MATR Newsletter – September 1, 2021
The state with the best education wins!

Northwestern Energy

• BIG Idea launches South Dakota high school business competition

  High school students across South Dakota are invited to compete in this business idea competition where nearly $35,000 in cash and scholarships are awarded.

Great Falls Development Authority

• Great Falls Economic Development Top 10 for 8-31-21

  Here is our Top 11 for last 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.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• MEDA September News and a few reminders

  Catch the Thursday, 10am call to get your EDA ARPA funding questions answered.  The zoom link is below.

• Montana Lawmakers Study Impacts Of Changing Economy

  “Now is the time to modernize your tax system for this rapidly changing world,”

• We Have Way Too Many Counties in America. Or Do We?
  Counties range in size from thousands of residents to millions, with varied levels of responsibility and efficiency. Some advocate shrinking the number of them, but that raises questions both practical and sentimental.
• Can the Idea of a Universal Basic Income Really Fly?

  Local governments lack the tax base for meaningful income redistribution programs, and they risk losing residents to lower-tax jurisdictions. The economics suggest that it’s a job for higher levels of government.

• More California companies have already moved out of the state than in all of 2020

  Data shows that 74 companies have already moved their headquarters to other states in 2021, surpassing the half-year average for 2019 and 2018. It’s also more than the number of companies that moved away in all of 2020.

• Deadline extended for architectural RFQ

  Montana Rural Water Systems, Inc. (MRWS) is soliciting proposals from registered architectural firms to conduct a Preliminary Architectural Report for a brand new training facility. Proposals are now due September 17, 2021 at 4:00 pm MST.

Housing

• Seattle is Dying – How is Your Community Addressing the Homeless Problem?

  Seattle Is Dying. It’s a harsh title. Someone on social media even called it a “hopeless” title. I’ll admit to you that I wrestled with the name for some time. Too dramatic, I wondered? Too dark? In the end I went with it because I believe it to be true. I believe that Seattle is dying. Rotting from within.

Visit Montana

• Glacier Park ending Sun Road reservations after Labor Day

  The park’s shuttle service will also end after Labor Day.

Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana

• Welcome to Next Frontier Capital’s Summer Newsletter! Career Opportunities Available!

  We continue to be impressed and excited by the startups we are seeing and the founders that are persevering through a demanding time in our history. These companies are doing more, moving faster, and getting funded quickly. We are excited to share with you some exciting updates for our firm, new ventures we have invested in, and updates from our current portfolio.

Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana

• One-Third of People Who Quit Their Jobs Plan to Start Businesses

  People are leaving their jobs at record rates. For a remarkable number of them, entrepreneurship could be the next step.

Business Plan Forums

• Calling all entrepreneurs: Applications open for Boise Entrepreneur Week

  Boise Entrepreneur Week is coming up October 18 through the 22 and any Idahoan with an idea is invited to participate. Now in its sixth year, there are several different categories participants can enter including, the main pitch competition, Trailmix, Youth Innovation Challenge, BSU Hacking for Home Building, and BSU Cybersecurity Entrepreneur Challenge.

Regional Business News

• Great Program! – Restaurant gives opportunities to teens who served time in juvenile detention

  “The most important thing that happens with Cafe Momentum is it brings the community to the table and addresses the issue head-on,” said Houser. “We are a 12-month paid post-release internship program for young men and young ladies exiting… juvenile detention facilities, and as the young people are working their way through every station in the restaurant learning life skills and social skills, what their strengths are being a part of a team.”

  The restaurant also has other resources available to the interns.

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

• Montana State University announces philanthropic gift of $101M, the largest donation ever to a college of nursing in the U.S.

  Montana State University (MSU) today announced a philanthropic gift of $101 million for its College of Nursing from Mark and Robyn Jones, founders of Goosehead Insurance Inc. (“Goosehead”) (NASDAQ: GHSD), as they seek to help address one of the most defining challenges of our time — access to health care, particularly for rural and frontier communities.

STARS Montana Early Education Program

• Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Preschool and Childcare Policies

  Identifying the specific macroeconomic costs and benefits of those programs for the U.S. economy between now and 2051.

Government Technology

• Facing Foreign Election Foes, States Hire ‘Cyber Navigators’

  States are launching cyber navigator programs to help election officials protect their systems from cyber threats, by helping break down the highly technical skills of cybersecurity into practical next steps.

Washington State Business

• ‘Fight for the Soul of Seattle’: Program looks at effects of city’s permissive posture

  “Fight for the Soul of Seattle” documents the heartbreaking condition of people on the streets, and the crushing decisions Seattle entrepreneurs are forced to contemplate as their life savings and dreams are destroyed by theft, vandalism and a dwindling customer base. This documentary also explores potential bold solutions to treat those living on the streets and pair them with agencies and assistance that can provide a clear path away from the endless circle of addiction and crime.

Transportation

• Climate Change Is an Infrastructure Problem – Map of Electric Vehicle Chargers Shows One Reason Why
  The infrastructure bill being debated in Congress looks like a small but genuine down payment on a more climate-friendly transportation sector and electric power grid. What comes next is crucial.
• Los Angeles is about to get its first robotaxi test fleet

  Driverless car technology company Motional announced Tuesday that it will deploy “in the near term” a test fleet of new Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric cars in and around Los Angeles, fitted with its robotaxi technology.

• Missoula ‘s Reserve St. Public Working Group Meets Every Tuesday at 9:30

  Mission Statement: To improve functionality and livability in Missoula’s busiest corridor for all citizens with a focus on traffic safety, mobility options, and chronic homelessness.

• Monday morning conversation: Transportation planning in Missoula – Bikes to Rail to Beyond

  “I think it will make it a more attractive place, at least what the planners are telling us. That’s the goal of the changes if they come to fruition.”

• Today’s TED Talk – A future with fewer cars

  What if your car could drop you off and then find parking by itself? According to electric vehicle entrepreneur Freeman H. Shen, this technology already exists. He shares his vision for a future where AI-powered electric vehicles will solve many of the problems cars currently cause, like smog, traffic congestion, accidents and, yes, endlessly circling the block looking for somewhere to park.

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