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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Apr 15, 2008 |
"Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done. " -- Andy Rooney
Boomtown Institute
City Club Missoula
- The Agurban from Boomtown Institute - Have You Noticed?
Food price inflation in 2007 rose twice as fast as overall inflation.
Idaho TechConnect
- City Club Missoula - “Streamside Setbacks -Protecting Waterways, People And Natural Resources”, 4/21, Missoula
Clark Fork Coalition staff scientist Chris Brick will talk at the upcoming City Club Forum April 21 about streamside setbacks – what they are and why we need them.
Missoula Children's Theatre
- TechLaunch 2008, 5/28-29, Boise, Idaho
TechLaunch is an annual event that provides training and education to companies seeking financing. Companies have the chance to practice and hone their pitch in front of potential investors.
Developing Tech Jobs in Rural Communities
- Missoula Children's Theatre is expanding its programs to Ireland
“I think MCT is one of the best and most easily exported artistic products we have in Montana,” said Sutton. “They already have extensive experience traveling overseas, and so this made sense as a way to really help them expand their business model and find more diverse income streams.”
Montana Business
- Going Virtual: Small companies reap cost savings, employees save time
Telecommuting is one of the ways a small firm can cope with a weaker economy because it cuts costs for gasoline and energy
Montana Economic Development
- Exclusive Montana club for ultra rich in turmoil - The Yellowstone Club
For the ultra-rich, the Yellowstone Club is a private retreat like no other. It boasts its own ski resort, security provided by ex-Secret Service agents and a deep-pocketed membership that includes Bill Gates and former Vice President Dan Quayle.
- Teachers Tax Service - Missoula based Publications for Professionals
There is no other guide available like ours. We have faithful customers from all over the country who purchase the guide every year, including educators, administrators, and professional tax preparers.
- Flying high in Big Sky Country - Gallatin Field and Venus Catering in Bozeman, Montana are busy catering to the wealthy
Clearly, a lot of people in the Gallatin Valley have a lot of disposable income.
- saltStudio of Missoula launches new website
The area code in Montana is 406. Yup, all of Montana. Give us a call.
- Corbond Corporation Opens Foam Production Plant at its New Belgrade Montana Facility
Closed Cell Spray Foam Used in Walls, Ceiling and Roof
Regional Economic Development
- Montana Officials tour Icelandic geothermal plant - precursor to possible development of the renewable energy in Montana
Montana is thought to have decent opportunities to develop geothermal power, which uses heat from the earth’s core to generate electricity or heat buildings. The western part of the state in particular is riddled with hot springs, which are one way energy from below the earth finds its way to the surface, where it can be harnessed.
Funding and Building your Business
- Global knowledge economy demands cooperation, not rivalry
In the “knowledge economy” of the 21st century, those regions that have the right work force are better positioned to innovate and to adapt quickly.
Incubators and R&D
- Small Talk: For some businesses, 'you grow or you die'
''Our competition will probably be looking to contract. By us expanding, we think we'll be in a great position,''
- “Small Businesses Outpace Larger Ones in Planning for Impact of Aging Workforce.”
Twenty-eight percent of the small-business owners in a recent survey have planned for knowledge transfer from these experienced older workers to other workers.
- Google, Salesforce take aim at Microsoft
The companies planned to release a joint offering called Salesforce for Google Apps today, combining online customer relationship management software with productivity applications.
Montana Education Excellence
- Innovation Tax Credit Act of 2008.
Legislation will support America’s high-tech innovation economy, help create jobs
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Montana Automotive Technologies - High School Car Show, 5/31 ,Missoula
We are a private Not-for-profit company (501.c.3) providing after school supervised activities to help in the prevention and intervention in teen drug use, crime prevention, depression and teen suicide. We are educating our kids with team work, problem solving, and learning other skills which will help them mature into productive and self-confident additions to our community.
- Montana's education funding ranks in the middle
“We bus kids each school year over 18 million bus-miles,” McCulloch said. “Small states don't spend that money on transportation. That money goes directly into classrooms.”
- Montana student loan bond auctions fail again
That brings to $1.65 billion the total MHESAC bonds owned by bondholders that have failed in auctions since Feb. 11. Some have failed for a second time.
- Teacher scholarships offered for economic workshops in Montana
The Montana Council on Economic Education is offering full scholarships to Montana teachers interested in attending a summer workshop worth one graduate credit at Montana State University.
- Student research to be celebrated April 15 at Montana State University
Holmgren said students from every college on campus will present their research at the upcoming celebration.
Regional Business
- Construction of a laboratory at Montana Audubon's first Conservation Education Center near the Yellowstone River Begins
"It's as much a community center as it is an education center."
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
- “Business Tax Index 2008: Best to Worst State Tax Systems for Entrepreneurship and Small Business.”
Tax problems for entrepreneurs and small businesses do not stop at the federal level, and do not end with the income tax.
- Cows, naturally: Meyer Company Ranch major player in alternative beef market
The 23,000-acre ranch Phillips runs is among the largest of 200 to 250 suppliers to Meyer Natural Angus of Loveland, Colo., a company that will command well over half the natural beef market in the United States this year.
University Business Plan Competitions
- Billion Dollar Venture Capital Firms to Receive Government Small Business Contracts Under New Bill
A new bill set to come out of the House Committee on Small Business will allow the largest venture capital firms in the nation to participate in federal programs designed to assist small businesses.
Idaho Business
- Forbes teamed up with Rice University in a contest to find the best student business plans in the nation.
Each team was given one minute to describe its business plan. Watch the top pitches.
- Klymit Wins 2008 BYU Business Plan Competition
"Participating in the Business Plan Competition gave us the opportunity to define our company and solidify the necessary steps to be successful," says Ben Maughan, Klymit chief financial officer. "We were connected with great mentors who helped us identify the strengths and opportunities for this technology."
Washington State Business
- Idaho Office of Science & Technology April 2008
"We Create Jobs, Strengthen Communities and Market Idaho."
- Idaho's jobless see classroom as key to career change
The trend back to the classroom is not based on hard data because the state Labor Department does not specifically track how many unemployed workers enroll in universities or technical colleges. Instead, officials say the trend is supported by information gathered by state work force experts who consult with job seekers and companies looking to hire.
- Idaho Gov. Otter vetoes repeal of research tax credit
Eliminating the tax credit would put Idaho at a competitive disadvantage with surrounding states that offer research and development credits, Otter wrote.
Wyoming Business
- Farecast sold in $75 million deal
Farecast, which tries to tell consumers whether airfares will rise or fall on selected routes, was founded by University of Washington computer scientist Oren Etzioni.
Education
- Inventors bring plenty of new ideas at Wyoming Conference
The daylong event offered practical advice from industry and government experts on how independent inventors can protect, manufacture and market their inventions.
- University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources exceeds expectations
The university started the new school in 2006 in an attempt to make Wyoming and the university a destination for leading sustainable energy research and training and help the state's heavily energy-reliant economy continue to boom.
- Wyoming Governor talks energy, tourism while in China
Freudenthal held meetings in Beijing on Monday with Ma Xiuhong, the nation's vice minister at the Ministry of Commerce, and Zhang Guobao, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission.
Government
- National Science Board Names 2008 Public Service - Bayer and SAE International recognized for outstanding contributions to increase understanding of science and engineering
The engineers' real-life perspective is a significant component of A World in Motion -- a classroom curriculum developed by SAE International, a Marshall-based engineering industry association -- which is being utilized in more than 400 school districts in the United States and Canada. For its efforts to promote science and engineering education to children as early as kindergarten and through the college level, SAE is one of two recipients of the National Science Board's 2008 Public Service Award
- The 100-hour Wiscontrepreneur Challenge
ll participating students or teams of students can claim a $10 voucher redeemable for purchase of an object available at the UW’s SWAP (Surplus With A Purpose) Shop. Students will then have 100 hours to take their best shot at doing something entrepreneurial with their SWAP object.
- $50 "Teachermate" computers spark learning
Hand-held device developed by a Chicago-based non-profit teaches students reading and math and lets teachers program tools, track their progress
- Solar panels on schools spark lights, imagination. Students learn that better technology is key to future
"The idea is to get students thinking about renewable energy sources and help them make changes in their lives."
- Seniors mentor freshmen to help them succeed in high school. Younger students seem more inclined to respond to upperclassmen than to teachers.
Freshman failure rates, measured by the numbers of students failing and classes being failed, have dropped by at least 50 percent since the program's inception two years ago.
- Patent Office Curriculum Teaches Kids Respect For Intellectual Property
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office designed the program to inspire K-12 students' creativity and teach the value of patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
Community
- Nation's Water Infrastructure Is Crumbling
Water utilities, largely managed by city governments, have never faced improvements of this magnitude before. And customers will have to bear the majority of the cost through rate increases
Energy
- Jim Barrett, director of the Park County, Montana Environmental Council seeks to build community dialogue
Now, it’s one of 20 top finalists in the running for another $25,000 grant, called “Make it Your Own,” to be decided by an online vote on the foundation’s Web site, http://www.casefoundation.com.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- What's your 'human' footprint? - Diapers and Showers and Sodas, Oh My!
An eye-opening look at the impact a single human can have on the planet.
Legislative Newsletters
- New Mouse helps you "Glide" through Second Life
SpaceNavigator becomes an extension of your hand, blurring the line between flesh and hardware - but not in a creepy, David Cronenberg way.
- Toward a Quantum Internet
Researchers have built a quantum logic gate in an optical fiber, laying the foundation for a quantum computer network.
Government Technology
- Denny Rehberg's E-Newsletter, April 11, 2008
With taxes due in less than a week, the House Democrats' budget includes a tax increase of more than $2,600 for the average Montanan. Do you think Montanans pay enough in federal taxes?
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Otto Doll, CIO of South Dakota, Discusses Web Strategy for Rural States
South Dakota became the first state to consolidate its IT operations 12 years ago. What drove the state to make that move?
- Montana's Governor Schweitzer wants games removed from computers
“It’s not what you’re there to do,” Elliot said. “You’re there to work.
- Montana Historical Society Receives Grant for Preservation. Applications Requested
Projects eligible for funding under this round are local historic resource surveys and research for listings on the National Register of Historic Places.
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