MATR Newsletter – November 3, 2021
The state with the best education wins!

Come Home Montana

• New program to confront Montana’s health care staffing shortage – Program offers moving costs of up to $12,500

  The new program allows participating employers to reimburse employees’ moving costs of up to $12,500.

• Montana Career Opportunities – 10 new nonprofit jobs

  Find your next career adventure on MNA’s Nonprofit Job Board.

• Request for Proposals – Eastern Plains Economic Resiliency Strategic Plan

      Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation (EPEDC), a regional non-profit economic development organization, is soliciting a Request for Proposal for the development of an Economic Resiliency Strategic Plan

• Montana Career Opportunity – Business Services Director – with the potential to become our Executive Director – Mission West Community Development Partners

  MISSION WEST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS (MWCDP) is seeking an impassioned, motivated Business Services Director with the potential to become our Executive Director within 24-36 months.

Montana Department of Commerce

• Economic Affairs Committee Agenda for November 17, 8AM – State Capital and Zoom

  The Economic Affairs Interim Committee will begin work on its three assigned studies with presentations and panel discussions by several state agencies, as well as continue with its statutory duties…

Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development

• Welcome to the Official Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development Website!

  The Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development markets Montana’s spectacular unspoiled nature, vibrant and charming small towns, breathtaking experiences, relaxing hospitality, and competitive business climate to promote the state as a place to visit and do business. Its goal is to sustain and enhance the quality of life for all Montanans and their communities by strengthening the economy through job creation and business development.

Prospera Business Network

• What’s Happening at Prospera November 2021? …. We’re Moving!

  “We are excited to be launching this new mentorship program for women in Montana. Our goal is to not only empower women entrepreneurs and business owners but to bridge the gap between urban and rural communities. Business resources are not the same in each county and by connecting women from all 56 counties we can be a catalyst to propel their business, create new jobs, and gain access to capital.”

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Feedback wanted on Butte’s Master Plan to improve historic Uptown

  “Physical improvements to the streets, lighting plans, a public art commission, things that would really lend to a vibrant Uptown,” said Butte’s Director of Community Development Karen Byrnes.

• Resolving Montana’s Labor Shortage

  Of course, what actually occurs to end labor force shortages may be something much more ordinary, yet much less desirable. That is a collapse in labor demand caused by an economic reversal. I think most of us would agree that the problem of too much demand is better than the problem of too little.

Housing

• 3D printed houses built to withstand FIRES, floods, and extreme winds – Future Blink

  Designed by construction tech company ICON, these 3D printed homes are built to withstand natural disasters. The company uses a special cement-based mixture called Lavacrete, which helps defend against fires, floods and extreme winds.

• Zillow to shutter home buying business and lay off 2,000 employees as its big real estate bet falters

  The company will take a write-down of more than $500 million related to the shutdown.

Montana Business

• More than street cred: Solar installations help Missoula businesses reduce, reuse

  “It’s always been true, the greenest and cheapest energy we have is the energy we don’t use.”

Funding and Building your Business

• ‘The Great Resignation’ Misses the Point

  The phrase has come to describe record levels of job turnover. But it overlooks the bigger story: a radical rethinking of our relationship to work.

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

• Montana School Boards Association leaving national group – Arntzen tells mask opponents to run for school board

  The National School Boards Association in September asked President Joe Biden for federal law enforcement and other assistance to deal with increasing threats of violence and intimidation over coronavirus requirements at schools.

  The Montana organization opposed that request and said most local issues can be handled by local law enforcement.

Government News & Events

• The Real Value of Government Organizations Having A Cybersecurity Strategic Plan

  Government organizations need a road map that sets the stage for the future, accounts for leadership changes, includes input from all players and gets a regular review and refresh.

Tell Us Something

• November 2021 Tell Us Something Newsletter

  The Tell Us Something Board of Directors had our first official meeting on Saturday, October 30, 2021. We were able to knock out all of the agenda items in 90 minutes!

North Dakota Business and Economic Development

• Michael Gregg Appointed as North Dakota Cybersecurity Chief

  Michael Gregg has been appointed to the position of chief information security officer by CIO Shawn Riley. He had been serving in an interim capacity since the departure of former CISO Kevin Ford in September.

Energy and Climate Change

• Today’s TED Talk – Al Gore – How to make radical climate action the new normal

  An unmissable tour de force on the current state of the crisis — and the transformations that will make it possible to find a way out of it.

Privacy, Hacking and Virus Alerts

• Task Force to Kansas: 45 Steps to Boost Government Cybersecurity

  The Kansas Cybersecurity Task Force’s report (version 1.0) offers advice for filling cybersecurity posts, guiding the state through cyber emergencies and sharing ideas and resources across state, local and private partners.

MATR Newsletter Supporters: