MATR Newsletter – November 18, 2019
The state with the best education wins!

4th Annual Government Contracting Matchmaking Event -Business Support Expo – 11/20 – Bozeman

This free event, which is now in its fourth year, is two events in one: The business support expo is an open house where you can meet with representatives of organizations that provide free and low-cost business assistance. The matchmaking portion of the event is a rare opportunity (in Montana, anyway) to meet with procurement personnel from federal, state and local government agencies to find out if they buy what you sell. Put it all together, and this is an excellent opportunity to grow your business through government contracts, grants, loans and exporting.

Today’s MATR Newsletter is sponsored by:

Come Home Montana

Send your Great Falls expats to Gather Round Great Falls! – 11/27
Do you have friends and family coming home for Thanksgiving? Send them to Gather Round Great Falls!

Printing For Less

PFL at Dreamforce – Own It, Own It, Own It, Women Leading Marketing Change – 11/21 – San Francisco, CA
We’ll discuss how women are shaping the future of marketing through insights, innovation, integration, imagination and inspiration.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

Building a Data-Driven Future: Digital Cities 2019 Revealed
The winners of this year’s Digital Cities Survey from the Center for Digital Government are those making smart investments in technologies from infrastructure and citizen engagement to data storage and cybersecurity.
Feral Swine Need to be eradicated the minute they reach Montana
“I’ve compared them often to a wildfire.”
Montana’s Base Camp in Billings Collaborating with Red Ants Pants of White Sulphur Springs on Black Friday
On Black Friday & Small Business Saturday, The Base Camp in Helena will be hosting a Red Ants Pants pop up shop.
“Rural America at a Glance 2019” Agriculture vs. Recreation
This report highlights recent social and economic conditions in rural America, focusing on trends in population, employment, poverty, and income.
Montana Studios has more opportunities after MEDIA Act passage
A new incentive became effective and filmmakers hope it will bring more opportunities and better jobs.

Montana Business

Kinetic Marketing & Creative of Billings Listed in the Silicon Review 50 Innovative Companies to Watch 2019
We are a small but powerful marketing and creative agency that knows how to bring out the best in our client’s brands.
CAN DO Podcast: Jeff Fee, CEO, PatientOne
Great conversation with Jeff Fee of PatientOne about digital medicine and the challenges of launching a start-up as a mid-career move.

Funding and Building your Business

Bosses Have Been Following This Management Advice for Nearly 500 Years. It’s Time to Stop
In today’s business environment, love should trump fear every time when you’re dealing with young employees.
Norwest Venture Partners raises $2 billion venture and growth equity fund
The firm is moving on to its new fund for seed to late-stage investments across consumer, enterprise, and healthcare sectors.
Why You Need Tools And Analytics For Employee Metrics
Businesses that use data and tools in their people management, rather than traditional manual processes, see a 79% higher return than other organizations

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

Climate Change Education to Be Compulsory in Italy
The news about Italy’s new environment education program came just days before a high tide sent waters flooding into the heart of Venice.
Business leaders go back to school for a day in Great Falls
Each leader was assigned a school and faculty member to shadow, gaining firsthand knowledge of the city’s education system.
New University of Montana Course Delves into Art and Science of Happiness
The course is modeled loosely after other successful happiness classes offered at Yale, Harvard, Duke and other universities.

2020 Montana Politics

Despite Concerns About Election Security, ‘Vulnerabilities Abound’ – States need to anticipate new threats.
Hacking isn’t the only problem. Misinformation campaigns and the refusal of politicians to admit defeat all serve to undermine voter confidence.

Montana Politics & Legislature

City 101 Academy – 1/29 – 6/17 – Great Falls
The goal is to help people better understand the roles of the City Manager and the City Commission, or the basic functions of each of the City’s Departments and budgeting.

Government News & Events

John Oliver takes an eye-opening look at the U.S. Census
John Oliver discusses the census, why it matters, and the consequences of an undercount.
Helenans voice concerns over possible advisory board consolidation
City of Helena officials are attempting to walk a thin line between streamlining their system for citizen advisory boards and maintaining the boards’ level of public input.

Non-Profit News

Helena-based nonprofit Mountain-Pacific Quality Health receives $15M federal contract for health care quality improvement
It is one of 14 Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations across the country that work with health care providers and patients to improve the quality of health care.

Connectivity & Communications

Vote now on the 2020 Tell Us Something Themes
Cast your vote on themes for the 2020 Tell Us Something season.

Cool Stuff That’s Coming

Exponential tech advances will change the world faster than we think
It’s not the old business adage of 1+1=3. It’s 1+1=1000.

Energy and Climate Change

Montana’s Universities looks to maximize energy savings
Underground wells used to heat and cool four buildings at Montana State University have already reduced their energy use by 40%, so now MSU wants to spend $2.5 million to expand geothermal energy to the core of campus.
Report: Surge in fracking endangers Montana’s most-stressed water supplies
In Montana, about 57% of 815 recent leases were found to occur in areas of extremely high water stress.
Microgrids Take Off Among Airport Operators
Resilience may be the primary driver for airport microgrid adoption, but the improving economics of alternatives to grid-supplied power make these projects even more attractive.
How to get Corporate Strategy to Engage with Climate Change
How is it that corporate strategists are not taking as a high priority what has become a ‘climate emergency’ in many cities, regions, and countries and universities?