MATR Newsletter – January 1, 2020
The state with the best education wins!

Happy New Year Montana

“It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.”

Agnes M. Pharo

Come Home Montana

• Why you should start a business in 2020 (In Montana!)

  “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.”

  You’ve got the talent and the opportunity to do something great.

• Montana State Library seeking consultant to evaluate areas of economic development for libraries across the state

  We are seeking a consultant who can assist the State Library in determining what areas of economic development make the most sense for public libraries to focus on, give suggestions on how to best refine current economic development activities in libraries, as well make recommendations on new efforts and projects for libraries across the state.

• ‘Grow Your Own’ aims to address Montana teacher shortage

  The program is now working on a second cohort with more than 40 candidates having applied to seek credentialing in elementary education, special education and secondary education.

Montana Department of Commerce

• Latest Census numbers indicate MT may gain congressional seat – 2020 count begins in March

  Montana grew by 8,000 people last year, or 0.8 percent.

The MDT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

• Digital Marketing Strategies Workshop – 1/8 – Billings, Montana

  Join DBE for a day with KRose Marketing &
  Consulting, where we will be talking about
  design, content creation, digital marketing,
  and social media management for Facebook,
  Instagram, e-mail marketing and websites.

• Digital Marketing Strategies Workshop – 1/7 – Lewistown, Montana

  Join us for a day with KRose Marketing &
  Consulting, where we will be talking about
  design, content creation, digital marketing,
  and social media management for Facebook,
  Instagram, e-mail marketing and websites.

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

• As Last Train Rolls Out of Town, a ‘New Era’ Begins in Kalispell

  “Wow,” Jentz said, as the last car rumbled by.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• MEDA Community Review Working Group – 2/20 – Online

  The MEDA Community Review process – Engaging, improving, and facilitating community assessments to foster rural Montana communities to see greater success in achieving their goals.

• Butte, Montana has big plans to recruit new business in 2020

  “2020 certainly looks promising if not better,” said Joe Willauer, director of the Butte Local Development Corporation (BLDC).

Montana Business

• Montana Ranchers Demand Transparency From Manufacturers Of ‘Fake Meat’

  Some believe the proposed legislation is all about stifling competition to keep the beef industry from losing market share and about keeping consumers from making healthy choices.

• Energy Summit – Things to know before signing a Surface Agreement – 2/13 – Billings

  This summit has been designed for attendees to understand their property rights and land reclamation options when negotiating surface agreements with oil/gas, wind, solar or utility companies.

Regional Economic Development

• Top Urban Planning Websites – 2019

  Planetizen’s annual list of the best of the planning Internet gives a taste of the technological and editorial milieu of the urban planning Internet at the beginning of a new decade.

Idaho News & Events

• Oklo Inc. receives permit from the U.S. Department of Energy to build its compact fast nuclear reactor at Idaho National Laboratory

  The site use permit is an important step toward commercializing advanced fission technologies, and is the first issued for a non-light water nuclear power reactor.

Wyoming Business

• Despite people leaving the state and low fertility rate, Wyoming population slightly up

  “There are two factors contributing to the population change.”

Come Home North Dakota

• Josh DuJosh Josh Duhamel gets new contract to promote North Dakota

  The star of several “Transformers” movies will be paid $175,000 to be the face of the state’s tourism campaign for the next two years.

Transportation

• American, Alaska add flights to Billings

  Beginning this spring, American Airlines will add a second flight to Dallas, and for summer Alaska Airlines will add another flight to Portland, Oregon, and use a bigger plane for its daily flight to Seattle.

• Bozeman airport expands service to Seattle, Atlanta

  “So often, people believe our success is because of tourism,” Sprenger said. “It’s really the success of the community in general and the growth that the airlines are seeing on a year-round basis.”

• What the Future of Self-Driving Cars Actually Looks Like

  If you believe the buzz coming from the auto industry, we’re only a couple years away from being able to hail a self-driving car or take a road trip with no one at the wheel.

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