MATR Newsletter – October 4, 2021
The state with the best education wins!

Great Falls Development Authority

• Great Falls Economic Development Top 10 for 10-3-21

  Here is our Top 17 for this week celebrating work and successes to grow and strengthen the Great Falls regional economy — Montana’s Golden Triangle. And, sharing business resources and skill-building opportunities to empower your success.

• NeighborWorks Great Falls addresses housing demand with Dream Street Project  
  Each group consists of ten families who put in over 1,400 hours of sweat equity through building not only their own, but nine other homes together. One core piece of the Owner Built Homes – no family can move in until all ten homes are complete.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Montana economists push to make child tax credits permanent

  Initial Montana delegation support for the child tax credit was limited to U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat. Republicans Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Matt Rosendale voted against ARPA.

• Small Towns Making It Work

  I’ll start with education, which builds the foundation for economic growth in a community.

• Winifred, Montana community is enjoying school upgrades and more opportunities

  Thanks to a big donation from Winifred native Norm Asbjornson, Winifred schools is expanding its opportunities for students and adding a lot more classes in the future. They have plans to add a greenhouse, a welding shop, more trades classes, and many other options as well.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

• What’s Missing from the Infrastructure Bill’s $65 Billion Broadband Plan?

  In Montana, the government is barred from providing internet service unless there is no private network option.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte

• Gov. Gianforte talks about ARPA, biodiesel and voting integrity

  The governor’s office contacted the Sidney Herald on Wednesday morning and asked the newspaper to remove the post for security purposes and stated the “town hall” was not open to the public and specific business owners and stakeholders had been invited to the meeting to discuss specific topics. The post was removed as requested and replaced with one debating the governor’s use of the term “town hall” for a closed meeting.

Montana Ambassadors

• Updates from Montana Ambassadors

  Meet your fellow Ambassadors

Regional Business News

• Ferraris Online would like to purchase a 1936 White Model 706 Tour Bus which were used in Yellowstone, (in yellow) and in Glacier (in Red) National Parks.

  We will consider both an all-original Model 706 or one of the many that were updated with a modern V8 engine, an auto trans, modern brakes and wheels, power steering and gauges.

• T.R. Reid: The best health care plan for Colorado is still universal coverage

  Colorado could fix a significant problem and save money at the same time.

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

• Attention all High School Juniors – Join the Montana Aerospace Scholars today!

  Do you love all things aviation and space related? Want to study it in depth while earning college credits in high school? Hoping to join a community that shares your passion for exploration? You should join the Montana Aerospace Scholars.

• University of Montana law school students demand change, plan walk-out

  Holland said students began planning the walkout after they heard the administration ignored reports of a predator, mishandled sexual assault allegations and leveled threats against students’ admission to the bar. She said trying to get a professional degree at a school that “consistently has ignored or even retaliated against survivors” makes it difficult for students.

Rural Communities

• The United States Is Becoming More Racially Diverse — And So Is Rural America

  The Census Bureau’s recently released redistricting data reveal that changes in demographics, cultural identity, and Census questions create a complex and nuanced picture of race in rural America.

Government News & Events

• California Banks on a Bold Treatment: Pay Drug Users to Stop Using

  Listen to Lemon’s story and to understand how California’s unconventional treatment works.

MAPS : Media Arts in the Public Schools

• MAPS Media: ‘What stories will you tell?’

  Take a quick trip to mapsmediainstitute.com for class overviews and to learn more about our statewide programming.

Tell Us Something

• October 2021 Tell Us Something Newsletter

  When I announce the theme of a Tell Us Something event and put out a call for storytellers, I usually hear from around 30 people who pitch their stories. From those 30, 8 are selected to share their story.

Careers

• Why Bill Gates gave away 4 million copies of this book to future leaders

  Hans Rosling’s book Factfulness makes the case that when we see the world based on facts, we can also make better plans to create the futures we would want to live in.

Transportation

• The next step for electric cars is to make them part of the grid

  As more people buy EVs, electric systems are challenged by the increase in demand. But there’s also a chance to rethink energy storage.

• This Tesla Roadster Looks More Like A Modern Hypercar

  While everyone waits for the hotly anticipated new Roadster, a digital artist imagined what the performance car would look like as a proper hypercar.

Social Media, Connectivity & Communications

• Area Code Needed for Local Montana Calls Starting This Month

  Some seven-digit phone numbers in Montana’s 406 area code begin with 988. To prevent misdialing the 988 Lifeline, all local calls in Montana must be dialed with the area code.

MATR Newsletter Supporters: