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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Feb 21, 2012 |
Montana revenue continues to exceed projections - “The additional revenue could have been used to prevent cuts to higher education, preventative health care and tobacco prevention programs, and could have been used to invest in our economy through the bonding bill and modest, long-overdue raises for teachers and other public servants doing work that matters across this state.” Tara Veazey, executive director of Montana Budget and Policy Center http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Congratulations! - The Great Falls Development Authority earns key national accreditation http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html --- Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation Recipient of Free Website for Montana Non Profit from Lolo, Montana's K Design Marketing Inc. http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html ---
Visit Montana
Highway 12 Ventures
- Big Sky Oasis - Montana's Hot Springs
Lewis and Clark were probably the first white men to encounter Montana's hot springs when they camped near Lolo Hot Springs in 1805.
- Feature photos and video: Ice climbing Hellroaring Falls
Ice climbers Chad Chadwick, Anne Rickbiel, and Hilary Eisen use ice picks and crampons to scale Hellroaring Falls in the East Rosebud mountains.
SRS Crisafulli, Inc.
- Orbotix Fills Pre-Orders, Heads to Canada
Boulder-based Orbotix http://www.orbotix.com/ , the developer of the Sphero robotic ball, said today thta it has finally fulfilled all of its pre-orders for the device.
Come Home Montana
- Montana's SRS Crisafulli Explores Dredging and Hydropower
Last spring's press release by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Departments of Energy and Interior Announce $26.6 Million in Funding to Develop Advanced Hydropower Technologies, announced "funding for research and development projects to advance hydropower technology, including pumped storage hydropower." Hydropower is a sustainable and clean power generating process.
Montana Ambassadors
- Montana Career Opportunities - Staff Accountant, Analytical Engineer Scientist, Experienced Electrical Engineer, Sr. Process Engineer - GT Advanced Technologies
We'll challenge you...support you...and reward you as we work together to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy for a more sustainable world.
- Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District seeks executive director
Bozeman, Livingston, Gallatin and Park counties and communities throughout both counties are represented on the nonprofit's board.
- Looking a for a new career or ready to leave the city and move to the Big Sky Country near Glacier Park, MT?
Join a dedicated, family oriented, and innovative team at Merlin Information Services!
- Town of Pray, Montana put up for sale
For $1.4 million, the five acres along Highway 540 and its old store, newer post office, new commercial building and a few other outbuildings can be purchased.
Montana Business
- Montana Ambassasors Winter 2012 Newsletter
We have long recognized the opportunity of networking with former Montanans who now live out-of-state in an attempt to attract businesses back to the state.
Montana Economic Development
- Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC and Missoula, Montana Based Blue Marble Biomaterials Memorandum of Understanding Announcement
The project will convert spent grains and biogas from the brewing process into chemicals that can be used in other applications, such as food, cosmetics, and personal care products.
- Missoula, Montana's Planetary Designs markets wares around globe to South Korea
Connections to the country were made when Planetary Designs was one of the 100 featured Montana companies at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation trade meetings held at Big Sky last May.
- Survey: Montanans More Positive About Economy
"The continued higher confidence Montanans express in our economy than the national average is a remarkable finding," Barkey said. "It reflects both the current economy and what people see as the prospects ahead. People are clearly more bullish on the economy here in Montana."
- Washington Companies program rewards workers with gift cards to donate to charity
"Phyllis honestly believes that grassroots philanthropy and the Pay It Forward program, where employees can give to their church or the food bank, really has an impact," said Mike Halligan, executive director of the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation. "They know the need is still very much out there and she wants to respond to that."
- Missoula, Montana's Submittable takes paper resumes online - Resumazing! Resume Management for the real world!
As a fast-growing company ourselves, Submishmash, we depend on the Resume Manager to create a live database of qualified applicants. It's saved our staff hundreds of hours in the review process. Michael FitzGerald, NYC
- Montana's first no-load mutual fund on the rise. The Tarkio Fund from Front Street Capital Management
"Our purpose was to grow wealth over time. It could serve young people getting started with $2,000 to $10,000 but with a long-time horizon. They're people who aren't served by the industry."
- Two manufacturing workshops to be offered in March in Missoula
Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) is offering two workshops for manufacturers to improve workforce skills. Both will be held in March at the Wingate Inn in Missoula.
MSU Leadership Institute & UM Global Leadership Initiative
- Montana Senator Max Baucus Headed to Russia to Promote Montana Exports
Senator to Meet with Russian President, Champion Benefits of World Trade Organization Partnership
- The Great Falls Development Authority earns key national accreditation
The Great Falls Development Authority http://www.gfdevelopment.org/ was notified Friday it has been accredited by the International Economic Development Council, becoming the first economic development group in Montana or the Rocky Mountain West to earn the honor.
Alberta Business and Economic Development
- How Strong Business Leaders Master Critical Leadership Skills
If your company has not documented its immutable laws, you'd better get to it.
Careers
- Harper Government Announces Support for New Innovation Centre for Alberta's Composites Manufacturing Sector
"The manufacturing of new composite-based products represents an important opportunity for Alberta entrepreneurs to grow their companies and diversify their markets." A stronger West. A stronger Canada
Government
- 7 Ways and Why to Treat Your Career Like a Startup - Look out for yourself to advance your career
How many of these career survival instincts have you used lately to deal with the changes we all see?
- 20+ Online Networking Opportunities for Job Seekers
Social networking for career enrichment is on the rise.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- Montana revenue continues to exceed projections
"The additional revenue could have been used to prevent cuts to higher education, preventative health care and tobacco prevention programs, and could have been used to invest in our economy through the bonding bill and modest, long-overdue raises for teachers and other public servants doing work that matters across this state." Tara Veazey, executive director of Montana Budget and Policy Center http://www.montanabudget.org/
- How Washington and Big Business colluded to make the super-rich richer and turn their backs on the rest of us.
How Washington and Big Business colluded to make the super-rich richer and turn their backs on the rest of us.
Regional Business
- MAIN STREET MAKEOVER: Grafton, North Dakota sees business district rebound
In a calculated gamble, Grafton began buying the long-vacant buildings from Walsh County, which had taken possession for nonpayment of taxes, in hopes of encouraging local businesses and entrepreneurs to make investments to bring them back to life.
Utah Economic Development
- U.S. manufacturing sees shortage of skilled factory workers
"We need more people. The trouble is finding them."
- The 10 Best and 10 Worst States for High-Tech Business
Ultimately, we're looking at the places where companies that thrive on science have put down roots, and now dominate the business climate.
Workforce Development
- Utah Science, Technology and Research (USTAR) initiative initiative requests more funding
"We've proven to the business community that we have delivered on the promise (to foster research and innovation)," said USTAR executive director Ted McAleer.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- A Blueprint for a 21st Century Workforce
Even more than with analytical skill, social intelligence increases the wages of knowledge workers but of blue-collar and service workers as well.
Education
- Only community can save public education
"I guarantee you that if the community knew what their local school had to teach, support, and perform every day for their students, the community would become their school's greatest supporter, not their biggest critic--helping to spur the true reform needed for schools rather than hindering it."
- Quality schools benefit all, not just parents, kids - Bookworms and Whangdoodles - Volunteering in the schools
Because everyone benefits from quality public schools--even people without school-aged children--everyone should play a role in maintaining them, a new study suggests.
- Looking ahead, preschools add STEM to the curriculum
What Nelson is doing represents the beginning of a change in preschool education as more schools introduce science, technology, engineering, and math - the so-called STEM subjects - to students so young that many don't even read yet.
Missoula Schools Excellence
- Health Science Connection for K-12 Educators Feb. 2012 - Preparing Montana's Students for Careers in Healthcare
Curriculum In A Box Brains, Guts, Eyes, Ear, Muscles and Bones...Oh My!
Montana Education Excellence
- Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Alex Apostle brings passion, energy to job
"I'm passionate about my work and making sure that teachers have the best and students have the best. You have to have emotion to do the things we've done and are doing. I tell people the truth and I take pride in being upfront with people." Alex Apostle
Community
- NASA Selects Montana Teacher to be "Agent of Change" for STEM Education
The highly-competitive NASA Fellowship is a model for effectual improvements in teacher practice. Endeavor is collaborating with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, promoting effective strategies for teaching and learning.
- Finishing high school in Montana
Denise Juneau, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, said Butte is part of a statewide push called "graduation matters." It included several pieces of legislation, including a bill to raise the age students must stay in school from 16 to 18. The measure failed in the Legislature, but Juneau said it and a handful of other bills will come up in the next session.
Funding and Building your Business
- HUD launches Sustainable Communities Resource Center
"Because every community is different and sustainability encompasses a range of needs and opportunities, there is no 'one size fits all' model.
- Post office closings may increase rural isolation, economic disparity
Nearly 80 percent of the 3,830 post offices under consideration are in sparsely populated rural areas where poverty rates are higher than the national average.
Energy and Climate Change
- 8 Ways to Surf the Entrepreneur Information Wave
True entrepreneurs love to learn, unlearn, and relearn, whether they are 20 years old, or 60 years old.
- Here is Why You Need a Good Startup Exit Strategy
Here are the most common exit strategies and considerations these days for planning purposes:
- Rand Fishkin: How to earn tons of customers without spending money on crappy ads
"For God's sake, if you are going to do anything about marketing, get your ass on Google+," he said. "Google is handing away traffic and clicks and business, thanks to this new medium."
- LLC vs. S Corp: Which Is Right for Your Startup?
Most importantly, both the LLC and S Corp will separate your personal assets from any liabilities of the company (whether from an unhappy customer, unpaid supplier, or anyone else who might pursue legal action).
- How to Figure Out the Actual Cost of Your Employees
Knowing how much you spend for each employee will help you improve your business results in four key ways:
- 6 Tips for Tapping Pinterest's Surging Popularity
The social network lets entrepreneurs create online scrapbooks featuring photos of their newest or most popular products. Importantly, it also provides them a platform to write compelling descriptions of those products, and to embed links that direct consumers to their websites or to order forms.
- Why Your Next Board Member Should Be A Woman
Studies also show companies with gender diversity at the top drive better financial performance on multiple measures
- How to Get New Tax Credit for Hiring Veterans
The law added two categories of veterans to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Under the changes, employers may be able to deduct up to the following amounts:
- The Dos & Don'ts of Managing Independent Contractors
They're a bit like lone wolves--which means they come with different care and feeding instructions than regular employees.
- Why FastCompany Gets "The Lean Startup" Almost Completely Wrong
Sure, failure can mean certain death -- but one of the ideas behind the lean startup is to not only make loops short and fast, but try to maximize the odds that you can iterate enough times to get to product-market-fit.
Non-Profit News
- The Inside Story on Climate Scientists Under Siege
Now comes the unauthorized release of documents showing how a libertarian thinktank, the Heartland Institute, which has in the past been supported by Exxon, spent millions on lavish conferences attacking scientists and concocting projects to counter science teaching for kindergarteners.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation Recipient of Free Website for Montana Non Profit from Lolo, Montana's K Design Marketing Inc.
In addition to The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation receiving the custom designed website, valued at approximately 5K, all of the non-profit participants are eligible for a 20% discount on all of K Design Marketing Inc. products and services.
- 5 Free Ways to Market Your Nonprofit
Just like any for-profit business, nonprofit organizations need to have a marketing strategy to survive and thrive.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Bitterroot author's 'Raptors' wins Montana state book award
This annual award recognizes literary and/or artistic excellence in a book written or illustrated by someone who lives in Montana, is set in Montana, or deals with Montana themes or issues.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Marking the emergence of a new, potentially dominant political force
They may wear T-shirts to work, but the tycoons of Silicon Valley are, in some respects, J.P. Morgan's true heirs.
- How to permanently delete your PC data
Most people don't realize that when files are deleted, they aren't really gone.
- Collaborative platform accelerates digital health development - Collaborhythm
"We dramatically underestimate the power of ordinary people to take control of their health using digital technology."
- Maker movement catches eyes of venture capitalists
The maker movement is "as significant as the shift from agriculture to the early industrial era," said Jeremy Rifkin, a Wharton economist.
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