MATR Newsletter – August 31, 2023
The state with the best education wins!

“For me, success is not about the wins and
losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of
themselves on and off the field.”

Ted Lasso

Come Home Montana

• A hundred volunteer firefighters needed in greater Helena, Montana area

  Rural firefighting stations around Lewis and Clark County are in need of volunteers, with around 100 positions needing to be filled. “Collectively we have about 275 volunteer firefighters. And we’re looking to up that by 100, so 375 firefighters,” says West Valley Fire Rescue Fire Chief Frank Dahlquist.   By: Tom Buchanan

• Feeling sad, lonely? Making friends as an adult is hard. Your front porch can help.

  Soon after my husband and I moved from Washington, D.C., to Indianapolis, a stranger offered an unexpected invitation. ‘I’m Joanna,’ she said. ‘Would you like to porch with us sometime?’

• FWP hosts first ever Women’s Warden Workshop September 16 in Helena

  The workshop is open to anyone 16 years or older who is interested in becoming a warden

• Jeff Batton on voting with your investment dollars

  This week’s guest is Jeff Batton, a principal at HomeStake, a fund that pursues a variety of business models, all designed around connecting more local investors with more local companies.

• Montana Career Opportunity – Graphic Designer | Photographer – Heyday

  The Graphic Designer + Photographer will be responsible for the creation and execution of ecommerce photo assets, email marketing design, content development for organic and paid social media, in-store marketing and promotional efforts, signage and printed collateral.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• How Founders of Fast-Growth Companies Make Time for Balance and Self-Care

  Employer wellness isn’t always a priority. But an investment in your well-being will pay dividends.

• USDA Awards More than $1.3 Million in Grants to Lower Energy Costs and Advance Renewable Energy in Montana

  “These projects are part of one of the largest investments in history to foster a wider use of renewable energy. They benefit Montana’s agricultural producers and rural small businesses by lowering their energy costs, and all of us as we address climate change,” said Williams. “Rural small businesses and agricultural producers are the backbone of Montana’s economy, and USDA is working hard to keep operating costs low so they can sustain and thrive.”

• Leveraging the Choice Not to Travel

  The pandemic accelerated the growth of remote services and telecommuting. Now is the time for urban planners to leverage these new opportunities to reduce vehicle miles traveled.

• AI-powered leak detection reduces water waste
  Wint’s water management system uses AI to detect and stop leaks at the source, preventing damage, reducing consumption, and cutting emissions
• How founders raised money so far in 2023

  Do more with less, get to the point.

• Four Exciting Grant Opportunities for Tribal Business Development Available Soon

  “These initiatives underline Commerce’s dedication to provide not just funding, but a platform for innovative ideas to flourish, businesses to expand and traditions to thrive,” said Scott Osterman, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Through these grants, tribal businesses are empowered to drive innovation, create opportunities and shape a prosperous future for their communities.”

Great Falls Development Alliance

• Montana Career Opportunities – Director Regional Small Business Development Center (SBC)/Small Business Advisor Food and Ag Business Development Officer – GFDA

  Director Regional Small Business Development Center (SBC)/Small Business Advisor   Dynamic, self-motivated leader sought to join our passionate, creative, fast-paced, and results-driven economic development team in Great Falls, Montana.

• GFDA – Upcoming Trainings: Business Focus, Sentinel Contracting Opportunities, Childcare Business Summit and more!

  Montana Child Care Business Connect Fall Summit

Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative

• University of Montana Researchers Prep Fentanyl, Heroin Vaccines for Human Trials

  The vaccines would protect people struggling with drug addiction or those at risk of accidental overdose.

Prospera Business Network

• Prospera Business Network – Local Woman-Owned Business Making a Difference

  On August 17, glassybaby donated $85,100 to the Maui Food Bank AND $85,100 to the Maui Humane Society. glassybaby, owned by Lee Rhodes, felt compelled, like many others, to assist the Maui community in the aftermath of the devastating fires.

Senator Jon Tester

• Tester’s Buy America Rule For Projects Funded By His Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Goes into Effect

  Senator crafted the provision in his Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to require government-funded infrastructure projects use more American-made goods

Housing

• How Houston Cut Its Homeless Population by Nearly Two-Thirds

  Houston has created a real system to address homelessness, aligning city, county and nonprofit efforts. That innovative program is now under threat, due to changes in leadership and funding.

• Bozeman Democratic Socialists of America pitches new concept to address affordable housing crisis

  The group presented Gallatin County commissioners with the concept of a social housing model to address the ongoing crisis of affordable housing in the county.

• Missoula Redevelopment Agency unveils makings of workforce housing program

  A program looking to create workforce housing in Missoula under new state guidelines is hoping to launch a pilot phase this year, where city officials will test the recommendations against real-world projects and make adjustments down the road.

Visit Montana

• Glacier National Park: Flaw in reservation system?

  The problem that I see is that many of the campers don’t occupy any, and so it leaves a significant number of the campsites available for other people who show up and are just potentially looking for a first come first serve basis,” he said.

Regional Business News

• These Bay Area companies are committed to the 4-day workweek

  “For me, it was just not even a question. It’s like, it had become part of our culture, really,”

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

• A Neuroscientist Explains the Truth of Emotional Intelligence

  We have a lot more say when it comes to our emotional lives.

• Why Finland has the Best Education by Michael Moore

  Standardized tests must go.

Rural Communities

• Rural Communities Explore New Alternatives to Closing Local Newspapers

  Nonprofit newsrooms, due to their funding structure, are resistant to buyouts and consolidations that have decimated local news landscapes across the United States.

Government News & Events

• Seattle Releases Draft 20-Year Transportation Plan

  The draft Seattle Transportation Plan proposes an ambitious agenda for the next 20 years of transportation planning in the city of Seattle.

American Prairie

• American Prairie Opens New Land for Public Access and Hunting in Montana

  American Prairie is pleased to announce its newly acquired property, Wild Horse, is open for public use and has been enrolled in the Block Management Program managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP).

Energy and Climate Change

• Solar-heated nanowires de-ice surfaces with almost 100% efficiency
  Ice build-up can pose a problem for roads, aircraft, wind turbines and power lines, among many other things. Now scientists at Dalian University of Technology have developed a new structure made of copper nanowires that can passively de-ice surfaces with an efficacy of close to 100%.

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