MATR Newsletter – May 5, 2021
The state with the best education wins!

Come Home Montana

• ‘Zoom town:’ What does Butte, Montana’s appeal to remote workers mean for city’s economy?

  The Today Show recently listed Butte as a popular town that remote workers are moving to, a home away from home.

• 10 new nonprofit jobs in Montana

  Great Opportunities

• Montana Career Opportunity – Community Development Project Manager – Big Sky Economic Development

  The Community Development Project Manager facilitates collaborative community projects that contribute to successful business operations, job creation, and desirable quality of life in Yellowstone County. Full Opportunity Information

Eventgroove

• Tips for Successfully Promoting Virtual Events in 2021 – Eventgroove

  Even down the road when the pandemic abates, the event landscape (like the workplace) will be forever changed—though live events will return, virtual events are here to stay.

Montana Department of Commerce

• Montana to Launch Return-to-Work Bonuses, Return to Pre-pandemic Unemployment Program to Address Workforce Shortage

  Across Montana, employers struggle to find workers, particularly in the health care, construction, manufacturing, and hospitality and leisure industries.

Big Sky Economic Development

• Is My Project Too Small for Financing? – Big Sky Finance

  When determining if a project is eligible for SBA 504 financing it’s easy to think of utilizing the program for larger projects. However, small projects could also benefit from the SBA 504 Loan.

Great Falls Development Authority

• Great Falls Development Authority – May Business Trainings

  Whether you’re just getting started, looking for new customers, wanting to grow sales through e-commerce, or focusing on workforce.
  We’re here to help.

Prospera Business Network

• Important Announcements from Prospera

  Montana Women’s Business Center Inaugural $15,000 Impact Grant awarded to these three Women-owned Montana businesses:

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• These Business Owners Banded Together to Save Their Downtown. Now, They’re Reaping the Rewards

  “Most of us, as a community, jumped in with both feet to say, ‘We need to stay positive, strong, unified, and help each other out,'” says Paris. “It’s a true statement of what can happen when a community gets together. They can do just about anything.”

• Register now! The Missoula Economic Partnership’s 2021 Spring Investor Update “Building Missoula: Talent for the Future” – 5/25 – 11:30 –

  Our program will feature the results of our State of the Workforce study presented by Bryce Ward, as well as speakers representing development and talent perspectives— a detailed agenda will be announced soon.

• 15 leaders share secrets to creating an authentic brand that inspires connections

  Success in the modern business world depends on developing an authentic, genuine brand that makes customers feel understood and appreciated.

Housing

• Companies using 3D printing to build houses at ‘half the time for half the price‘

  A 3D printer can build the walls of a house in as little as two days versus weeks or months with traditional construction materials.

• Austin Casts a Controversial Vote on Public Camping as the City Faces Growing Pains

  Voters in Austin voted to reinstate a ban on public camping, taking steps to criminalize homelessness before the State Legislature could.

Funding and Building your Business

• This Stanford-designed system will help you navigate the workplace after COVID-19

  Creating rituals and practices will keep employees engaged and happy no matter where they’re working from.

The Creative and Cultural Economy

• Why Hollywood Is Moving to Albuquerque

  New Mexico spent millions in corporate incentives to bring a massive Netflix production hub to a struggling suburban development outside its largest city. Will it pay off?

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

• University of Montana, Missoula business ATG connection benefitting students

  In recent years, the University of Montana has been working to team up with local businesses to give students more opportunities for work-based experience to enhance their skill set upon graduation. The relationship they’ve developed with ATG’s Missoula-based office is at the forefront of this effort.

• Teacher Salaries Are Increasing. See How Your State Compares

  The average teacher in America is starting to get paid more, but the economic downturn caused by the pandemic could jeopardize any progress made, the largest national teachers’ union has warned.

University of Montana & Montana State University Tech Transfer

• Montana State University-developed, money-saving concrete (“It’s like normal concrete on steroids”) to be used in bridges near Wisdom, Montana

  An exceptionally strong and durable concrete developed at Montana State University is slated to be used for the first time, paving the way for potential widespread future application in Montana.

2021 Montana Legislature and Politics

• Redrawing Montana’s District Lines for a Second Congressional Seat

  For the first time in three decades, Montana is poised to gain a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, doubling its political representation in Congress and setting the stage for a historic political showdown

• Montana’s energy grid to be subject of legislative study

  The goal of the study is to understand the future generation resources that will be necessary to deliver energy that’s affordable, reliable, clean, and resilient for the quality of life in Montana and for a well-functioning economy.

Government News & Events

• Big Sky Town Hall with Former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer

  A discussion with Brian Schweitzer, former Montana Governor, on energy, technology and American politics.

Tell Us Something

• May Tell Us Something Newsletter – Watch the New Podcast and Donate During Missoula Gives

  Missoula Gives is a way to celebrate our community and giving back to the nonprofits that make Missoula special. Financial stability is essential to the strength of an organization….

Careers

• Lyft driver earnings just reached ‘all time highs’ because nobody wants to drive

  Drivers on the platform are making more money than ever before — especially when compared to the start of the pandemic where there were too many drivers and not enough passengers.

Cool Stuff That’s Coming

• See the 34 ingenious, inspirational winners of the 2021 World Changing Ideas Award from Fast Company

  The 34 winners and hundreds of other finalists—selected by Fast Company’s editors and reporters—represent the kind of innovative thinking that will help us channel the optimism and hope of this moment into a better future.

Energy and Climate Change

• Tesla wants to make every home a distributed power plant

  While the company has been selling solar and energy storage products for years, a new company policy to only sell solar coupled with the energy storage products, along with Musk’s comments Monday, reveal a strategy that aims to scale these businesses by appealing to utilities.

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