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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Sep 17, 2010 |
"Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children." Anonymous (Highlighted by U.S. Energy Secretary, Steven Chu at the Montana Economic Development Summit)
Congratulations to Sen. Baucus, his staff, Butte and everyone involved in the very successful Montana Economic Development Summit this week. If you missed this one, "Senator Max Baucus Announces Montana Economic Development Summit to Air on Bresnan Channels" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html you need to make plans to be sure to attend the next one.
Montana Department of Commerce
Montana Manufacturing Extension Center
- Governor and American Pulses Announce Expansion in Montana
“This kind of agriculture value-adding investment is a win-win for Montana,” said Governor Schweitzer. “Producers benefit from being able to diversify their crops and have a local buyer for them and in return, American Pulses is able to showcase Montana grown products all over the world.”
- Montana's Economic Development Report Card
As a result of a good economy and sound fiscal management by the Governor, Montana is one of only two state governments operating "in the black". (Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, Time Magazine)
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- Sometimes Innovating Is Knowing When to Make a Change
In today’s economy, the company found itself and its competitors wrestling for market share rather than just trying to keep up with organic growth all had been enjoying for several years.
MSU Leadership Institute
- Let’s Make a Deal – 5 tips for Startups when Negotiating Contracts with Big Customers
In a Partnership of Unequals, a Startup Suffers?
- Facebook Places Has Checked-in: Brandowners Should Consider Proactively Setting Up Pages to Prevent Unfixable Errors
This article includes recommendations on how brandowners can protect their brands in connection with these new services.
Come Home Montana
- MSU Leadership Institute To Host Celebrated Author Maya Angelou At Montana State University, 11/1, Bozeman, Montana
All revenues from reserved seating will go directly to the MSU Leadership Institute Endowment. “With this important endowment, and with the backing of our community, we hope to create an enduring base of support for events of this caliber,” stated Carmen McSpadden, Director of the MSU Leadership Institute.
Cleantech
- Montana Career Opportunities - Current Openings with the International Wildlife Media Center & Film Festival
The mission of the International Wildlife Media Center and Film Festival is --- To promote awareness, knowledge and understanding of wildlife, habitat, people and nature through excellence in film, television and other media.
Montana Business
- $1.5 Million Funding Opportunity for Clean Tech from Sirti Foundation
Under the Washington Department of Commerce's State Energy Program, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Sirti Foundation was awarded $1.5 million in funds to provide co-grant/loan funding awards for Clean Energy Innovation Projects.
Montana Economic Development
- Montana Businesses Recognized for Safety Record
The purpose of the Governor's Award is to not only recognize the businesses where safety is a priority but also to promote greater awareness of workplace safety and health issues across the state and offer the opportunity for leaders to share model programs.
- Montana's Zoot Enterprises Celebrates 20 Years of Service to the Financial Industry - Company expands from a one-man shop to vital industry leader
“Many entrepreneurs are often quoted saying they could not have imagined their basement idea would be such a success. From the beginning Chris Nelson always had a much broader view of what the company would become, long before those surrounding him fully realized that vision”
- Montana Software Firm, PostingPlace.com Combines Geospatial Mapping, Analytics to Enhance Applications
State of the art technology, Meet the Cork board
- Montana House Candidates Pitch Small Business Plans
Both candidates for Montana’s sole congressional seat offered ideas on how to help small businesses during their visits to the Flathead Valley last weekend.
Bill Payne
- Montana Department of Transportation - INROADS Newsletter - Paving the Way for Montana’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprises
U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces $11.6 Million in Grants for Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses
- Disney CEO, Bob Iger, Montana Governor Schweitzer and Attorney General kick off second day of Montana Economic Summit in Butte
"We need to think about where Montana will be in 10 years." Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock
- Sen. Baucus Brings U.S. Energy Secretary to Butte Jobs Summit
"Thanks to the leadership of Senator Baucus, Montana's support for wind, biofuels, hydropower and carbon capture technologies is creating jobs while helping to address the growing climate challenges we face," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
- In Case You Missed It...News from the Montana Economic Development Summit
Congratulations to Sen. Max Baucus on the significant economic development successes announced at the summit.
- Summit focuses on clean-energy technology
Chu also gave participants at the Montana Economic Development Summit in Butte two predictions for the future. First, the price of oil will increase in coming decades and second, we will live in a carbon-constrained world.
- Travelocity invests $500K to promote Montana tourism
Montana's tourism industry had cause to celebrate on Tuesday when Travelocity, the global travel company, announced a big gift at the Montana Economic Development Summit.
- Senator Max Baucus Announces Montana Economic Development Summit to Air on Bresnan Channels
Baucus is following up on the successes of his jobs summit by asking members of the public and summit attendees to share questions and ideas by going to http://www.montanaeconomicsummit.org and clicking on the section titled “Submit a Question.”
- Montana senator's summit gave state a needed pep talk but the impact will be long term.
Sen. Max Baucus recently flexed his economic muscle, and showed why having a senator with seniority is a big boost for a small-population state like Montana.
Careers
- Flynn's Harp: A conversation with Bill Payne, dean of angel investors
Bill Payne http://www.billpayne.com , the dean of angel investors, is convinced "the government hasn't got a clue" about the link between economic recovery and the ability of emerging companies to access the capital they need to grow, and thus create new jobs.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- State produces guide to help women get work
Dealing with a punch-drunk job market is difficult for everyone — but especially for women.
Economic Gardening
- Angel Tax Credits Do Help The Economy and Entreprenuership
Tax credits can indeed be extremely valuable to both angel investors and entrepreneurs by encouraging private capital to invest.
Funding and Building your Business
- Economic Gardening - An Entrepreneurial Approach to Economic Development
I recommend Economic Gardening to anyone interested in economic development program for their community.
Incubators and R&D
- A Primer on Angel Investment ‘Simple Term Sheets’
Remember a term sheet agreement is not a deal until the check clears.
- Lessons Learned From StartupBootcamp 2010
On Saturday, MIT hosted Startup Bootcamp to provide a diverse group of lessons to hopeful founders and those teetering on the edge of jumping into a startup.
- 5 Winning Social Media Campaigns to Learn From
Making a social media campaign work sometimes requires a certain je ne sais quoi.
- Marketing Strategy: Buddy Up
While most small businesses aren't fortunate enough to be able to latch on to the campaign of a big company like Apple, some business owners have found ways to reduce marketing costs by sharing the spotlight with another company.
- The 7 Pillars Of Entrepreneurship
Don’t try and do everything yourself!
- Fast growth for your small business isn't always good
"It was like, 'Oh my God, we're not really sure about what we're going to do.'
Montana Education Excellence
- Montana researchers receive $1.4 million grant
When Casey Cable looks at DNA in a test tube, he sees a lot more than a minuscule amount of colorless liquid. He sees possibility.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Lewis and Clark students skip ahead for math skills - "Walk to Math"
Because Lewis and Clark has multi-age classrooms (there are four where first- and second- graders mix), implementing "Walk to Math" was fairly simple.
- Tech junkie – Bozeman’s Andersen is Montana teacher of the year
"It's using what our generation is used to," said student Morgan West, 15. "He's really awesome," Solomon Amsden, 16, said of Andersen. "He does things no other teachers do."
- Montana State University project focused on strengthening science curriculum accepting applications from 4th-8th grade teachers - “Turning Eyes to the Big Sky”
The project will provide training, materials and credits from the Montana Office of Public Instruction for 15 area teachers on the subjects of general astronomy, light and optics. Materials and telescope kits will be awarded to up to 25 students per classroom.
- MSU worries as regents seek incentives to boost graduation
Under the "performance-based funding" proposal, the number of students who complete their classes could determine how millions of dollars are divvied up between state campuses.
- Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock helps Helena students learn dangers of prescription drug abuse
An invisible epidemic is sweeping across the Treasure State, according to Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock. From Wolf Point to West Yellowstone, from Missoula to Miles City, prescription drug abuse is taking a deadly toll.
- Changing the world – Bozeman High gave grads right stuff to become leaders in medicine, international affairs
"Without question, the two years I spent at Bozeman High were absolutely critical in my life," said McFaul, 46. "Without that, the rest wouldn't happen."
University TechTransfer
- Connection with Great Falls hospital provides new training opportunity for COT rad-tech students
Through his contacts at Benefis, Ender was able to get equipment worth about $20,000 for the cost of having it disconnected and moved to Billings and then reinstalled. For a little more than $9,000, the program virtually doubled its lab space.
Alberta Business and Economic Development
- MSU intent on mining on-campus research to turn ideas into patents, local startups
Now, MSU is in the midst of transforming the way it markets and develops these so-called research assets. Two burgeoning departments are evidence of the shift.
Education
- Silicon Valley VC invests $3M in Cary-based ad technology firm - MaxPoint Interactive
MaxPoint, which launched in 2007, has developed what it calls “Digital Zip” technology that it says marketers to target potential customers in local neighborhoods. The company says the funding will be used for expansion.
- Edmonton, Alberta, to Turn Most Trash Into Biofuels
In Edmonton, Alberta, one man’s trash will soon be another man’s gas. In late August the city officially started construction on what’s being touted as the world’s first industrial-level municipal waste-to-biofuels facility.
Government
- Some Chiefs Stay Close to Alma Maters
Strong Executive Ties Can Create Job Opportunities for Students, Lead to Partnerships Between Companies and Colleges
- DreamBox, Mad Science helping kids learn - Educational computer games are so old school.
It makes sense to add an educational component, said Tim Donovan, chief strategy officer for Everloop, a Danville startup that is introducing the Mad Science Kids Club, a science-oriented social network for tweens. "It's what kids do. They're naturally inclined to be online," he said. "Instead of fighting that wave, it's better to facilitate it, by giving them something that on the surface is fun and gamelike, but in reality there's learning embedded the more they play."
- Evaluate teachers so we can pay them what they're worth
Teachers are seriously underpaid, but the public won't support paying the good teachers more without tools to evaluate them. Teachers ought to be leading the way in designing fair evaluation systems.
- Education Nation is a nationally broadcast, in-depth conversation about improving education in America
Education Nation seeks to engage the public, through thoughtful dialogue, in pursuit of the shared goal of providing every American with an opportunity to pursue the best education in the world.
Community
- Governor Schweitzer Releases Montana 2010 Tribal Relations Report
“This report demonstrates the State of Montana’s commitment to sincere and meaningful state-tribal relationships,” Governor Schweitzer said. “We look forward to continuing these historic efforts and strengthening the government-to-government relationship”.
Connectivity & Communications
- Peace Institute to honor former Billings Mayor Chuck Tooley with Rankin Award
Among past recipients are the late U.S. Sen. Mike Mansfield, Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen and Greg Mortenson of Bozeman.
- Fourteen NEW community grants
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- 35 Stimulus Investments to Fund State Broadband Projects
So far, the NTIA has announced 216 BTOP grants that benefit communities across the nation with projects that connect key anchor institutions, such as schools, libraries and hospitals
- Federal grant bringing Wi-Fi to rural Inland Northwest areas
A $20.4 million grant announced by the federal government will make available fast wireless broadband to more than 68,000 residents in rural Stevens, Spokane and Ferry counties – areas underserved by Internet service providers.
- Ronan Telephone Company receives stimulus monies to expand broadband services on Flathead and Blackfeet Reservations
Ronan's Montana West project will expand broadband and high-speed wireless services to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai and the Blackfeet Tribes, while improving access options in the underserved communities of Elmo, Big Arm, Evaro, St. Mary, Babb, Santa Rita, Heart Butte, and East Glacier Park, Montana.
Government Technology
- Demo tech start-ups tackle real estate, organic waste
At the very least, some of the 70 or so start-ups at the semiannual Demo conference in Silicon Valley over the next few days grab your attention. Here are a few worth watching:
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Could the Virginia IT Failure Happen to Any Government?
This is one of those moments in time when technology professionals need to take a step back and ponder those nebulous what ifs.
- Governments Must Manage Analytics at the Enterprise Level
Analytics solutions must be integrated into the broader strategic goals within the enterprise architecture, according to the report, otherwise these tools lose value.
Transportation
- Butte, Montana gets boost from Travelocity for folk festival
On Tuesday morning, it was announced that Travelocity will be donating money to the Mining City to help kick-start the event, slated to be held in July 2011.
- Online Tool Calculates Transportation Costs - Abogo
Abogo measures the money an average household from a neighborhood would spend getting around, whether by car or public transit. It also calculates the average amount of CO2 generated.
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