant.
- 5 techniques to help turn a great idea into a great business
In the world of entrepreneurship, great ideas are plentiful. Great execution, not so much.
Montana Education Excellence
- “Business Incubators and Their Role in Job Creation”
"In our experience, best practice incubators have exceptional linkages with local and regional private equity communities. NBIA is interested in demonstrating the effects of these programs and helping form these linkages. We believe exit strategies are as important to our members and their clients as exit strategies are to private investors."
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau Announces Funds Available for Local 21st Century Community Learning Centers
“These centers can provide a wholesome, family-oriented environment in the community before and after school hours and help keep kids safe and off the streets,” said Juneau.
- Tickets Available For 'Dining In Darkness', 3/20, Missoula, Montana
The money will go to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which does research on retinal degenerative diseases, and the Missoula County Public Schools, to purchase technology for students with visual impairments.
- Montana State University Billings College of Technology thriving as region’s community college
Community partnerships are the hallmark of successful community colleges.
- Montana schools to seek U.S. funds
Montana education officials are creating a plan to compete for federal stimulus dollars reserved for academically high-performing states.
Regional Business
- Big Sky EDA-EDC endorses YES FOR KIDS initiative to pass School mill levies
Big Sky Economic Development encourages the School District No. 2 Administration, in partnership with its teachers, students, parents, and the business community to continue its work on a vision and strategy for a high quality K-12 education system and a sustainable, long-term financial model.
- The Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation Award Grant to After School Program of International Wildlife Film Festival
“After-School Kids Club Safari Program” Hopes to Inspire Interest in Science & Media
Universities and Economic Development
- Silicon Valley faces brain-drain threat
Not just drawn by China’s markets, Western companies are also attracted to China’s huge reservoirs of cheap, highly skilled engineers — and the subsidies offered by many Chinese cities and regions, particularly for green energy companies.
University Business Plan Competitions
- New Study Documents Growing Role for Higher Education in Driving Economic Development Efforts in the States
"Research, technology transfer, management assistance, and/or worker training are often thrown in among the incentives -- but sometimes as a kind of afterthought.... Perhaps there is now an opportunity to flip the old model around -- adopting a new, 'knowledge first' paradigm in which higher education systems explicitly take a leading role."
University TechTransfer
- Georgia Tech competition spurs inventions - 8 finalists for the prestigious InVenture Prize
What will he do with profits? "The plan will be to give back to Tech," Whaley said. "I love this school and I bleed gold and black. I want to help them change other people's lives."
Education
- Technology transfers involving non-profit organizations: Special tax considerations
In today’s heavily regulatory environment however, the activities of non-profit organizations (in particular, colleges and universities) are being closely scrutinized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other state and federal government agencies.
- Improving the Commercialization of University Inventions
The federal government should require universities receiving research grants to allow faculty inventors the right to choose their licensing agent
Other Economies
- What if a college education just isn't for everyone?
A growing group of educators, economists and policy analysts, who question whether it's realistic and responsible to push students into college even if the odds of academic success seem low.
- Boulder Valley schools hold first-ever 'Elementary College Nights' School district: 'The earlier the better'
Five "Elementary College Nights" are scheduled in April and May for children in kindergarten through fifth grade and their families. The events will include advice on what classes students should take as they move into middle and high school, when they should take them, how to save money for college and how to develop good studying skills.
- Lawmakers Say Needs of Rural Schools Are Overlooked
Lawmakers who represent rural areas told Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a hearing Wednesday that the No Child Left Behind law, as well as the Obama administration’s blueprint for overhauling it, failed to take sufficiently into account the problems of rural schools, and their nine million students.
- Must schools change how writing teachers are taught?
"I was incredibly well trained to teach college writing, but only one course at a time. How do you teach five classes when you've only been trained to teach one?"
Community
- Midwest Economic Success Stories
These places offer affordability and a high quality of life, but still manage to feature many more urban amenities and innovations than commonly assumed. These characteristics make them well-positioned to be among the urban winners in the 21st century.
Connectivity & Communications
- Missoula's Environmental Health - Home
Protecting and improving public health and the environment.
Energy and Climate Change
- Tribe receives $12.3 million in stimulus broadband funds
“We have a rare opportunity to build one of the first fiber-to-the-home networks of this scale in the region. True economic development must involve revitalizing the human spirit of our communities. It is our hope that by lighting up the reservation with a fiber optic network we will spark our most creative minds and encourage the knowledge-based economy we’ve been striving to develop.”
- Nominate Missoula Today! - Many at Missoula meeting laud benefits of Google connection - Rally For Google Fiber For Missoula, 3/20, Missoula
By Friday, March 26, go to the city of Missoula's Web site and click on the box that says "Nominate Missoula for the Google Fiber Project." http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options Nominations must be turned in by 6 p.m. MDT.
Non-Profit News
- Without innovation, energy companies are doomed
Major trends are forcing utilities to rethink the way they do business: swift and dramatic technological change, growing pressure for energy efficiency, resulting demand reduction, mandates for low carbon generation, vehicle electrification and -- sooner or later -- carbon caps or taxes.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Voices from Philanthropy Webinar Series
Join us for an enlightening webinar series designed to connect nonprofit leaders with leaders from the philanthropic community throughout Montana and our region. Hear about trends, strategies, challenges, and the future of philanthropy from the philanthropic leaders who know it best.
- Highlight your Montana nonprofit in new website
Build Montana is a searchable database of Montana charities; facts about the scale, scope, perception, health,economic impact of Montana's nonprofit sector; a portal for volunteering and donating to Montana nonprofits; and resources for strengthening communities through nonprofit connections.
- The Film “The Cove,” Oscar Winner To Have its Missoula Premier at the 33rd International Wildlife Film Festival in May
“The Cove” is one of close to 100 Finalists out of more than 300 Film Entries that were submitted this year to IWFF, breaking a new record in the number of entries.
- Bigfork, Montana to Host Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival to showcase well-known guitarists Aug. 29 through Sept. 5
"Our ultimate goal is for Bigfork and the Flathead Valley to become internationally and nationally recognized as a center for the guitar – to establish it as a place to go to study, perform and compose," Feffer said. "This is the place where innovation in guitar happens."
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