MATR Newsletter – December 6, 2021
The state with the best education wins!

City of Bozeman Economic Development

• Bozeman, Montana transitioning to new citizen board structure

  The new superboards will tackle the issues of community development, transportation, sustainability, economic vitality, and urban parks and forestry. A handful of existing boards were spared consolidation, such as the Ethics Committee.

Great Falls Development Authority

• Great Falls Economic Development Top 10 for 12-5-21

  Here is our Top 20 for this 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.

• Montana’s Big Sandy Organics Embarks on Major Expansion!

  “The money from this contract allows us to pursue and develop other local products and partnerships. This will not only expand our business but have a tremendous impact on our partners.”

  Thomas Dillworth
  Big Sandy Organics

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Early Care and Education Facilities Workshop – Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming –

  Join the discussion on Tuesday, December 14, and hear from ECE providers, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), child care facility developers, and public sector leaders about innovative facility initiatives and projects in the Mountain and Upper Plains region. Come share your ideas on how cross-sector partnerships and public policy could improve ECE facility development.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

• There’s $2B for Broadband on Reservations. It Won’t Be Enough

  The recently approved US infrastructure law aims to close the digital divide for Native peoples. But the demand far outstrips the money allocated.

• New program helps older population connect with new technology

  Missoula Aging Services has a new program called Lifelong Connections that is helping the older population connect with new technologies like Zoom and telehealth services.

• What is Starlink? Inside the satellite business that could make Elon Musk a trillionaire.

  Starlink is a broadband internet service, specializing in the expansion of coverage to rural and remote communities. It accomplishes this by launching a “constellation” of satellites into low Earth orbit via SpaceX rockets.

Montana Business

• Kestra Financial partners with Missoula-based WestPeak Private Wealth

  A national investment firm has added a Missoula-based wealth management company to its ranks, marking the first time Kestra Financial has had an office in Montana.

TechLink

• Top eight technology picks for commercialization from TechLink for December 2021

  You can work with us, for free, to license partially-developed technology.

Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana

• Smart Entrepreneurs Seek Social Impact Versus Profits

  Think Bill Gates, with his current investments in energy management, or Blake Mycoskie with TOMs Shoes, as opposed to the leaders of the American Cancer Society or Goodwill Industries.

Funding and Building your Business

• The Labor Shortage Isn’t Going Away Anytime Soon–Unless Companies Make These Changes

  A new poll from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shows what businesses must do to get–and keep–the workers they need.

• Venture capital isn’t working for the 99% – It’s time we venture capitalists listened.

  Four ways the $500 billion industry can serve a bigger portion of the population—and make money, too.

• Here Are 25 Great Gifts for Employees Under $25–All From Entrepreneurs and Emerging Brands

  They’re appropriate, affordable, and also support small business.

• Amazon Launches New Platform to Help You Manage Your Robotic Fleet

  The company on Monday announced AWS IoT RoboRunner, a platform meant to help companies deploy robotic fleets. The system builds on technology currently used to manage bots in Amazon fulfillment centers.

Incubators and R&D

• New nanochip reprograms cells in the body to perform different functions

  A team of researchers led by Chandan Sen at the Indiana University School of Medicine, is moving a new nanochip device, which can reprogram skin cells in the body to become new blood vessels and nerve cells, out of the prototype phase.

Rural Communities

• ‘Hearing the Music of Someone’s Voice’ – A Podcast Looks for Nuances of Rural Stories

  Now entering its second season, Reframing Rural podcast pivots from portraits of rural life and its people to discussing solutions for rural communities.

American Prairie

• Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, AG Knudsen try to stop American Prairie’s bison through political pressure

  Biology, law may be on conservation group’s side, but that’s not stopping leaders from pressuring the BLM

Careers

• Science says its essential to make time to do nothing. Here’s why

  Making more time for downtime will help you stay sane, creative, and productive over the long term.

Transportation

• First driverless vehicle approved to operate on public roads in Europe

  Having proved the safety and reliability of the service, the company has now become Europe’s first to receive authorization for Level 4 autonomy on public roads, handed down by the French government.

Energy and Climate Change

• Paris Has a New Plan to Make the Seine Swimmable

  The French capital has been trying to clean up the river for decades. With the 2024 Summer Olympics looming, a new plan could curb sewage pollution for good.

• Snow may vanish for years at a time in Mountain West with climate warming

  Mountain snowpacks in the western United States (WUS) have historically acted as large, natural reservoirs of water; yet, they are now harbingers of a changing climate through their signalling of a low-to-no snow future.

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