MATR Newsletter – July 9, 2021
The state with the best education wins!

2023 Montana Legislature and Politics

• Montanans divided over drawing political lines for new Congressional district

  Make the districts compact. Make them as similar in population as possible, advised Republican Rep. Derek Skees, of Flathead County. Don’t worry about making them fair or competitive.

• States and Cities Scramble to Spend $350 Billion Windfall

  However, she said she was also seeing creative ideas such as recurring payments to the poor and investments in remote-work support emerge as cities looked to expand their safety nets and modernize their work forces.

• ARPA Infrastructure Advisory Commission (Water and Sewer Grants) to hold meeting July 27 – 9AM – Helena – State Capital and Online

  During the July 27 meeting, the Commission will discuss public comments, review outreach activities, and summarize applications received.

• Montana Legislature Economic Affairs Interim Committee Thursday, July 22 at 9:30 a.m. State Capitol Room 152

  The prioritization of interim activities will include discussion on the studies assigned to the EAIC by Legislative Council:

  HJ 48 – Study of Facial Recognition Technology
  HJ 49 – Study of Benefits Cliffs in Public Assistance Programs
  SJ 31 – Study Implementation of Montana’s Recreational Marijuana Program

Come Home Montana

• The Fonz Is Catching Hell for Catching (and Releasing) a Montana Trout – ‘My Soul Lives in Montana’

  I wonder if he’ll ever do the inevitable and post a picture of him jumping over a trout?

• Forbes – What do you want? Why Now Is The Perfect Time For A Post-Pandemic Career Check-In

  The key to answering this query is finding clarity on what matters most to you. Now might be the perfect time to reinvent yourself.

• The boomerang-worker boom

  “Boomerang workers” — those who’ve returned to their hometowns to do remote work — rose with the pandemic, but the phenomenon shows signs of sticking around beyond it.

• Montana Career Opportunities – Plastic Process Engineer, Production Team Member, Production Team Member – Part Time and more…. – West Paw

  West Paw—where “work like a dog” doesn’t mean what it used to. We’ve seen how dogs can tackle a task they were born for—with pride, joy, and a deep sense of satisfaction. Dogs also have the ability to erase the line between work and play.

Great Falls Development Authority

• GFDA Quarterly Investor Letter 7-8-21

  In this investor letter, I would like to focus on steps we’re taking to increase our capacity and impact, all of which is made possible by your increased investment support.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• The State of Montana Procurement Bureau Customer Satisfaction Survey

  The State Procurement Bureau (SPB) is requesting your feedback on customer service. This survey should take you no longer than 10 minutes. Thank you for your time to help us improve. Please complete by July 30th.

• Spots still available for Great Falls’ Future of Ag tour! 7/13 – 8:30AM

  “Agriculture is changing, from traditional wheat and barley to canola, chickpeas, industrial hemp, and lentils. What is in store for the future? You are cordially invited to the Future of Ag Tour 2021 on Tuesday, July 13th.”

• States Expand Apprenticeship Programs as Worker Shortages Grow

  Registered apprenticeship can bridge the gap between job seekers looking for a living wage and employers who need skilled workers. The system, established during the Great Depression, is experiencing a renaissance.

• First He Fired His Employer: Are You Ready For Society’s Great Reframing?

  The Great Resignation and the future of work is just one indicator of something larger happening in a post-pandemic society – we are undergoing a Great Reframing of life’s choices and behaviors redefining how we view work and everything else.

• It’s Time for Economic Developers to Focus on Transportation

  Regions with an efficient transportation network stand a better chance of boosting productivity through shorter commutes.

• Bozeman, Montana company West Paw featured on ABCs “World News Tonight.” – Career Opportunities

  They are an entirely American-made dog toy product with a huge emphasis on reduce, reuse recycle.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

• The ‘Zoom Boom’ Can’t Save the Midwest

  Although remote work has opened up new housing possibilities for many Americans, data indicates that migration flows to ‘heartland’ cities have been relatively modest.

• The Problem(s) of Broadband in America

  The actual shape of the problem is different than many elected officials realize.

Montana Businesses Seeking Investment or For Sale

• 18,000 Acre Crazy Mountain Ranch, near Clyde Park, sold to subsidiary of company that owns the Yellowstone Club

  The company said in an announcement dated June 30 that it has no plans to develop residential subdivisions or a commercial heliskiing operation on the property.

• 3 Tips for Businesses Looking to Sell in 2021

  Investment professionals at Grant Thornton and Prelude Growth Partners explain what the rebounding economy means for founders looking to sell.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte

• Governor Gianforte Withdraws Montana From Multi-State Climate Coalition

  In a statement, Brooke Stroyke, spokesperson for Governor Gianforte, said the governor believes the solution to climate change is unleashing American innovation, not overbearing government mandates. She added that the Paris Agreement punishes the U.S., while letting countries like China off the hook.

Housing

• City, county discuss ideas as Missoula’s homeless population grows

  Officials say the housing crunch, combined with continuing COVID-19 limitations to homeless shelters are forcing unhoused people into the urban wild.

• Livingston tiny home crafters, Woodland Ridge Tiny Homes, find unexpected market of workforce housing

  The nationwide trend of tiny homes has made its way to the booming housing market and worker shortage in Southwest Montana looking to be a possible solution for affordable housing and the limited housing inventory.

Montana Business

• Senate Bill Would Put Teen Drivers in Big Rigs

  The latest Senate transportation bill would make it legal for freight companies to hire teenagers to drive big rigs, among other dangerous new policies that advocates say have no place in federal law.

• Federal Speech Rulings May Embolden Health Care Workers to Call Out Safety Issues

  The appeals court’s decision could mean that hospitals — and other employers — will need to revise their policies.

Regional Business News

• Otter Raises $23 Million To Tackle Broken Childcare Market And Help Stay-At-Home Parents Get Paid

  Otter connects parents who need childcare with stay at home parents who can care for their kids.

Come Home Idaho

• The 20 Worst Places to Live in Idaho

  Although it’s the home of several tourist destinations, there are cities in Idaho that aren’t so great for the people who call them home.

Idaho News & Events

• What Chobani’s Mission Means its For Its Well-Timed IPO – May exceed $10 billion

  The yogurt maker’s public offering could provide a big payday for founder Hamdi Ulukaya’s thousands of employees, many of whom are immigrants or refugees.

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

• Montana State University receives $3.4 million dollar grant for micro-mining research

  “We are dependent on the Democratic Republic of Congo for the majority of our Cobalt, Nickel, other trace elements- rare earth elements- that we need for electronics and renewable energy technologies.

2021 Montana Legislature and Politics

• The State-Tribal Relations Committee (STRC) Meetings – 7/22 Pablo and 7/23 Browning

  The State-Tribal Relations Committee (STRC) travels to Pablo and Browning July 22 and 23 to meet with the CSKT Tribal Council and the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council. The STRC will also elect its leadership for the interim, adopt rules, and discuss its work plan.

Government News & Events

• What a National Guaranteed Income Could Look Like

  A new proposal pitches expanding the earned income tax credit in the U.S. to take monthly cash payments national.

• Mental illness isn’t a crime: Mental health crises require doctors, not police

  Police officers are not the appropriate resource to be assisting people struggling with mental health issues. The reality is people having a mental health crisis have a medical condition. They need medical help.

Careers

• Try this simple tool to gauge your happiness and figure out how to improve it

  Work futurist Dominic Price says, “Whatever the circumstances, you’re the key to unleashing your own happiness. The Personal Moral Inventory can help.”

Transportation

• This driverless car-sharing service uses remote human ‘pilots,’ not AI

  Launching later this year in Las Vegas, Halo’s electric vehicles get steered by a distant driver until you hop behind the wheel.

Energy and Climate Change

• Berkeley’s ban on natural gas in new buildings upheld by federal judge

  A federal judge has upheld Berkeley’s first-in-the-nation ordinance banning natural gas lines in new buildings, rejecting arguments by restaurant owners that the ban conflicts with federal laws on energy efficiency.

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