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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Nov 29, 2005 |
“Most of Our Elected Officials Have Not Been Indicted.” -------- One of more than 4,000 suggestions for a new state slogan sent to New Jersey Acting Gov. Richard Codey, which also included these: "We're Not Just Tomatoes," "The State that Looks Like George Washington," "New Jersey Loves Somebody, Anybody, Everybody" and "Three-Quarters of the State Is Really Nice"
Tech Transfer is crucial to the economic success of any state or region. Do you know anyone who might be interested in the following opportunities: - "Slimy bacteria leads to list of discoveries available for licensing from Montana State University" http://www.matr.net/article-17104.html
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
Education
- Entrepreneur class raises students' interest in school
"It's one of many real-world applications that would help students find their high school experience worth staying for," she said. "We really looked into this (NFTE) course to infuse what was our sales and advertising course that needed some zip."
- Montana State University Student Entrepreneur is Wildly Successful - Audubon Outfitters
"I think what makes MSU different, is the real-world training one receives in the business program," he said. "I can certainly say that the hands-on-aspect of my education was most beneficial to my businesses success."
Montana Business
- Montana works to get schools teaching Indian culture
Now comes the real challenge - making Indian Education for All happen.
- Grant allows further financial education for Montana educators
"Montana educators are challenged on a daily basis to teach their student's money management skills while meeting state standards," said Nicole Chinadle, manager of the Family Economics and Financial Education Project at Montana State University. "This grant helps them do just that."
Montana Economic Development
- Inventor offers additive for use in county fleet
“It provides superior lubricant for the fuels and it is a combustion enhancer; that means your vehicle will burn more of the fuel that’s running through” it, said Ritter, of Bozeman.
- Resodyn - Top-flight engineers, scientists prove that high-tech works in Butte
“We invent things,” “We’re kind of in a transition from being a hard-core research and development company to manufacturing,” Farrar said.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Rocky Boy begins master plan for future growth
“This is like changing the tires on a car while it's rolling down the road,”
- Details in spotlight at 2005's version of Great Falls economic summit on Dec. 13.
"It's going to be a better show, a better presentation," Kramer said.
- Montana Governor Schweitzer lays out broad budget priorities
Priorities include: Building a budget that promotes economic development.
- Montana could invest more in training its workers
"Our labor is what I sell," John Kramer said. "We are an educated work force, but we are not trained with job-specific skills."
Funding and Building your Business
- Invest Wisconsin: Republicans propose sweeping changes to promote investment in new startups in the State
“We can create a better entrepreneurial climate if we have capital coming to Wisconsin,” Kanavas said. “And the best way we can do that is to stop taxing capital. If you want to stop something from being effective, tax it. Wisconsin needs to be a magnet for capital formation, and our current tax climate doesn’t allow it. I think it’s going to be a fight, and I think it’s going to be a fight worth fighting.”
Regional Economic Development
- The Founder of Kinko's, Paul Orfalea Offers Entrepreneurs lessons worth copying - "Copy This! Lessons from a Hyperactive Dyslexic Who Turned a Bright Idea into One of America's Best Companies."
"My definition of business is making money while you're sleeping. Because if you have to make money by working, that means you are an employee.
- Learning curve is quick slide when starting up a business
Don't think you can avoid creating a business plan. As Yogi Berra said, "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there."
- Software is boss - WisdomNet eliminates many middle-management tasks
Effective management, training and retention of the right people give companies a competitive edge and can help improve productivity. But companies often don't provide managers with the tools to do that.
- Does Your Company Belong in the Blogosphere?
Blogs allow us to get our message out to the world in a direct, unmediated, and unfiltered way. — Tim Bray, Sun Microsystems
- QREATIVITY: Revolutionary ideas come from ridiculous questions
QREATIVITY is creating something out of nothing by asking BIG questions.
- How Creative is your Company? - Take the Quiz
Creative companies are a joy to work for.
- Bootstrapping gets startups going
How can you start a company with little cash?
Government Technology
- Education is key to overcoming coming jobs crisis
Boomers exceed the next generation of workers by about 10 million and more than half of the new generation are techno-peasants who lack the education and skills needed to step into the positions being vacated.
- There's more than one way to measure city's prosperity
The "Growth Without Growth" paper provides substantial evidence indicating that ratcheting populations jack up costs of cops, schools, road maintenance and on and on.
- Southern Arizona region lays out plan for region's economic future - TREO
While bringing new employers to the region will be a goal - such as it did with Iowa-based Pella Corp. - TREO's plan this year revolves more around "blocking and tackling" for companies already operating in the region, Snell said.
- Portland, Oregon builds reputation as software revolution hub. Too many cooks may spoil the broth, but too many programmers just makes software better.
Portland — a city where T-shirts on college campuses are more likely to sport Firefox than Che — is now seeing venture capitalists descending upon it, proof that all the heavyweight open-source talent here may indeed power the local economy.
- Online entrepreneurs compete with big-boxes as they revive downtowns across the country.
Downtown merchants are reaping steady increases in revenue as a result of Internet-based sales. E-commerce enables them to turn over their inventory much more quickly, allowing store owners to add more products and variety to sales floors.
Idaho BusinessIncubators and R&D
- Group wants tax incentives for Idaho tech industry - Breaks would aid investment and research
Boise State University President Bob Kustra said the ideas could have a "significant impact" in Idaho's ability to recruit and nurture new businesses.
- Governor looks to further boost trade with Mexico during trade trip scheduled for Dec. 3-10
The delegation represents 24 Idaho businesses, four public and private universities, five trade organizations and even an elementary school on a trade mission to Mexico.
- Outside investors inflate Idaho Valley prices - Investors discover Treasure Valley real estate only a web site away
But experts worry that the very things that make homes attractive to investors — affordable housing costs, a strong rental market, a superior quality of life — are threatened by the investment boom.
- Idaho Commerce and Labor Connections November 2005 Newsletter
"In Idaho, we found a plentiful and enthusiastic workforce, lower business operating costs and a fair and balanced tax structure. What could be better?" -- Dana Jordan President of Cascade Toboggans and Rescue Equipment Co. in Sandpoint
University TechTransfer
- Universities Say New Rules Could Hurt U.S. Research
Universities have submitted hundreds of comments criticizing the proposed rules, and they argue that tight restrictions on research by foreigners could backfire and actually hurt national security by hindering scientific progress.
Careers
- Slimy bacteria leads to list of discoveries available for licensing from Montana State University
Companies interested in licensing any of the inventions should contact Nick Zelver, MSU Technology Transfer Office, 994-7868, or by e-mail at [email protected]. MSU so far has licensed 104 technologies, 65 of them to Montana companies. Ninety-three patents have been issued on the university's inventions, with another 151 pending.
Non-Profit News
- Touting success tales over skills
"I don't want them to say, 'He's technically proficient,' " Moran said. "I want them to say, 'He changed my life.' "
Energy
- Giving Thanks -Charitable organizations offer help
This is our annual salute to all the nonprofit organizations that provide helping services to the communities of southwest Montana by volunteering time, services, hearts and souls to help others. You truly put the “unity” in community. From all of us, thanks.
Connectivity & Communications
- Arizona utility eyes Wyoming wire
The 500-kilovolt TransWest Express transmission line is not affiliated with the Frontier transmission proposal -- a collaboration of leaders in Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. However, Wyoming officials do not believe the proposals are in competition.
Transportation
- Search technology comes to the camera phone
It's all part of what several upstart companies have dubbed "mobile visual search"--technology promoted as an easier, more efficient way to get information on the go, without having to type on a tiny keypad.
- New Orleans set to launch the nation's first municipally owned free Wi-Fi
The move probably will stir the roiling national debate over localities launching their own systems.
- NASCIO offers nation wide communications interoperability model
“The public expects their lives and property to be protected by their governments — local, state or federal — without distinction as to who is ultimately responsible,” the study said.
- Money Is There to Aid Rural Internet, but Loans Are Hard to Get
Across rural America, entrepreneurs, lawmakers and Internet company executives say they are frustrated with a loan program created by Congress in 2002 to help extend high-speed Internet service to rural areas. Run by the Rural Utilities Service, an arm of the Department of Agriculture, the program has been allocated nearly $3 billion but the agency has lent less than half that.
Community
- Lewistown and 7 other eastern Montana communities retain passenger air service
As long as he remains in Congress, Rehberg said, he will fight to continue Montana’s subsidized passenger service to smaller airports.
VIRUS ALERTS
- Winds Of Change - Community & Economic Development On Maine's Coast
Many of the urbanites moving to Portland work in finance, marketing, consulting and other professional and creative fields that can be based anywhere that has an airport and Internet service.
- Two More Ways to Fight Viruses, for Free
Both of these freebies can be installed only on home computers that aren't put to any business or commercial use.
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