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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Oct 7, 2011 |
“Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. Your time is limited so don't waste it living someone else's life." Steve Jobs
Senator Baucus Economic Engine Initiative: Spotlight on Wheatland County, Montana - TicketPrinting.com http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Vision Net --A Montana Small Business Success Story http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Montana Department of Transportation
TicketRiver.com
- Montana Department of Transportation DBE Newsletter SEPTEMBER_2011
A One Page Marketing Plan Anyone Can Use
Northwestern Energy
- Sell Tickets Online and receive 20% off printing at TicketRiver.com
You can rest assured that your ticket buyers will be paying some of the lowest fees in the industry so you'll sell more tickets!
- Senator Baucus Economic Engine Initiative: Spotlight on Wheatland County, Montana - TicketPrinting.com
"I am encouraged and emboldened by TicketPrinting.com's growth at a time when we really need our small businesses to drive the economy forward. It really takes guts and elbow grease to grow and succeed during this tough economic time. My hat goes off to Lance and his team for hiring folks in Wheatland County," Baucus said. "My job is to do everything I can to make sure businesses like TicketPrinting.com http://www.ticketprinting.com have the right environment to keep chugging and keep hiring Montana workers."
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Smart grid project in Helena, Montana: A Great Opportunity for consumers
You'd think an opportunity to find specific things you can do around home to lower your electric bill would be a no-brainer.
Great Falls Development Authority
- Beyond Super and Ill-Prepared Students, How About Some With Creativity?
We're quickly headed toward a future in which college students will either be super achievers or unprepared for the workplace.
- Oregon schools roll out Google Apps to students
Oregon was the first state to sign up for Google Apps for Education in 2010 and make it available to K-12 school districts. The free software allows students to access their class work from home, the library, or anywhere they have internet access.
- Brothers from Great Falls, Montana demonstrate how video games can help learning. Add A Tudez Entertainment Co.
The Hugheses showed a room full of educators at the annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics conference in Helena how video games are changing the way children -- and even some adults -- are learning about the world around them.
- High School Entrepreneurs Promise to Save Millions for Schools - TruantToday
"Right now, schools are losing millions of dollars per year because students don't come to the classroom."
- "The First 2,000 Days are Critical" - Early Education is the Key to Future Success
"If the United States is serious about the commitment of making transformational change in the K-12 educational system, we will have to take seriously the images you see today because it shows you what happens before children get to school," said Dr. Patricia Kuhl, co-director of the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences. "The first 2,000 days are critical."
- 'Flipped' classrooms offer students virtual learning
It's the latest way that technology is changing teachers' jobs -- in this case it's literally turning their workday upside-down. But teachers say flipped, or upside-down, classes offer greater control of material and more face time with students.
Highway 12 Ventures
- Great Falls Community Survey - Developing a community "Brand" for marketing the city to visitors, residents and businesses in the year 2012 and beyond.
All who live and work in Great Falls are invited and encouraged to participate in this important community-wide initiative.
- Great Falls Development Authority approves preliminary draft strategic plan
The plan includes seven major themes, with particular goals for the first two years in each theme. The ideas were derived from two recent brainstorming sessions, GFDA President Brett Doney said.
City Club Missoula
- Highway 12 Ventures - Portfolio News | September 2011
SynCardia selected as finalist for 2011 World Technology Award.
- Lost Amid The Hoopla - Federated Media acquires Lijit
We all know that it's better to be lucky than good, and here at Highway 12, we were damn lucky to be investors in Lijit.
Vision Net
- City Club Missoula Presents: Stem Cell Research At UM, 10/17, Missoula, Montana
Dr. Grimes, framed within the discussion of his own research at UM, will discuss what it may mean to use stem cells as therapy, the hesitance of private funders to invest in such research and the threat that federal dollars may not provide the sustainable funding necessary for this type of research to bear fruit.
Come Home Montana
- Vision Net --A Montana Small Business Success Story
Vision Net has offices in Great Falls, Billings and Missoula and what started out as a small business is booming even during the economic downturn.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Systems Engineer: LAN Design, Implementation, High Level Troubleshooting - First Call Computer Solutions
Do you enjoy assessing networks and making recommendations? Are you good with servers, upgrades and rollouts? Do you enjoy working with people and explaining problems in a way they can understand? Do you like taking on the tough issues?
- Senator Baucus Congratulates Missoula, Montana Native, Brian Schmidt, on Winning Nobel Prize in Physics
"Congratulations to Brian on earning such a prestigious award and working hard to expand our knowledge of the world and space. Big Sky Country is the best place on earth for star-gazing, and I'd like to think that might have had an impact on Brian." Senator Max Baucus
Leadership Montana
- Entrepreneur-friendly policies (finally) showing promise
Here are some recent policy developments worth tracking, as well as my own two cents on the policies I think should be getting more attention to support company formation, growth and ultimate success:
- The Untapped Talent That Can Juice the Economy - Go Big! - More Gazelles Needed
Entrepreneurship takes three forms: productive, unproductive, and destructive.
Montana Business
- Why true leadership involves less talking and more listening
As human beings we can be uncomfortable with conflict or confrontation.
- Steve Jobs: How to live before you die - TED Video
At his Stanford University commencement speech, Steve Jobs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs , CEO and co-founder of Apple and Pixar, urges us to pursue our dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself.
Regional Economic Development
- Montana Community Development Corporation Lands New Resource for Montana
"Small businesses provide the lion's share of Montana jobs and truly are the engine of our economy. Montana Community Development Corporation has a great track record of supporting small businesses and this funding will go a long way in helping even more businesses create jobs and succeed," Baucus said.
- Hopes high for flavored butter: Missoula business partners (Dave and Pauls LLC) aim for national distribution
Smith and Tripp, with the help of local fan Margaret Baldridge, have also just finished a cookbook full of recipes that use their butter. "Dave and Paul's Compound Butter: In the Kitchen with Margaret" https://www.createspace.com/3688706
Careers
- The Pivotal Leaders Network - Building A Sustainable Economic Future
The Pivotal Leaders network was created to help grow clean tech businesses in the Pacific Northwest by identifying and supporting innovative and outstanding vision and leadership.
- Gov. Gregoire to outdoor industry: recreation, tourism, volunteerism can boost West's economy
"We in the West have a God-given asset to show the rest of the country and the world, but the time has come when Washington and other states can no longer afford to do it all," Gregoire said, adding that the public and private sectors have to count on each other "to better connect to a national and worldwide market to show people there is simply no better place to recreate than the Western United States."
- Obama asks states to encourage entrepreneurs
The idea behind so-called Self Employment Assistance http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/self.asp programs is simple: give laid-off workers more of an incentive to launch their own companies in the hopes that they will eventually succeed and hire other unemployed workers.
Funding and Building your Business
- Unless You Are Awesome, You Will Be Outsourced
We're moving to a world that is going to look a lot like Hollywood: a few people enjoying insane success ... and everyone else spends their days waiting tables.
Montana Education Excellence
- Patagonia's "Buy Less" Campaign May Lead to More Revenue
Patagonia has always behaved as a maverick company, and its concern for sustainability has led it to pursue a new initiative: it's now actively encouraging consumers to buy less of Patagonia's new apparel.
- Creating Employee Networks That Deliver Open Innovation
By understanding the roles of two types of innovation brokers -- "idea scouts" and "idea connectors" -- in the open innovation process, and by utilizing their talents effectively, managers can preside over major improvements in the conversion of external knowledge into innovative outcomes.
- Are You Venture Capital Fundable?
Most of the time the answer is a simple "nope."
- Smart Entrepreneurs Follow the Zig Zag Principle
Zigging and zagging amongst the obstacles is the fun part of being an entrepreneur, and it's what sets you apart from the average worker who knows exactly what he or she has to do every day to get paid.
- 5 Tips to Find the Right Angel Investor
What a lot of founders don't realize is that not all angels invest for the same reasons.
- Will Big Data Drive Big Insights or Big Costs?
IBM today is announcing a broad portfolio of new software that applies its expertise in analytics in a new way to the infrastructure of an organization.
- Cultivate your employees; company success will follow
The most important competitive advantage in any business, especially a fast-growing one, is its work force -- the skills and the dedication of its employees.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Big Sky Brain Project Receives $1.3 Million Grant
The grant will fund a neuroscience learning center called the Brainzone that will feature four hands-on exhibits, a computer lab and a working laboratory aimed at increasing science literacy and interest among K-12 students.
- University of Montana-Helena to rebrand anew - More meetings to be held at other colleges.
Montana's Board of Regents is holding "listening sessions" with Montana's five colleges of technology to rebrand and rename the growing institutions to better fit their current offerings.
- Clear! Bozeman High students try their hands at medical skills - SKC, St. Luke program pairs students, nurses in hospital setting
"We want students to have contact with real medical professionals," said Amy Washtak, chair of the school's health sciences department. "We want them to be aware of job opportunities and growth in the health care industry."
- Microprocessor inventor and other scientists honored at Montana State University
"I did not know at that time what a huge impact it would have on the world."
Universities and Economic Development
- More than 125 employers attend MSU career fair - Lots of companies hiring
"I really appreciate the companies coming here and taking the time out of their day to meet with MSU students," said Tanner Miller, a senior majoring in civil engineering.
Idaho Business
- ASU Launches Rapid Startup School aimed at Postdocs and Grad Students: 'Pracademic' modules aimed at promoting startup activity across disciplines
As opposed to standard academic modules and programs, this part-time program applies a very 'pracademic' approach to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and real new venture creation.
Utah Economic Development
- The University of Idaho Law School Small Business Legal Clinic
The Small Business Legal Clinic (SBLC) was established to provide third-year students with hands-on business transaction experience in a live-client setting.
Education
- Chamber Formalizes Relationship with World Bank to Help Utah Business Grow Read more: Utah Pulse - Chamber Formalizes Relationship with World Bank to Help Utah Business Grow
The relationship will help Utah businesses and businesses throughout the Intermountain West gain access to projects funded by the World Bank in developing countries.
Canada Business & Economic Development
- Innovation on Campus: Changing the DNA of Higher Education
"Soon the choice facing new students will be between prestigious-but-dated traditions and generic-but-demonstrated results." Clayton Christensen & Henry Eyring Authors, "The Innovative University"
Other Economies
- British Columbia boosts venture capital tax breaks
"We'll be expanding [the tax credit program] so more angel investors can get a 30 per cent refundable tax credit for eligible small businesses. And that means these job creators will get a leg up on capital, it means they'll get a leg up on hiring and on receiving the strategic advice that they need from experienced investors in the marketplace."
Community
- University to invest in its own startup businesses
In a rare move for a university, U-M will for the first time directly invest in its own startup businesses.
Connectivity & Communications
- Winifred, Montana unveils Judith: Dinosaur skull called new specimen
"We paleontologists have a strong belief in beginner's luck," Ott said. "I know people who have been fossil hunting for 50 years and never found anything like this."
Energy and Climate Change
- Broadband's importance to rural America gets airing in Washington
So, what's the message to Congress? Stay the course and give rural America a chance to attract and retain 21st century jobs.
- 'This Stuff Doesn't Change the World': Disability and Steve Jobs' Legacy
I'm on my way to PHL to see my son, who uses a device Steve Jobs invented to help him talk. He will never know. He will never know.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Group Urges Research Into Aggressive Efforts to Fight Climate Change
National security experts are recommending that the government begin researching a radical fix: directly manipulating the Earth's climate to lower the temperature.
- "E-Waste" Recycling Day, 10/9, Missoula, Montana
"I really appreciate LG Electronics' and Vann's efforts to ensure that consumer electronics aren't piling up in our landfills when their components can be recycled and, in some cases. Re-used. This is a good thing for Missoula and its citizens" Mayor John Engen
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- For Gamers Only.... "Long Live Play"
Just cool....
Non-Profit News
- New iPhone's voice technology could spark another revolution
Siri acts like a virtual secretary. It can take dictation, check your calendar and schedule appointments, read text messages aloud, check stock quotes and even find a great nearby restaurant.
- The Economics of Personal Fabrication
Personal fabrication, like in a Fab Lab or Hackerspace or Makerspace, is making things you need with tools which are accessible to you.
Transportation
- Missoula, Montana's Adventure Cycling awarded $100,000 in grants for bicycle program work
Grants from foundations and businesses will support work on U.S. Bicycle Route System and outreach to bicycle-travel industry
- Polson, Montana one of 10 finalists for $100,000 grant - "Envision Polson!"
"People don't get on a parked bus."
- Paris Launches World-First Electric Car-Share Scheme
For just 12 Euros per month, Parisians can subscribe to a car-share program featuring all-electric vehicles.
- Car sharing comes to Boise - "WeCar"
The Downtown Boise Association in partnership with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the City of Boise, Capital Development Republic Parking and The Car Park will provide car sharing in downtown Boise.
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