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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Dec 2, 2005 |
"If you think you can't, you're right." Carol Bartz Autodesk CEO
Come Home Montana
Education
- Featured "Come Home Montana" Community~LEWISTOWN
Lewistown is a great place for children and families! Strong local school system, Lewistown is a community where childhood is highly valued. Lewistown Public Schools are some of the best in the state and consistently stand out when compared on the state and national level.
- Montana-Jobs.net Featured Career ~ Executive Director
- Montana-Jobs.net Featured Talent - Executive Assistant
MEDA Entrepreneur Working Group
- Stevensville High School AP program gets national recognition
“We are still kind of a secret in western Montana.” That is why Mullin is trying to get the word out to other schools from rural or low-income areas. She stresses that money is out there if those schools' teachers and administrators are willing to take on the challenge of offering more AP classes.
- University of Montana Law School Moot Court Team Continues Winning Streak
"This is by far the longest such winning streak in the nation," said Larry Howell, an assistant professor of law and UM’s moot court team coach. UM most recently won the national championship in 2000.
- The Student Assistance Foundation Announces Complementary Mission Grant Program
The Student Assistance Foundation announced today that it will be awarding grant funds of $1,000 up to $25,000 to Montana organizations that share, support, or otherwise complement the mission of the Student Assistance Foundation: to provide students with the knowledge and resources to finance and pursue their postsecondary education.
- Idaho State University medical school urged
“I think this is a project whose time has come,” Coker said. “Someday Idaho is going to have a medical school and let's figure out when that is and my person opinion is the time is now.”
- Planning Community-Based Schools
Coalition Staff Director Marty Blank explains the benefits of community schools and discusses the progress being made in implementing them throughout the country.
Montana Business
- College towns make grade by drawing entrepreneurs
Because knowing the lay of the land is a big advantage, many entrepreneurs turn toward their old alma maters.
- Ten Minutes to Anywhere
“Ten minutes to anywhere…including work, school, shopping and home,” is the theme of Fairmont, MN (population 10,889) to bring home their mid-career graduates.
- Start-Ups By recent college graduates find what they need in university cities.
"I contend that these college and university towns, especially broad-based universities with engineering, science, and math, are going to outgrow the general population," Karlgaard said. "They're growing for a reason - they are providing jobs, and really 21st century kinds of jobs."
- Budding entrepreneurs get a heads-up - Utah summit gives real-world tips, information to 400 high-schoolers
"One of the things I've noticed in helping teachers teach entrepreneurship is that a lot of teachers try to teach this stuff from a textbook," Acord said. "But it's hard to understand how it works without talking with someone who's been there — the entrepreneur."
Montana Economic Development
- DirecTV may have ripple effect on Missoula area's wages
“I think it's a good thing. The general wage will increase,”
- Montana in bottom 5 in household income
Mississippi had the lowest median income, at $32,397. West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana and Montana rounded out the bottom five.
- Winter business in Yellowstone Park changes
Snowmobiling is no longer the dominant force it once was in Yellowstone National Park, as cross-country skiing, ice skating and even massage therapy attracts more visitors.
- National Outdoor Leadership School GoLite and Bozeman, Montana's Backpacking Light Magazine Team Up to Take Ultralight Backpacking Education Mainstream - UM offers Wilderness Outfitting, Packing Course
These courses represent NOLS’ first foray into ultralight backpacking, the most recognized trend in the outdoors over the past decade.
- A-hunting we will go — after time at the spa - Hunting and fishing go upscale - Simms Fishing Products
The outdoor industry is aiming for sportsmen and women like the Jamisons. Hunting, fishing and the shooting sports are storming the mass market and luring upscale consumers at a healthy clip.
- R.L. Winston Rod Co. (Twin Bridges, Montana) bamboo fly rod craftsmen quit
“Our goal is to continue to build the best bamboo rods in the world right here in Twin Bridges, Montana”
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- From a Montana base, MSU Professor Dave Snepenger helps explain tourist behavior
"Bozeman's downtown is so intriguing," Snepenger said. "It serves tourists and locals with a mix of retail offerings that a town like this wouldn't have except for the tourists."
- The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity is considering the possibility of purchasing the Business Retention and Expansion (BEAR) program for Statewide use.
The survey also includes knowledge and intelligence data – the owner’s/company’s attitudes and opinions about the community, the local and state business climate, municipal services and future economic conditions and business plans.
- Dawson County Economic Development Council continues task of raising money
If investors feel the council isn’t making progress they can discontinue their contributions. He said progress can be measured by the number of people helped in starting, retaining or expanding businesses.
- Officials develop construction training programs in Montana
With the baby boom generation poised to retire in large numbers, a worker shortage looms for Montana's businesses and industries, MSU-Billings Chancellor Ron Sexton said. The shortage is particularly acute in heath care and construction trades.
- Montana Cooperative Development Center Receives $300,000 Rural Cooperative Development Grant
"We are building together what would be impossible to build alone," said MCDC Director Cheryl MacArthur. MCDC offers a spectrum of technical assistance, everything from project planning to operating strategies, to support such ventures.
- Knowledge + Innovation = Economic Growth
The bottom line? Faced with an increasingly competitive economic landscape, an educated workforce is key.
Funding and Building your Business
- Business to 'angels': Sow us the seed money
They add that the MinCorp network is positioned for further expansion. MinCorp officials are working with groups to organize angel funds in South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
- San Antonio is inching forward in venture capital race, study shows
"The reason that there is not more venture capital deals in Cleveland is that there are not enough globally competitive business plans. The plans I see from Northeast Ohio do not stack up well against the plans we review coming out of California and Boston."
Legislative Newsletters
- Ten Rules for Web Startups
#1: Be Narrow Focus on the smallest possible problem you could solve that would potentially be useful.
- 89% say they experience problems when conducting online transactions
82% of online consumers will not accept a fallen level of customer service when comparing online and offline transactions.
- Tips for the first VC Meeting
A couple of don'ts: don't be late, don't be arrogant, and don't ask for an NDA before you start the pitch
- The November edition of the SBA Solutions newsletter
- Venture capitalist to startups: Don't pursue acquisition by Microsoft
"Microsoft is not a channel, and expecting that Microsoft is going to drive revenues [for you] is probably a going-out-of-business strategy,"
- Economy of Scale Might Inspire Companies to Ditch IT Departments
Instead of each company buying, maintaining and upgrading its own hardware and software -- most of which are remarkably similar from one company to the next -- it will buy computing services from a utility-type company, paying for only what it uses while enjoying the lower costs that come from scale economies.
- Software Testing: 11 Ways to Do It Right
"The important thing when you roll out a system is to make sure it works,"
- How to use bankruptcy filing to rescue a business in trouble
Bankruptcy laws favor the debtor, offering a chance to wipe the slate clean and start over by providing protection from creditors and an opportunity to make and implement a reorganization.
- How To Build Your Startup Company
Does your site look its best?
- Kauffman Foundation's New eVenturing Web Site Offers Entrepreneurs Detailed Information About Pitching Angel Financing; Articles by Entrepreneurs and Investors Provide Practical Guidance on How to 'Pitch the Angels'
This month, the site features a collection of articles written by seasoned entrepreneurs and angel investors who provide useful guidance on everything from developing an effective 'elevator pitch' to clearly communicating how their business will generate financial returns for investors.
Regional Economic DevelopmentUtah Business
- Clean-energy potential touted - Bill Clinton urges Nevada to blaze trail
"If I were the economic development czar for America today or if I were in charge of economic planning for Las Vegas and Nevada today, I would start by making a complete and total commitment to a clean energy future because I think you can create more jobs there than anywhere else." Bill Clinton
Utah Economic Development
- Detto completes purchase of 2 Utah software companies
WhiteCanyon develops software security tools. Channel Access markets and distributes utility and personal productivity software.
Government Technology
- State Gets First Private Business Incubator via Grow Utah's Entrepreneurial or 'E' STATION
Housing as many as 25 employees of Grow Utah-funded companies, E STATION will be a vibrant office locale, offering not only high-speed networks and other technological tools of the trade, but more importantly, said Hall, "close access to the secret sauce."
- Grow Utah Ventures Sets Up $15 Million Fund for Utah Entrepreneurial Efforts
"We don't celebrate ourselves. We celebrate the great minds, talents and visions of entrepreneurs throughout the state of Utah, and encourage established businesspeople with resources to join with us in supporting young minds, young efforts and big ideas."
Idaho Business
- Idaho Launches 511 Travel Information Service
"A well informed motorist travels smarter and travels safer,"
- Colorado faces new glitches on computers - New $39 million system doesn't work
The problems, revealed during a legislative review of the department's budget request, surfaced on the same day that Secretary of State Gigi Dennis fired the same contractor - Accenture LLP - for its work on a $10.5 million voter-registration system.
- Ed network may help link Utah legislators, citizens
The commission's co-chairwoman, Sen. Beverly Evans, R-Altamont, said such a system could be useful to legislators living in far-flung parts of the state by allowing them to cut travel time and costs if they attended meetings remotely.
Wyoming Business
- Atlas mill (Coeur d'Alene, ID) workers qualify for worker retraining
A little good news arrived Tuesday for the employees of Stimson Lumber's Atlas mill who will lose their jobs when the plant closes at the end of the year.
Incubators and R&D
- Firm plans Wyoming biodiesel plant - State could be biodiesel hub
It would be the first-ever biodiesel plant in the state and among the largest in the nation. It would also create a new opportunity for Wyoming farmers to grow camelina, canola, brown mustard and other oil seed crops.
University TechTransfer
- 27 US governors say more money needed to support basic science research. Is your Governor one of them?
The product of federally funded research is, the governers say, a driving force behind a strong American economy.
- Managing Montana University Success
Montana State University’s stated goal is that 43 percent of grant funds go toward general overhead. For example, a $100,000 grant would ideally yield $43,000 in IDC funds. Most grantors stipulate a much lower rate -- often 10 percent or less. Average overhead collections hover around 17 percent.
- MSU innovation center prolonged
In 2004 Montana created its center, which is a consortium of five economic development centers across the state and MSU.
Small Diameter Timber Utilization
- Academics Set Startup Record - University and nonprofit research generates 462 startup companies in 2004.
U.S. institutions executed 4,783 licenses or options on their inventions and research last year, a 6.1 percent jump from 2003, when 4,507 such deals were inked.
- Cutting-edge creators
In fact, Michigan State University has helped launch at least 42 high-tech companies since 1981, including well-known organizations such as Neogen Corp., which now employs more than 275 people.
- Stroke of genius - Students at Colorado State University develop a cleaner two-stroke engine, then go global
The company grew out of a brainstorming session among the students, their mechanical-engineering professor and a business professor. It has been such a success that CSU is using it as a model for a collaboration between engineering and business students who will develop technology and then market it to the world.
Careers
- Vermont small diameter wood product market receives $1MM to increase marketing efforts
Cabot Cooperative Creamery has agreed to match grant money used to develop a marketing program, including a Web site, advertising, public relations and special events. The state Department of Tourism and Marketing also will promote the wood products along with its regular advertising and marketing.
Non-Profit News
- A Memorable Cover Letter Will Boost Your Chances
"It helps to have a hook," says Mr. Lorelli. "Something creative and relevant that captures the reader's attention."
Energy
- Montana Nonprofit Association Monthly eNews December 2005
MNA is a membership organization that promotes a stronger nonprofit sector, supportive public climate, and the ability of nonprofits to accomplish their missions.
- Seniors and Aging Boomers to Help Fill Technology Void for Nonprofit Organizations - Retired Technology Volunteers (RTV) program
The RTV program was created to bring adults age 50 and older with technology skills, together with nonprofit organizations that can benefit from their IT expertise.
- Deal to Spread 'Socially Conscious' Investing; Incapital Brokerages Will Offer Calvert Foundation Notes to Finance NonProfits
"The people who buy these notes know the cold, hard fact that on a rate of return basis, they could make more money in another investment," said Thomas S. Ricketts, chief executive of Incapital. "But there's lots of other people who get back more knowing that they put their money into something beneficial and that they are helping to promote great causes."
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- Bitterroot National Forest donates slash for Darby Fuels for Schools
The boiler in Darby was a pilot project for Fuels For Schools Program, which is under the State and Private Forestry branch of the Forest Service and run by Tom Coston of Hamilton.
- Judith Gap wind farm to be on line by mid-December
“I was here over the Thanksgiving break so I have been here since we began producing and the wind has never stopped,” said Bacon. “A couple of times the wind blew hard enough that each producing turbine maxed out at 1.5 megawatts of electricity.”
- Should the State of Montana create an entity to plan and coordinate energy policy?
The ETIC wants your thoughts about this question and one way of letting it know is to fill out a brief survey that has been prepared.
- Fuel Up with Banana Peels
The process is 70 percent efficient, double that of traditional coal power plants
- The Secret International Voluntary Sustainable Principles - a new international coalition is poised to direct trillions of dollars into markets linked to climate change, clean technology and sustainable use of natural resources.
In what may prove to be a fundamental shift in sustainable resources, a new international coalition is poised to direct trillions of dollars into markets linked to climate change, clean technology and sustainable use of natural resources.
Connectivity & Communications
- A Strategy to Restore Western Grasslands Meets With Local Resistance
The Grand Canyon Trust's strategy had been to look amid Utah's ancient russet cathedrals for lands that needed a long rest from grazing. If the rancher with the grazing rights wanted to relinquish them to the Interior Department, the trust would pay him to do so.
Leadership Montana
- Keeping Up With Cedar Rapids - "Got Wi-Fi?"
Citizens can log on to a site and request a work order (such as filling a pot hole), which is dispatched wirelessly to the nearest field worker in Buffalo, Minn.
- Vying for Remote Control -Companies Scramble for a Niche as Computers and Televisions Merge
"It will take some time for people to make the transition unless you can make it very easy -- and if Intel can do that, then that's a big thing,"
- Wireless Internet blankets Cody, Wyoming
"We need hundreds using it every day, but I think we will have that," he said. "There's hundreds of thousands of people who pass through Cody, and people are becoming a lot more connected. They need to have their information."
- Montana State University College of Engineering adds to wireless campus - UM SoBA Undergoes a Technology and Computer Upgrade
"Our vision is to provide, at the minimum, wireless networking in all the common areas of classroom buildings," said Morrison. "That plan will take several years to complete."
- Executive has an answer to phone system cheat sheet
He developed a cheat sheet that tells people how to reach a human on the voice systems of more than 100 companies.
- Verizon to Offer TV Service for Cell Phones
Cellular operators in a handful of other countries already feature TV from a separate wireless network, using technologies from Qualcomm rivals such as Nokia Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.
City Club Missoula
- Tiffany Jackson of Butte, Montana says key to student success is involvement - Montana State University Leadership Institute
"Over her three years at the MSU Leadership Institute, Tiffany has grown each year, taken more responsibility, mentored others and evolved from a staff member to staff leader and role model," said Carmen McSpadden, director of the MSU Leadership Institute.
2005 Montana Legislature
- City Club Missoula - TY Robinson Highlights Missoula History, 12/16, Missoula
Ty Robinson will share memories, experiences and stories based on an eclectic collection of characters, citizens and commerce which illustrate Missoula's rich diversity today.
VIRUS ALERTS
- State coffers in Montana not as flush as some think
"I'm actually thankful to be a budget director with money," Ewer said, "...but we will live within our means." He said Schweitzer's administration wants to ensure there's an extra $100 million in the general fund for 2008-09.
- Tax refund e-mails are a scam, IRS warns
The e-mail is an identity theft "phishing" scam that tries to fool recipients into revealing personal and financial information.
- Viral cure could 'immunise' the internet
They propose developing a network of "honeypot" computers, distributed across the internet and dedicated to the task of combating viruses.
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