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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Apr 9, 2010 |
“Between 1980 and 2005, virtually all net new jobs created in the U.S. were created by firms that were 5 years old or less. That is about 40 million jobs. That means the established firms created no new net jobs during that period.” Robert Litan, who directs research at the Kauffman Foundation http://matr.net/articl ... .html
"Montana State Society-6th Annual Testy Fest, 4/24, Washington, D.C. (Sponsorship Opportunities Available for Montana Companies)" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- "Senator Jon Tester Discussed Healthcare, Forests and Financial Forum and Answered Questions at City Club Missoula April Forum" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html ---
Everlog™ Systems
The Burton K. Wheeler Center
- EverLog™ Systems Newsletter April 2010
What makes EverLog™ Siding Panels unique?
Bill Payne
- Persistence pays off for Montana's high-tech entrepreneurs - Wheeler Economic Conference
The Wheeler Center, a nonprofit group located on the Montana State University campus, brings people together twice a year for a nonpartisan discussion of public policy issues. This conference's topic involves the discussion of job creation and innovation in a changing economy.
Highway 12 Ventures
- Seasoned Angel often Favor Preferred Shares
What are the advantages to investors of preferred shares?
City Club Missoula
- TechStars Visits Boise - April 21 - Is your startup ready to compete for one of 10 openings?
I believe TechStars is probably the most unique and innovative mentorship program to help foster and support startups that I’ve seen in my career.
- The Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association, Leadership Observations & Opportunity in the Rocky Mountain Region
he 3rd annual VCIR Fall event is scheduled for September 15-17 in Santa Fe, NM and I hope you’ll consider attending. Importantly, the fall event has only added to VCIR Winter, which is held annually in Beaver Creek, CO.
Come Home Montana
- Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids
Child prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.
- Senator Jon Tester Discussed Healthcare, Forests and Financial Forum and Answered Questions at City Club Missoula April Forum
After Sen. Tester’s presentation, City Club Missoula participants asked a number of questions. Following are a few of the questions put forward to the senator and is answers.
Come Home Washington
- Montana Career Opportunity - Sr. Optical Technician - Lattice Materials LLC
We’re looking for a highly detail oriented Sr. Optical Technician in our manufacturing facility to set-up and operate optical grinding and polishing equipment.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Finance Assistant - American Prairie Foundation
A two-year degree, or equivalent experience is required.
- RightNow Technologies is looking for great people.
If you have the energy, enthusiasm and exceptional skills and experiences to help us rid the world of bad experiences, then please apply today.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Project Manager - Upturn Solutions
Sprocket Success is a 4 step program designed to help facilities maintenance departments improve operational and maintenance performance as well as successfully implement Sprocket CMMS
- Montana State Society-6th Annual Testy Fest, 4/24, Washington, D.C. (Sponsorship Opportunities Available for Montana Companies)
This is an excellent event to promote Montana and Montana made products to an influential group that has an affinity for Montana. Previous sponsors and those who have donated "Made In Montana" products have enjoyed an excellent reception.
Montana Business
- Washington Career Opportunity - Online Marketing Consultant - Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Washington, North Idaho and Montana
The incoming Online Marketing Consultant for the Better Business Bureau will be called upon to use your dynamic personality, proven track record of achievement and sales ability in an existing market to generate the use of the BBB Search Engine Solution, (SES), marketing platform.
Montana Economic Development
- Outside Magazine Names Missoula, Montana Based Adventure Life Journeys One of America's Best Places to Work in 2010
“We are beyond thrilled to be named to Outside’s Best Places to Work list for the second straight year,” said Adventure Life Journeys CEO Brian Morgan. “To see our company on a list with household names, globally recognized brands, and publicly traded companies really speaks to the quality work environment here at Adventure Life. We are very proud of our company.”
- 2 Montana Firms, Roscoe Bridge and Stillwater Leasing Company Join Forces to Address Market Need for Bridges and How Communities Can Finance Them.
The marketing strategy provides a solution for counties that may have been postponing bridge replacement due to cost concerns.
- New Study: Climate Change Threatening Glacier National Park Could Harm Montana's Future Tourism and Economy
Why put at risk Glacier's spectacular resources, as important as they are to Montana's economy?
- Two more glaciers gone from Glacier National Park
"When we're measuring glacier margins, by the time we go home the glacier is already smaller than what we've measured."
- Montana grows jet fuel - Sustainable Oils
"What's special about what happened today," Braun says on the runway, "is that we're using a fuel that's derived from a plant oil, so it's a renewable resource." And Montana farmers grew that camelina.
- Polebridge Mercantile's world famous cinnamon buns are now baked by the sun as it goes solar.
"I've been thinking a lot about who and what we are going to dedicate the panels to," Coat said. "It's the lessons we've learned from the folks who came before us who used and used and didn't think about it. We want to be the generation that thinks about the next generation. We want the next generation to see the world the way we've seen (it)."
- AdvR of Bozeman and IntelliMet of Missoula have received a grant of $70,000 each from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
"Innovation is the lifeline of progress, and scientific and technological innovation are essential to the progress we seek to make in protecting people and the planet, said Paul T. Anastas, assistant administrator of EPA's research and development office. "These small businesses are key to helping us reach that goal."
- Melting glaciers a concern for Glacier Park's tourism industry
"Tourism brings about $3 billion into Montana every year," said Rhonda Fitzgerald, an innkeeper and member of the state tourism advisory council. "In the Glacier region, it's about $1 billion per year. Those are the economic facts."
- Need Training For Your Montana Employees? Funding Available
Take advantage of grant monies made available to Montana small businesses!!!
- Nomad Global Communication Solutions secures contract with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Kalispell on the Front Lines of National Disaster Response
Nomad Global Communication Solutions will initially build two 46-foot, 10-wheeled command centers for the Corps. If the Corps is satisfied, up to 13 more could be on the horizon, Schmautz said. He expects the additional work to bring in 10 more employees, from engineers to marketers.
- Russian owners put Montana's Stillwater Mining Co. up for sale
Russian metals company Norilsk Nickel is exploring the sale of its Montana platinum and palladium mines after prices for the precious metals rebounded sharply in recent months.
- Governor Schweitzer: Montana tourism remains strong, despite recession. Montana sees more and more geotourists
The tourism industry runs neck-and-neck with agriculture as the second largest economic engine in the state, he said, trailing only medical services. So it is perhaps not surprising that Schweitzer used the tourism forum to discuss broader state fiscal issues.
- Outside Magazine Named Great Harvest Franchising, Inc. of Dillon, Montana One of America's Best Places to Work in 2010
"It's truly an honor to receive the 'Best Places To Work' designation from Outside Magazine," said Great Harvest CEO Mike Ferretti. "This company was founded on democratic workplace principles and an inspiring mission statement, which - among other things - underscores the importance of creating amazing whole grain bread, having fun doing it, running fast to help customers and giving generously to others. We're also headquartered in southwestern Montana where enjoying the outdoors and living a healthy, balanced lifestyle is the rule, not the exception."
- Statewide Tourism Awards Presented at Montana Governor's Conference
"The recipients of these awards are representative of an industry comprised of committed, creative individuals who are eager to share with others what makes our home so special," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "I am proud of the work that tourism is able to accomplish collectively in making Montana a better place to work and play and raise our families."
Regional Economic Development
- Bozeman, Montana businesses hope to lure American Airlines to Gallatin Field
Business leaders in Gallatin County are hoping to persuade American Airlines to begin flying into Gallatin Field airport, an addition that could give the valley direct flights to Dallas and New York City.
- 3,000 Megawatts of Renewable Energy Planned for Montana
Grasslands Renewable Energy introduces 'smart grid' transmission concept aggregating diverse renewable energy at a competitive price
Careers
- Innovation touted as a way out of recession
The first order of business, he said, is to improve education. He described the level of state funding for schools as sinful.
- There Is Such A Thing As Rural Development
What we’ve called “rural development” has failed us miserably for decades.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- New Hiring Formula Values Math Pros
Being a math geek has never been cooler.
Funding and Building your Business
- State’s dual-use technology investment fund pays off
A state-sponsored fund launched last year to help Hawaii technology companies move beyond research and into commercialization is yielding impressive results.
Montana Education Excellence
- 3 must-have traits of business leaders
To create a new industry, Frank believes there are two absolute necessities:
- Valuing private firms no longer just guesswork
"We're trying to create some benchmarks for people to understand just what is happening to this very important part of the market."
- Tech firms upgrade perks to lure employees
Unlike elsewhere in corporate America, where top executives vie for corner offices and country club memberships, perks here do not come with rank. But they do come with a sense of freedom and purpose, something employees crave more than free food and massages.
- Foursquare – How The Next Big Social Media Trend Can Help Your Business Succeed
If you’ve been paying attention lately, you’ve probably heard the word “Foursquare” floating around the interwebs.
- 22 Entrepreneur's Tumblrs You Must Start Following Now
Since Tumblrs are sometimes referred to as "online scrapbooks", many of these aren't just blogs but cool grab bags of music, pictures, quotes, and sometimes great posts about entrepreneurship and venture capital. We've selected some of our favorites.
University TechTransfer
- Rally speakers: ‘Make education a top priority for state funding in Montana’
“An investment in the future is an easy choice. Now we just need to convince others to make it a priority.”
- President Cruzado OKs plan to save Montana State University’s microbiology
"I'm very pleased with her decision," said Elliott Barnhart, a microbiology graduate student. "I got goose bumps listening to her plan. You could tell she's a good leader."
Developing an Angel Network in Montana
- Mapping software developed by Idaho State University, USU is international hit
“MapWindow is unique in that it provides software developers tools that they can use to build their own map-enabled software, and they can do this free of charge since the tools are all open source.”
Idaho Business
- Ron Conway And The Technology Ecosystem
Ron is the most prolific angel investor in the business. And also one of the most successful.
Oregon Business
- Allegiant Air begins nonstop service from Idaho Falls to L.A.
“This is an exciting new addition for our airline and our customers as we launch the only nonstop, low-cost service between Idaho Falls and Los Angeles,” Allegiant chairman and CEO Maurice J. Gallagher said.
- Idaho Gov. Otter To Hold Small Business Summit, 4/13, Boise, Idaho
“Small businesses create growth and jobs – two things we want more of in this economy,” said Governor Otter. “We need to hear about their challenges and solutions.”
- Idaho Gov. Otter signs off on early graduation bill.
Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has signed off on a bill to reward students who graduate early from high school with scholarships to Idaho universities and colleges.
Utah Business
- Nominations sought for entrepreneurial awards
The awards will be presented in four categories: Development Stage Company of the Year; Working Capital Stage Company of the Year; Growth Stage Company of the Year and the Entrepreneurship Award for Individual Achievement.
Washington State Business
- Finalists set in Utah innovation awards program
The statewide program presented by Stoel Rives LLP and the Utah Technology Council recognizes Utah innovations and the companies that created them.
Education
- Hydropower draws BMW carbon-fiber factory to Washington
In January the state Community Economic Revitalization Board approved a $1.5 million loan and a $500,000 grant to the Port of Moses Lake to help build a substation to provide power to the factory. Other state funds will be used for energy-conservation and waste-recycling equipment and worker training, Susan St. Germain, economic-development manager for the state Department of Commerce, said in an email.
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- Partnerships for Learning: Promising Practices in Integrating School and Out-of-School Time Program Supports
Across the country many schools and communities are trying to create and support efforts to institutionalize partnerships for learning, including those that rethink the use of time across the school day and year, and across the developmental continuum.
- A Great Education Starts at Home - Increasing Parent Involvement in Education
These are just some of the reasons why it’s so important that parents or guardians play a major role in supporting their children’s education.
- Taking the state out of state colleges
“Maybe we’ve lived beyond a time when states can continue to fund the big institutions. There’s so much mobility across state lines, we may want to rethink this,” says Sandy Baum, senior policy analyst with The College Board, which tracks college tuition and finances.
- The Great Brain Race, How Global Universities Are Reshaping the World
The Great Brain Race tells the story of the transformation of the global academic landscape in recent years.
- Schools tackle teacher-on-teacher bullying
Most schools have policies that target bullying, but they are usually aimed at students. Now, school districts in Iowa and California are developing rules to prevent teachers from bullying teachers.
- Inner-city Chicago charter school has perfect college acceptance rate
College acceptance: At Chicago's Urban Prep charter school, all male and all black, every member of the first graduating class got into a four-year college.
- States push to pay teachers based on performance
For parents and politicians hungry for better schools, the idea of paying teachers more if their students perform better can seem as basic as adding two and two or spelling "cat."
- North Idaho College receives $625K grant to train health information technology students
Community colleges funded under this grant will establish intensive training programs that will result in a training certificate that can be completed in six months or less.
Energy and Climate Change
- american Prairie Foundation Featured in Reader's Digest
On thousands of acres in Eastern Montana, the great American prairie is coming back - nurtured by a determined group of citizens.
Legislative Newsletters
- Wireless electricity
Eric Giler wants to untangle our wired lives with cable-free electric power. Here, he covers what this sci-fi tech offers, and demos MIT's breakthrough version, WiTricity -- a near-to-market invention that may soon recharge your cell phone, car, pacemaker.
- Utility chooses a wireless network - Avista project will be foundation for smart grid
The wireless network will be the two-way foundation that will help deliver messages and data reports across the entire Avista power distribution system.
- High-tech windmill spins around silently in downtown Laurel, Montana
Energy generated is metered and a “net metering” measurement is taken for users on the grid. It determines if they are putting electricity into the grid or using more than they are generating.
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