MATR Newsletter – August 24, 2022
The state with the best education wins!

Come Home Montana

• The “McGonigal’s Chronicles: Making Montana Connections” podcast is available on Omny.fm, iTunes, Spotify, Google, and Stitcher.

  A podcast for fans of Big Sky Country. Longtime MTN News anchor Tim McGonigal goes in-depth with interesting and amazing people who have a tie to the Treasure State. Who are they, what have they done and where are they now? From authors to athletes, business leaders to policy makers, these are some of the extraordinary stories from people who make Montana the Last Best Place

• Julie Mac highlights “Montana’s Best” in video series

  “Here I am from Montana, but I had no idea that Glendive, Montana, is the number one spot to be going dinosaur digging in the United States,” said Mac. “I had no idea that we had all these hidden gems.”

• Montana Career Opportunities – Loan Specialist (Commercial), Community Development Specialist, Public Affairs Specialist – USDA

  USDA Is Hiring! Commercial Loan Specialist / Series 1165 / GS-9/11 with full promotion potential to GS-12 Duty Locations: 1 vacancy – Kalispell (this is NOT a remote position) Open…

Great Falls Development Authority

• Great Falls Economic Development Top 10 for 8-23-22

  Here is our Top 16 for last week celebrating work and successes to grow and strengthen the Great Falls regional economy — Montana’s Golden Triangle. And, sharing business resources and skill-building opportunities to empower your success.

Prospera Business Network

• NEW Grants for Montana Businesses!

  “Prospera is here for support and advice. It’s OK to take time, resources, and ask for help. I never thought I’d have these hopes and dreams and all of a sudden I have a product.”

  Kelly McKitrick

  Owner, Kelly Jean Snacks

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• USDA Invests Almost $72K in Critical Infrastructure to Combat Climate Change in Montana’s Rural Communities

  United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Montana State Director Kathleen Williams today announced USDA RD Montana is investing $71,554 for eight projects through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Loans and Grants program to combat climate change and help people living in socially vulnerable communities throughout the state.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

• Biden-Harris Administration Awards Nearly $119 Million in “Internet for All” Grants to Expand High-Speed Internet Access on Tribal Lands in Five States

  The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is a nearly $3 billion grant program and part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All Initiative.

• Charter Poised to Haul in Half of Montana’s Broadband Grants; Smaller ISPs Raise Questions

  Although disappointing for advocates of local Internet choice weary of monopoly providers working to stifle competition, what we are seeing coming out of Montana’s state broadband grant program, Connect MT, shouldn’t be all that surprising.

Funding and Building your Business

• Want Seed Funding? Why Investors Want to See $72 Million in Revenue by Year 10

  Augustin Sayer of Newfund has laid out the math behind his investment litmus test.

• Layoffs Are Planned at Half of US Companies, PwC Survey Shows

  If your organization isn’t letting people go, the one next door probably is.

Idaho News & Events

• Idaho Governor Little calls special session on budget surplus

  Governor Brad Little announced that a special legislative session will be held on September 1 to use the state’s $2 billion projected surplus. He says it will help address inflation.

2023 Montana Legislature and Politics

• Montana Districting Commission hosts public hearings

  The Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission is seeking public feedback on proposals for new state legislative district boundaries. There are multiple opportunities to learn about and comment on redistricting in-person and online.

American Prairie

• Montana’s American Prairie Reserve restores wildlife and creates access for the public

  Every person in Montana (and the World), regardless of income, deserves an opportunity to enjoy Montana’s  great outdoors.

Careers

• The Swedish philosophy of lagom: how “just enough” is all you need – Be more like Goldilocks.

  So, how are we to apply the Swedish principle of lagom to our lives?

Transportation

• Summit Exploring Benefits of Re-establishing Montana Passenger Rail Services

  Jim Mathews, CEO of Rail Passengers Association, says, “rural communities throughout the United States have really been left out of the national conversation in a million different ways and certainly one of them has to be transportation.”

Energy and Climate Change

• A sustainable avocado alternative – it takes around 320 litres of water to grow and ship a single avocado.

  A student has developed an avocado substitute that takes less water to produce than the real thing

• Carbon Offsets: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

  John Oliver explains what carbon offsets are, what they claim to do, how they might be making climate change even worse, and, of course, how Oscar Isaac is getting hotter.

TED and TEDX Talks

• TODAY’S TED TALK – Is humanity smart enough to survive itself?

  With quick wit and sharp insight, writer Jeanette Winterson lays out a vision of the future where human and machine intelligence meld — forming what she calls “alternative intelligence” — and takes a philosophical look at our species, asking: Are we smart enough to survive how smart we are? (Followed by a Q&A with TED’s head of curation Helen Walters)

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