MATR Newsletter - Fri Sep 10, 2010 |
"Success is a journey, not a destination." -Ben Sweetland
Hope to see you in Butte on Monday. I'll be the guy in the Hawaiian shirt so please stop me and say hi, especially if you have any ideas on improving MATR. --- Montana Sen Baucus Hosts 5th Statewide Job Creation Economic Summit, 9/13-14, Butte, Montana http://matr.net/events ... =3126
Everlog™ Systems
Montana Department of Commerce
- Fourmile Fire is now state's worst in history, with 135 homes destroyed
The property damage has eclipsed that of the 2002 Hayman Fire, which destroyed 133 homes and scorched 138,114 acres southwest of Denver.
The Best Place Project - Missoula, Montana's Five-Year Economic Development Strategy
- The Montana Example by Governor Brian Schweitzer
Montana is making national headlines lately, and for a very proud reason: We are one of only two states in America operating without a deficit.
- Montana Technology Innovation Partnership - MTIP Mailer
Paving the Technology Path to Economic Development
Globalization Partners International
- Measuring Economic Development Without Depending on Jobs
Can you have economic development without job growth?
- Missoula's "The Best Place" Business plan causes concern
“We want to sustain the best place, not just rapidly develop it.”
City Club Missoula
- Why are Multilingual Keywords important for your international websites?
What is a "keyword"?
Modwest
- Garden Of 1,000 Buddhas Hosts Sixth Annual Festival Of Peace, 9/11, Arlee, Montana
The sixth annual Festival of Peace takes place at Ewam's Garden of 1,000 Buddhas on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 1-8:30 p.m. Admission is free. The garden is located two miles north of Arlee on White Coyote Road. For detailed directions and more information, visit http://www.ewambuddhagarden.org.
Come Home Montana
- Modwest News: Chat Support standing by, plus site performance tips
Geek Chick: What question should she tackle next?
Cleantech
- Montana Career Opportunity - Executive Director - The Community Food and Agriculture Coalition (CFAC) of Missoula County
CFAC has a strong record of enhancing access to local foods, creating new local markets, working to protect farmland, serving beginning farmers and ranchers, and educating the public about the value and vision of creating a healthy local food system.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Update! 15 PowerPoint Slides That Shook the Earth
These slides have served as change agents in greentech circles. By popular demand, we added a few slides to the collection.
Missoula Public Schools Excellence
- Role Of Entrepreneurship In Conceptual Economy
This is probably the best time in our history to pursue entrepreneurship.
Montana Business
- Missoula students outperform state average but can improve, Apostle says
"We have reason to celebrate, but we are not satisfied."
Montana Economic Development
- ikuw Solutions establishes new operations in Helena, Montana with purchase of The Computer Training Center
“We are excited about taking this next step in our expansion plans in becoming the premiere Montana-based training provider to have professional training facilities in multiple Montana communities,” said Kevin McManus, ikuw Solutions’ Vice President.
- Senator Max Baucus, GE Chairman And CEO Jeff Immelt To Visit Billings, Montana Facility, 9/12, Billings, Montana
Baucus and General Electric’s Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt to Visit with Billings Employees and Family Members, Share Vision for the Future
- Fill THE Gap of Missoula, Montana - "Reducing Energy Costs One Building at a Time"
"I would not only use Fill THE Gap again, I recommend them for anyone seeking a heat loss evaluation." Joe McMahon, McMahon Construction
Montana's "Big Sky Blue" Supercomputer
- Big Sky Economic Development Group Shares Latest About Billings Development Project, 9/15, Billings, Montana
“Our community has made some great strides in revitalizing the EBURD and so many more opportunities exist,” BSED’s Community Development Manager, Patty Nordlund, said. “Our goal with this is event is to let the general public know how the area is progressing, where we’re headed and how they can invest in this exciting development.”
- Jobs for Montana’s Graduates Program Ranked Number One in Nation
“The success rate of the JMG program is phenomenal,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “I would like to thank all the dedicated teachers and students that have made this program so successful.”
- Senator Baucus To Kick Off Montana Host Committee For 2011 Big Sky Trade Summit, 9/10, Belgrade, Montana
Baucus is bringing ambassadors from China, Chile, Ireland, Japan and New Zealand to Montana to attend Friday’s event and tour the state to promote Montana agriculture, manufacturing and tourism before attending his Economic Development Summit in Butte, September 13 and 14.
- The Ravalli County Economic Development Authority to sell bonds for new GlaxoSmithKline R&D unit
The organization will likely use $4.5 million in revenue bonds to build a 16,400-square-foot building adjacent to the current entrepreneurship center in Hamilton. The building will be home to a research and development unit for GlaxoSmithKline.
Regional Economic Development
- Demand for Montana's Supercomputer Exceeds Capacity - "Big Sky Blue"
"We are making a difference here. We are growing," he said. "We think it's a good investment for Butte-Silver Bow."
Bill Payne
- Patent Backlog Frustrates Inventors New Products Could Jumpstart an Economic Recovery but U.S. Patent Office Hampered by Inability to Adjust Fees
"The backlog is indeed our biggest problem," Kappos concedes. "It represents innovations trapped in this agency that otherwise could be creating jobs."
- Michigan offers incubator competition
If you run a startup with less than $1 million in sales, Michigan might just have $500,000 with your name on it -- provided you're willing to move to the Wolverine State.
- The Economic Benefit of Density - Cities: Size Does Not Matter Much Anymore
There's no doubt: The geographic concentration of firms, industries, technologies, people, and other economic assets plays a powerful role in innovation and economic growth.
- Economic boost in Western States awaits transmission upgrades
The region itself is on the brink of being one of the few areas in the United States that commercially produces all five forms of renewable energy, including hydro, wind, biomass, geothermal and solar.
Careers
- A survey of Montana venture capitalists
But, before contacting those firms, here are a few tips for getting their attention:
Funding and Building your Business
- Montana AmeriCorps Program Recruiting Young Adults to Serve Earn $1,132 toward College Tuition
"Our AmeriCorps members gain job and leadership skills while helping their schools and home communities."
Incubators and R&D
- White House Launches Challenge.gov, Offering Prize Money for Innovation
While some of the posted challenges are fairly simple -- such as creating a short video about high-growth careers for the Department of Labor -- many of the challenges are not for the layperson.
- What Can Executives Learn from IBM's CEO Survey?
One prominent takeaway for readers of this blog: sustainability and environmental concerns are NOT gaining ground on the priority list of global CEOs.
- Law Firms Offer Discounts, Play Matchmaker With Cash Tight, Lawyers Give Start-Ups Creative Payment Options, Opportunities to Hook Up With Potential Investors
Venable started a program in July called Venture Services, where clients accepted into the program are able to defer half of their legal fees for a 12-month period, subject to a negotiated cap, paying the balance only if they win funding.
- Reorganizations: Don’t Just Shake up the Bird Cage
Here are some tips that I hope will help the next time you’re thinking of re-drawing that org chart
Montana Education Excellence
- Feds give University of Wyoming $5M more for coal research
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced Tuesday some $575 million in grants to support carbon capture and sequestration projects as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
- Missoula cancer researchers get $1.4 million grant
The grant will help researchers at the University of Montana and the Montana Cancer Institute with a study of members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes seeking to determine how Indians with breast cancer respond to the anti-estrogen cancer drug Tamoxifen.
- ResearchGate, a Facebook for scientists
Now about 500,000 scientists and researchers from every field and almost every country, I'm told, are communicating and collaborating at no charge on a 2-year-old service called ResearchGate
- University of Michigan prepares 174-acre site to serve as incubator
"The North Campus Research Complex represents an opportunity to do something different," said David Canter, the campus' executive director. "Just filling up space is not the mission."
Universities and Economic Development
- University of Montana to honor Pat Williams with scholarships, lectures
"Pat Williams provided valuable assistance during the establishment of the Mansfield Center, and he also chaired the Postsecondary Education Subcommittee in Congress," UM President Dennison said. "With his many years of public service, he embodies the ideals of civic engagement, and the university is pleased to honor him in this way."
- Associated Students of the University of Montana to review University of Montana College of Technology's trailer classrooms
The first resolution, if passed, would identify the COT as a main priority on ASUM’s 2011 agenda.
- Disability Is a Choice, Kevin Connolly ( "Double Take" ) Tells 3,000 at Montana State University Freshman Convocation
The book "Double Take" was chosen as this year's One Book One Bozeman community reading, and Connolly was chosen by MSU as the speaker for Wednesday's Freshman Convocation. An estimated 3,000 students, university staff and community members packed the fieldhouse to hear him.
- Helena Teen, Olivia Holter, Already a Power Player in Montana
The Helena High School senior has the determination of a fighting bull, the empathy of a saint and the brains of a doctor.
University TechTransfer
- University-fueled venture-capital funds aid school-related startups
Venture capital is difficult for startup companies to come by these days. Colorado's state universities are trying to make it a bit easier.
Oregon Economic Development
- Oregon universities harvest $850 million in grants, create companies
The relationship between academic researchers and Baker's commercial venture offers a prime example of how university research can fuel bright spots in Oregon's gloomy economy.
Utah Economic Development
- Oregon Growth Account re-ups with Angel Fund; ambivalent on Portland Seed Fund
State backing for Oregon startups may be harder to come by in the years ahead, as board members of the Oregon Growth Account gave a lukewarm reception to funding pitches they heard at their quarterly meeting this morning in Tigard.
- Oregon’s Effort to Help Families with Child Care Paying Off
Broader impacts were even more compelling.
2011 Montana Legislature
- ATK to create 800 jobs at new Utah facility
The board of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development provided ATK a post-performance tax incentive of $19 million, which represents 30 percent of the new state revenue that will be created by the operation.
Alberta Business and Economic Development
- The University of Montana College of Technology needs legislative help
The primary COT facility was built 42 years ago and was intended to hold 700 students; today, more than 2,000 are enrolled on the campus.
Education
- Alberta Enterprise launches initiative to support creation of new Alberta-based VC funds
Alberta Enterprise is actively looking for professional investors with a demonstrated investment track record and operational expertise with early stage companies to manage a fund headquartered in Alberta.
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- Assessing a Teacher's Value
How should this information be used? What are the strengths and pitfalls of this kind of measurement? If it has flaws, can it be improved and made into a worthwhile tool?
- 'Artists for Humanity' Blend Art and Economics for High School Students
Boston Program Teaches Inner City Kids How To Make a Profit from Their Artwork
- September edition of eSchool News
- UCLA's Anderson School of Management aims to fund itself
UCLA's Anderson School of Management wants to end its reliance on state funds under a controversial proposal that would be the first such shift to self-sufficiency in the cash-strapped UC system and could provide a model for other programs seeking freedom to raise tuition and faculty salaries.
- Schools to Pay Parents for Improved Math Test Scores
The Houston Independent School District will soon hand out cash incentives – up to $1,020 per family – to parents for being more involved in their child's education and students for passing state math tests.
Government
- Homeground with Brian Kahn - The American Prairie Foundation in Montana
The American Prairie Foundation faces a backlash in its mission to preserve Montana's great prairie for bison, birds, and other native species.
Connectivity & Communications
- Governor Schweitzer announces Montana budget cuts
"While the state financial picture is looking brighter, I am still insisting we show fiscal constraint. I am moving forward with most of the reduction measures recommended by the budget office in February," Schweitzer said.
Energy and Climate Change
- PSC Chair Urges Montanans to “Stay Connected” with Telephone Assistance
It may be hard to believe, but many people in our state do not have phone service in their homes.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- University of Montana hopes to build biomass plant
The University of Montana is studying the feasibility of building a “biomass plant” to superheat wood chips into a low-emissions fuel that would be burned to produce steam for the campus’ heating systems.
- 12 Ways the Tech Industry Is Screwing You (and How to Fight Back)
Just because you venture into the tech marketplace with a credit card in your hand doesn't mean you deserve to get screwed.
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