MATR Newsletter – August 16, 2021
The state with the best education wins!

My goal is to build a life I don’t need a vacation from.

Today’s MATR Newsletter is sponsored by:

Despite 2020 gains, Bozeman tech companies struggle under housing crunch
Bozeman tech company Zoot Enterprises was hiring for 20 positions last week. Nearly all of them were at the software company’s Billings office.
“Billings has been one of our big expansion points,” said company president Tony Rosanova. “We’re leveraging that because of the cost of Bozeman. We’re hiring staff into Billings because the price of homes is lower.”
Montana Career Opportunities – Software Developer, Creative Marketing Manager – Digital, National Account Manager, Marketing Communications Manager and more… – Zoot Enterprises
At Zoot, our employees are committed to providing the best decisioning engines for the largest financial institutions in the world. Zooters are also committed to passions outside the company
Montana Career Opportunities – Investigator (I or II) in Pharmaceutical & Formulation Science, Postdoctoral Formulations Scientist – Inimmune
The Inimmune team of scientific professionals is a group of good-natured, hardworking, fun-loving, innovative problem solvers that strive to deliver superior immunotherapeutics to improve the quality of life for all…

CBS 60 Minutes – Automated trucking, a technical milestone that could disrupt hundreds of thousands of jobs, hits the road
Companies are already testing driverless trucks on America’s roads. The technology will bring untold profits, but it may cost thousands of truckers their livelihoods.
This is one of the best ways to answer ‘What do you do?’
The point is to surprise the listener a bit with a “pattern interrupt.”
USDA Rural Development Montana’s Rural Explorer – August 2021
Welcome to the Montana Rural Explorer, USDA Rural Development Montana’s monthly newsletter where you will find updates on funding opportunities and activities related to our Business, Cooperative, Energy, Electric, Telecommunications, Water and Environmental, Community Facilities, Multi-Family Housing, and Single Family Housing programs.

Missoula, Montana’s Inimmune Receives Montana Ambassador Business of the Year Award
Inimmune is emblematic of the type of startup success story that is becoming transformational for Montana’s economy.

Live Oak Belgian’s For Your Next Extra Special Event
Live Oak Belgian’s goal is to find ways to show, work, demonstrate and enjoy our horses relative to all the historic uses of the heavy draft horse. If you have an idea or a special need, discuss it with us; we can tailor a service for you.

Waterton-Glacier National Park – Star Light, Star Bright
Waterton-Glacier receives full certification as International Dark Sky Park just in time for one of the most stunning nighttime displays

Blood, brains and burgers: The future is lab-grown everything
Science fiction has long floated the idea of a device that can produce any kind of object one can imagine. Star Trek called it a replicator, while other writers have referred to it as a Santa Claus Machine.

Lost Hikers Rely on Unpaid Rescuers. Colorado Could Change That
The Centennial State is looking into creating a full-time corps of rescuers with a budget in hopes of increasing participation from the volunteers in depends on.

Idaho ranks 2nd in U.S. population growth behind Utah
According to the Idaho Department of Labor, Idaho’s population grew from 2010 to 2020 by 17.3 percent. The Gem State was a close second behind Utah’s 18.4 percent.

Idaho Takes Task Force Approach to Statewide Cybersecurity
Co-chairs Tom Kealey and Zach Tudor explain how the Idaho Cybersecurity Task Force will gather a holistic view of the state’s cybersecurity resources and needs to inform its recommendations to the governor in early 2022.

Destination Missoula and TBID Event Grant Fund – Fall Cycle Open
Destination Missoula and the Missoula Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) have an events grant fund for new and growing events in Missoula. Apply by September 1st.

Road Design Still Privileges Cars
Surveys show Americans want more walkable cities and bike riding continues to grow. Yet urban streets are still designed and used like highways. Change is happening, but at a very slow pace, says urban expert Jeff Speck.
Data, Analysis Are Essential to Planning the Future of Transit
Transit agencies are turning to data and data analysis tech firms to plan future developments, like route changes or service upgrades, as transit tries to regain ridership lost during the pandemic and improve services.

Earth just had the hottest month since humans have kept track
‘First place is the worst place to be’
Western states face first federal water cuts
Lake Mead was formed by building Hoover Dam in the 1930s. It is one of several man-made reservoirs that store water from the Colorado River, which supplies drinking water, irrigation for farms and hydropower to Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and parts of Mexico.
Report slams “blue hydrogen” as worse for the climate than gas or coal
A new report from researchers at Cornell and Stanford Universities warns that blue hydrogen is a terrible intermediate step, with hidden “fugitive emissions” involved that make it actively worse for the atmosphere in certain applications than legacy options like burning coal.