MATR Newsletter – October 23, 2023
The state with the best education wins!

There’s Never Been a Worse Time to Buy Instead of Rent

The cost of buying a home versus renting one is at its most extreme since at least 1996.

Ken Burns: ‘The only thing that changes people is storytelling’ – ‘The American Buffalo’

“My last film was on the US and the Holocaust,” documentarian Ken Burns told an audience in Washington recently. “I didn’t think the next film would be about eugenics too.”

That next film is The American Buffalo, a two-part, four-hour series exploring how the national mammal helped sustain Native Americans on the Great Plains for millennia – only to be nearly wiped out by white settlers in little more than a decade.

Montana’s Tech Hub Effort

• BREAKING: Following Tester Push, Montana Receives Regional Tech Hub Designation

  “Innovation can happen in any corner of America, which is why I’ve led the push to bring a Regional Tech Hub to Montana,” said Tester. “Today’s designation affirms what Montanans across our state already know to be true: there is untapped potential in rural America, and the Treasure State is ready to lead the nation in strengthening American security through domestic manufacturing and innovation. I’m proud to have led the charge to secure this competitive designation that will unlock new private and federal investments to turbocharge Montana’s economy, small businesses, and academic institutions.”

Come Home Montana

• Ken Burns: ‘The only thing that changes people is storytelling’ – ‘The American Buffalo’

  “My last film was on the US and the Holocaust,” documentarian Ken Burns told an audience in Washington recently. “I didn’t think the next film would be about eugenics too.”

  That next film is The American Buffalo, a two-part, four-hour series exploring how the national mammal helped sustain Native Americans on the Great Plains for millennia – only to be nearly wiped out by white settlers in little more than a decade.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• The Duttons are fake, but the ‘Yellowstone’ tourism boom is very real

  Fans are coming to Montana to live their best cowboy life. That comes with positive economic effects, but misconceptions, too.

• AI Is Becoming More Powerful—but Also More Secretive

  The companies behind ChatGPT and other popular and powerful AI systems aren’t transparent enough about their training data and how they work, according to a new report from Stanford University

Northwestern Energy

• BRIGHT Magazine – The Community and People of Northwestern Energy

  The Community issue of Bright magazine showcases all the ways we’re committed to being an active member of the communities and states we serve.

Great Falls Development Alliance

• GFDA Top Ten for 10-22-23

  Worked on a new major project lead. When we respond to these leads, it is helpful to know all the available properties in our region so that we can get the project here to look at multiple properties. Many of our leads want to be near electrical substations. If you have property that you’d like to see developed, reach out to Jolene at 406.750.4481.

Montana Business

• Biden Wants To Drag The Creaky, Cranky US Electrical Grid Into The 21st Century

  The Biden administration this week announced a major new funding program to modernize and harden the electrical grid.

Housing

• There’s Never Been a Worse Time to Buy Instead of Rent

  The cost of buying a home versus renting one is at its most extreme since at least 1996.

• Historic housing construction boom may finally moderate rent hikes

  In Missoula, the surge in multi-family housing has driven vacancy rates up to 3% – a good sign for the market, a city official said Wednesday.

Incubators and R&D

• C-Crete hailed as a planet-friendly alternative to cement

  According to some estimates, the generation of the heat used to produce traditional portland cement is responsible for 5% to 8% of all human-made CO2 emissions. A new substance known as C-Crete, however, is claimed to be a much greener – yet still practical – alternative.

• C2M Beta – Fall Startup Showcase Event

  Join us for an evening of networking, entrepreneurship and  Business Pitches from our Fall Cohort.

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

• Museum of the Rockies preschool program provides education, fun for families

  Video of Preschool Pioneers

Energy and Climate Change

• Prize Finalists Make Home Electrification Solutions Look EAS-E

  “EAS-E Prize finalists were chosen for their innovative visions of how home electrification can be made simpler and more affordable for all homeowners.”

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

• The US Has Failed to Pass AI Regulation. New York City Is Stepping Up

  The US Congress won’t pass federal AI regulation anytime soon. NYC is forging ahead with an AI Action Plan and a proposal for a new Office of Algorithmic Data Integrity.

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