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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Feb 28, 2012 |
"Like many fly fishermen in western Montana where the summer days are almost Arctic in length, I often do not start fishing until the cool of the evening. Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters." Norman Maclean "A River Runs Through It" Reflecting on the film "A River Runs Through It" and how it changed Montana http://matr.net/articl ... .html
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Visit Montana
- Is it Time to Reconsider Your Social Media Policy in Light of the NLRB's Most Recent Social Media Report?
When the various cases summarized in the Reports are read together, they suggest employers should reconsider their social media policies to ensure compliance with the Board's current positions.
Come Home Montana
- Quirky Sip-N-Dip Tiki Lounge in Great Falls, Montana could be a reality TV show
"It's a great story, mermaids in a tiki bar in the middle of Montana."
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunities - Field Technician, Swan Valley field technician, Field Technician Assistant Manager, Irrigator, Irrigation Assistant The MPG Ranch
MPG Ranch is an 8,790 acre undeveloped landscape in the northern Bitterroot Valley, Montana. This historic ranch was purchased in 2009 to protect it from development.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Portfolio Analyst - Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
Experienced and dynamic team member sough for commercial portfolio analyst to assist with growing gap and bridge lending operations within innovative and driven economic development organization
- Reflecting on the film "A River Runs Through It" and how it changed Montana
A headline in a 1991 issue of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle read: “Redford says film may bring changes.” How right he was.
- Montana Career Opportunity - PHP Programmer - Cedar Mountain Software
We primarily need someone who can help work through the programming tasks. But there are opportunities to help manage the client relationships, develop specifications for the other programmers, and participate in various aspects of the business.
- Happiest States of 2011: The List - North Dakota and Montana in Top 10
The index includes questions about six types of well-being, including overall evaluation of their lives, emotional health, physical health, healthy behaviors (such as whether a person smokes or exercises), and job satisfaction.
Hellgate Venture Network
- Missoula businesswomen say networking, learning among keys to success (Full Video of Workshop Now Available) - Next workshop in Great Falls on March 12
"Start small, but think big."
Montana Business
- Survey link for Missoula Incubator Initiative!
It would be really beneficial for us to hear from everyone, so we can better address needs and concerns in our website design. If you have a few minutes, please follow the link to the survey below, we really appreciate all the input!
The Missoula Economic Partnership
- Governor Schweitzer Announces All Time Record High for Montana's Exports
"Increasing exports truly means more jobs for Montanans," said Governor Brian Schweitzer.
- Whitefish, Montana-based payment-processing company NXGEN's payment system could enable Canada debit cards
NXGEN, which started in Whitefish in 1998, is one of the world's largest payment-processing companies.
- Rural customers in Montana blame phone companies for big increase in dropped calls
Jim Schlosser doesn't know how much business his family has lost due to dropped long-distance calls. Out-of-staters trying to buy some Angus cattle or truckloads of bentonite from their company, Wyoming Sunmade, tend to call once or twice and then give up, he said.
- More Jobs for Montanans as Montana CDC Receives $60 Million to Fund Business Start Ups and Expansions
Careers
- Missoula's blip on site selectors' radar grows
How vital are incentives in the decision process?
Economic Gardening
- 5 Low-Stress Career Options Looking for a laid-back career option? Read on...
If you want to join the ranks of low-stress workers, keep reading to see some options.
Government
- Tending their gardens - Entrepreneurs create jobs, but that is not their chief virtue
Regional economic development groups have taken up the idea of economic "gardening".
South Dakota Economic Development
- Montana Governor Schwetizer looks to Missoula low-cost clinic as model for state employee care
The Schweitzer administration is asking for bids to operate a low-cost clinic in Helena that will cater strictly to state employees, with a minimal co-pay for patients. It hopes to award the contract and open the clinic by December.
- Report: Billions in federal small-business contracts go to large firms
72 large companies received $16.4 billion in federal small-business contracts, which the group attributes to a combination of policy loopholes, human error and mis-categorization.
- Montana Governor Schweitzer Interviewed at National Governor's Conference
Great 16 minute interview of Governor Schweitzer by radio host Bill Press during the National Governors Association meetings
University Business Plan Competitions
- Debate reignited about how South Dakota awards taxpayer money to businesses for economic development.
No more than 32 companies ultimately have benefited, perhaps fewer. Twenty have headquarters in South Dakota; three are based in foreign countries.
Utah Economic Development
- The 23rd Annual John Ruffatto Business Plan Competition, 5/10, Missoula, Montana
The competition is open to all full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in colleges and universities located in the state of Montana during the current academic year, i.e., from August/September 2011 through July/August 2012. - Deadline for submitting written business plan - Wednesday, April 25, 20112
Washington State Business
- USTAR Regional Offices have Statewide Impact
USTAR Logo More than 300 commercialization projects in all corners of Utah, 11 new companies launched, and helping entrepreneurs successfully raise more than $24 million in outside funding.
Workforce Development
- The local president of the Better Business Bureau, Jan Quintrall will lead the City of Spokane's business and economic development efforts
The division will include the city's building, planning and engineering services; capital programs; business and development services; and work force development departments.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Growing market: Experts say Missoula has plenty of health care jobs, training
What jobs in the medical field are most in demand, now through the next five years?
- Internship: 'Job shadow times 10'
The internships are among a handful of programs being implemented to meet workforce readiness goals of the Great Falls Public Schools.
MAPS : Media Arts in the Public Schools
- Montana State University President Waded Cruzado encourages girls at annual "Girls for a Change" conference
"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship," Cruzado said, quoting author Louisa May Alcott.
Missoula Schools Excellence
- MAPS (Media Arts in the Public Schools) students write, produce several PSAs for two clients
The MAPS Media Institute is a nonprofit after-school program designed to teach students real-world media arts skills.
Montana Education Excellence
- Missoula schools committee begins prioritizing programs as district faces budget constraints
"We'll be looking to our community for support, and they've been outstanding in the past. But the state Legislature has to do its share here, because when they don't it falls on the laps of our taxpayers." Alex Apostle
Bill Payne
- Naval Academy Summer Seminar
The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is a fast-paced, six-day experience for high achievers who have completed their junior year in high school.
- February celebrates Career Technical Education classes at Missoula County Public Schools
February is "Career Technical Education Month" and this year's theme is "Careers through Education." In honor of CTE month, MCPS would like to highlight several programs and how they are making a difference for students.
- Bozeman School Board gets lesson in new education direction
"I'm speechless, I am in awe of everything presented," School Board Chair Denise Hayman told a panel of 11 teachers, administrators and students who described the changes. "The education system - it's going to change dramatically. I find it overwhelming, in a positive way."
- Chicks in Science spawns all-girl robotics team in Billings, Montana
While the Billings girls failed to clinch the final championship round, they walked away with the Inspire Award, which comes with an automatic invitation to the world championship tournament in St. Louis at the end of April. The award honors a top-contending team that best exemplifies the traits necessary to be successful at the challenge.
Funding and Building your Business
- Investment Strategy for Angels
Angel investing is a high-risk asset class and that risk can only be reduced by investing in many startup companies.
Energy and Climate Change
- How To Spot Innovative Hires
Many of the resumes that cross my desk are white pieces of paper that list education, experiences, and skills. Since they're typically from traditionally-minded people who prefer not to call attention to themselves, I don't expect anything else.
- Reid Hoffman connects four themes for would-be innovators (and tomorrow's healthcare companies)
Theme 4: If it's not 10x, don't bother.
- Ten Common Arrogance Traps for Startups to Avoid
"Business plans are for dummies."
- Entrepreneurs Need Creative Thinking After the Idea
I offer the following recommendations on how to nurture and build your creative business capabilities:
- "If you're gathering data and you haven't deployed analytics, you're crazy."
"It's wrong to start with data. Start by asking what the company should be doing, then reach into the data box, and then apply analytics."
Connectivity & Communications
- Climate may crank storms into overdrive
As Earth's climate changes, severe storms could become far more common in low-lying coastal areas, according to a new study.
- Montana Views on Energy Key Findings
Montana voters support renewable energy for several reasons, including the connection to job growth, health concerns and our dependency on foreign energy sources.
- Climate Change May Make Mount Everest Unclimbable
Climate change is altering the face of the Himalayas, devastating farming communities and making Mount Everest increasingly treacherous to climb, some of the world's top mountaineers have warned.
Government Technology
- Latest gadgets that are changing TV
The phenomenon: cord cutting. The reason: Cable packages are expensive and cheaper Internet offerings, such as Netflix and Hulu, make for good substitutes.
Transportation
- 10 Tips for Data Visualization
Analytics can significantly improve decision-making. They can help to improve the day-to-day lives of the public, support operational efficiency, identify and mitigate risks, and increase program effectiveness in a budget-constrained era.
- Envia Systems - A battery breakthrough that could bring electric cars to the masses
Envia Systems http://enviasystems.com/ has created a lithium ion battery that has an energy density of 400 watt-hours per kilogram, which Envia CEO Atul Kapadia told me in an interview could be the tipping point for bringing electric cars to mainstream car owner.
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