|
|
|
| MATR Newsletter - Fri Mar 3, 2006 |
"If you asked me to name the three scariest threats facing the human race, I would give the same answer that most people would: nuclear war, global warming, and Windows." -- Dave Barry
Two items that are appropriate for the need to develop more entrepreneurial funding options in Montana. "Are the Capital Formation Programs (Angel network, Venture Capital and Tax Inceitives) in Your State Included in the Database from the NASVF?" http://www.matr.net/article-18444.html --- " High court doubtful about challenge to state tax incentives to companies that expand their investments in the state." http://www.matr.net/article-18463.html
Come Home Montana
Montana Meth Project
- The New Flathead Landscape. Managing growth is the new buzz.
We live in the Flathead Valley because we want to be here. Ray Thompson moved his Silicon Valley business, Semitool http://www.semitool.com, to Kalispell because he wanted to come back home. Don Farris relocated his entire family and his high-tech manufacturing firm, Resource Label Group, to Whitefish after vacationing here. Urban tech entrepreneurs are trading city skyline office views for the Rocky Mountains. The “I’m here, now shut the door” growth mentality is painfully outdated. Managing growth is the new buzz.
- Featured "Come Home Montana" Community~SIDNEY
Welcome to Sidney, the Sunrise City, located in the beautiful Yellowstone River Valley in Richland County.
- Montana-Jobs.net Featured Career ~ Land Asset Management Analyst, Columbia Falls, Montana.
Plum Creek is the United States largest privately held land owner and were rapidly growing!
- Montana-Jobs.net Featured Talent - Desired Field: Journeyman Welder / Millwright
Education
- Montana Association of Counties Endorses Sen. Burns’ Meth Bill. "The Montana Meth Project"
Senator Burns said, “Everywhere I go in Montana I hear directly from county commissioners, police chiefs, emergency room workers, and school principals that meth is the biggest problem they face. This bill will provide immediate funding to state or local entities that will find a private match for funding and demonstrate they will use the funds for prevention campaigns. Our neighborhoods are under assault. Meth is an epidemic, and we need a sense of urgency about this problem.”
Montana Business
- $50,000 in scholarships available to Montana students
“I am proud to help honor students who give so much of their time to their communities,” Schweitzer said. “Montana’s families have been priced out of an education. Our state’s most talented should have the opportunity to attend college and be the engines that drive the state’s future economic growth.”
- University of Montana space programs spending to be investigated.
UM's former vice president for research, Lloyd Chesnut, a key person in starting the space center, has since been investigated at the University of North Texas for conflict of interest. Regents Chairman John Mercer now wants an audit to review Chesnut's "dealings" at UM and whether there was "value received for federal dollars expended."
- UM professors fear for academic freedom. "Without Interference -- Academic Freedom In The 21st Century.", 3-27/28, Bozeman, Montana
“You are fully supported to conduct and disseminate your scholarly work and your professional opinions, including work that may be unpopular.” UM Provost Lois Muir
- 2218 high school dropouts in 2004 cost Wyoming $550 million in lost wages, taxes and productivity. 3,051 dropouts cost Montana $793 Million
And the organization said its calculations for each state were conservative. Figures were calculated only for one year's worth of dropouts, and the group didn't speculate about the lost earning power of dropouts who could have gone on to college.
- Colleges going cyber: Tech transforms recruiting
In the same way that Amazon personalizes its site based on a buyer's purchases, some colleges tailor the Web experience to a student's academic and extracurricular interests.
- 10 cool colleges for entrepreneurs
Sitting Bull College, Fort Yates, N.D. One of the first tribal colleges in the U.S. when it was founded in 1973, Sitting Bull has launched a pioneering program to teach entrepreneurship to Native Americans. A key goal: to create jobs on the Standing Rock Reservation (pop. 12,000), where unemployment is at 76 percent. Educators seek to emulate the economically and culturally independent Amish.
- Parents, students call Havre Public Schools Web-based program a success
In grades four through 12, parents and students can access current grades and homework assignments. Students' eating habits and absences can be viewed for students of all grades.
- George Bailey, president of the Inland Northwest Space Alliance denies impropriety in Lloyd Chesnut and his wife earning nearly $130,000 at the company.
INSA also has ties to Sen. Conrad Burns. Leo Giacometto, former chief of staff for Burns, a Republican, is a registered lobbyist for INSA. Records his company filed, which are required of all lobbyists, show INSA paid his firm $20,000 in 2004. However, INSA’s tax records report it spent no money on lobbying in 2004.
Montana Economic Development
- Cellulosic Ethanol Process Development Planned in Montana Summer of 2006. EthaNext Energy Development
EthaNext will work with MMP and others to further the development of a process that has been under study since 1986. The process uses a proprietary enzyme that breaks cellulose down into its starch and sugar components at low temperatures.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Montana West Economic Development First Quarter 2006 Newsletter
The Flathead County Economic Development Authority and Montana West Economic Development have formed a public/private partnership, working to build economic opportunity for the Flathead Valley.
- Montana Economic Developers Association. The March edition of MEDA Online News
- Montana MarketManager providing vast information to producers and others
Improving the marketing skills of Montana producers through workshops, marketing clubs and an on-line education website is the mission of Montana MarketManager.
- New Resource “Starting a Farmers' Market in Montana” now available
“It is our hope that this manual will be a resource to help additional Montana farms, ranches and communities reap the benefits of local farmers' markets”, says Jim Barngrover, AERO Ag Program Manager.
Funding and Building your Business
- Are the Capital Formation Programs (Angel network, Venture Capital and Tax Inceitives) in Your State Included in the Database from the NASVF?
“This is an opportunity for states to showcase their efforts to support the new businesses and entrepreneurs who drive the new economy,“
- High court doubtful about challenge to state tax incentives to companies that expand their investments in the state.
The state of Washington was one of 34 states that signed a brief to the court supporting Ohio's position.
Global Telework
- What makes a "best place to work"?
While engendering passion and emotion are of course vital, a great place to work is also a place where people are able to apply their talent to the fullest.
- Tax Change Allows Startup Cost Deduction
Startup costs include many of the expenditures a company makes before it actually starts doing business.
- Hiring Strategies for Entrepreneurs Seeking Top Talent
"Hiring the right top team is absolutely critical for any entrepreneurial company focused on growing its business,"
- Just for You. Your startup can make customers smile if you let them design their own retail experiences.
"We [as consumers] crave feeling special. We crave being able to get our creativity in our own product,"
- CEOs and CIOs must be 'joined at the hip'
"The management of technology, once implemented in your organization, falls under the rubric of 'who is driving the business?'
- Boston University Launches Free Project Management Knowledge Base
Project managers must be able to assist the organization in determining which projects should be part of the project portfolio."
- The Art of Raising Angel Capital by Guy Kawasaki
Be warned: if you want to raise venture capital in later rounds, it's going to be much harder if you show up with a long list of unsophisticated investors.
- Inside Entrepreneurship: How to peg value of startup
In terms of preparing a well-reasoned startup valuation, you may hit the mother lode of valuation support if the company you are emulating is publicly traded or is required to publish annual reports to regulatory agencies.
Regional Economic Development
- Computer Technology Opens a World of Work to Disabled People
Fast computers and broadband connections have become so inexpensive and reliable that location is now not an issue for certain jobs, like customer service.
Government Technology
- SBA Newsline Eight March 2006
- Microsoft, Department of Labor Team Up to Train Technology Workers
One-Stop Career Centers around the country will receive a total of $3.5 million in cash and software, in addition to a donated Digital Literacy training curriculum, to further advance technology skills and training programs.
Idaho Business
- Washington State tests voice-over-Internet calls for first responders
"This is our initial communications push to make sure that we can start responding to the disaster very quickly,"
- Bozeman Mayors, Past and Present, Blog from Inside City Politics
The first installment features Krauss's and Kirchhoff's thoughts on how to better communicate in an age of electronic media.
Washington State Business
- Idaho Looks To Attract Hollywood
You could say Idaho is a cinematographer's dream: gorgeous mountains, vintage ghost towns, expansive deserts and sparkling lakes.
- Out of the woodwork. Stan Craft Wooden Boats of Post Falls, ID has been creating, restoring, selling classic wood boats for three generations
If you have to ask the price...
- Idaho Office of Science & Technology March 2006
Idaho Must Meet the Challenge and Secure the State's High Technology Future
- PakSense of Boise, Idaho tests packing tag. Labels note temperatures every 5 minutes
The labels, which can stick to a cardboard box or crate, track the temperature every five minutes for up to four weeks and then transfer that information to a computer.
Incubators and R&D
- Seattle medical-device company, Northstar Neuroscience seeks IPO to raise up to $85 million
Northstar is testing its lead product, the Northstar Stroke Recovery System a pacemaker-like device that delivers electric stimulation, that's meant to help restore hand and arm function to stroke victims.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Deep-sea organism helps tumor-targeting scientists at MSU
"Our goal is to deliver cancer drugs only to the tumor and avoid the ‛healthy cells' that are also killed by existing anti-cancer agents," Flenniken said.
Small Diameter Timber Utilization
- HATCHfest '06 Is Open for Business in Bozeman, Montana. Festival coming 10/3-8
HATCHfest http://www.hatchfest.com/, which happens in Bozeman, Montana October 3 through 8, has sent out a call to 250 colleges and universities worldwide for entries to their 2006 event. They are seeking competitors in feature films, shorts and student films as well as for fashion and for the Gibson Guitar New Musician Award.
Careers
- Montana conference examines wood waste as fuel - "Fuels for Schools and Beyond"
Schools in the Pacific Northwest are among those with new biomass boilers. Now there are efforts to expand the program to other institutions, such as hospitals and prisons.
Non-Profit News
- Manpower Lists Top 10 Jobs Most Difficult to Fill
“We are experiencing growing pains in the U.S. as we shift from a skills-based economy to a knowledge-based economy."
Energy
- Montana Nonprofit Association March 2006 Newsletter
- The Missoula Community Brew, sponsored by Big Sky Brewing (BSBC) and the Zoo City Zymurgists homebrew club pick brew to benefit Community Focused Disaster Response (CFDR)
Their spokesperson John Masterson said: “The Community Brew http://www.montanahomebrewers.org/ represents an opportunity to help people in need and raise the visibility of our club. Big Sky Brewing has long demonstrated their commitment to charitable causes, and we appreciate the opportunity to be involved. Plus, they make darn good beer.”
- Bozeman man's refugee message goes nationwide. Mortenson's call for Pakistani aid makes magazine, TV. 55 schools established in Pakistan and Afghanistan through the nonprofit Central Asia Institute
Next week, he will appear on several national television and radio programs promoting his book. Appearances will include "MSNBC Live" with Contessa Brewer on Monday; "Live From CNN," Tuesday; and ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday.
Connectivity & Communications
- Eureka school district seeks funding for biomass. "Fuels for Schools"
According to Blaz, the new biomass system could drop heating costs from $150,000 a year to $60,000.
Transportation
- Inside the world of Wikipedians, there's drama, politics and love
Anyone can join the masses of up to 850,000 registered users, but being a Wikipedian implies greater devotion, like that of the 2,000 volunteer users who each post 100 edits a month on the English version.
- Powell, Wyoming fiber optic network moves forward. System would offer 30 to 100 times faster Internet connections
Powell would be among the first cities in the country to have access to such high-speed services and among only a handful of communities to maintain municipal control and eventual ownership of the network.
- Creating 'original content' for the Web. Danger
There is a new and insidious threat to the World Wide Web: a slowly rising tide of "original content" on Internet sites that is at best worthless, and at worst possibly even dangerously inaccurate.
- U.S. Senator Unveils Net Neutrality Legislation
"Creating a two-tiered system could have a chilling effect on small mom and pop businesses that can't afford the priority lane, leaving these smaller businesses no hope of competing against the Wal-Marts of the world," said Wyden.
- Panel To Explore Light Rail Option -Missoula To Darby, 6/15-16, Missoula, Montana
“Efficient transportation is going to be the thing that helps preserve Missoula, Montana, as the place we love.”
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page
