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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Feb 4, 2014 |
“I want to be remembered as someone whose roots are in Montana, who cared about Montana deeply and did a lot of things for Montana that made a difference.” Sen. Max Baucus
MATR was hacked yesterday by a jerk in Brazil. Many thanks to John Masterson for going above and beyond and bringing it back to life. Thanks John.
Montana Economic Development Summit - Butte, Montana
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- Senator Max Baucus Announces Montana Jobs Summits Will Continue
Senator Joins with Montana Chamber, Butte-Silver Bow, Montana Tech to Announce Intent to hold a 7th Economic Development Summit
Northwestern Energy
- Dorsey & Whitney - Montana Supreme Court Decision on Sick Leave Payout Policies
Dorsey is a business law firm, applying a business perspective to clients' needs. We make it our first priority to know the context in which you do business - your market, your competitors, your industry.
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- NorthWestern Energy Selects American Red Cross as 2014 Volunteer Partner
Now in its seventh year, the Community Works Employee Volunteer Partner sponsorship has raised almost $300,000 for various non-profit organizations.
- Northwestern's dam bid brings deja vu
"Deregulation was a mistake." Bob Rowe, CEO of Sioux Falls, S.D.-based NorthWestern -- and a member of the Montana Public Service Commission from 1993 to 2004
- NorthWestern looks to coordinate electric, gas production - Company increases its investments by 15 percent a year
The company's $370 million distribution system investment program is the largest private-sector infrastructure project going on in Montana.
TicketRiver.com
- Registration Open For Governor's Conference On Tourism, 4/13-15, Billings, Montana
There are still opportunities for those interested in sponsorship or as an exhibitor.
Inteneo Systems
- Now performing (and growing) on the B2B stage: TicketPrinting.com
Not just a one-act play, TicketPrinting.com is developing new services for event organizers beyond printing and selling their tickets.
Come Home Montana
- Data security is not their responsibility, say 23% of employees
The survey found that 23% of workers claimed that data security was up to the organisation and not the individual. However, 69% believed that a business should face legal action if the employer loses an individual's data.
- How Data Will Drive Business Strategy in 2014
As testing expands in 2014, more and more companies will gain the confidence necessary to abandon customer-sabotaging practices in favor of more customer-focused strategies.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - President and Chief Executive Officer Montana State University Alumni Foundation - Bozeman, MT
The Montana State University Alumni Foundation seeks an accomplished President and Chief Executive Officer to guide the Alumni Foundation to the next level of transformative support for the University.
- Missoula company looking for SEO expert.
Tech company is seeking the expertise of an SEO expert to assist in their online presence with a goal of increasing inbound lead generation.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Materials Manager - SRS Crisafulli, Inc.
Manufacturer of Reliable Dredges and Pumps - Supported By Superior Service Worldwide
MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association
- Startup Weekend Missoula - No Talk, All Action, 3/7-3/9, Missoula
Startup Weekend is a global network of passionate leaders and entrepreneurs on a mission to inspire, educate, and empower individuals, teams and communities. Come share ideas, form teams, and launch startups.
Montana Business
- February MEDA Online News; Save the Date!
Be sure to save the date for the MEDA Spring Conference: May 6th and 7th, in Havre.
Montana Economic Development
- Missoulians riding popularity of homemade word - "Boonstuckin"
" And that's when we had to do our trademark and get a business license and everything else. We realized we had something really cool and that other people might want it."
- Bozeman ranked among top movie-making towns
"We were the first program in science and natural history film-making in the US and we continue I think to be the leader in that field," MSU Film School Director, Dennis Aig, said.
- Submittable Goes Mobile!
So to help enlarge the void between people and their loved ones everywhere, we're releasing Submittable Mobile. You can now check for new submissions at your child's piano recital, at church, or while flying around in your spaceship. Technology!
- 'Amazing': Yellowstone Expeditions guides campers in heart of park in winter
When you talk to people who have spent time in Yellowstone National Park during the winter, they often use words like "amazing," "wondrous" and "magical."
- Ebb and flow: How bright is Butte's future in wake of closure, layoffs?
For all the talk about Butte's bright economic future, there's just as much chatter in town these days about businesses leaving town.
Careers
- 'Missoula Time' and the symptoms of stagnation
What will pull Missoula up from the recession, and when? Will UM rebound? Should Missoula keep all its eggs in one basket, even when the bottom is falling out?
Government
- 10 Tech Skills That Will Earn You Over $100,000
A new report from tech jobs database Dice.com contains a breakdown of the industry's most valuable skills.
- Out in the Open: Meet Julia, the One Programming Language to Rule Them All
Dubbed Julia, it provides an early glimpse into what programming languages might look like in the not too distant future
Idaho Business
- Senator Baucus Continues 'Whistle Stop Tour' with Stops in Great Falls, Missoula, Libby
"Montana's pristine outdoors will always hold a special place in my heart. From day one, I have been committed to protecting Montana's outdoor heritage for our kids and grandkids. And through our work together we've protected some of Montana's most unique and beautiful places," said Baucus. "Serving Montana has been the best job in the world. Thank you for the privilege of allowing me to be your Senator."
- Fed-worker retirement eligibility to skyrocket by 2017
More than a third of career federal employees projected to be eligible for collecting their end-of-career benefits by September 2017, compared to just 14 percent at the same time in 2012.
- Senator Baucus brings whistle stop tour to Missoula
"On behalf of all of the Montanans who aren't in this room today, I would say simply: Max, thanks for all those years. Max, thanks," former Democratic Congressman Pat Williams said to his fellow Democrat.
- Max Baucus reflects back on his long career in politics
"I want to be remembered as someone whose roots are in Montana, who cared about Montana deeply and did a lot of things for Montana that made a difference."
- 8 New Jobs City Hall Needs Now
Is your city government hiring this year? If so, we hope it's for at least one of the positions on our list.
- Baucus' last trip around Montana as state's senior senator ends in Helena
"Thank you for who you are, thank you for being Montanans, thank you for being some of the best bosses anyone could have,"
- Montana Department of Labor and Industry launches new website
Customer-centered approach to dramatically improve online services for employers and workers
Incubators and R&D
- Idaho lawmakers get surprise $14 million bill for broadband service for schools
Idaho legislative budget writers learned Thursday that telecom giant CenturyLink and Education Networks of America haven't been paid by the federal government since last March.
- Moscow, Idaho startup aims to make 3-D printing widely accessible - Skyforge
Some of the customers aren't trying to make something that looks cool. They are trying to make something like a knob for a kitchen stove. Something useful."
Regional Economic Development
- Research survey does not support logging as beetle outbreak remedy
Any decision made without data analysis is just an assumption.
- Grant helps McPherson Produce build high tunnels
People interested in learning more about the federal funding can contact the NRCS field office in Hamilton at 363-5010. The deadline for 2014 funding is Feb. 21.
University of Montana & Montana State University Tech Transfer
- Report on Factors that Boost Metro Startup and Growth Rates Dispels Myths, Emphasizes Importance of Education
I think this Kauffman report and Brad's book provide useful information on our learning to better understand what we can do to encourage startup formation in Montana.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Universities should cultivate start-up environments
A recent study has highlighted how ineffectual it is for universities to patent their discoveries.
Missoula Schools Excellence
- Preschool Push Moving Ahead in Many States
"It's a human need and an economic need."
- Book That Teaches Kids to Code Raises $250K on Kickstarter
The book's Kickstarter campaign -- meant to fund additional work on the project -- met its original goal of $10,000 in just three and a half hours, and Liukas has gone on to raise well over $250,000, with 17 days left to go.
- Dream it Code it Win it
This is a programming challenge (not a Hackathon) aimed at High School and College students.
- Governor Hatches Bold Tuition Plan: Free at Community Colleges for High School Grads
Governor's proposal to waive tuition at the state's community and technical colleges sends signal that young people need at least some postsecondary education to succeed.
Montana Education Excellence
- Superintendent Juneau announces Graduation Matters Impact Awards
Graduation Matters Missoula will be this year's recipient of the "Trailblazer Award" in recognition of their collaborative efforts with stu dents, families, community and businesses in suppor t of Missoula County Public Schools.
Funding and Building your Business
- UM's Mansfield Center schedules lectures on Asia, public affairs, ethics
All lectures are free and open to the public and run from 12:10 pm to 1:00 pm in the Mansfield Center Conference Room unless otherwise noted.
- Missoula, Montana's Loyola Sacred Heart High School wins 31st straight speech and debate state title
There are winners, repeats, and dynasties; and then there's the Loyola Sacred Heart High School Speech and Debate team.
- Montana University System seeks better graduation rate
The percentage of first-time, full-time MUS students earning bachelor's degrees within six years rose from 41 to 46 percent from the 2006-07 school year to the 2011-12 school year, the most recent year statistics are available from.
Energy and Climate Change
- Want to Raise Money? Ask for Advice
There's a big benefit to updating people (advisors, investors, potential investors, etc.) on a regular basis.
- Entrepreneurs Need To Extend Their Range Of Change
It's time for more entrepreneurs to reset their focus, and shift their thinking to completely different ways of doing things.
- Delight customers by giving them what they didn't ask for
When it comes to creativity and innovation, customers can be woefully inadequate sources for new solutions.
- Every Startup Needs To Be Ready To Meet The Press
There are lots of expensive public and media relations firms out there who can give you the full treatment, but I recommend starting with a good book on the subject.
- Peter Koestenbaum challenges executives to be better leaders
"H=Mc," or "Humanities equals more cash."
- New CIOs need at least two years to take charge, research finds
Some CIOs are not given enough time to fully take control of their role when they start a new job, research has found.
- Is the annual budget still useful?
Financial management tools are far more adaptable than their predecessors, and forecasting functions have become more intuitive.
- What's Your Personal Branding, 2/11, University Of Montana
The things you're passionate about, the quirks in your personality, the things you do to make a difference, these qualities set you apart from the rset of the pack!
- What's Your Personal Branding, 2/18, University Of Montana
The things you're passionate about, the quirks in your personality, the things you do to make a difference, these qualities set you apart from the rset of the pack!
Connectivity & Communications
- Building a Better Battery
Batteries, long the poor cousin to computer chips in research-obsessed Silicon Valley, are now the rage.
Government Technology
- Kansas moves to Stop Broadband Internet to residents
The Kansas Legislatures wants to make sure that cities cannot invest in any broadband network technologies.
- Companies back fast Internet-in-schools initiative
The White House says it's lined up private support for President Barack Obama's pledge to connect 15,000 schools and 20 million students with high-speed Internet service over the next few years.
Non-Profit News
- Montana Road Conditions
Road reports are based on the last known and reported condition.
- Open Government: idling in the driveway
Part of the problem might be attributable to cultural barriers and the illusion that some bureaucrats hold that this is "their" data vs "all of our" data.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- The National Institute on Money in State Politics - Helena, Montana nonprofit that monitors states' political spending focuses on federal level
"We encourage transparency and promote independent investigation of state-level campaign contributions by journalists, academic researchers, public interest groups, government agencies, policymakers, students and the public at large."
- Concern over bitcoin vulnerability spreads worldwide
Regulators and banks are escalating warnings against bitcoin and other digital currencies amid concern such software lends itself to financial crime
- Feds to require vehicle-to-vehicle communication to prevent crashes
A move aimed at significantly reducing the more than 30,000 vehicle deaths each year.
- The Next Big Thing You Missed: Online Grocery Shopping Is Back, and This Time It'll Work
Perhaps all that was needed for the return of the modern-day milkman was a smartphone.
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