MATR Newsletter – April 21, 2023
The state with the best education wins!

14 Members of Hellgate High’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) Have Qualified and Need Your Support to Compete at the Nationals in Anaheim CA.

BPA challenges students with real world, relevant assessments and allows students the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the walls of the classroom.

This startup can give EVs a full charge in 10 minutes

On a sunny Thursday morning in San Francisco, a driver pulled a Nissan Leaf into a building, parked on a platform, and stepped out of the car. Then the platform lifted the car in the air. Robotic arms carefully pulled out the electric car’s batteries and placed fresh, fully charged batteries inside. The whole process took around 10 minutes.

Today’s MATR Newsletter is sponsored by:

Come Home Montana

The Cheapest States to Start a Business – Montana #4
It costs money to launch a business, and entrepreneurs need every edge they can get. These are the states with the lowest costs associated with starting and running an LLC.
NeighborWorks Montana Accepting Board Member Applications
Serving on an organization’s board is a great way to make an impact in your community and is a powerful way to cultivate new skills and grow as a leader. The life experience and different perspectives you bring to the organization are also very appreciated and valued.

Flathead Valley Community College

New Flathead Valley Community College performance hall attracting world-class talent
The McClaren Performance Hall is making a name for itself by attracting world-class talent. An array of musical guests and speakers have visited the new state-of-the-art Wachholz College Center on…

Great Falls Development Authority

Local Great Falls planning group opens survey about long range transportation plan
To start the process, the MPO opened a survey on the community’s travel habits and transportation priorities that will help the planning team as they consider and plan for the future of transportation in Great Falls.
The deadline for the survey is May 10.

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

Flathead County Growth Begins to Cool but Still the Fastest Growing County in Montana
Since the scale of development peaked in 2021, local officials say they’ve received fewer applications for building permits even as the valley continues to grapple with growing pains

Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative

Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative April 2023 Newsletter
Join Montana Innovation Partnership (MTIP) for an interactive discussion about funding options for early-stage technology innovations and a deep dive into getting started with Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) programs – America’s Seed Fund.

Montana Business

The Loss of Local News Outlets Means No More ‘First Rough Draft of History’ for Many Communities
Layoffs, buyouts, closures and mergers have resulted in spreading news deserts. There are a few scattered bright signs, efforts to revive local journalism in some form.
New Federal Program to Help Cities Plan ‘Thriving Neighborhoods’
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an award of $21 million for 64 communities to coordinate transit, mobility, and land-use plans and navigate infrastructure funding opportunities.
Better To Build A Culture Of Collaboration Than Insist On Return To Office
Why Do Bosses Try To Get Workers Back To The Office? They Don’t Know How To Build A Culture Of Remote Collaboration
How an avalanche of wealth is displacing workers in Montana
The people who feed, clothe and clean up after the West’s rich newcomers can’t afford to live alongside them.
Why This Leader Reads Poetry to His Employees
Ironclad’s $3.2 billion valuation and committment to ‘closing the justice gap’ isn’t even the best part about working there.
SBA Expands Its Lending Network to Spur Access to Capital for Underrepresented Founders
The measure could draw in more financial technology companies and other alternative lenders.
Follow These Best Practices When Implementing Pay Transparency
Multiple pay transparency laws have come into effect recently. But compliance is more complicated than posting salary ranges.
Forbes names Stockman Bank of Montana among ‘World’s Best’
“This award is particularly special as it reflects the trust our customers have put in us to meet their financial needs.” Bill Coffee, Stockman CEO said in a statement. “Montana remains our only focus, backed by a commitment to local management and decision making.
Why Business Leaders Must Resist the Anti-ESG Movement
For many companies, it may seem smart to stay out of anyone’s crosshairs. But try as they might, there’s no avoiding taking positions on the big issues of the day — major stakeholders, particularly young customers and employees, expect it.
Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) receives $25,000 grant from the Montana Healthcare Foundation to conduct rural and tribal engagement in southern Montana.
“We want to hear the voices of those who will benefit most from renewed passenger rail service in southern Montana,” says BSPRA Chairman Dave Strohmaier.

Montana Businesses Seeking Investment or For Sale

Base Camp stores in Billings and Helena are for sale
When big chain outdoor stores like Scheels and REI moved to town, Brown said he hardly felt it. And, while nearly everyone hated the recent pandemic, for the Base Camp, it was good for business.

Montana Economic Development

14 Members of Hellgate High’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) Have Qualified and Need Your Support to Compete at the Nationals in Anaheim CA.
BPA challenges students with real world, relevant assessments and allows students the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the walls of the classroom.

Housing

A fight brewing in Oregon could decide how we heat our homes and cook
In Eugene, the natural gas industry plans to spend millions to defeat the city’s ban on gas in newly built homes. If it succeeds, the industry may take the fight to other U.S. cities and counties.
Missoula, Montana sees single-family housing as reason for high costs, housing shortage
Missoula’s poorer, more diverse residents live in areas where zoning allows gentrification

Funding and Building your Business

Incentivizing Creativity: How to Get Frontline Employees to Make Your Business Their Business
Being a thought partner in your business is a lot to ask in exchange for an hourly wage. Don’t be sad about this–be strategic.

Rural Communities

You voted, and the results are in. The Strongest Town in North America is…
Now it’s time to celebrate!

2023 Montana Legislature and Politics

Montana Passes TikTok Ban: Here’s Why It’s Probably Unenforceable and a Dangerous Tipping Point
The Montana House voted Friday to approve a bill banning TikTok in the state, the first of its kind in the U.S.—though it’s unclear how the state would be able to ever enforce such a ban.

American Prairie

Ken Burns on ‘The American Buffalo’ and Indigenous histories
The prolific filmmaker discusses his latest project and his attempt to make space for Indigenous voices.

Tell Us Something

March Event Wrap-Up, Podcast News, Call for Storytellers and Missoula Gives
we have a call for storytellers on the theme “Neighbors”. We believe that everyone has a story to tell, and we want to hear yours. If you have a personal tale of connection, community, and neighbors, we want to help you share it.

MSU Leadership Institute & UM Global Leadership Initiative

Montana State University students serve on local nonprofit boards
Nine Montana State University students spent the academic year serving on the boards of Gallatin Valley nonprofit organizations as part of the MSU Leadership Institute’s Boardroom Bobcats mentorship program, which is completing its seventh year.

Transportation

This startup can give EVs a full charge in 10 minutes
On a sunny Thursday morning in San Francisco, a driver pulled a Nissan Leaf into a building, parked on a platform, and stepped out of the car. Then the platform lifted the car in the air. Robotic arms carefully pulled out the electric car’s batteries and placed fresh, fully charged batteries inside. The whole process took around 10 minutes.
The US Wants to Close an ‘SUV Loophole’ That Supersized Cars
A new proposal from the EPA would make it less attractive for automakers to build big vehicles.
Opinion: Car-Free Inspiration From an Overseas Adventure
For four months last fall, my lifestyle changed dramatically when my husband and I lived car-free.
Exactly How Much Less America Walks Than Other Countries, In Five Charts
Americans walk far less for transportation than residents of other industrialized nations, a new report emphasizes — the latest evidence that the nation needs to rethink its autocentric policies and put people first.
Is a post-car future actually possible? Experts say yes — here’s how we could get there
A car-free society would be more equitable, more efficient, and less polluted. Here’s how we could get there