MATR Newsletter – February 26, 2021
The state with the best education wins!

TODAY AT 11

Come Home Montana

• The Power of Empathy in Fort Belknap, Montana

  It’s a place where the land shapeshifts, where golden sunlight dances in vast green hayfields and then slips into crooks and folds of the blue-hued Little Rockies. I can see why the Nakoda—or Assiniboine—and Aaniiih Nations of Fort Belknap describe this land as the closest place to heaven you can get.

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

• Kalispell Chamber of Commerce – Growing forward for business

  The wonderful news is that we have navigated our way through and emerged with exciting goals and priorities for our future. This new year will bring a renewed and intentional focus on our programs, initiatives, and plan of work directed at addressing the needs of our membership and providing solutions to ensure their continued growth and success.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Hitting net zero by 2050 could add $1 trillion to the U.S. economy

  The upfront investments in a clean economy will reap enormous economic rewards in the future.

The Telecommuting and Gig Workforce in Montana

• Tulsa Program Gives Remote Workers $10,000 for Buying a Home

  To bring remote tech workers to the city, officials created Tusla Remote, which builds a community through networking, group activities and civic engagement opportunities. Now there’s financial incentive as well.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

• Maine Wants to Borrow Another $30M for Broadband Expansion

  Gov. Janet Mills says the money would be spent on rural parts of the state where COVID-19 restrictions and low Internet connectivity have hurt education and the economy. Lawmakers say $30 million is good but not enough.

• Cheaper, faster Boise internet? New fiber competitor to roll out broadband, TV service – Career Opportunities

  TDS’ current two-year promotional rates for high-speed internet in the Meridian area are $60 per month for 1Gbps, $55 for 600Mbps and $40 for 300Mbps. TDS Fiber does not restrict customers with data caps.

Senator Jon Tester

• Southwest Airlines to Bring New Flights to Bozeman, Tester Announces

  Southwest to offer nonstop service to and from Denver, Las Vegas

Housing

• Bozeman nonprofit uses millions to help ease affordable housing crisis

  They went from around $650,000 in construction in progress in 2018 to $4.8 million in that same category in 2019.

Visit Montana

• The Lincoln Prosperity Proposal aims to make Lincoln, Montana a recreation destination

  Lincoln is already a landmark for travelers on Montana Highway 200 as it’s one of the few places for “gas and grub” between Missoula and Great Falls. But for some Montanans, it’s also a launching point for all kinds of recreation.

Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana

• “The Prospects, Investing in Montana’s Future Business Leaders” Youth Entrepreneur contest could shape future of Montana small businesses

  They’re offering over $52,000 in scholarship aid to winners and first prize winners also get to take advantage of an online internship. The money could help shape the future of a potential local business owner.

Funding and Building your Business

• 5 things emotionally intelligent leaders do to retain remote workers

  Retaining remote workers requires intention, and a bit of extra effort, but it can pay off in significant ways.

• SPAC Frenzy Emboldens Silicon Valley Startups to Forgo Venture Funding

  Helicopter-taxi hopeful Archer is among those joining the public markets with billion-dollar valuations—years before any revenue

Regional Business News

• Polar vortex highlights the need for grid innovation amid climate change

  The grid failures were largely due to significant losses of thermal energy delivery, not renewables.

Non-Profit News

• Parsing The Press: The Rise Of Nonprofit News

  As traditional news organizations shrink, nontraditional news sites are popping up, including new non-profit news organizations.

Transportation

• A Big Vision for Big Sky Country – Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Podcast

  Strohmaier emphasized a point that we often make: passenger rail restoration is not a zero-sum game, pitting one project against another. Our aim should be to focus on creating networks, east-west and north-south connections. He sees future potential in passenger rail restoration on other lines that, like the Housatonic Line and North Tier Line in Massachusetts, used to have passenger trains and now have only freight.

• Stunning video shows just how quiet Joby’s eVTOL air taxi will be

  Joby Aviation has been in semi-stealth mode for so long that this pair of videos released today comes as a real shock.

• Lewis and Clark County joins Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority; Carbon pending

  “This is big news to finally have the county that is home to the seat of state government actively involved in this effort,” said Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier. “Farther east, Carbon County is also moving down this track.”

Energy and Climate Change

• “Water Wars:” The Fight For Earth’s Most Precious Resource

  Population growth and global warming are increasingly causing fights over water between U.S. states and among the countries of the world.

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