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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Dec 2, 2011 |
Three stone cutters were asked about their jobs. The first said he was paid to cut stones. The second replied that he used special techniques to shape stones in an exeptional way, and proceeded to demonstrate his skills. The third stone cutter just smiled and said: “I build cathedrals.”
University of Montana Professor, Dr. Jakki Mohr To Present Talk ("Unleashing the Promise of Biomimicry for Sustainable Innovation") At TED Event In San Diego, 12/3, Watch it online http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- SafetyFestMT: Missoula To Offer Week Of Free Workplace Safety Training, 12/5-9, Missoula, Montana http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
PrintingForLess
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Win $200 FREE PFL Print Credit! "Like" PFL on facebook, and you'll be eligible to win big!
Invite a friend, and increase your chances to win!
The Missoula Economic Partnership
- Missoula County Public Schools receives $393,000 grant to implement Montana Behavior Initiative, provide more services for students with mental health needs
Have you ever wondered what it's like to have autism?
- Have you ever wondered what it's like to be learning-disabled child?
Have the teachers in your children's school seen this? In this classic program, internationally known learning disabilities expert Richard D. Lavoie leads a group of educators, psychologists, parents, and children through a series of exercises that vividly illustrate the daily classroom reality of LD students, an experience fraught with F.A.T.: frustration, anxiety, and tension.
- What Constitutes Effective Parental Involvement?
"Do all the PTA meetings, take-home flyers and Back to School nights actually generate increases in student achievement?" - "not necessarily."
- Georgia's largest school district launches all-digital learning platform
The platform, called Pinpoint, is an "integrated education suite" that can be tailored to meet a school or district's unique needs and goals. GCPS officials say it will allow the district to go textbook-free, saving money and allowing for more personalized student learning.
- Why Google Is The Most Important Learning Tool Ever Invented
Views on the importance of "just-in-time learning" and the "plummeting" value of traditional education.
Come Home Montana
- Jim Bowman leaving Missoula Economic Partnership
Jim Bowman, hired in June as president of the Missoula Economic Partnership, is leaving the job.
- The Missoula Economic Partnership Announces the Departure of President and CEO Jim Bowman
The Partnership's leadership team has appointed James Grunke, a project director with National Community Development Services, to fulfill the interim duties of managing the organization.
- Missoula Economic Partnership chief leaving after dispute over 'vision - "Chief's exit is surmountable setback"'
"We had an agreement on the strategic plan, but no agreement on how to execute it and the tactics - that's where we started to identify we had a disconnect. It was self-discovery on both sides of the table. It wasn't what Jim was looking for and it wasn't what we were looking for." Jeff Fee
- The Missoula Economic Partnership 2011-2016 Strategic Plan
The Missoula Economic Partnership is a unique public/private partnership that works collaboratively and strategically to facilitate increased prosperity through business development while enhancing the business environment and quality of life in our community.
- Greening the Corporate Bottom Line
Companies are legally obligated to try to maximize profits. Some states are creating companies that can also factor employees, the community and the environment into financial decisions.
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- Montana Career Opportunity - Entry Level Programmer/Software Engineer - SameSky Systems, Inc.
It is desired that applicants have at least a BS degree in Computer Science, have class or real world experience programming in PHP, web development (HTML5 experience is a plus), mobile application SDK knowledge is a plus, Linux experience is desired, and experience utilizing the Eclipse IDE and Subversion code control is a plus.
- Variety of jobs available in county - Glendive, Montana Job Service
"The oil boom hasn't hit Glendive yet," manager Lonnie Cross said. "Though we may see more oil-related listings soon.
Cleantech
- MEDA December Online News
The Community Development Block Grant - Economic Development (CDBG‐ED) Program has seen a reduction in the amount of economic development applications in the last several months and thus is proposing changes that will impact access to these programs.
Montana Business
- The state of cleantech venture capital, part 4: Parting thoughts
We're in the early innings of a long ball game.
Montana Economic Development
- SafetyFestMT: Missoula To Offer Week Of Free Workplace Safety Training, 12/5-9, Missoula, Montana
WorkSafeMT http://www.worksafemt.com is hosting SafetyFestMT: Missoula 2011--a weeklong high-quality safety conference, offering workshops and classes to help employers and employees improve safety on the job.
- Noncompete clauses may not be enforced in firing in Montana
The Montana Supreme Court has ruled that noncompete clauses in employee contracts may not be enforceable when firms fire or lay off workers.
- Montana Entrepreneur, Sarah Calhoun, the CEO of Red Ants Pants, Says President Obama's Plan Will Help Her Create New Jobs
The payroll tax breaks included in the American Jobs Act would allow me to hire new employees sooner than I otherwise would be able to do so. Every new job, even in rural Montana, is a new job for America."
- Home of the halo: Conner, Montana's, "Halo Heaven" selling products online to customers all over the world
Halo Heaven sells its wares wholesale to everyone from large stores and party planners to moms wanting to do something special for their child's birthday.
- Sundre, Alberta'a Highland Projects finds the right fit in Billings, Montana
Tom Rolfstad, Williston's director of economic development, said recently that boom times are expected to continue in western North Dakota and Eastern Montana for the next 30 to 50 years.
- MMEC Forward Focus newsletter
Use our tools to help you make sound decisions. Quickly calculate costs and identify improvements.
- Senator Baucus' Montana Jobs Economic Engine: Bozeman-Based Simms Fishing Products
Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced his latest "Montana Jobs Economic Engine" today highlighting Bozeman-based Simms Fishing Products http://www.simmsfishing.com/ which is currently hiring and has increased its payroll by 75 percent since 2009.
- Winifred, Montana's Mid-State Signs, LLC Provides State of the Art Signs to the World.
We currently have the first and only fully automated sign face forming machines, which produces strong, durable letters that last significantly longer than the traditional glued trim-cap.
Bill Payne
- Sweetgrass Development seeking public comment on the recently updated Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
The document is the culmination of the process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen our regional economy.
- Creating Prosperity from a Community's Center
When you can demonstrate that "smart growht" will also generate and save tax dollars, create jobs and add vitality to downtown areas, community leaders pay close attention.
Careers
- i2E Entrepreneur-in Residence Program
The Innovation to Enterprise organization in Oklahoma, headed by Tom Walker, has a new Entrepreneur-in-Residence program to bring national expertise on building and financing new ventures to Oklahoma entrepreneurs.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- People who meditate tune out daydreams
People who are experienced meditators seem to switch off areas of the brain associated with daydreaming--and with psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
- Brain Training Software Beats Out Crosswords
Though crossword puzzles may give your brain an edge every now and then, research suggests other types of brain training can be more effective in improving cognitive function -- for older adults at least.
- CIOs brace for looming mainframe skills shortage
Many mainframe personnel are set to retire in coming years, and fewer students interested in learning how to work with these systems. That could lead to a skills shortage for managing and maintaining the mainframes that run so many critical applications.
Economic Gardening
- Creating A Nation of Venture Capitalists Through Crowdfunding
Americans are allowed to gamble unlimited amounts at casinos, and can send donations to charities halfway around the world with one tap of a trackpad. Yet, we are legally prevented from making even modest investments in job-creating small businesses.
Funding and Building your Business
- Which businesses in your community are stressed and which may be ready to grow?
Given the speed with which the business environment can change, the tools needed by the organization's staff must keep pace. The tools must be cost effective, timely and produce the required information.
Government and University TechTransfer
- This Is Why Your Website Is Slow
Out of the nearly 800 companies we watch, we pegged these guys as the ones that lag your browsing experience the most if you live in the USA.
- Boise, Idaho's Kevin Learned's Perspective on Valuation
Kevin recently wrote a series of articles on the valuation of early stage enterprises, which I believe to be noteworthy.
- 5 Keys to Effectively Communicating Appreciation in the Workplace
"We need to do something to show our workers appreciation but funds are tight." Burn-out is the common theme, as people in the workplace express that they are becoming more negative, cynical, and discouraged.
- 7 Ways Startups Get Tagged as Too Risky by Investors
Even if you intend to fund the business yourself, or have a rich uncle, it's still worthwhile to understand the issues so you can minimize your own risk of failure.
Incubators and R&D
- University of Utah Repeats as No. 1 University for Startups - Companies Contribute 15,767 Jobs, $755 Million to Utah Economy
The survey ranks U.S. universities and institutions on commercialization success, and in recent years, the U of Utah has climbed to the top, overtaking such schools as MIT, Columbia, Cal Tech and Johns Hopkins.
Montana Education Excellence
- Paul Allen calls for 'open science' and wider sharing of data
He concludes with a call for foundations and funders of scientific research to help promote open science by asking about the researchers' policies and practices on sharing data before writing a check.
- A New Breed of Entrepreneur Boot Camp
Pet food billionaire Clay Mathile on how to nurture growing companies.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana Joins Effort to Write Next Generation Science Standards
Montana's committee will be made up of approximately 30 members, including K-12 and post-secondary educators, business and industry representatives, state agencies and non-profits.
- In the cloud: Montana schools utilizing technology for learning tools
"I think overall, if you ranked where Sidney is at, we'd be very near the top in Montana."
- Livingston elementary school students are finding out Math Rocks
To better learn basic math skills, Livingston elementary students are singing a little bit each day.
- Bozeman, Montana's largest elementary school shines in reading and math
Bozeman's largest elementary school with 550 students, Morning Star students had the highest performance on state reading and math tests again this spring.
- Hundreds Of University of Montana's College of Technology Courses Now Available Online
Through a recently formed partnership, anyone with an Internet connection can now access hundreds of courses offered by The University of Montana's College of Technology.
- Graduation Matters Gallatin working to reduce dropout rates
Graduation Matters Gallatin means that the whole community is involved in preventing dropouts, Townsend said, "instead of saying it's the failure of school districts."
- University of Montana Professor, Dr. Jakki Mohr To Present Talk ("Unleashing the Promise of Biomimicry for Sustainable Innovation") At TED Event In San Diego, 12/3, Watch it online
Mohr specializes in the marketing of high-tech products and is well-known at the University for her up-to-the-minute marketing classes. She developed an interest in biomimicry and how it can be applied to technology after hearing a lecture by Janine Benyus, a founder of Biomimicry 3.8 in Missoula and author of "Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature," the 1997 book that jump started the biomimicry movement.
Regional Business
- MSU And SBA Webinar - "Small Business Financing: Getting Bank Ready", 12/7
The webinar will feature Gregg Gluekert, a commercial lender at a community bank in Billings and the owner of several businesses in Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota.
- Via video uplink, Alter Enterprise teaches students that "Bears do not hibernate"
Wednesday's presentation was the first within MCPS, but won't be the last as the district pursues "21st century" education - real life meeting real students in the classroom.
Idaho Business
- The Geography of Disability
Rates of disability in rural America are 80 percent higher than in the cities.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- Victor, Idaho's CityPass Offers Big city tourism deals - Where are you going next?
CityPASS grants you admission to the most famous attractions in a city at nearly half the cost you'd pay for separate admission to each.
Utah Business
- Website helps calculate tuition for North Dakota universities
The online tool was created because of a law approved last session by the North Dakota Legislature to improve the clarity of the cost of higher education.
Utah Economic Development
- Four Utah companies on Forbes' "America's Most Promising" list
CampusBookRentals.com, Packsize, Domo Technologies and Aquatherm were among the 100 companies ranked in the Forbes list.
Wyoming Business
- University of Utah Innovations Newsletter Fall 2011
Turning Good Ideas Into Good Business
Education
- CIO Flint Waters Outlines Wyoming's IT Priorities
Waters stepped into the CIO position in May during the transition to Google Apps for Government -- a decision he wasn't initially receptive to, but now praises.
- Wyoming Gas Deal Off after Pollution Found
A deal to sell a controversial central Wyoming natural gas field has fallen apart amidst allegations that drilling there has caused water pollution.
Canada Business & Economic Development
- Line Grows Long for Free Meals at U.S. Schools
"Parents signing up children say, 'I never thought a program like this would apply to me and my kids,' "
- Oregon to seek powerful 'chief education officer' to revamp preschool, public schools, colleges
The chosen leader will need the vision to help Oregon streamline, improve and connect all the education programs and institutions that serve or should serve learners from birth through college.
Government
- FedDev Ontario pumps $2-million into angel networks
The money is designated for online resources and for outreach activities to help recruit new investors from the region, across the country, and worldwide.
Other Economies
- Montana launching "patient-centered medical home" initiative
"It affects the way that we communicate with patients. It helps us to better be able to figure out what a patient needs."
Community
- Will Nevada diversify its boom-and-bust economy?
State leaders are considering a host of recommendations contained in a five-month, 176-page study http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2011/1114_nevada_economy.aspx of Nevada's economic development strategy released this month by a group of prominent think tanks, led by the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.
- Tennessee gets $30 million to help foster qualified startups
The program will provide matching-seed, early-stage or expansion-stage capital for qualifying businesses. For every $1 the program invests, preapproved private investors would have to put in $2-$4.The draft guidelines also cap public investment in any single business at $3 million.
Connectivity & CommunicationsEnergy and Climate Change
- Web usage-based billing on its way
The days of watching movies on the cheap via the Web may soon be over.
- The Rise of the New Information Gatekeepers
Google, Apple, Facebook, and Twitter have all been accused by users of screening out controversial terms. Where are those algorithms leading us?
- Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) Floats Alternative to Internet Blacklisting Bills
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) http://wyden.senate.gov/ is doing whatever it takes to defeat Senate and House legislation that expands the governments' ability to shutter and disrupt websites "dedicated" to infringing activities -- including now contemplating a substitute solution.
GIS Technology
- Coal-Friendly Agency Turns Fossil Fuel Foe
"Without a bold change of policy direction, the world will lock itself into an insecure, inefficient and high-carbon energy system," the IEA warned.
- In Search of the Ideal Grid Battery
Researchers at Stanford make an electrode that can be recharged 40,000 times without losing much capacity.
- Learning Too Late of Perils in Gas Well Leases
"I guess our terms should have been clearer" about requiring the company to remove the waste pits after drilling, said Mr. Ely, of Dimock, Pa., who sued Cabot after his drinking water from a separate property was contaminated. "We learned that the hard way."
Government Technology
- Learn About Geographis Information from the Montana Association of Geographic Information Professionals
This extensive page includes links and information related to learning GIS on your own, acquiring personal assistance, instructor led training, and/or ongoing learning.
- Oregon, Montana, Utah and Colorado Partner to Share GIS Data in the Cloud
"It's driven by economics. If it's a cheaper, more cost-effective and efficient opportunity, we'll pursue it."
Non-Profit News
- Extreme Website Makeover Contest for Municipalities Announced
Have an archaic government website and no budget to refresh it? If so, a new extreme makeover contest may be just the facelift your Web presence needs.
- Google Chairman Eric Schmidt: Congress dead wrong on online piracy
"The problem with the two bills is that they go after all the wrong problems."
- Report: Montana does poor job tracking student performance
"When we have a fully operational, statewide data system, we will be able to know how well programs and course offerings for students at all grade levels prepare them for the next grade up ... and from high school to college, and college to career," she said.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- NorthWestern Energy Seeking Charitable Partner for 2012
NorthWestern Energy's Charitable Giving Program http://www.northwesternenergy.com/display.aspx?Page=Charitable_Giving_Application&Item=89 is seeking proposals from non-profit organizations to partner with the utility's employee volunteer effort for the upcoming coming year.
Transportation
- Montana History Foundation Announces Availability of First Ever Preserve Montana Grants
$50,000 in Funds Available for Montana Community-Based History Projects
- Montana Rail Link takes 1st step to discontinuing Bitterroot, Polson lines
The Bitterroot Line runs 60 miles from Missoula south to Darby, including historic "stations" at Lolo, Bass, Stevensville, Victor, Hamilton and Darby. The Polson Branch is 26 miles long traveling through Charlo, Ronan, Pablo and Polson. MRL has operated both lines since 1987.
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