MATR Newsletter – August 20, 2021
The state with the best education wins!

Montana’s post-pandemic economy is robust, says UM economist

“There’s no cooling-off of the economy right now,” said Patrick Barkey, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana and the event’s keynote speaker.

Millions Of Dollars In Rental Assistance Still Available In Montana

Cheryl Cohen, the department’s housing’s division administrator, says all $200 million allocated to Montana is unlikely to be utilized because it might outstrip the need in the state.

Today’s MATR Newsletter is sponsored by:

Corona Virus Information

In Montana, medical professionals say a new law preventing them from requiring vaccinations for employees is making things even worse.
Many hospitals across the country require employees get the COVID shot, but that’s not an option in Montana.
The Cost Of Being Unvaccinated Just Went Up — Most Insurers Are Passing Costs Back To Patients As Covid Hospitalizations Soar
With highly effective coronavirus vaccines available and hospital admissions soaring, many Covid-19 patients are facing bigger bills as most insurance companies have ended waivers on out-of-pocket costs that they introduced earlier in the pandemic, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a cost that will be primarily borne by the unvaccinated people more likely to require hospital treatment.
Survey shows almost half of Montana employees think showing vaccine status should be mandatory
Use the map below to discover the % who think employees should be required to disclose their Covid vaccine status to their employers.
Is your doctor, dentist or hairstylist vaccinated? Tips for how to ask — and avoid awkwardness.
It is not a violation of the oft-cited HIPAA federal privacy law to ask your doctor or dentist or other health-care workers, as well as people who provide close-contact services, including hair stylists, aestheticians, massage therapists and physical trainers, whether they are vaccinated.
COVID-19 Vaccine Availability and Resources in Montana
In line with federal recommendations, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services is now providing a third COVID-19 vaccine shot for immunocompromised people.

Come Home Montana

Montana Career Opportunities – Community and Economic Development Coordinator and AmeriCorps Planning Grant Coordinator – MBAC
Montana Business Assistance Connection (MBAC) is hiring! If you are passionate about strengthening Montana communities, workforce development and improving livability in MT?

Montana Department of Commerce

Montana’s post-pandemic economy is robust, says UM economist
“There’s no cooling-off of the economy right now,” said Patrick Barkey, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana and the event’s keynote speaker.
Millions Of Dollars In Rental Assistance Still Available In Montana
Cheryl Cohen, the department’s housing’s division administrator, says all $200 million allocated to Montana is unlikely to be utilized because it might outstrip the need in the state.

Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development

Yellowstone logs first million-visitor month in July, Park Service requires masks
Yellowstone National Park logged its first million-visitor month in July, a milestone symbolic of the heavy tourist traffic across the country’s national parks, as visitors travel to wide-open spaces in response to—and in spite of—the surging delta variant of COVID-19.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

“Are you around the campfire or high up on the mountain?” – Our Own Worst Enemy
If the answers to a rural community’s questions aren’t coming from around the rural campfire, then they’re not the answers.

21st Century Education Initiative – “You Should Care…”

SoftBank Backs Autism Intervention Startup Opya In Its $15.4 Million Series A
“There are 1.5 million kids that need help and need support,” Romney tells Forbes. “Our focus is on early intervention because you can achieve the best overall outcomes by treating kids early in the process.”

Government News & Events

Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault from within on Modern Democracy by Tom Nichols
Over the past three decades, citizens of democracies who claim to value freedom, tolerance, and the rule of law have increasingly embraced illiberal politicians and platforms. Democracy is in trouble–but who is really to blame?
Motor pool agreement to help Missoula County, Montana move into hybrid, electric vehicles
The $75,000 one-year agreement sets a benchmark for how the county hopes to manage its motor pool in the future and stay on top of new technology.
Missoula council looks to invest in communications; cites media misinformation
Citing the advent of digital media and misinformation, members of the Missoula City Council on Wednesday considered funding an effort to enhance the city’s communications and outreach, particularly those related to ongoing initiatives.

Careers

Looking for a New Job in Tech? It’s Your Lucky Day – Career Opportunities in Montana – Come Home Montana
Flexible WFH policies, signing bonuses, fancy cookies—employers are turning on the charm to attract engineers and developers to their firms.

Transportation

Waymo begins work on dedicated Texas hub for self-driving trucks
The facility will serve as the company’s primary base as it scales up operations across the southern US, and will be designed to support commercial services along some of the region’s major thoroughfares.
Boise’s first fully-electric garbage truck – Missoula County, Montana Moves Into Hybrid, Electric Vehicles with Enterprise Fleet Management Agreement
The 21-ton vehicle carries a 10-hour charge, a battery life long enough to complete a route. City officials say this electric vehicle is much quieter than the traditional garbage trucks and produces lower emissions on a per-mile basis.
As car prices rise, owning a new vehicle costs nearly $10,000 a year, AAA says
“While we all like that new car smell, which is actually plastic leaching into the car, the truth is that new cars depreciate at a quicker rate than used cars,”