MATR Newsletter – October 7, 2020
The state with the best education wins!

Corona Virus Information

• Can the Public in North and South Dakota Be Educated to Wear Masks?

  The Midwest has been the epicenter of coronavirus since late August, led by North and South Dakota. Masks have the potential to significantly reduce viral transmission, but neither state mandates their use. Will a public health campaign help?

Tell Us Something

• “We’re In This Together” Update MEDA Fall Conference and Candidate Forum Agenda – 10/13-15 – Online – Register Now!

  The agenda has some interactive segments – look it over and be prepared to share.  Thank you!

Come Home Montana

• Economists: Missoula’s economic recovery trending ahead of national figures

  “Missoula, at least according to these data, has bounced almost entirely back, which seems surprising,” said Bryce Ward with the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana. “Among all metro areas, Missoula ranks in the top 15 in terms of where it is relative to where it was a year ago in employment.”

• Montana Career Opportunity – Staff Attorney – ACLU Montana – Missoula

  The ACLU of Montana Foundation (“ACLU of Montana”) is seeking a passionate, energetic and committed staff attorney to conduct litigation advancing civil rights and liberties in the state.  The position is full-time and will pay an annual salary of between $55k and $68k depending on experience.

Montana Department of Commerce

• Governor Bullock Announces 45 Montana School, Community Infrastructure Projects Now Underway

  “From Yaak to Sidney and Cut Bank to Baker, long overdue infrastructure projects across the state are now underway,” Governor Bullock said. “These 45 projects will fix leaking school roofs, replace obsolete boilers, install HVAC systems and repair crumbling public buildings. Thanks to a bipartisan coalition of legislators who agreed with me that making sustainable investments in our communities is key to economic growth, these projects are now full-steam ahead.”

• Visit Montana Launches Unique ‘Montana Aware’ Video Series

  “Visit Montana at the Montana Department of Commerce continues to put safety first and adventure second as we remind residents and visitors of the public health best practices that can help to slow the spread of the virus,” Commerce Director Tara Rice said. “This new video series will remind travelers that we take safety seriously and expect visitors to do the same.”

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• MEDA (Montana Economic Developers Association) Announces 2020 Award Winners – MEDA Fall Conference and Candidate Forum Agenda – 10/13-15 – Online – Register Now!

  There are two categories of awards:  Impact Awards and the Anthony J. Preite Champion of Economic Development Award.

• Montana Business Quarterly

  Child Care Gap is Costing Montana Millions

• “The Affordable City: Strategies for Putting Housing Within Reach (and Keeping it There)” 10/13 – 11AM MST

  Shane Phillips will examine concrete actions — including rezoning, rent control, housing vouchers, density bonuses, homeownership programs and others — that housing advocates and policymakers can work to enact in their communities.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

• Spectrum experiences internet service failure Wednesday morning in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado
  For hours before the company posted about the outage, multiple Twitter users claiming to be from different parts of Montana took to the social media site Wednesday morning to ask the company for answers about the internet outage.
• AT&T’s DSL Phaseout Is Leaving Poor, Rural Users Behind

  A new report, co-written by a workers union and an advocacy group, says that the company has limited fiber upgrades to wealthier areas.

• America’s internet wasn’t prepared for online school

  Distance learning shows how badly rural America needs broadband

• Yellowstone encourages public comment on a proposal to improve telecommunication services to meet critical needs

  The installation of fiber-optic cable along 187 miles of park roads.

Gov. Steve Bullock

• Governor Bullock Highlights Critical Infrastructure Investments as 70 Construction Projects Begin Across Montana

  Lockwood Sewer and Water District improvement, project to establish Billings Bypass support economic vitality, create good paying jobs

Regional Business News

• Congress Unveils Its Plan to Curb Big Tech’s Power

  A report by a House subcommittee takes aim at Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google.

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

• How the Decline of Local News Threatens Local Democracy

  No local news is bad news. As newsrooms shut down across the country, good governance takes a hit and partisanship worsens. It’s more important than ever to find ways to preserve local journalism.

Government News & Events

• As End of Census Nears, Workers Struggle With Public Distrust

  Many residents of underserved neighborhoods don’t believe their participation in the 2020 Census will bring the government to put money back into their community. Lack of trust is a major problem.

Transportation

• As California Moves Towards Electric Vehicles, Can the Grid Keep Up?

  The electric grid will need to be reinforced to support the growing demands of an all-electric California.

• As U.S. Transportation Infrastructure Holds Back Economic Recovery, It’s Time for Change – The End of Carcatecture

  In the absence of federal leadership, local governments will be forced, finally, to find ways to keep transit rolling, even if it means drastically shifting funding priorities (start by ending all road and highway expansion programs). The necessity for big, bold change is here, and now.

• REE demonstrates its wildly innovative vehicle platform of the future

  What could it be used for? Well, just about any kind of electric 4-wheeler.

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