MATR Newsletter – December 1, 2022
The state with the best education wins!

Come Home Montana

• Search for University of Montana law school dean continues

  he University of Montana School of Law is still without a permanent dean after a search committee failed to find a new replacement last semester. Now, the school is run…

• Missoula, Montana-Based Pathlabs Selected as a Best Workplace for Young Careers – Join Our Team – Career Opportunities

  A Missoula-based media execution company, Pathlabs, is selected as a finalist in industry-leading WorkLife Awards among the top American advertising companies. Finalists for this award have excelled at creating exceptional workplaces and company culture. Listed alongside Pathlabs are five large agencies headquartered in major metropolitan areas.

• Residents look to ‘re-imagine rural’ in Cut Bank, Montana – Video

  If you’re ever in Cut Bank, you might notice some of the streets and buildings are becoming more vivid, as several people are coming up with new ideas and they’re “re-imagining rural” in their town.

• Save the Date – Hellgate Venture Network – December Holiday Party – Dec. 8, Missoula – All are Invited – Bring a Friend or your Mother.

  While we don’t know half of what people contribute and take from our community we have heard of jobs being found, businesses launched, relationships started, and other forms of collaboration. Come join us and bring a friend. There is no fee, no membership due, and no advertising.  Sign up for our newsletter to get notified of our upcoming meetings. We look forward to seeing you.

City of Bozeman Economic Development

• Bozeman looking for public input on safe streets campaign

  City spokesperson Takami Clark said they are just kicking off the campaign and have not received much feedback on it. The city plans to get together the key messages and then launch a campaign in the springtime, Clark said.

Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative

• Exclusive Savings on BIO 2023 June 5-8, 2023, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

  As a member of Montana BioScience Alliance, you are eligible for a $200 discount on Premier or General registration rates. And, if you redeem your code during Early Bird registration, your total savings may exceed $400!

Zoot Enterprises

• What a Great Idea! – Bozeman, Montana’s Zoot Employee Art Show and Handcrafted Gift Fair Monday, December 5th – Friday, December 23rd, in the Zoot Mezzanine.

  The Zoot Art Gallery in Bozeman is pleased to announce its upcoming Employee Art Show and Handcrafted Gift Fair. The company recognizes and encourages employees’ creative growth and is honored to celebrate Zoot’s in-house artisans, crafters, small business owners and their families.

Montana Business

• Montana schools unable to get milk delivered to students

  I never in a million years would’ve thought getting milk delivered to a school would be so much trouble,” Wenz said.

• Our Missoula Community Kickoff of the 2.5 Year Planning Process – 12/13 – Missoula County Fairgrounds Commercial Building

  This will be your online source for information during the 2.5 year planning process. We are early in the process, and more information will be posted online throughout the project. And, you will have a chance to interact with the project online, so check back for updates and sign up for our newsletter if you’d like to stay informed.

• Simms launches new wader to support Yellowstone River restoration efforts

  A portion of the revenue will be deposited into a fund that was set aside by the Livingston-based nonprofit Montana Freshwater Partners. The money will support work to protect the health and vitality of the Yellowstone River through projects that improve water quality, habitat, flows and floodplain connectivity.

• Flathead County Commission Denies West Glacier Vision Plan

  Commissioners will not consider adoption of community vision statement; West Glacier Planning Team members pledge to push forward

• Missoula, Montana’s Venery – Learning the art of hunting, one woman to another

  Where Women Learn to Hunt.

  We value local food, connecting with nature, and self-sufficiency.

  Our goal is to introduce more women to the art and sport of hunting.

• Flathead County Economic Development Authority Seeking New Tenant for Gateway West Mall
  After the departure of call center, the county’s economic development arm begins imagining a new future for the space in west Kalispell

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte

• Bodyslammed: Folk Hero (Rob Quist) vs. Billionaire (Really just a Millionaire…) (Greg Gianforte) World Premiere Event in Whitefish 12/13

  The special election of 2017 to fill Montana’s sole congressional seat captivated the nation and culminated in the body-slam heard around the world.

  In 2017 Gianforte was convicted of assault in state court from attacking Ben Jacobs of The Guardian that year.

Housing

• Housing market has ‘further to fall’ as buyers walk away and sellers scramble for profit

  Talk about a harsh wake-up call for sellers.

• Want to Move to Rural Oklahoma? An Online Database Has Property Listings

  So far, the joint project of the Oklahoma Municipal League and state Home Builders Association only has 60 listings. The goal is to make information about rural properties more available to buyers and developers.

• Finally, a smart city with street smarts

  When complete, it will boast a multimodal transit hub, transformed streetscape, and more bandwidth than even Amazon knows what to do with.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• 20 creative ways (and counting) that Amsterdam is pushing to make its economy circular

  Amsterdam has an ambitious goal to be fully circular by the middle of the century. Now, it’s figuring out how to get there.

Visit Montana

• The Peculiar Case of Montana’s Dueling Dinosaurs – Welcome to the Montana Dinosaur Trail!

  To dig for your own dinos in the land of fossils—Northeast Montana, that is—visit Montana’s Missouri River Country.

• Uniquely Montana destinations and attractions

  Historic ghost towns, unique geology, and much more — Montana has much to offer under its big blue skies.

Funding and Building your Business

• A smart guide to renegotiate your compensation beyond just money

  What kind of value multipliers might you ask for when it comes time to renegotiate your compensation package? We thought you’d never ask.

Regional Business News

• Four reasons why so many tech companies are doing mass layoffs

  The tech sector is facing challenges that are also being felt by other industries, but the industry’s trajectory during the pandemic has made it especially vulnerable to downsizings. Here are the main reasons the tech sector has been shrinking:

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

• Reach Higher Montana Scholarships double to $2,000 this year

  “Reach Higher Montana is super excited to offer funds to students to pursue their college and career dreams,” said Steve Coop, programs manager. “We understand the value of higher education, whether that be the trades, a two-year school or a four-year school.”

• Defying negative stereotypes, humanities majors are booming at the University of California Berkeley

  “If the goal of education is to train well-formed leaders and change-makers,” he argued, “shouldn’t it be the case that they are taught empathy, understanding and open-mindedness in order to be the most well-adjusted people they can be, regardless of their occupation?”

Montana Education/Business Partnerships

• High-strength concrete developed at MSU could save state money, time

  Because the MSU-developed concrete is significantly stronger than normal concrete or grout, the Trail Creek bridges are also expected to last longer than a typical bridge, Kappes said. And because the material is roughly half the cost of proprietary ultra-high performance concrete when factoring in the use of local contractors, MDT is eager to continue ways of using it, including for resurfacing bridge decks to increase their lifespan and reduce long-term maintenance costs, he said.

Rural Communities

• There’s a renewable energy revolution occurring in America’s heartland

  “Solar is probably the most profitable form of farming that’s out there,”

• In Northern Minnesota, Autonomous Vehicles Are Hitting Rural Roads

  The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed last year includes $500 million over the next five years for public agencies to develop autonomous vehicle systems. Pending rulemaking as of this writing, applicants might not need to comply with Buy America provisions, potentially allowing them to work with providers overseas to deploy projects across the nation.

2023 Montana Legislature and Politics

• New nonprofit promotes Montana Constitution as lawmakers eye changes

  Several months ago state Rep. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell, called the constitution a “socialist rag,” saying changes needed to be made.

Government News & Events

• 200 Irish Businesses Get To Try Out Electric Vehicles For Free

  As part of a goal to have roughly 1 million EVs on Irish roads by 2030, the Irish government is aiming to boost the electrification of commercial fleets. A new project will allow Irish businesses to test out electric vehicles for free as part of initiatives aimed at reducing pollution in Ireland.

• Police can use robots that kill, San Francisco board decides

  A new state law requires police and sheriffs departments to inventory its military grade equipment and seek approval for their use.

Non-Profit News

• Want to donate to charity? Here are 10 guidelines for giving effectively.

  How to do more good with the money you give.

South Dakota News & Events

• South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem issues executive order blocking TikTok from state devices

  Recently, the FBI said TikTok could pose national security concerns because of possible data collection or influence on users. Chinese policies passed in 2021 say nothing about limiting government or ruling Communist Party access to personal information.

Transportation

• What Comes Next After Abolishing Parking Mandates?

  From Tennessee to Florida, parking reform is sweeping the nation. But there’s a lot more work left.

Energy and Climate Change

• Bringing nuclear power to Montana more expensive than originally forecast

  Once expected to cost up to $58 a megawatt hour, energy from the small modular reactor in development by Oregon-based NuScale Power and utility partners is now expected to be closer to $100 MWh, significantly higher than anything in the base rates paid by Montana utility customers currently.

• TED Talks – Jane Fonda: How to transform your climate concern into action

  Hear why she decided to bring her climate activism into the electoral arena after decades of marching, protesting and civil disobedience — and how anybody can join in and stand up for change.

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