MATR Newsletter – September 11, 2023
The state with the best education wins!

Montana launches survey to test, improve internet speeds

‘Friends’ and ‘Seinfeld’ knew the cure for loneliness – City Club Missoula Presents Celebrating 40 Years of the Mansfield Center: Citizens Coming Together to Strengthen Democracy and Bridging Divides Monday, September 11, 2023 11:30AM – 1PM

Come Home Montana

• How the wealthy use Montana to avoid luxury vehicle taxes

  If you spend enough time in Los Angeles or any other large city in the country, or go to a high-end car show, you’ll probably see an expensive sports car with Montana license plates.

• Technology new and old can be discovered at Bozeman, Montana’s American Computer and Robotics Museum

  With exhibits that span about 4,000 years of information technology, starting with early writing and the Gutenburg press, all the way through the Apollo space program and quantum computing.

• ‘Friends’ and ‘Seinfeld’ knew the cure for loneliness – City Club Missoula Presents Celebrating 40 Years of the Mansfield Center: Citizens Coming Together to Strengthen Democracy and Bridging Divides Monday, September 11, 2023 11:30AM – 1PM

  In her 20s, Sara Hoy made close friends in her Central Pennsylvania hometown through an organization called Third Place. The group, named after what sociologists call any social setting that’s not home (the first place) or work (the second), was led by a local church leader and sought to help young professionals build community.

• City seeks community input on Missoula riverfront interpretive signs

  Missoula Parks and Recreation, the Downtown Missoula Partnership, and Destination Missoula are working on a plan to install educational and cultural signs in Caras Park, East Caras Park, and Bess Reed Park.

• Alone at Many Glacier: Being a Winterkeeper at One of Montana’s Least Accessible Hotels

  It sounds like a social media meme: Could you stay at Many Glacier for five months—in the winter—without ever going into town?

  For David and Rebecca Wilson, their answer was “yes” times four.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Why Housing Reform Worked in Montana

  A unique mix of environmentalism and individualism helped this rural state build a coalition around pro-housing bills. Could the approach succeed elsewhere?

• Montana launches survey to test, improve internet speeds

  The survey is open until Sept. 22 and allows Montanans to report what kind of broadband services are used and if there are no services available.

• How Frontline Communities Can Take Advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act to Advance Local Priorities

  A breakdown of some of the major opportunities available to community-based organizations and some actionable steps to get more involved in this space.

• Growth in Great Falls means property taxes will be lower

  At Tuesday’s meeting, city officials made it a point to inform taxpayers that while the appraised taxable value of their home or business may have gone up, the property taxes they will be expected to pay in the coming year will not rise at the same level. Instead, city officials have chosen to reduce the number of property tax mills assessed on privately owned property within city limits.

• Single mom reflects on new structural welding program at Great Falls College MSU

  “It’s six weeks out of my life. It’s six weeks out of anybody’s life to where if you want a job out there doing welding, it’s worth doing a six week program… it’s doable like it’s 4 hours a night,” said Pedersen.

• How Our Property Tax System Robs the Poor to Pay the Wealthy

  Discover the shocking truth about a secret racket in America that’s been hiding in plain sight for years; High-value homes are escaping their fair share of property taxes, burdening less wealthy neighbors and straining city budgets. Join us as we unveil the reverse Robin Hood grift that’s affecting communities across the United States.

• Montana State hosting research compliance conference – 10-18/19 – Bozeman

  Montana State University this October will host the first-ever conference in the state aimed at addressing the needs and concerns of individuals who work in the realm of research and research compliance.

Northwestern Energy

• Northern Cheyenne plan utility-scale energy project on reservation

  The Northern Cheyenne are in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy on a commercial solar project, one the tribe says would be a good fit for NorthWestern Energy.

Montana Business

• “Climate-friendly” beef could land in a meat aisle near you. Don’t fall for it.

  Tyson Foods and the federal government refuse to show their math for a new sustainability label.

Housing

• The End of Airbnb in New York

  Airbnb called the new regulations, which limit rentals to two guests and require owner occupancy, a ‘de facto ban’ for most hosts.

Social Media, Connectivity & Communications

• Philanthropies pledge $500 million to address ‘crisis in local news’

  “The fact that so many newspapers are going out of business, that there are so many news deserts across America, that it poses such a threat to our democracy [means] that we had to do something at scale to be helpful.”

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