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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Feb 11, 2011 |
"Every day, right here in Missoula, Montana, you can engage in your community in a way that clearly shows you have nothing but faith in our place and its future." Mayor John Engen http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Microsoft executive and Montana Ambassador, Sean Thompson to keynote Tester jobs workshop in Missoula on Feb. 23 http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Department of Commerce
PrintingForLess
- Montana: Energy to Spare in the Pipeline - You Should Be Here Building Your Business and Living Your Dream
Montana is an energy state, ranked second only to South Dakota as an energy producer and exporter.
- FAST Grant Awarded - Counseling Assistance for Montana Businesses
Counseling Assistance for Businesses - Innovation and Commercialization of New Technologies
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- PrintingForLess Printing Matters Newsletters - Print Buying Tips News and Offers to Help Grow Your Business
They say "love don't cost a thing," but according to Valentine's Day statistics, it certainly does.
Modwest
- "Admitting Failure" Learning from what's not working - Creating space for what is.
Get involved - share failures, build knowledge and encourage others to do the same - so we all benefit, today.
- Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Juneau Announces Launch of Montana OPI on iTunes U - Professional Development and Classroom Resources Now Available as a Free Download
"We are always looking for new and efficient ways to improve access to teacher training and share lesson plans and classroom activities," stated Superintendent Juneau. "iTunes U is a 21st century tool for a 21st century education. As state Superintendent, I am committed to constant innovation to keep Montana classrooms at pace with today's rapidly changing technologies."
- From Minds-i, construction kits that inspire students and hobbyist robot builders
As they click the kits into shape and attach motors and sensors, the students learn key lessons in mechanics and physics.
- High school isn't enough for job market - "In a sense, high school has become the new middle school"
"Increasingly, high school is being seen as simply preparation for the next level of education," said James Stone, director of the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
MSU Leadership Institute
- Modwest Feb. 2011 Newsletter
To POP or IMAP, that is the question
Montana Ambassadors
- Montana State University Leadership Institute Hosts Academy Award Winner, Dustin Lance Black - Gay screenwriter urges fight for equal rights
Dustin Lance Black, who received an Academy Award for best screenplay in 2009, spoke at the MSU campus Wednesday night.
Montana Biotech
- Microsoft executive and Montana Ambassador, Sean Thompson to keynote Tester jobs workshop in Missoula on Feb. 23
Thompson will deliver the keynote speech at Tester's sixth Small Business Opportunity Workshop. The Missoula workshop will focus on boosting entrepreneurship and will bring successful small business owners together with new and emerging entrepreneurs, bankers, angel fund lessons and other financing opportunities.
Montana Business
- Bioscience is High-Paying Jobs Creator in Montana
Montana biotech industry includes 150 businesses across the state
Regional Economic Development
- Stevensville, Montana specialty pipefitting manufacturing business revitalized, more jobs coming - Specialized Fittings
Many of the new jobs that are being created require specialized skills. Bitterroot Job Service is working with Specialized Fittings and other businesses to help retrain workers who have lost jobs to layoffs or business closures.
- RightNow of Bozeman, Montana Helps Power Customer Support for Match.com
RightNow's support for Match.com is typical of what analysts expect to see as organizations, including Yahoo, ramp up their customer-service.
- Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. plans to expand Helena operations adding 40 new jobs by the end of March and up to 200 over the next two years.
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. http://www.acs-inc.com/ , announced Wednesday that it plans to expand its Helena operation, adding 40 new jobs by the end of March and up to 200 over the next two years.
- Blue Marble Files with SEC for $1.3 million A-1 Convertible Note Deal
"We represent a new model of manufacturing -capital-light facilities and high-value products. This means that $1.3 million can go much further in our hands, than in a traditional, capital-intensive manufacturing facility."
Bill Payne
- Aroostook County Trails into the Future
With funding from the Libra Foundation, they set out to create "a model for the sustainability of rural communities through a skiing lifestyle."
- SBA Lending Initiatives for Underserved Communities Launch on Feb. 15
SBA Preferred Lenders can begin approving Small Loan Advantage loans; 'Mission-focused' lenders can start applying to participate in Community Advantage
Funding and Building your Business
- Three Days of Angel Investing Insights
The approach to deal negotiation was that of helping the entrepreneur with his or her wealth accumulation goals.
- Angel Investor Bill Payne: Due Diligence Is So Yesterday - NOT!
You just read another story on how quickly certain angels invest and you're secretly admiring their ability to make decisions on the spot. Now you're thinking: Due diligence is SO yesterday. Screw it and close more deals already!
Montana Education Excellence
- Nokia CEO Stephen Elop rallies troops in brutally honest 'burning platform' memo? (update: it's real!)
Here's a great example of brutally honest communications from a CEO. Many companies have been or will be in this position. What can your company learn from this example?
- 'Captcha' squiggles give way to ad pitches on security tests
Start saying goodbye to those squiggly words or random letters you sometimes have to type in on website security tests when buying event tickets or participating in online contests.
- Do your homework: Build your community before you build your product
To many entrepreneurs, becoming active on social networks is an after-the-fact strategy. To the smartest, fastest, and most frugal entrepreneurs, it's a leading strategy.
- SBA program teaching business growth coming to Montana
The Small Business Administration is bringing the Emerging Leaders 200 Initiative -- e200 -- and its master's of business administration-style program to Montana small businesses to help them learn how to grow.
- 10 Tips for Working with Outside Experts
Trite but true: there's no such thing as a win-loss business relationship. You both win or you both lose.
- There are no failures, only experiments
When a test doesn't work, the proper reaction is, " 'That's interesting -- I wonder why,' and not 'I'm a failure.' Pamela Slim, author of "Escape from Cubicle Nation"
- Tapping Customers' Egos to Build a Web Presence
When we hear or see our own name, it plays into our hardwired ego, and we can't help but take notice. Using this "magic" properly can draw a lot of interest to your business.
- Helping Entrepreneurs Make Sense of M&A Deal Terms
Selling a company is hard. For starters, how do you know if you're getting a good price, especially with a company that has little to no revenue?
- How to Talk to a Venture Capitalist
Michael Greeley of Flybridge Capital Partners tells what he wants to hear from a CFO.
Idaho Business
- University of Montana Council drafts new 'core themes'
Improving retention rates and emphasizing global education will be among The University of Montana's primary goals in coming years, Associate Provost Arlene Walker-Andrews told faculty and students at a University Council meeting Tuesday.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- If you buy goods out of state, you may still owe Idaho use tax
The Tax Commission's reminder comes as the state continues to look for money to help plug a looming deficit that would be as high as $137 million.
Education
- Shrimp Farming in... North Dakota?
"If you can do it here, you can grow shrimp anywhere."
Other Economies
- The 2011 Horizon Report - Emerging technology in the higher education environment
Mobile devices are one year away from transforming education. For the third straight year.
- Kauffman Labs Inaugural Incubator Program Brings In Education-Focused Entrepreneurs from Massachusetts, Michigan, and Bay Area
It's not necessarily looking for the next billion-dollar Web or software startup, but is entirely focused on developing businesses and technologies out to improve education.
Legislative Newsletters
- Vermont Governor Unveils Plan to Boost High-Tech Jobs
"Any one of these proposals would be a step in the right direction toward getting Vermont's back to work. Taken as a package, this Jobs Bill will stimulate every sector of Vermont's economy."
- Is Low-Taxes Sales Pitch Enough to Bring Businesses to Nevada?
This debate over the state's approach to economic development has evolved into a proxy fight over the state budget, and whether to cut spending on education or increase taxes.
Government Technology
- Senator Baucus Pushes Bipartisan Effort to Support Essential Air Service, Montana Jobs
The bipartisan group will work to address the needs of communities that rely on EAS funding to ensure rural travelers access to air service and who would otherwise have to travel hours to the nearest airport.
Non-Profit News
- Western states (Colorado, Montana, Oregon and Utah) look to solve GIS storage woes in the cloud
Montana led the RFI effort with active participation from the other states, which are members of the Western States Contracting Alliance.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Watson Children's Shelter's "One Isn't Enough" campaign: A story of success.
Thanks to an outpouring of generous community support, Partners Creative's nonprofit client Watson Children's Shelter announced that it successfully completed its "One Isn't Enough" capital campaign, raising more than $4.4 million in cash and in-kind gifts.
- 2011 Governor's Humanities Awards, 2/24, Helena, Montana
Humanities Montana, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the humanities, their insights and values, to the people of Montana, enriching the intellectual, cultural, and civic life of the state.
- HBO Documentary Films sponsors FREE Opening Night Screening at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival 2/11
Now in its eighth year, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival has grown to become the largest film event in Montana.
- Check Out New West's Regional Film Festivals Map
Presenting New West's interactive listing of indie cinema events throughout the Rockies.
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