MATR Newsletter – June 17, 2019
The state with the best education wins!

“Destroy the idea that you have to be constantly working or grinding in order to be successful. Embrace the concept that rest, recovery, and reflection are essential parts of the progress towards a successful and ultimately happy life.” Zach Galifianakis

Today’s MATR Newsletter is sponsored by:

iConnect Montana

Triangle To Expand Internet Service In Havre, Montana
Triangle provides services including broadband internet, local, long distance, and mobile telephone service to Montana residents.

TechLink

Weekly tech roundup: cybersecurity technology available for licensing
This week’s tech roundup features cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies that data security businesses can license the patent rights, further develop, and sell in commercial markets.

Come Home Montana

Help wanted: From high tech to fast food, Bozeman wrestles workforce shortage
Access to childcare is a problem across Montana, and it can also be a barrier in recruiting qualified members of the workforce, according to the labor department’s report for the city.
Montana Career Opportunities – Front End Developer, Marketing Manager, Back End Developer and more… – TOMIS
We are on an epic mission to positively transform the global activities and travel industry by creating innovative software and implementing robust marketing strategies for our clients around the world.

2019 Montana Legislature and Politics

Men behind new Montana film bill say cap kills growth
“We want to launch a large, modern, state of the art Hollywood production studio in Montana.

Montana Business and Govt. Agency Collaboration Success

TOMIS, New Missoula downtown Mexican restaurant, pedicab maker awarded job creation grants
During a meeting with the Missoula Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, three companies, which consisted of the upcoming restaurant, a pedicab manufacturer and a software start-up, requested funding. All three received a green light from commissioners.

Montana Economic Development

$150 million solar project north of Dillon jumps through first hurdle
If it becomes a reality, the solar project, which would generate 120 Megawatts of power, would become the largest in the state.
Montana Association of Counties News: June 2019
I would like to encourage all county officials to consider participating in the NACo High Performance Leadership Academy (HPLA) as they prepare their 2019-2020 budgets.
Butte-Silver Bow commissioners put hold on BLDC money proposal
Debate over how the county should spend about $65,000 from a property tax levy each year has morphed into a bigger conversation about what is and what isn’t economic development in Butte and how to cultivate more of it.

Montana Business

5 come-back tips for startups that have run out of cash
It is not easy to make a comeback after hitting zero, but it’s possible and can lead to very successful outcomes.
Electromagnetic induction to improve taste and shelf life of beer and other beverages
According to IFS, the new process is not only scalable and easy to install, but also provides 600 percent more precise temperature control, is three to five times more energy efficient, heats 24 times faster, and requires an 80 percent smaller footprint than a steam plant.
How Data Can Help You Win in the Winner-Take-All Economy
To adapt to a faster pace of change, it helps to learn how to crunch numbers about whole organizations — and about yourself.

Visit Montana

Bozeman, Montana Raptor Center to open educational center
The Mews Education Center is a newly built, 1,800 square-foot building that will house up to ten of the center’s educational birds.

Incubators and R&D

‘Virtual biopsy’ device detects skin tumors in 15 minutes
The first-of-its-kind experimental procedure, called vibrational optical coherence tomography (VOCT), creates a 3D map of the lesion’s width and depth under the skin with a tiny laser diode.

The Creative and Cultural Economy

Go to Boise for its arts scene? Yep! The booming city is undergoing a cultural renaissance
“Boise? What the hell is in Boise?”

Regional Business News

These 15 mind-blowing bike projects will make you hate your regular bike lane
The projects featured in the new Bicycle Architecture Biennale–from bike lanes through a pond to soaring bike bridges–highlight just how beautiful and transformative bike infrastructure can be when done right.

Come Home Wyoming

Crowds swarm to welcome new rifle manufacturer Weatherby, and its jobs, to Wyoming
After deciding on Sheridan, the company began hiring new employees. For 50 openings, Weatherby said 3,500 people applied.

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

Paxson, Washington parents voice concerns over language immersion programs in Missoula, Montana
“It feels like were sacrificing her math skills for Spanish,” Kelly McDonald, a Paxson parent, said at the meeting.
CBS Sunday Morning – MineCraft is a required class for every 7th grader in this school. How about your local school?
The Minecraft game-design class is a required course for seventh graders. “We’re taking kids in an environment that they love – they love games – now they’re making their own games,” Isaacs said.

Government Technology

U.S. Escalates Online Attacks on Russia’s Power Grid
“to say to Russia, or anybody else that’s engaged in cyberoperations against us, ‘You will pay a price.’”