MATR Newsletter - Fri Jul 18, 2014 |
This MATR newsletter sponsored by: Add an event... Upcoming Events
New Events
MATR supporter: To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page |
The winds of change are gusty. And they will alter what happens in Montana, and whether for better or worse does depend on Montanans, and how they, or you, read those winds.” K. Ross Toole - Montana before YouTube -- http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Main Street Montana Project Regional Meetings!, 7/23, Polson http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Early Edge Montana
Main Street Montana Project
- Affordable Housing Leads to Smarter Kids
A new study finds a link between how much families spend on housing and children's intellectual ability.
- Bullock and Juneau Set the Stage for State-Funded Early Childhood Programs
"Montana children deserve every opportunity to succeed, that begins with ensuring that they come to kindergarten ready to learn,"
Montana Data Focused Business Cluster
- Main Street Montana Project Regional Meetings!, 7/23, Polson
Share the unique successes and challenges in your region and help build a business plan for Montana by Montanans.
- Main Street Montana Project - More Jobs, People
The economy is doing well in Montana and Governor Steve Bullock is implementing a plan to make it even better.
Montana Department of Commerce
- San Francisco using data to eliminate poop on streets
San Francisco is taking a new data-driven approach to a longtime city problem
- Big Data Fueling Iowa Farmers' Productivity
Big ag data, a catch phrase describing the aggregation and analysis of the vast stores of digital information generated by farmers, will fuel the next advancement in their productivity, experts say.
- A Primer on Law Firm Cyber Liability Insurance
Law firm cyber liability insurance can help mitigate damages when a breach occurs. The following points should be considered when researching a policy:
Montana Technology Innovation Partnership
- FY 2015 Montana Main Street Grant Application Cycle Update
Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate the implementation of larger community vision and goals or as they relate to previous or concurrent larger planning efforts (such as a downtown revitalization plan, growth policy, historic preservation plan, etc.).
Northwestern Energy
- Montana Technology Innovation Partnership Rural Roundtable Events, 07/31, Havre
Would you like to connect with the Commercial Market?
- Montana Technology Innovation Partnership Rural Roundtable Events, 08/01, Lewistown
Calling all Inventors and Researchers - Do you have an Innovative Product or Concept?
- Montana Technology Innovation Partnership Rural Roundtable Events, 07/28, Billings
Learn about protecting your idea and moving it forward during these Free Innovation Events
- Montana Technology Innovation Partnership Rural Roundtable Events, 07/29, Miles City
Calling all Inventors and Researchers - Do you have an Innovative Product or Concept?
- Montana Technology Innovation PartnershipRural Roundtable Events, 07/30, Wolf Point
Calling all Inventors and Researchers
- Rural Roundtable Innovator Events Invitation - Montana Technology Innovation Partnership
Calling all Inventors and Researchers - Do you have an Innovative Product or Concept? Would you like to connect with the Commercial Market? Learn about protecting your idea and moving it forward during these Free Innovation Events hosted by Montana Technology Innovation Partnership (MTIP) and local Economic Development Service Providers in your community.
PrintingForLess
- Bob Rowe, NorthWestern Energy's CEO rebuts critics of hydroelectric deal
"The fact we're able to attract some of the investors that invest in the best, the biggest utility companies in the United States, is great." Bob Rowe
Great Falls Development Authority
- Say It Five Times Fast: Premium Paper Products Produce Perfect Professional Printing
We're only five days away from launching our Direct Mail Master's Toolkit.
Inteneo Systems
- GFDA Top 14 July 15
A huge shout-out to Great Falls College MSU, the Great Falls Job Service and Great Falls Public Schools for a very quick turn-around on producing important information and welcoming materials for a hot prospect! It's wonderful to have such great team members!
Come Home Montana
- Data Analytics and Utilities Are Powerful Partners
Rural electric cooperatives can now access data that enhance their operations and address issues specific to their utility.
Montana Business
- Montana Career Opportunity - Senior Java/Android Developer - onXmaps
We are a rapidly growing company in beautiful Western Montana that requires the ability to work in a fast paced, team-oriented environment and now is your chance to join our team.
TEDx Events in Montana
- Montana Lays Claim to More Than $10 Billion in Projects as Bakken Shale, Renewables Drive Growth, an Industrial Info News Alert
Industrial Info is tracking 117 active and unconfirmed projects in Montana that have a total investment value (TIV) of more than $10 billion. Construction on 50 projects worth about $2.5 billion is expected to kick off within the next 12 months.
- Tester, Walsh: Don't tax the Internet - What is your opinion Montana businesses? Please add your comments to this posting
"Instead of protecting and fostering e-commerce, this Internet sales tax legislation would stifle small business growth and job creation," Tester said. "To keep the Internet free of taxation, Congress must act - and soon."
- Walsh expands job opportunities, provides tax credits for Montana businesses
Senator John Walsh today cosponsored bipartisan legislation to encourage businesses to hire young workers by providing tax credits for apprenticeships.
- Tap Room Tours Take You To the Best Breweries in Western Montana
Now you can be chauffeured around in a luxury minibus from brewery to brewery--plus and, if you pick the right tour, a distillery--and drinking as much as you want without having to worry about how you'll get home.
Government
- Today's TED Talk Nikolai Begg: A tool to fix one of the most dangerous moments in surgery
In a fascinating talk, find out how mechanical engineer Nikolai Begg is using physics to update an important medical device, called the trocar, and improve one of the most dangerous moments in many common surgeries.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Montana's Governor Bullock promotes drought management effort
The project could lead to the development of a more dedicated, cross-agency national drought preparedness program.
- Missoula, Montana and Apple Valley, California to collaborate on water system fights with Carlyle Group by sharing information and strategies.
Missoula Mayor John Engen said city leaders met with their counterparts from Apple Valley on Monday to discuss forming a coalition, a move that would see the two cities collaborate to win control of their respective water systems.
- The Citizens Most Vocal in Local Government
"To truly engage the community managers have to think broader about it than in the past."
MAPS : Media Arts in the Public Schools
- Can Analytics Help Colleges Graduate More Students?
If faculty, advisers, students (and parents) have access to learning data, they can make more informed decisions.
- Montana Girls STEM funds eight Montana youth projects
The mini-grants seek to develop or grow programs that offer exposure to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), with a focus on building collaboration between existing programs and organizations that will encourage girls to pursue STEM-related education and careers.
Montana Education Excellence
- MAPS Media Institute named finalist for national award
"We appreciate all that you do for the field of out-of-school youth arts and humanities education and for the many young people who are touched by your work. MAPS Media Institute is a testament to the remarkable accomplishments of this growing field."
Universities and Economic Development
- Health care camp aims to inspire next generation of Montana rural providers
MedStart camps have been offered around the state for the past few years, including in Missoula and Great Falls this summer. The free and competitive program targets students from rural or underprivileged backgrounds.
- University of Montana ranked in top 3 percent of universities worldwide
According to officials at UM, eight indicators are used to compile the rankings: from quality of education and faculty to alumni employment and patents.
- Montana Tech gearing up for PhD program
"In Bozeman they've seen a number of start up companies that resulted from research on the MSU campus, same thing in Missoula, with Montana Tech recently receiving permission for our first PhD program, we anticipate the same type of thing happening here in Southwestern Montana,"
Community
- Rural and Urban: Across the False Divide - Land Grant Universities
Higher education, and especially the land grant university system, has a key role to play in enhancing social and economic opportunities at the urban-rural interface.
Funding and Building your Business
- TEN new grant announcements
- Study: Portland's Accessory Dwelling Units Reduce Car Impacts
When it comes to cars, accessory units in backyards and basements are nearly as low-impact as big apartment buildings next to bus lines.
- Butte Local Development Corp. leading community branding of Butte effort
Other highlights include an expanded Business Expansion and Retention program, providing financial assistance for establishing the fiber optic network here and providing monthly reports on BLDC activities to the county.
Energy and Climate Change
- The Disconnect in Connecting the Workplace
Technology is most effective when it is invisible.
- Tesla may work S-E-X back in name of new model
Tesla sells the Model S sedan, and the Model X crossover is due to start deliveries next year. For its third model, CEO Elon Musk had chosen the name Model E. Get it? S-E-X.
- A long day's journey into canceling Comcast service - A lesson in customer service
The conversation did not go well.
- Food Trucks Share Social Media Secrets
These mobile businesses have taken advantage of social media and their expertise can be helpful to businesses of any type.
- Ladies who launch: Entrepreneurs offer pitch-perfect advice
As more women pitch their ideas, more investors - regardless of gender - are willing to say yes.
- Insurance policy rewards employees' healthy shopping choices with cash
Employees benefit from good health insurance policies from the companies they work for, but if they don't look after their health then employers are the ones that end up paying a higher premium.
Connectivity & Communications
- A cheaper way to make hydrogen fuel
The technology, based on carbon nanotubes, is a catalyst for electrolysis reactions, which use electric currents to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
- Mesh Networks Keep Residents Connected During Power Outages
As unpredictable weather increases, mesh could become a critical way to keep citizens connected to vital services and make communities more resilient.
- Eco shower device turns waste hot water into an energy source
Ecodrain is an easy-to-install device that heats up incoming shower water when the hot water goes down the drain.
Government Technology
- Social-media and online giants Amazon, Facebook, Google and Twitter back net neutrality plan
Amazon, Facebook, Google, Twitter and other Internet companies have asked the Federal Communications Commission to adopt and enforce rules to keep the Internet open.
- Rural Broadband Internet Service Growing in Wisconsin
A state grant expanding broadband Internet access in Wisconsin will enable students in Eau Claire County school districts to bring the Internet home with them.
- Seattle Considering Municipal Broadband
"We have to look at, No. 1, how are we reducing barriers to competition, knowing that the marketplace is hungry for more broadband?"
- A Quick Way to Build a Wireless Network
Local governments are using mesh networks to stay connected during outages, offer high-speed Wi-Fi and breach the digital divide. But it's not perfect.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Commerce Department to Name Data Chief and Launch New Open Data Programs
"We must build a common platform that ensures greater technical capacity to liberate our data, an ability to combine data in ways that make them more valuable," she said. "We aspire to develop new suites of data products created to meet the needs of businesses, innovators, governments and others."
- Program Alerts Hollywood, Fla. Residents to Spikes in Water Use
A new program lets Hollywood residents sign up for free, automatic emails when there is a spike in their relative water usage, or usage over a four-day span, when compared to the last 30 days.
- Montana Department of Revenue Director Mike Kadas to seek disclosure of real estate sales prices
Mike Kadas pitched the idea that public disclosure of sales prices is a valuable tool for property owners to use when challenging the department's valuations of their property.
- San Diego Paves Way for Increased Transparency
Following the release of data sets, departments will be required to manage, maintain and update their information routinely.
- 3 Tips for Pursuing Performance Management in Government
"What gets measured gets done."
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Yellowstone's Not About to Erupt, It's Just Burping Up Water
This is by no means a harbinger of doom but rather exactly what we might expect in a place with an vigorous hydrothermal system. In a sense, Yellowstone is less of a "supervolcano" than a "super plumbing system" moving fluids around the crust.
- Microsoft to cut up to 18,000 jobs over next year
The layoffs by Microsoft -- which employs 125,000 people -- are the company's largest ever. The acquisition of Nokia's handset business in April added 25,000 people to Microsoft's payroll.
Transportation
- MakerBot taking 3-D printers mainstream at Home Depot
"For so many people, it's new technology - still almost science fiction. One of our biggest challenges is educating people about what 3-D printing is and what they could personally do with it. Where it gets exciting is when they take their passion and connect it to a MakerBot."
- Novartis Joins With Google to Develop Contact Lens That Monitors Blood Sugar
The agreement is among recent moves into the health care sector by technology giants including Apple and Samsung as they develop devices and mobile applications to track people's daily lives.
- Wireless earbuds are custom 3D printed so they won't fall out
Currently seeking funding through Kickstarter, the startup aims to make the best-fitting and best-sounding earphones available.
- Helsinki's ambitious plan to make car ownership pointless in 10 years
The idea is that with such a system in place, residents would no longer need cars.
- Caarbon is a personal, on-demand valet service
Users simply let the company know where they're heading and what time they'll be there.
- President Obama Calls for Vehicle-to-Vehicle, Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Communication
"Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication technology represents the next giant leap in automotive safety, providing the ability for cars to 'talk' to each other and the world around them to avoid crashes. And we're not just talking about cars talking to other cars but about cars talking to bikes, trucks talking to motorcycles, buses talking to pedestrians, and even traffic signals communicating with vehicles to help prevent crashes and reduce traffic tie-ups.
To subscribe or unsubscribe from the free weekly MATR newsletter, please visit our list info page