MATR Newsletter – September 2, 2020
The state with the best education wins!

Come Home Montana

• Montana Career Opportunity – Controller – Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

  Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) is a North American nonprofit organization with chapters throughout Canada and the United States. BHA seeks to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of our wild public lands, waters and wildlife. Now, more than ever before, we…

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

• Dorsey – President’s Program Permitting Deferral of Employees’ 6.2% Social Security Tax for Four Months Presents Complexity and Risk for Employers and Uncertain Benefits for Employees

  On August 8, 2020, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum entitled “Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster,” effective as of September 1, 2020 (the “Memorandum”).

Montana Department of Commerce

• More Montanans Can Now Qualify for Emergency Rent, Mortgage Payment Assistance

  “These adjustments to the program will help more Montana families and individuals receive housing assistance and gain some financial stability without the fear of being evicted or losing their home to foreclosure.” Montana Department of Commerce Director Tara Rice

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

• Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Names New President/CEO – Welcome to Montana Lorraine Clarno

  “I am so excited and ready to immerse myself in Kalispell and the Flathead Valley. Kalispell is well on its way to great heights, bringing more jobs and economic vitality to the beautiful and vibrant area. Downtown Kalispell is a gem with so much rich potential. I hope to play a small part in establishing a community vision over the next few years by working with property and business owners to create an even more vibrant and bustling area.”

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Missoula County to Host Virtual Summit on Restoring Passenger Rail to Southern Montana – 9/17 – 10AM-2PM

  The summit is open to elected officials, government staff, business and tourism professionals, and anyone interested in restoring passenger rail service to southern Montana, increasing rail connectivity across the region, and how it would complement existing Empire Builder service in northern Montana.

• Downtown Billings, Montana area one step closer to becoming federal Superfund site

  If accepted, the site will join 17 others across the state of Montana on the EPA’s National Priorities List.

• The Case for Making Virtual Public Meetings Permanent

  They can’t completely replace in-person meetings, but conducting more public business online reduces costs, gives more people a voice and cuts down on disruption. It also can lead to better policy.

• Shelby, Montana resident Tim Moylan launches In a PICKle – Peer to Peer Transport Connecting Rural Communities

  In A PICKle is the community coming together for the very specific purpose of transportation assistance among members.

• Yellowstone Film Ranch hoping to bring Hollywood productions to Montana

  Though the pandemic put a big pause on the film industry around the world back in March, Hollywood is now slowly coming back to life. Enter The Yellowstone Film Ranch.

• MEDA News September 2020

  MONTANA NEEDS YOU: IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY, DO THIS!     Take the Census; share the Census.

• Farmers using technology to inspire the next generation

  Farmers are realizing the next generation needs to know how to use the latest and greatest tech tools.

• CAN DO Podcast series – How Businesses Can Adapt to Unpredictable Times.

  Joining me are 3 terrific guests, Pat LaPointe, Michelle Huie, and Scott Latham.

The Telecommuting and Gig Workforce in Montana

• The Great American Land Rush of 2020

  For the first time, we are able to empirically measure this land rush within metro areas by using high frequency loan transaction data combined with land prices at fine levels of geography.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

• States with Broadband Funding Program Have Better Access

  In states that restrict municipal broadband, residents fared worse.

Funding and Building your Business

• 5 Team Engagement Principles Are Vital To Leadership

  Soon you won’t be able to name a business as one of your favorites if you can’t personally visualize and relate to company leadership.

Incubators and R&D

• Montana State University wins $3 million grant for providing nanotechnology resources to region

  The MSU facility can provide cutting-edge equipment and technical assistance for research and development involving the ultra-small scale of nanometers — billionths of a meter.

Education News

• University of Montana – New $6 Million Grant Promises Greater Insights Into Biological Data

  “This proposal will create models for the biological sciences based on large data sets in the areas of genomics, community ecology and time series of ecosystem fluxes,”

Non-Profit News

• How Bozeman, Montana nonprofit SeaChange looks to end ocean plastic pollution

  With latex gloves, disposable masks, and other medical supplies on the rise during COVID-19, conservationists from around the world are warning of another side effect of the pandemic with the increase in plastic pollution.

• Montana Nonprofit Association’s (MNA) Annual Conference – RESOLVE – 9/21-25 – Online

  40 hours of rich, curated content that will take Montana beyond the “new normal” to a reimagined “better normal”.

Montana Leadership

• Leadership Montana – The Leading Edge, August 2020

  We need this work more than ever. We need time and space to address the issues of the day. We need to help each other listen, learn, and lead. We must press on.

Transportation

• The Broken Algorithm That Poisoned American Transportation

  In other words, the model shuts people up. It may not be honest, but in the world of transportation politics, there’s nothing more valuable than that.

Cool Stuff That’s Coming

• Promising naturally occurring anti-aging compound looks to human trials

  The molecule is not present in food, but its production can be enhanced by exercise or fasting.

Energy and Climate Change

• Prototype gravity-based energy storage system begins construction

  Gravitricity says that these units could have peak power outputs of between 1 and 20 MW, and function for up to 50 years with no loss of performance.

Community

• Engage Missoula Site Launched

  Contribute your ideas and ask questions about featured projects at times that work best for you. We’re excited to hear from you!

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