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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Apr 10, 2018 |
Technically, Moses was the first person with a tablet downloading data from the cloud
At NorthWestern Energy, we are committed to our customers, the communities in which we live and work, our wonderful natural environment and to the incredible machine – the critical infrastructure on which we all depend to lead productive lives. At NorthWestern Energy, we provide electric -- http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Gov. Steve Bullock
Montana Business and Govt. Agency Collaboration Success
- Bullock 2020 - During Iowa visit, Montana Governor Steve Bullock keeps door open for White House bid
For Montanans, it's not even close to start thinking about the 2020 presidential race. But in Iowa, it's never too early.
Montana Department of Commerce
- Tech, manufacturing companies in Missoula adding 49 new jobs under state program
The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund provides state grants to qualified businesses to promote stable economic growth, including job creation and planning. The program is managed locally by MEP and Missoula County, which are currently managing around $1.8 million to help 13 local companies create 252 new jobs.
Northwestern Energy
- Kalispell, Montana To Host The International Roundup Tourism Tradeshow - 4/8-11
"Hosting this event is a big opportunity to highlight Montana's incredible landscape, hospitality, and authentic experiences in a way that will have a direct impact on bringing travelers from overseas and into our Main Street businesses." Montana Department of Commerce Director Pam Haxby-Cote
Great Falls Development Authority
- Northwestern Energy, Montana's largest utility overpays for rooftop solar energy, study suggests
In a 40-page cost-benefit analysis of solar net metering, Montana's largest utility company concluded that the energy rooftop solar delivered back onto the grid had a net value of about 4 cents per kilowatt hour. That's about a third of what net-metering customers are currently compensated.
- Northwestern Energy Community Works Report 2018
At NorthWestern Energy, we are committed to our customers, the communities in which we live and work, our wonderful natural environment and to the incredible machine - the critical infrastructure on which we all depend to lead productive lives.
Early Edge Montana
- GFDA Top 10
Here is our Top 16 for this week, celebrating work and successes to grow and strengthen the Great Falls regional economy.
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Governor Bullock hopes data from Montana classrooms will sway legislators for public preschool
Rep. Don Jones, a Billings Republican, criticized the program's proportion of high-needs students, as defined by the grant -- those from poor families, with special needs, who need mental health support, whose families are homeless, tribal members or those with teen parents.
American Prairie Reserve
- Inaugural ChickTech Workshop Aims To Engage High School Girls In Tech Saturday, April 14th In Pablo, Montana
"We really want to expose young women who might not otherwise consider a career in a tech field to the options that exist for them," said ChickTech: Missoula Chapter Director Brigitta Lee. "This workshop will build participants' confidence in their technical abilities and introduce them to other female role models right here in Montana."
- Here Are Nearly 1,200 Coursera Courses - from 166 universities including Stanford, Georgia Tech, Yale, Duke, and Michigan - That Are Still Completely Free
This list of completely free online Coursera courses contains a number of highly rated MOOCs, including a few from Class Central's Top 50 free online courses of all time.
- Building Skills Outside the Classroom With New Ways of Learning
Wait a minute. Failure, being extolled, even celebrated? In a high school?
Visit Montana
- The American Bison is making a historic comeback on Montana's prairie and we are asking the federal government to provide them additional room to roam.
We are asking you - our supporters, friends, and family - to be ready to submit a comment to the Bureau of Land Management letting them know that you are in favor of our proposal.
VR/AR, Blockchain, Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence and The Internet of Things
- America's Wild and Scenic Rivers live up to their name - The Lochsa
With an average gradient drop of 31 feet/mile, Lochsa is the Nez Perce Indian word for "rough water."
- Video: New "Fish MT" website will help anglers
With winter finally winding down many anglers will start taking to Montana's lakes and rivers, and as Winston Greely shows us in this week's outdoor report, the new "Fish MT" website http://fwp.mt.gov/fish/ is a place to visit before you head out.
Energy and Climate Change
- IBM Backs Blockchain Technology, Hails It as the Future of Digital Innovation
The world's smallest computer, while limited in its functionality, is designed to help organizations incorporate blockchain platforms into their supply chain systems so as to make the verification of goods and other items more streamlined and hassle-free.
Come Home Montana
- "Montana is warming and it’s warming faster than the U.S. average."
"There's 100 percent model agreement that we're going to get warmer," said Cathy Whitlock, professor of earth sciences at Montana State University in Bozeman.
- Could the "Hot Solar Cell" Be the Most Efficient Solar Panel Ever?
Taking advantage of temperatures upwards of 1,000 Celsius, these hot solar cells could produce twice as much energy as the industry standard
- Replacing power produced by four Snake River dams feasible, study claims
The study recommends replacing the power produced by the dams with a mix of wind and solar power while also encouraging users to cut their use during high-demand times.
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Montana Career Opportunities - Montana Photonics Industry Alliance
Move your career and your life to a higher level.
- Montana Career Opportunities - Auditor, Credit Analyst, Commercial Loan Officer and more... - Stockman Bank
We are a family owned, community bank with locations throughout Montana and are committed to enriching the lives of Montanans and helping our communities succeed.
Montana Business
- Invest In Montana - 4/10 - Missoula
The purpose is to create a dialogue with business leaders, economic development organizations, business incubators, and community leaders to promote investment in Montana and support businesses as they start up and/or grow their existing operations.
Montana Economic Development
- Video - Under the Big Sky - Red Ants Pants
The company's name came naturally. In colonies of red ants, "women do all the work."
- Video - Under the Big Sky - Headframe Spirits
The new couple had no idea how fortuitous that glass of spilled whiskey would turn out to be.
- MercuryCSC - Bozeman ad agency behind 'Get Lost' campaign sold to New York firm with Montana roots
Gardner has acquired several other travel-related businesses, and the Mercury move will give JG access to the Bozeman company's tourism clientele and expertise. Mercury was responsible for the popular "Get Lost" campaign that was featured on bumper stickers and posters across the state.
- Signs of the Times - Meissenburg Designs in Bigfork - "Old Wood Signs"
Meissenburg Designs in Bigfork has evolved from a small husband-and-wife operation into a renowned sign-making business that pumps out 500-600 signs daily and employs more than 40 people
- Developer of tiny home community in East Missoula discusses obstacles to affordability
...due to county regulations, he says he was forced to spend roughly $40,000 in building permit fees and had to dedicate almost twice the amount of space on his lot to parking as he did to living space.
Careers
- Spring Business Growth & Community Growth at LCCDC
Here is a list of our free Business Workshops.
- Billings asked to contribute $100K to study One Big Sky project
One Big Sky Center http://www.onebigskycenter.com/ is a multi-million dollar city block renovation project coming to the heart of downtown Billings Montana with a scheduled completion date in 2019.
Rural Communities
- Stress-related hormone cortisol lowers significantly after just 45 minutes of art creation
"After about five minutes, I felt less anxious. I was able to obsess less about things that I had not done or need [ed]to get done. Doing art allowed me to put things into perspective."
Business Plan Forums
- Microsoft Looks for Ways to Increase Impact in Rural Areas
By helping rural businesses and institutions unlock their global potential, Kocher said, these local technology leaders would jump start activities in their local communities.
City Club Missoula
- All are invited - John Ruffatto Business Startup Challenge Live Pitch Event! - 4/13 - Missoula
The Business Startup Challenge is Montana's premier opportunity for students attending any college or university across Montana to present exciting new businesses and/or social entrepreneurship venture ideas for adjudication.
- Students vie for $50,000 in seed money for business ventures
"The $50K Ellbogen Entrepreneurship Competition is designed to encourage Wyoming students to act on their talents, ideas and energy to produce tomorrow's leading businesses."
Government
- State of the Community - Mayor Engen, UM President Bodnar and County Commissioner Strohmaier talk housing, other challenges at City Club Missoula
Affordable housing, wages and a balanced approach between conservation and economic development stood among the top issues broached by Missoula's institutional leaders at the annual state of the community address on Monday.
Idaho
- The Tax Return Preparation Process: Is there a better way? CBS Sunday Morning News Video
Known as a pre-filled tax return, it's a system already used in many other countries, including Sweden and Australia. And it's an idea here with a history of bipartisan support.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- 'Dawn of New Day': State Board names Boise State's Satterlee as next Idaho State University president
Satterlee will officially take the helm as ISU's 13th president in June. He's currently the chief operating officer, vice president and special counsel at Boise State University.
- Boise State breaks ground on $50 million materials research center
The Micron Foundation pledged $25 million - the largest gift in Boise State's history - to help fund the center.
Other Economies
- Get the skinny on wind in North Dakota at Expo on 4/12
The information expo is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 12 at the Mountrail County South Complex in Stanley, North Dakota this time, and will feature a number of speakers, including an attorney with expertise in land issues related to wind turbines.
Regional Economic Development
- Small towns look for a road forward, paved with fiber-optic
For the past year, a group of New Mexico news organizations, with support from High Country News and the Solutions Journalism Network, has investigated how to build rural communities that last.
Wyoming Business
- How 12 experts would end inequality if they ran America
Imagine you had complete control of the U.S. government: What one thing would you do to reduce the country's staggering economic inequality?
- Local leadership is key for successful Opportunity Zones for Economic Development
State and local leaders nationwide were surprised to learn that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law at the end of 2017, delivered them the most ambitious economic development investment incentive enacted since the Clinton Administration.
Montana Education Excellence
- Rock Springs, Wyoming named winner of 2018 Great American Main Street Award
"It is a great honor for the entire community for Downtown Rock Springs to be selected as the 2018 Great American Main Street Award winner," said Carl Demshar, mayor of Rock Springs. "The award is a result of the hard work we've done to revitalize downtown, but the economic benefits will ripple throughout the entire community."
- Wyoming Business Council April 2018 Newsletter
Wyoming community advocates to host placemaking trainings
- Cowpokes GenCyber Camp Tackles Cybersecurity and Diversity for Wyoming K-12 teachers and students in grades 7-12
The camp is sponsored by the University of Wyoming and is free to attend for Wyoming K-12 teachers and students in grades 7-12. The goal is to ensure that young people are exposed to cybersecurity career options.
Community
- Tufts University administrator Mark Ranalli named dean of MSU business college
"We are confident Mr. Ranalli will be an extraordinary leader for the Montana State University Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship," said Bob Mokwa, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.
- University of Montana College of Business Spring 2018 Newsletter
Among the good news you'll read about in this issue of our e-newsletter is the memorandum of understanding our college recently signed with the Shanghai International Studies University School of Economics and Finance.
- Senator Jon Tester discusses education funding in Great Falls
Teresa Schreiner says she is an advocate for the funding bill because her autistic son is able to attend school and have access to occupational and speech therapy, as well as be socialized in the classroom.
- Maintain investment in Montana's schools
I would like to share some of the reasons I think our students and staff are so exceptional.
- Missoulian editorial - Regents wrong to grant University of Montana Foundation right to withhold public information
Adding insult to injury, regents have offered no substantive reasoning for their decision to flout state law. However, it's not difficult to guess what might have given rise to the new language in the agreement.
- Click here to support Decrease HelenaMT School Lunch Debt
Please contribute any amount you can to make sure that lunch debt doesn't hurt students and their families.
Funding and Building your Business
- This Startup Lets Neighbors Pool Their Money To Invest In Their Communities
Cooperative Capital lets people pool small amounts of money, vote on how they want to invest it to improve their neighborhood-and then generates returns.
Connectivity & Communications
- Would you like to see your products available on Amazon?
Fascinating conversation with Peter Kearns of 180Commerce, on all things AMAZON.
- Prior Salary Can't Justify Gender Wage Gap, En Banc Ninth Circuit Says
A federal appeals court ruled Monday that salary history cannot be used to justify a wage gap between men and women, in a case that employee advocates said highlights a key issue that has institutionalized gender compensation inequities.
Non-Profit News
- Tribes lead the way for faster internet access in New Mexico
Across sovereign governments, a group of Southwest tribes prepares to launch their own network.
- Rural Broadband's Only Hope: Thinking Outside the Box?
As states struggle to close the connectivity gap in rural areas, some experts believe a federal mandate, similar to the one that first brought those residents electricity, might be in order.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Country legend Dwight Yoakam tops Red Ants Pants Music Festival lineup
Now in its eighth year, the festival takes place July 26-29 and has grown from 6,000 attendees in its first year to a record 16,500 last year.
- A new voice for Montanans 55 and older
It will advocate for progressive policies such as health care and economic security for all. Big Sky 55+ will focus on organizing all Montanans 55 and older in our urban, rural and reservation communities.
Transportation
- This Strange Headset Lets You Interact with Digital Devices Simply By Reading Your Mind
When you think about saying a word, your brain sends signals to your face muscles to prepare them for the upcoming vocalization. The device works by reading these so-called sub-vocalizations, otherwise known as "silent speech."
Events
- How safe should we expect self-driving cars to be?
The essential question being whether they can be expected to completely avoid fatalities or whether it's good enough that they reduce them.
- California eyes driverless car testing with passengers
Regulators in California are moving closer to allowing driverless cars to carry passengers, even without a backup driver present.
- The Never-Ending Self-Driving Car Project
"Sometimes we will talk about it as if, 'We have this self-driving car, we have this product.' But with software updates, there's a new vehicle every week."
- Critics See Public Transit as Old Fashioned
Critics of a transit referendum in Nashville see trains and buses as the transportation solutions of the past. According to this thinking, ride-hailing companies and self-driving cars are the future.
- What Can We Do to Reduce the Spike in Pedestrian Deaths?
The recent pedestrian death by a self-driving Uber car brought renewed attention to a major problem in this nation, pedestrian deaths, which have risen from 4,000 to 6,000 annually in just 2 years!
- You can't be a 'climate mayor' if you're making more room for cars
Sorry--that's not how it works
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