MATR Newsletter – November 20, 2020
The state with the best education wins!

Gianforte Announces Transition Teams For Departments of Commerce, Labor And Corrections

Gianforte in a statement said Montanans have lost out on good paying jobs, adding, “It’s time to empower Montana workers and create an environment where small businesses thrive.”

Commercial ag optimistic about Gianforte administration

John Youngberg has a pretty short list of what he hopes the Department of Agriculture will focus on during Gov.-elect Greg Gianforte’s tenure: more support of large, commercial scale agriculture and less emphasis on crops sold locally on a folding table.

If you are over 45 and you don’t have an under 30 Mentor – not Mentee – Mentor, then you’re going to miss fundamental shifts in thinking, technology and trends. You have to realize that you are not the future, they are.

Today’s MATR Newsletter is sponsored by:

Corona Virus Information

Citations, arrests possible for violating new COVID-19 restrictions in Boise
The Boise Police Department will issue citations or arrest individuals reported not to be following COVID-19 public health orders as the disease continues to spread nearly unchecked in Ada County.
Montana Official says Lawmakers Should Caucus Remotely
Lewis and Clark County health officer makes request as more than half of Montana cases and deaths have occurred since October
Flathead businesses sue state over COVID claims
Five Flathead County businesses accused of flouting Gov. Steve Bullock’s masking and social-distancing mandates have filed counterclaims against the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, alleging the agency selectively targeted them and hurt them financially.
1 In Every 1,000 North Dakota Residents Has Been Killed By Covid
In a crisis exacerbated by a shortage of healthcare workers and a lack of virus-curbing measures from the state’s Republican leadership, North Dakota is battling the highest Covid-19 mortality rate in the world, with 1 in every 1,000 residents now dead from the virus.
A server filmed a viral video of Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts maskless. Then she was fired.
“This is crazy stuff. People are dying—we need to stop politicizing this and do everything we can to stop this,”
20% of Covid-19 Patients Develop Mental Health Issues
For rural patients already struggling with access to mental health care, the long term effects of the pandemic could mean even greater barriers in receiving the help they need.

Come Home Montana

Montana Career Opportunity – Managing Director of Marketing – Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), a hunter based non-profit, wildlife habitat conservation organization seeks an experienced individual to provide executive leadership and management of RMEF’s marketing group.

Montana Department of Commerce

Workforce Recovery Grants Available for Montana Businesses Ready to Rehire – 11 Montana businesses have already been awarded funds
“Commerce’s temporary Workforce Recovery program was launched to support businesses that are ready to bring jobs back,” Commerce Director Tara Rice said. “Businesses will be reimbursed for rehiring workers and sustaining those jobs into the future.”

Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development

The Economics of Outdoor Recreation in Montana
For its part, Montana’s outdoor recreation economy contributed $2.5 billion and employed 31,598 people, while making up 4.7% of Montana’s total economy.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

2021 Economic Outlook Seminar Goes Virtual – Registration Open – Feb. 1-2 – Online
“This year’s seminar will bring together not only the many perspectives to consider how much harm has been done, but what opportunities exist and how to maneuver forward.
Register today for GeekWire Studios Virtual Event | Calgary: The city of disruptors, not the disrupted, sponsored by Calgary Economic Development
Why Calgary? As the city of choice for the world’s best entrepreneurs solving global challenges in energy, transportation, food, and health, there is a thriving innovation ecosystem with highly-skilled talent, poised to embrace digital transformation, adapt and prosper.
5 Rules For Every Business In The New Sharing Economy
The trend in the newer generations is to own less and share more.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

Broadband Brings Varied Economic Impacts to Local Areas, States
During a National Telecommunications and Information Administration webinar, speakers discussed how broadband organizations can influence economic development projects, job numbers, local revenues and more.
States Tap Federal CARES Act to Expand Broadband
States’ efforts to expand connectivity using these federal resources have focused on four specific needs: increasing access to online learning for K-12 and postsecondary students, supporting telehealth services, deploying more public Wi-Fi access points, and investing in residential broadband infrastructure, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte

Commercial ag optimistic about Gianforte administration
John Youngberg has a pretty short list of what he hopes the Department of Agriculture will focus on during Gov.-elect Greg Gianforte’s tenure: more support of large, commercial scale agriculture and less emphasis on crops sold locally on a folding table.
Gianforte Announces Transition Teams For Departments of Commerce, Labor And Corrections
Gianforte in a statement said Montanans have lost out on good paying jobs, adding, “It’s time to empower Montana workers and create an environment where small businesses thrive.”
Gianforte Names Transition Advisors For Agriculture, Revenue
The advisory group includes business owners, current and former Republican lawmakers, and people with experience in county government.
How New Governors in Utah and Montana Could Impact State IT
Although the 2020 election only brought two new governors into power, both Spencer Cox (Utah) and Greg Gianforte (Montana) could influence the role of IT and their state CIOs in interesting ways.
Sportsmen: Gianforte’s advisory committee lacks balance; favors donors, special interests
Hunting and conservation organizations were disappointed that the advisory council lacks anyone involved in wildlife conservation. Meanwhile, the committee has at least three big-time outfitters who market to high-paying out-of-state customers.

Funding and Building your Business

You Really Can Keep Control of Your Company–and Other Lessons From Airbnb’s IPO Filing
The home-sharing company’s S-1 filing sheds some light on the making of a juggernaut.

Regional Business News

Can Do Colorado – A New Energize Colorado’s Small Businesses Project
Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Google, Netflix and Microsoft have added 3 trillion dollars to their value since COVID started. This is a deep wealth transfer from small businesses. These 6 companies have more market cap than the entire emerging market sector.
Why This Massachusetts Law Will Have Huge Implications for Manufacturers Nationwide
The ballot initiative could fuel the right-to-repair movement in other states, affecting makers of cars, phones, tractors, and more. Tens of thousands of independent repair shops stand to benefit.

Idaho News & Events

New Nonstop Flight Announced From Boise to Orange County, CA For $49
As we learned this afternoon, Allegiant Airlines will be ADDING a nonstop flight between Boise and Orange County, California. The flights are set to begin in February of 2021 so no, you won’t be able to catch any of these for the holidays.

Wyoming Business

Lawmakers defeat effort to address state’s aging irrigation infrastructure
This effectively killed attempts by the state to proactively avoid disasters like the collapse of a century-old irrigation tunnel in Goshen County that caused millions of dollars in damage last year.

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

Montana will again join innovative program promoting cybersecurity education opportunities for high school students
“CyberStart America gives high school students across Montana an engaging opportunity to unlock their cybersecurity skills,” Governor Steve Bullock said.
Carroll College adding Master of Social Work degree
President John Cech said the new program is the next major piece of the college’s “Health Professions Initiative,” which is intended to meet workforce and patient needs throughout the nation.

Montana Education/Business Partnerships

What is the Impact of a Local Gas Tax in Montana?
Voters in Missoula County have approved a historic local option gas tax, marking the first time any county in the state has done so.

2020 Montana Politics

Montana Legislature chooses 2021 leaders; already feuding over face masks
“What I saw on video of the House chambers was reckless,” said Rep. Kim Abbott of Helena, the incoming Democratic House minority leader. “We cannot participate in that kind of recklessness.”

Government News & Events

Missoula’s upstart Mobile Crisis Team jumps into action with positive results
Since Monday’s debut of a program designed to help with 911 calls regarding behavioral health issues, it has already saved the Missoula Police Department seven to eight hours of work, as well as saving local hospitals from potential patients.

Government Technology

Contactless Government Is Booming: 10 Ways to Keep the Momentum Going
. “People talk about going back to normal, but what we’ve experienced will forever change how we’re doing things.”

Transportation

What If Automakers Had Acted on Their Own Climate Science From 50 Years Ago?
We are still feeling the ripple effects of investigations five years ago showing that ExxonMobil Corporation’s staff scientists were well aware decades ago that petroleum caused global warming.
Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority gets to work with 12 founding counties
From a rural standpoint, advocates believe passenger rail could provide needed transportation to larger cities that sit miles away and perhaps provide some form of economic boost. The outlook is similar in the state’s urban counties, where tourism, business connections and transportation options are vital.