MATR Newsletter - Fri May 28, 2010 |
"I think the West is going to do well." Warren Buffett
Great upcoming events: "SBA Hosting Small Business Workshop The Economy, Financing & Your Business, 6/2, Gallatin Gateway, Montana" http://matr.net/events ... =3256 --- "Treasure State Export Seminar, 6/3, Billings, Montana" http://matr.net/events ... =3251 -- "2010 MEDA Spring Conference “Montana’s Economy: Life Outside The Boot.”, 6/9-11, Miles City, Montana" http://matr.net/events ... =3234
Glacier Raft and Outdoor Center
"Montana's Race To The Top - The State with the Best Education Wins!"
- Explore the ‘Crown': With so much to do in Glacier National Park, choosing how to have fun is the dilemma
With the Memorial Day weekend fast upon us, he said, the park is opening and readying for business - and his first instinct is to grab a bicycle for a scenic ride up Going-to-the-Sun Road.
PrintingForLess
- Teachers union calls for mandatory all-day kindergarten and universal access to pre-K
The 3.2-million strong teachers union outlined the economic benefits of quality early learning – children who attended quality preschool earned $2,000 more a month as adults according to one study – and endorsed professional development for child care educators.
- Maryland endorses core standards for public schools
The new common standards for math and reading, developed by a state-led coalition with encouragement from President Obama, are part of national efforts to improve public education.
- Montana Fourth-Graders Read Above National Average
Sixty-five percent of students in Montana’s public schools are unable to read at grade-level proficiency when entering fourth grade, a rate that is only slightly better than the national rate of 67 percent.
- Schools need brilliant minds, not cast-off computers
This story is about Silicon Valley schools but my guess is that it reflects the situation in your school district as well. What can we do to bring the computers our children are learning on up to current standards so they are not at a disadvantage? Russ
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- PrintingForLess Printing Matters Newsletters
With the workplace changing at a rapid pace and increased competition in every area, it's more important than ever to invest in your company's most valuable asset - your employees.
Montana SBA
- Intellectual Property - The Point Is (Not) To Compare Like With Like
The decision and some of the language employed by the Court signaled a shift in European trade mark law towards increased protection for trade marks emphasizing the investment and advertising value of marks in addition to their fundamental legal function as indications of origin.
Vision Net
- SBA Recovery Queue Re-Activated
Today we communicated to our lending partners that we have reactivated the Recovery Loan Queue. The queue is an efficient and transparent way to ensure that every remaining dollar possible is made available to help small businesses drive economic recovery across the country.
Come Home Montana
- 10 Rules for Effective Conference Calls
Use video if possible
Three Cups of Tea - The Central Asia Institute
- Montana Career Opportunity - Director of Information Services - EBMS
This full-time position would require relocation to Billings, Mt.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Tickets available to free talk by author Greg Mortenson (Three Cups of Tea), June 5 in Helena, Montana
Mortenson and his organization have established or support more than 130 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Montana Biotech
- Carl Schramm, President and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation discusses entrepreneurship with Charlie Rose
The more entrepreneurs the faster the GDP will grow
Montana Business
- Treasury Releases New Guidance For $1in Billion Tax Credits In Affordable Care Act To Support Groundbreaking Biomedical Research
The guidance released today by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) describes the process by which firms can apply to have their research projects certified as eligible for the credit.
Montana Economic Development
- Google to attend Montana Sen Jon Tester’s upcoming Treasure State Export Seminar June 3 in Billings, Montana
“Our aim is to let Montanans know that there is literally an entire world of new opportunity out there to do business.”
- Tipu’s Chai announces a bold new look and product line
Patel is particularly excited about the potential of the Instant Black Chai because it is an economical, easy-to-ship way to deliver his delicious chai to expanding national and international markets.
University of Montana & Montana State University Tech Transfer
- “Sustainable agriculture is a space that looks as big or bigger than clean tech” - Paul Matteucci - U.S. Venture Partners
“Sustainable agriculture is a space that looks as big or bigger than clean tech,” said Paul Matteucci, a venture capitalist with U.S. Venture Partners in Menlo Park, Calif. “Historically, we have not seen a ton of entrepreneurial activity in agriculture, but we are beginning to see it now, and the opportunities are huge.”
- Great Falls, Montana - Business representatives discuss economic strengths and weaknesses
Great Falls' stable economy, local governments that support business development and superior local contractors are a plus.
- Fruhlander looking at Duluth, Minn., Ohio, and Butte, Montana
Fuhrlander of Germany, one of the world's leading wind turbine companies, with manufacturing plants in Brazil and Germany will visit Butte Thursday, according to local officials. The company has not made a commitment to build in Butte, however.
- Amtrak and Montana Economic Development
The study also estimated that the Empire Builder brought in nearly $14 million in revenue to the state annually, boosting local economies and promoting tourism.
- Alliance Forming to Support Montana’s Growing Clean Technology Economy
The Alliance is planning a state wide kickoff event for late fall that will feature nationally known thought leaders in the fields of green technologies.
- Montana World Trade Center. Lt. Governor John Bohlinger to Lead Trade Mission to Israel
“Israel is one of America’s largest trading partners and one of the most educated, entrepreneurial and innovative societies on earth,” Bohlinger said. “We look forward to forging relationships on this trip that will help Montana businesses sell to new markets, and also lay groundwork for recruiting Israel’s renowned energy-related and high-tech businesses to Montana.”
- Governor Schweitzer says Fuhrlander AG wind turbine plant still coming to Butte, Montana
The company is planning to build the $25 million plant on a 40-acre site about five miles southwest of Butte, and could employ up to 150 people.
- The Clean Energy Choice—To Lead or Lag - Montana's Governor Schweitzer Calls for Green Revolution
Governor Brian Schweitzer said green technology will lead America into the next industrial revolution.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Sinapis Pharma Closes Bridge Financing
Company developing IV methamphetamine as a stroke and brain injury treatment
- MSU develops new antenna to aid rural emergency workers
Companies interested in licensing this technology should contact Nick Zelver with the MSU Technology Transfer Office at (406) 994-7706 or e-mail at [email protected] by June 27.
Funding and Building your Business
- New project to attract offshore capital under way
The project "is working with an international investment bank on options for attracting offshore VC funding".
- 10 things you need to know about Minnesota’s angel tax credit
The credits only apply to “high-technology” ventures like medical devices, biotechnology and wind power. Banks, real estate, accounting, political lobbying, insurance, hospitality types are out of luck.
Incubators and R&D
- Mobile deals could drive more ads to cellphones
Now begins the race to push more ads to your cellphone.
- 5 ways to improve performance reviews
If you are the manager whose job it is to lead those reviews, the tone they take is entirely within your control.
Montana Education Excellence
- FPL News - Recent developments from the Forest Products Laboratory
Our mission: To identify and conduct innovative wood and fiber utilization research that contributes to conservation and productivity of the forest resource, thereby sustaining forests, the economy, and quality of life.
- City of Boise to partner with Boise State on business incubator - The Greenhouse
Student involvement in the Greenhouse will help inspire them to become the city's next generation of entrepreneurs.
Regional Business
- Educators can now apply for their new Montana Educator license online without standing in line or even leaving home.
The new online service is easy to use and provides a more efficient application process for both the applicant and the Office of Public Instruction.
- Montana State University Mountains & Minds Spring 2010
"We are here for the sons and daughters of the working class--by taking care of them, we will take care of our nation." Waded Cruzado, MSU president
University TechTransfer
- Home / Business Idaho steps up campaign to lure businesses; Otter letter riles Oregon, Washington
“Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s ‘love letter’ to neighboring states has generated a lot of debate and hand-wringing recently over which of our two states is better for business.”
Washington State Business
- Solar-powered streetlights will serve as laboratory for Boise State students
“This installation illustrates Boise State’s commitment to advancing science into innovations and products.”
- Governments of Canada and British Columbia Help Launch Technology Commercialization Program
“Getting innovative technologies to the marketplace is the cornerstone of a strong, diversified economy, and this project will promote British Columbia’s reputation as a world leader in innovation,” said the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.
Wyoming Business
- Geoff Entress, the Go-To Startup Investor, Weaves Himself Deeper Into Seattle Tech Community With Founder’s Co-op
How did Geoff Entress become Seattle’s go-to tech investor and startup guru?
Education
- Study shows Wyoming investments pay off for job growth
A new study says Wyoming's investments in infrastructure and education combined with a reasonable tax code make it one of the nation's leaders in growing jobs.
Connectivity & Communications
- Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters
According to national assessment data, 67 % of America's fourth graders are not proficient readers. Worse, 83 % of fourth graders from low-income families fall below the proficient level in reading.
- Higher Education and Workforce Disconnect
In Washington state, the aerospace industry's demand for engineers consistently exceeds the state's production at a two-to-one ratio.
- Venture Capital in Education Summit Announces Ten Finalists
The Showcase offers innovators in the education sector the rare opportunity to present their businesses to the Summit attendees, which include venture capitalists, angel investors, foundations, social venture philanthropists and private equity investors.
Energy and Climate Change
- New website knows more about you than you might like but you can have your listing removed
As more websites do pop up over time, more and more people like Kelly are using their online resources to voice their opinions about sites like Spokeo.com, "I went ahead and emailed to everybody in my address book, saying...go ahead, go on there, you need to find your info and erase it."
- Pentagon: Let Us Secure Your Network or Face the ‘Wild Wild West’ Internet Alone
Companies that operate critical infrastructures and do not voluntarily allow the federal government to install monitoring software on their networks to detect possible cyberattacks would face the “wild” internet on their own and place us all at risk, a top Pentagon official seemed to say Wednesday.
- Internet providers await word on federal grants
Nearly 20 proposals in Montana totaling more than $200 million are being considered by the Obama administration, which says it will start announcing the final grants and loans this summer.
- LinkedIn memberships edge Twitter, but each can help the other grow
"We've seen LinkedIn continue to be the "little engine that could" in comparison to Facebook and Twitter."
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Microsoft Web site aims to make your house a become a more energy efficient Hohm
Starting Wednesday, Microsoft is adding real estate data to its calculations and assigning a Hohm score to most houses in the U.S., so people can compare their home to their neighbors' or scout one they're thinking of buying. The scale goes from one (think of running the heat full blast with the windows open, for starters) to 100 (energy-efficient sainthood ).
- First Human Infected with a Computer Virus
Thanks to the computer chip, his cell phone knows when he's using it, and when someone else is trying to operate the device. If someone else tries to use his phone (after, say, stealing it), that person is not able to use it. Only Gasson can.
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