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

2023 Montana Legislature and Politics

• Congress could spend big on broadband. Tribal nations say it can’t come soon enough.

  Biden on Friday said he would agree to the GOP’s proposal of spending $65 billion to increase connectivity in the U.S., down from his original plan of $100 billion.

• The secret to happy, healthy homes? Universal childcare

  Having a stable home, or even being able to afford one, requires stable childcare—something COVID-19 cast in sharp relief. The question now is what to do about it.

• In Pursuit of Equality, French Cities Adopt Gendered Budgets

  The concept of a gendered budget isn’t new.

• Report highlights child care shortages in Montana

  A first-of-its-kind report for the state of Montana, done by Montana Kids Count with the Montana Budget and Policy Center, shows just what parents are up against in the state when it comes to finding quality and affordable child care, with the added challenges the pandemic brought.

Come Home Montana

• Montana Career Opportunity – Program Manager – Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center

  Primarily responsible for helping build the economy in Lake County and Western Montana by developing and managing programs related to the development of food and agriculturally-related value-added businesses; and for overseeing the implementation of the organization’s responsibilities under the Montana Food and Agriculture Development Center Program.

• Economic update: Workers in Missoula earn less than 80% of national average

  “There’s almost nobody where they could move here and increase their wages and lower their housing costs,” Ward explained. “It’s almost zero.

• “Unseen Missoula” tours bringing history to life

  Expecting 50 people to show up, organizers were blown away when over 1,000 people arrived for the tour.

• Montana Non Profit Career Opportunities – Director, Executive Director, Marketing & Communications Specialist and more… – Montana Nonprofit Association

  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.

• Low Birth Rates May Not Be a Deciding Factor for Rural Populations

  What rural America may be missing in births it could potentially make up for with current migration patterns.

• Where does Montana rank on the list of “grossest” states?

  The good news: Montana ranked as the 49th-grossest state, with only Alaska being less gross.

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

• The Great Reopening: Considerations for Employers as Employees Begin to Travel and Return to the Office

  As the world re-opens and as more Americans become vaccinated, U.S. employers should give due care to several obvious and not-so-obvious areas:

Northwestern Energy

• Natural gas plant, battery storage: What’s next for NorthWestern Energy?

  Montana’s largest regulated utility submits an application to the PSC for a new natural gas plant and battery storage project.

Big Sky Economic Development

• Montana PTAC – Opportunities to Connect – June 2021

  Ask Us Anything! Chat with Montana PTAC
  June 9 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm FREE

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

• On the Rise – Kalispell, Montana

  Developers have bold plans for Kalispell’s core area, with an emphasis on mixed-use projects designed to create attainable housing and promote downtown commerce

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• The Human Library – Does Your Community Have One?

  In Denmark, there are libraries where you can ′′ borrow ′′ a person instead of a book to listen to their life story for 30 minutes. The goal is to fight prejudice.

• Plans Announced for fiberboard factory near Libby, Montana – could employ upwards of 150 people.

  Officials are working with MoFi, a nonprofit, non-bank lender, on market tax credits. Peck said the facility would be worth more than $40 million.

• A Daring 50-Year Vision for the San Francisco Bay Area – What Does Your Community Plan Look Like?

  The SPUR Regional Strategy sets a new standard for planning advocacy, not only for the depth and breadth of its vision, but for its skill in execution.

• New survey, new trainings, and new hires at Sweetgrass Development

  Businesses, non-profits, and government entities in north-central Montana have a fresh opportunity to voice their needs, thanks to Sweetgrass Development. The community with the most survey responses by May 28 will receive $1,000 of project funding.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

• Closing The Rural Health Connectivity Gap: How Broadband Funding Can Better Improve Care

  This “connectivity gap” remains an important obstacle to achieving better care in rural areas.

Senator Jon Tester

• BREAKING: Following Tester’s Efforts, Amtrak Reinstates Furloughed Employees, Returns Full Daily Service to Montana’s Hi-Line Today

  Senator passed legislation to reverse “unacceptable” cuts; was only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to vote for the bill

Housing

• Austin’s Revolt against a Homelessness Surge

  How the progressive Texas city said ‘enough’ with a bad policy on public camping.

The Creative and Cultural Economy

• Red Ants Pants festival headliners include Taj Mahal, Mavericks July 22 to 25 – White Sulphur Springs, Montana

  “We know there is a lot of healing needed to move forward from a challenging year and we’re grateful to be a part of that process by bringing good folks together to celebrate rural Montana,” Red Ants Pants CEO Sarah Calhoun said Tuesday.

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

• Bozeman School District gets green light for its online charter school; will become first public charter school

  The charter school is set up to be a combination of remote learning and in-person support. Students will have flexible scheduling, with outdoor and community-based learning opportunities.

• The Skilled Workforce the Clean Energy Economy Will Need

  Its growth will provide more and more high-demand, high-wage jobs. Our education system is key to training that workforce of the future, with a particular focus on marginalized communities.

• High school students construct real-life projects in this Townsend class – Build Montana program’s initial semester yields 2 jobs for students

  The job site isn’t a one-day event for these students. They are part of a construction technology class at Broadwater High that spends the entire school year building a project from start to finish.

2021 Montana Legislature and Politics

• Montana lawmakers to be polled on 8 veto overrides – How to contact yours.

  Here are the bills subject to legislative polling and a list of legislators you can contact.

Government Technology

• Virginia Partnership Cuts Ribbon on Smart City Testbed

  The Virginia Smart Community Testbed in Stafford County will test emerging technologies in real-world settings. The project is a partnership between the county and the Center for Innovative Technology.

Events

• Combining Virtual and in Person Meetings

  In this video I talk about 3 technical setups for combined zoom and in person meetings.

Transportation

• National association recognizes Missoula County in southern passenger rail push

  Commissioner Dave Strohmaier, who has spearheaded the effort and currently serves as the rail authority’s inaugural president, called the achievement a team effort that spans the state from east to west.

• Automated Road Transportation Symposium – 7/ 12-15 – Online

  Research Helps Connected and Automated Vehicles Steer Closer to Reality Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs and AVs) are the wave of the future, but when will we be ready for them? You can be part of the continuing conversation by joining the 2021 Automated Road Transportation Symposium online July 12-15. Bringing everyone to the table…

Energy and Climate Change

• Here’s how to fix cryptocurrency’s energy consumption problem

  ‘Proof of stake’ replaces cryptocurrency mining with vastly more efficient cryptocurrency validation.

• Yellowstone Is Warming at Its Fastest Rate in 1,250 Years

  The summer of 2016 was the hottest in the nation’s first and oldest national park since 770

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

• Montana cryptocurrency producers back a utility-scale solar project

  The 300 MW Basin Creek Solar Project would be built on ranch land in Butte and would supply energy to an expanding data center.

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