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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Jun 25, 2010 |
"Try not to become a person of success, but rather to become a person of value. They are considered successful in our day who get more out of life than they put in. But a man or woman of value will give more than they receive." -Albert Einstein
"From dream to reality: Website offers resource for entrepreneurs. Ideahelp.net" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- "Montana Main Street - Ravalli County - Huls Dairy - MAPS Media Institute - Ravalli Entrepreneurship Center - and much more " http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- " Successful Montana Technology Entrepreneur, Dr. David Opitz Tapped to be Founding Chairman of Missoula Area Big Sky Angels" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana SBA
MSU Leadership Institute
- SBA Announces Funding Available to Support Regional Clusters, Job Creation
SBA will accept proposals from local and regional cluster initiatives beginning July 7 for funding of up to $600,000 per cluster to support up to 15 projects across the country.
Come Home Montana
- Montana State University Leadership Institute participant, Teresa Snyder named to Montana Board of Regents
"My passion for student success and the drive to affect positive change for the Montana University System will make me an asset to the board," Snyder wrote in her application to the governor. Snyder wrote that she also conducted research for the regents' reinvention and reform committee, which is looking for ways to improve the University System.
Come Home Oregon
- Montana Career Opportunity - Freelance Web Developer - Aydus Consulting
We are looking for Web Developers that are specialists in ASP.Net/MS-SQL and/or PHP/MySQL. Familiarity with AspDotNetStorefront or Magento is a plus.
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- Oregon Career Opportunities - Various Positions - The Portland Development Commission
The Portland Development Commission’s Vision is to be a catalyst for positive change in the creation of a world-class 21st Century city; a city in which economic prosperity, quality housing and employment opportunities are available to all.
Cleantech
- MEDA Offers Professional Development Workshops, 8/10-11, Billings, Montana
The purpose of these workshops is to provide an introduction and exposure to key concepts and tools to help shape your efforts. The workshop will be interactive with full participation utilizing case studies, exercises and practical examples on how to manage an effective economic development organization and strategic planning tools focused on results.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Tom Ranken, Former WBBA Chief, Named CEO of Washington Clean Tech Alliance
“The sustainability of Washington’s clean tech economy will be dependent on the successful engagement and growth of innovative companies serving the sector in Washington State,” WCTA Policy Chair Marc Cummings, the director of public affairs at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA, said in a statement. “Tom is a recognized leader in growing industries that will drive our state’s future.”
- Can a cleantech incubator grow in Boston?
We will take the lead because we know how important these businesses are to our city’s future. With this new incubator we are saying to clean tech companies, “We want you in Boston, and we are ready to help you succeed.” Time is of the essence. I believe we really need to move quickly; to push the envelope here; to explore; to be bold. It’s not enough to be a part of the green revolution. In Boston, we must lead it. What else do we want our city’s brand to be – if not revolutionary thinking?
Leadership Montana
- Fostering Entrepreneurs, and Trying to Revive a City - Bizdom U
“Detroit is completely missing an entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Bo Fishback, who is vice president for entrepreneurship at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which gave Bizdom U a $500,000 grant in 2008.
- Startup School, Round Two: The 2010 Xconomy Guide to Venture Incubators
We rounded up these programs last year in the inaugural Xconomy Guide to Venture Incubators, and are back again this year with a new and greatly expanded document that reflects the additions to the field and a revamped vision of what it means to be a startup incubator.
- From dream to reality: Website offers resource for entrepreneurs. Ideahelp.net
“We’re strongly encouraging all entrepreneurs, inventors, or innovators and those entities or individuals that may offer a service to these folks, to register and work through the site over the next three months and provide feedback on how we can make it better,” said Rick Ritter, president of Idaho TechConnect.
Montana Business
- Leadership Montana Announces Class of 2011…
At the heart of Leadership Montana is the concept of community trusteeship.
Montana Economic Development
- Non-residents keep helping Montana economy
The Institute of Tourism and Recreation Research, at the University of Montana, gathered information about nonresidents and posted it online. Researchers say nonresidents contributed to more than 25,000 jobs and $660 million.
- State Publication Showcasing Ravalli County To Be Unveiled, 6/29, Hamilton, Montana
Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly will talk about the latest issue and why Ravalli County was chosen as the focus.
- Plum Creek Montana News - An update on Plum Creek’s investment and activities in Montana.
The 2010 Plum Creek Scholarships: Helping Montana Youth Reach Their Potential
Regional Economic Development
- First Interstate Foundation Presents $14,000 to Commerce for Native American Business Development
“This important infusion of funding will allow the Montana Department of Commerce to provide additional grants to Native American entrepreneurs,” said Andy Poole, Deputy Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “It’s public private partnership at its best.”
- Montana Main Street - Ravalli County - Huls Dairy - MAPS Media Institute - Ravalli Entrepreneurship Center - and much more
In this issue of Main Street Montana http://dli.mt.gov/pub/mainstreet/mstreet052010.pdf , our focus is on alternative energy development in Montana and the important roles these alternative fuels play in both the state and nation’s economy.
- Great Falls Development Authority details successful year
The main goal of the GFDA's strategic plan is to bring better-paying jobs to the region, and the organization made progress toward that goal in the past year, board member Scott Patera said.
Careers
- Nashville mayor: Education is key to attracting tech jobs
"There will be more of an emphasis on facets of our economy such as music, where a lot of the technology jobs will be created. But education is the single biggest thing we need to get right."
- Nevada Governor Forms Task Force to Develop Plans to Diversify Economy
Accomplishments only can be measured if the state acts to solve some of the problems that keep companies from locating their operations in Nevada — and those problems include an inferior education system and substandard delivery of social services.
Funding and Building your Business
- How to Get the Salary You Want
To get the top compensation possible—without putting a sour taste in your potential employer's mouth—take these steps.
Incubators and R&D
- 4 tips from a successful angel-stalker - Find an Angel Investor Before You Need One
Don’t guess what investors want
- New Local Market Research Website Brings Focused Insights to Entrepreneurs, Small Businesses
The LocalMarketResearch.com website is updated twice daily with the latest insights, challenges and opportunities, and news for local small and medium-sized businesses. These include: Franchise owners, restaurants, independent retailers, and regional chains or companies that sell in a small number of markets.
- Cash for Chocolate? Creative Ways to Raise Funds
Instead of going to a bank or tapping your family and friends, consider some alternative financing options.
- Fat Hiring for Lean Startups
Hiring never stops.
- 8 Ways to Create an “A Team”
How would others describe the performance of your team? Would they refer to your team “the A team”? Or are they compared to the Los Angeles Clippers (winning percentage: .362)?
- 10 Ways To Be Your Own Boss - musings of a VC in NY
Fred calmly and carefully blows apart the way-too-common assumption that starting a business is about finding investors. He does this with a simple list of examples, each of which is a happy healthy business, most of which started and grew without outside investment.
University TechTransfer
- Idaho 'nose' explosive detection: Grant helps develop electronic sniffer
For the next three years, Idaho researchers will work on the sniffer – mixing basic science and nanotechnology to improve safety at home and abroad.
- Webtrends sponsors new digital marketing incubator in Portland, Oregon
Historically, business incubators had a mixed reputation as foundations for new businesses. But they're gaining new traction in the online era as a place where entrepreneurs can swap ideas and and reduce overhead.
- Key To Human Heart Disease Could Lie With Hibernating Grizzly Bears
"A bear's heart rate is 80-90 beats per minute when active, but when hibernating its heart rate drops to 15-18 beats per minute."
- University of Washington team wins $1.2 million to radically reduce hospital energy use
The work of the UW team reflects a fundamental game change. Once upon a time, it was enough to create a building that was energy efficient. Now the goal is net zero: the structure creates as much energy as it uses.
Developing an Angel Network in Montana
- Ohio State Commercialization Center seen as unique model
Ohio State University http://www.osu.edu/ has announced a new commercialization center that it calls a unique model for collaboration between university researchers and business -- one that will strengthen the state and national economies and increase university revenues.
Idaho Business
- Successful Montana Technology Entrepreneur, Dr. David Opitz Tapped to be Founding Chairman of Missoula Area Big Sky Angels
Missoula continues to be a location of choice for talented, young, entrepreneurs.
Education
- Call center company could bring 1,200 jobs to Twin Falls, Idaho
C3, a Miami-based company that serves at least two Fortune 500 health-care companies, signed an agreement Tuesday with the Twin Falls Urban Renewal Agency that allows the call center to set up operations within 30 days.
- Clever ads promoting Idaho potatoes hit airports nationwide
The ad shows a sack of potatoes next to suitcases -- and says "Make sure you pick up the right bag."
Other Economies
- Principal: How to REALLY turn around a school
You see, we did not do all the stuff that the new ‘reformers’ think is vital to improve our schools. We did not fire the staff, eliminate tenure, or pay teachers based on student test scores. We did not become a charter school. We did not take away control from a locally elected school board and give it to a mayor. We did not bring in a bunch of two-year short-term teachers. Nope, we did not do any of these things. Because we knew they would not work.
- Tapping technology - High school students pilot iPads
Above all, the technology alone can hook students into learning, Park said, and it's what they'll use in the workplace and college.
Connectivity & Communications
- Rhode Island Offering $125 Million Loan-Guarantees to Tech Firms
Under the program, 75 to 90 percent of each loan made by private lending institutions to qualified businesses will be guaranteed by the RIEDC.
Energy and Climate Change
- 'Power Eye' Lets Consumers Know Why That Web Ad Was Sent to Them
First Trial of What Some Hope Will Become Online Ad Industry's Long-Promised Self-Policing System
- Web Forums Offer Answers, User to User
The answers to your tech questions won't usually be found on Facebook or via Twitter.
- Whose Broadband Did Rural Utilities Service 'Stimulate'?
In phase one of the Rural Utilities Service's funding for improved Internet service, last-mile projects, co-ops and private companies came out on top.
- AT&T moving forward with service in Montana
Over the next 12 months, AT&T will launch service on a market-by-market basis.
- Father's love creates communication device for autistic son - The Cyrano Communicator
“He was in control of all of his entertainment,” Schmidt said. “That was almost like a cure for us. We could take him virtually anywhere.”
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Is the Smart Grid a Dumb Idea?
The nation's power grid is, by some definitions, the largest machine in the world.
- Bacteria Turn Coal and Oil Into Renewable Energy
Bacteria that naturally feast on carbon dioxide (CO2) and coal in the presence of water are working overtime, producing natural gas (CH4; methane) as a byproduct.
- Billings, Montana invited to boost clean energy
Rhys Roth, a founder of New Energy Cities, told the group he’s on “a scouting mission in Montana’’ to see if cities have the desire and willingness to become a partner with the program. New Energy Cities also is meeting with community leaders in Bozeman and Helena.
- Plastic Bags Into Power?
Rather than languishing in landfills or littering roadsides, plastic bags could make their way into useful products like toner, lubricants, or rechargeable cell phone or laptop batteries, if new research becomes commercialized.
Non-Profit News
- Unsend That Letter Award: the Pork People
Last April 1 the blog at ThinkGeek.com offered canned unicorn meat as “the new white meat.”
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Small Employer Health Credit & Jobs-Creation Payroll Tax Reduction Don't miss out on two important nonprofit tax credits
Montana Nonprofit Association and the National Council of Nonprofits work to secure two important tax credits for nonprofits.
- "The 2011 Montana State Budget And Its Implications For Non-profits", 6/30, Missoula
You'll hear about how to succeed (using examples from several other states) in advocating for a balanced approach to state revenues that includes new revenue to fund vital services.
- CraftNet Sketches - June 2010 Volume 6 Number 2
CraftNet is an international network of community colleges devising innovative ways through partnerships to develop artisan-based strengths into a sustainable growth sector for each of their service areas.
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