Contrary to what you might think, it’s not career achievement, money, exercise, or a healthy diet. The most consistent finding we’ve learned through 85 years of study is: Positive relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer. 

Harvard University

Come Home Montana

• What’s the story with teacher pay in Montana? Starting teacher pay $9K higher in Montana than national report, state says

  “Why is Montana ranked one of the last in the nation for teacher salary, and how might this be changing in the next legislative session?”

• New Montana Nonprofit Jobs

  Montana Nonprofit Association’s mission is to provide leadership for Montana’s nonprofit sector and partner with charitable nonprofits to promote a sustainable, networked, and influential sector.

• Laid-off tech workers advised to sell plasma, personal belongings to survive

  For some, finding sustainable work after getting let go has been a nightmare

Bear Paw Development

• Montana school district finds its electric buses can handle sub zero weather

  Electric vehicles lost credibility during the cold snap, but one northern Montana school district loves them.

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

• Dorsey eUpdate: Legislative Action Heralds Sweeping Changes to PAGA

  PAGA reform bills aim to curb frivolous lawsuits by elevating plaintiffs’ standing requirements, fortifying defenses for employers – including the availability to cure purported violations – and imposing limits on civil penalties. In so doing, this legislation carves a pathway to guard against unnecessary protracted litigation.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• This New Hybrid Work Study Could Help Reconcile The War Over Work From Home

  A randomized controlled trial published in the leading academic journal Nature finds two days of working from home improved job satisfaction and reduced turnover when compared to those working in offices five days a week.

• Let’s Put An End To The Myth That Electric Cars Are Not Suitable For Rural Drivers

  The most prominent reason is money — electric cars can save people a lot of it.

• America’s startup boom is still going strong. Here’s what it means for the economy

  “I’d say we’re on a new plateau that started in 2021,” Haltiwanger says. Comparing the three years before the onset of the pandemic with the three years after it, the data suggests there are now, on average, almost 60% more new businesses being created each year.

• What’s fueling this year’s rash of budget shortfalls in many Montana schools?

  Citing a federal funding cliff, declining enrollment and an out-of-date state funding formula, some of the state’s largest districts are turning to local voters for help with education levies on the May 7 ballot.

• New childcare option opens in Missoula

  The YMCA had two-hour child care while people were going to work out and they could drop their children off, but this new center is different. The new child care center will be for those who may have to go to work and need to drop their kids for the whole day.

Great Falls Development Alliance

• GFDA Top Ten for 7-1-24

  Brett and Jolene traveled to New York City to give a presentation to Touro University’s leadership at their semi-annual retreat. We had the opportunity to talk with many of the five dozen leaders gathered from Tour’s campuses across the U.S. and in Europe, and to see Touro’s new campus building in Times Square.

Montana’s Headwaters Tech Hub

• University of Montana Partners in $41 Million EDA Funded Headwaters Tech Hub Award

  “The Headwaters Tech Hub is a big win for UM, Montana and this entire region of the country,” said UM President Seth Bodnar. “This is a catalyst for what will be a truly transformative impact for our state and region through the advancement of photonic smart sensors for application in natural resource management and autonomous systems.”

• Tester Delivers Major $41 Million Investment for Montana’s Headwaters Tech Hub

  With backing from Tester, Montana’s Headwaters Tech Hub selected as one of only 12 Tech Hubs nationwide to receive Phase 2 investment

Montana Business

• The Only Pitch Guyde You’ll Ever Need from Guy Kawasaki

  Once and for all, here’s all you need to know about pitches because most pitches still suck. This is geared towards for-profit ventures, but the principles apply to almost any fund raising effort.

Housing

• Legislative Democrats unveil Montana property tax proposals for 2025

  Homestead exemption, new tax rates, tax credit among bills Dems will draft

Visit Montana

• Here’s what to know before taking that hike in Montana

  It’s important to consider some safety precautions to ensure an enjoyable and safe experience on the trail.

• It’s Vacation Time! 10 Steps For A Successful Road Trip When You Rent An EV

  Planning ahead when you rent an EV will make your road trip smooth and sublime. Here are 10 rental hints from someone who drives EVs full-time to help you to have a joyous all-electric driving experience on your vacation.

Incubators and R&D

• Idaho technologies get $7.5 million federal funding boost

  “We’re beyond excited to have so many of the lab’s technologies and projects receive these TCF awards,” INL Technology Deployment Director Jason Stolworthy said. “It demonstrates DOE’s confidence in the work we’re doing at INL, but it really gives us the opportunity to take our technologies to the next level in commercialization, so they can be put to use and impact the nation.”

The Creative and Cultural Economy

• Are you an entertainer who wants to move your talent to the next level?

  Upcoming Auditions for Montana’s Got Talent Are Happening Now

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

• University of Montana graduate students form new union, one of largest in state

  “Graduate employees’ wages, benefits, and working conditions aren’t keeping up with Missoula’s cost of living or honoring our roles in research, teaching, and learning. Everyone realizes we’re a lynchpin for UM, and we look forward to bargaining collectively with UM’s leadership to collaboratively address the challenges GEU members face.”

• Video of EPA Region 8 Clean School Bus Webinar with Havre School District

  EPA Region 8 held a webinar with Havre School District on April 13, 2023 to discuss their experience operating their two electric school buses. Topics discussed include: Making the Switch to Electric School Buses; Operation, Maintenance, and Performance; and Electric School Buses in Cold Winter Weather.

• Billings Public Schools deploy electric buses to improve health and well being of students

  Lindsay Gran, the Transportation Director with Billings Public Schools, said that the new set of wheels benefits not only the students but staff who also use the buses, and even the district’s bottom line.

• The State of Electric School Bus Adoption in the US

  More than 21 million children ride the bus to school in the U.S. and over 90% of these school buses run on diesel fuel, putting children’s health at risk every school day. Diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen, with proven links to serious physical health issues as well as cognitive development impacts. But with more electric school buses on the road, these risks can be reduced greatly.

• How Montana pays for its public schools, in pictures

  We break down the dizzyingly complex recipe that dishes state and local dollars into school district funds across Montana.

• Zero to Five Montana – June 2024 Newsletter

  Not only are we celebrating five years as an organization in 2024, but Zero to Five Montana is happy to announce our official status as a standalone 501(c)(3) organization.

2024 Montana Legislature and Politics

• New Montana law requires government boards to record public meetings

  The goal is to encourage public participation and provide greater transparency.

• Three Ways America Could Import Europe’s New Speed Limiter Law

  Want to import Europe’s most exciting new safety law? Think strategically.

Government Technology

• City of Helena has new permit, planning, and license website

  This new website features a new system called Civic Access, and it’s a public facing online portal.

American Prairie

• Montana’s American Prairie Field School Offering Free Summer Day Camps For Kid
  The American Prairie Field School is excited to announce its upcoming summer day camps for kids. With a focus on environmental science and hands-on learning, these camps are designed to engage young minds and foster a love for the natural world.

Careers

• Before you use the ‘Open to Work’ badge on LinkedIn, read this

  Johnson and other career experts argue that the benefits of using the banner outweigh the risks. Here’s how they suggest leveraging it to get the attention of hiring managers:

Cool Stuff That’s Coming

• Pioneering new circular recycling solutions for solar panels

  To this end, an international team of researchers led by RMIT University are collaborating to find solutions on how to recycle worn solar panels – recovering important metals such as copper, lead, silver, and tin – before using and commercialising the recovered resources.

VR/AR, Blockchain, Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence and The Internet of Things

• Data To Decisions With ChatGPT: 5 Prompts To Analyze Business Metrics

  Analyze your most significant metrics, double check your direction, then go all in and don’t look back.

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