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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Aug 24, 2007 |
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Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WHOO HOO, WHAT A RIDE !!
MAPS™ : Media Arts in the Public Schools
Funding and Building your Business
- Media Arts in the Public Schools say NO to tobacco through two new public service anti-smoking announcements.
Our students have made two public service ‘anti-smoking’ announcements.
University Business Plan Competitions
- Five Rules For Bringing Your Real-Life Business Into Second Life
You can get a lot out of bringing your real life business into Second Life. You can use Second Life for effective marketing, building relationships with customers and partners, and creating business value.
- Firms, investors tend to prosper with founders at the helm
Founders know best.
- States putting bullying bosses on notice. Act like a jerk and you risk a costly suit
A bill in New Jersey would give an individual the right to seek as much as $25,000 in damages if an employer created "an abusive work environment." Similar measures are pending in New York state, Vermont and Washington state.
University TechTransfer
- Montana State University-College of Business Team, "Genre and Mode" Takes First Place at the 18th annual John Ruffatto Business Plan Competition at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana.
The Greenshields' company, Genre & Mode, specializes in handbags, organizers and insulin pump carriers for diabetics.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- UMass cashes in with record $41.4M from licensing
The university pulled in a record $41.4 million in licensing revenue and stock sales from technologies and spinoff companies developed across its five campuses, UMass officials said.
Incubators and R&D
- Harvesting Power from the Ocean
Technology for harnessing the ocean's energy already exists, but it has not been widely adopted, largely because it has trouble withstanding the pounding of the waves. The new system could prove both cheaper and more reliable, the researchers say.
Regional Business
- Montana State University posts another $100 million year in research
In the past two decades, research at MSU had grown dramatically, from a modest $14.9 million in 1988 to more than $100 million today. Its success has won MSU recognition as one of the top 100 research universities in the nation by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Inc. Magazine names 11 Oregon fastest-growing private companies
Inc. magazine's 26th annual ranking of the 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the United States includes 11 companies in Oregon.
Montana Business
- Putting Priority on People. It takes more than tax breaks to promote economic development
"economic development by government is a sloppy science practiced by people who don't work in business."
Montana Economic Development
- Entry-Level Workers’ Newfound Clout. With low unemployment, employees have the upper hand
The tables are turned. There has, perhaps, never been a time in which entry-level workers have been so sought after and possess so much control over their employers.
Regional Economic Development
- Montana Ranked #1 in The 2007 Business Facilities Rankings Report
Interestingly, four out of the five Rocky Mountain States landed in the top 10, headed up by Montana, Montana’s Glacier National Park Montana’s Glacier National Park our top business climate for 2007.
- Montana Department of Commerce Awards Primary Sector Workforce Training Funds to PrintingForLess.com in Livingston and Centene Corporation in Great Falls
“Montana employers must have a skilled workforce to compete in the global market economy,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “The Workforce Training Grant program is a critical component in our economic development efforts. It’s a tool that ensures Montana’s on the move.”
- New Independent Film, "A FORK IN THE ROAD" to Shoot in Montana this Fall. Montana’s Improved Film Incentives Attract New Projects
“It’s exciting to see a story that’s both set in Big Sky Country and filmed in Big Sky Country,” said Governor Brain Schweitzer. “Montana provides unparalleled beauty and versatility for filmmakers. We have top notch landscapes, film crews and tax incentives, and our assets are attracting business.”
- The Montana World Trade Center E-News
We help Montana businesses understand and compete in the global economy.
- Bear Paw Development hires value-added ag coordinator
“I’m very excited about the current projects,” she said Tuesday. “I look forward to being able to turn these into reality, and having the opportunity to make the local economy better.
- Committee wants you to help brand Helena
What should Helena be known for?
- Centene expecting to increase Great Falls, Montana staff by dozens of employees
Workforce Training Grants are awarded to companies that can prove at least 50 percent of their sales originate from outside Montana.
- Blackfeet Certified as First Native American One-Stop System for Workforce Development in Montana
“The certification represents effective community partnerships in the workforce system within the boundaries of the Blackfeet Nation,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer.
Utah Economic Development
- "America`s Perfect Storm: Three Forces Changing our Nation`s Future"
While new policies focusing only on education and skills will not solve all the challenges associated with existing inequalities, if our society’s overall levels of learning and skills are not increased and the existing gaps are not narrowed, there is little chance that economic opportunities will improve among key segments of our population.
- Business incentives lose luster for states
Critics say the tax breaks and other financial incentives have gotten out of hand, costing taxpayers billions of dollars and doing little for the economy.
- More houses in rural areas means higher firefighting costs
Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey said 8.4 million houses were built in wildfire-prone areas during the 1990s, complicating firefighting efforts and driving costs to a record $1.4 billion last year.
Idaho Business
- The U’s Economic Impact includes 17 Start-up Companies in 2007
“to generate another 17 companies from University of Utah research is a testament to the entrepreneurial faculty on campus and the self-sustaining economic engine that is being created in Utah. This is an amazing accomplishment considering the national average in 2006 was about four companies per major research institution per year.”
- Utah County firms surging despite labor shortage
The rapid expansion of the state's economy, especially in Utah County, has created an unexpected labor shortage, especially in the technological field. It has not, however, slowed the growth of many homegrown companies.
Washington State Business
- Idaho Gov asks health summit attendees for med school plan
"What kind of infrastructure are we going to put into place? We don't know whether we're talking about slots for 200 or 250 or 1,000 people. Hopefully within the next couple of days we'll look at that."
- Idaho Governor's Science & Technology Advisory Council ponders new direction
While surrounding states like Utah and Oregon have been pouring millions into promoting the high-tech industry, Idaho has done little to help build the industry that provides wages that are double the average in Idaho. "Today we are further behind surrounding states than we were three years ago."
Wyoming Business
- University of Washington to open China office in Beijing
"China remains the most prominent international partner for many of our faculty and their programs," said Emmert. "As in so many other places, continuous personal contacts are vital to doing business with the government, educational institutions and businesses of China. To enhance the University of Washington's potential for greater interaction with our Chinese counterparts and to be able to identify new opportunities for collaboration that could also include many of our community partners in Washington State, I concluded that we need a greater presence in China.
Other Economies
- Council to examine education system in Wyoming. Goal is reducing dropout rate and better preparing graduates.
The 15-member council will look at every level of education in Wyoming, from pre-kindergarten through college, and will have representatives from the Legislature, executive branch, businesses and education community.
- Education pays off in Wyoming - Hathaway and Hathaway PLU$ scholarships.
The PLU$ program, which adds up to $1,000 per semester to a student's existing Hathaway award, was what convinced Ford that Casper College was the place for her.
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
- Venture capital firms pumped $93.3 million into 11 New Mexico companies in the first half of 2007
"The first half of 2007 was clearly a significant period for venture investing in New Mexico, particularly in the area of later stage rounds, which after being a small component of investments in past periods, represents, overwhelmingly, the largest share of the investment dollars so far this year,"
Energy
- Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana hopes to double the funding for the SBIR program.
"I am optimistic that eventually we can get this done because Democrats and Republicans can agree on this. Everybody's for small business. Now we need to translate those good intentions into good results," Bayh said.
Montana Education Excellence
- Six Western states and parts of Canada join to cut greenhouse gases
The partners today will announce that they have set a goal to reduce the region's greenhouse gas emissions about 25 percent by 2020, which is similar to California's AB32 legislation that passed with much fanfare.
- Green Roofs: An Introduction with Pretty Pictures
This article from Ecogeek offers an introduction to green roofs, and shares pictures of some existing green roofs and some ambitious projects in the works.
Leadership Montana
- Big Sky Institute nets $275,000 from community fundraiser
The Big Sky Institute is an interdisciplinary center dedicated to creating, applying, and communicating science-based knowledge to promote a deeper understanding of environmental systems, both in their own right and in relationship to the human communities that depend upon them.
VIRUS ALERTS
- Talking with the Receptionist, Pausing When You Speak and Other Secrets of Leadership Success
"A receptionist is a corporate concierge. They will talk to more important people in a day -- suppliers, customers, even CEOs -- than you will talk to all year."
- Colleges stress moral leadership
Ethical lapses in society are prompting universities to try to turn out students who are more socially responsible.
- Hackers Attack Monster.Com Members
There has been a security alert at the online job Web site Monster.com after hackers stole 1.6 million online records from the Internet recruiter, including the personal information of several hundred thousand job seekers.
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