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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Feb 10, 2009 |
"There are admirable potentialities in every human being. Believe in your strength and your youth. Learn to repeat endlessly to yourself, 'It all depends on me.'" -- Andre Gide
"Leadership Montana Now Accepting Applications for Class of 2010" http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
TechRanch
2009 Montana Legislature
- Are business incubators a safe haven? - List of Montana Business Incubators
Starting a business with the resources of a business incubator is less risky than “staying where you are and waiting for the axe to fall.”
City Club Missoula
- Ravalli County-based educational projects - Community college, MAPS go to Legislature
“The Bitterroot Valley Community College and the people of Ravalli County have performed everything that is required to qualify for starting up a college,” Robinson said. “Now it’s up to the legislature - it’s their turn to step up to the plate and do something for the people of Ravalli County.”
MAPS™ : Media Arts in the Public Schools
- City Club Missoula - Police Chief: Death a disastrous collision of police, mentally ill
“We've made a lot of headway in getting our officers to understand what they're dealing with,” Muir said. “So I think we're more effective at dealing with particular situations, but that doesn't resolve the issue communitywide. This is just something that affects us all in one way or another.”
Come Home Montana
- Retired Hollywood producer seeks support (House Bill 385) for Montana program - Media Arts in the Public Schools
A retired Hollywood producer who took a break from the school film instruction he established in the Bitterroot Valley is preparing to resume that work, and expand it throughout Montana.
Leadership Montana
- Board of Investments Limited Solicitation for Internal Audit Services
The Montana Board of Investments (the “Board”) is seeking a qualified, independent accounting firm (“Firm”) to perform a thorough review of and provide a comprehensive report (“Report”) on the effectiveness of the Board’s internal control processes; the efficiency and effectiveness of its financial reconciliation procedures; and to recommend how frequently and by what methods the internal control processes and reconciliation procedures should be monitored by a third party in the future.
- Billings brand a community effort - "Billings is Montana's Trailhead"
"Montana's city connects you to the authentic historical West. (It's) a city full of growth and development leading the country in the look of future communities. Immerse yourself in modern conveniences on the edge of the genuine frontier."
Montana Business
- The February Leadership Development Carnival
What Leaders Can Learn from Chesley Sullenberger
- Leadership Montana Now Accepting Applications for Class of 2010…
Participants will be selected to ensure diversity of ideas, commitment to the long-term future of Montana, and a willingness to play a leadership role.
Montana Economic Development
- File 11 for hope: In today's economy, bankruptcy protection can be a tool to become stronger - Jim Palmer Trucking of Missoula, Montana
Across the nation, more American companies are seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, not as a way to avoid their debts, but rather as a way to reorganize their finances and become stronger.
- Eight Steps to Great Customer Service - RightNow Technologies of Bozeman, Montana
RightNow has built its amazing success by practicing the same customer-centric activities that the company promotes to its clients.
Regional Economic Development
- Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation Annual Meeting “Creating An Educational System For The 21st Century And Why This Matters”, 2/24, Missoula
MAEDC to Highlight Education at Annual Meeting
- Wind Power: Creating Jobs & Adding Value to Montana’s Farms
Our history is filled with booms and busts. Each time, Montana comes through stronger than before. It is the determination of our people which make our state great. I have no doubt in these troubled times that Montana will make it through, and be more prosperous than ever.
- Montana's Chief Business Officer Evan Barrett says energy policy crucial for successful economic development
It also is critical for the state to establish a legal framework to oversee carbon capture and sequestration requirements so energy developers can proceed with projects with confidence, Barrett added. "Montana is behind on this," he said. "Seventeen states have already done it."
- Montana's economy: For better or worse?
Everyone wants to know what Larry Swanson is thinking.
- Montana Sustainability Center Space Available in Missoula
The Center will allow the participating businesses to leverage their shared customer bases in one location, i.e. regional one stop shopping for all green/sustainable products and services, creating a top of mind space brand and location awareness.
Careers
- Will broadband money stimulate?
Estimates are that a $10 billion investment in broadband would produce as many as 498,000 new jobs
- The Western Governors' Association and U.S. Department of Energy launch the Western Renewable Energy Zones Project (WREZ)
The WREZ project will generate: * reliable information for use by decision-makers that supports the cost-effective and environmentally sensitive development of renewable energy in specified zones, and * conceptual transmission plans for delivering that energy to load centers within the Western Interconnection. A number of factors will be considered, including the potential for development, timeframes, common transmission needs and costs. The project also will evaluate all feasible renewable resource technologies that are likely to contribute to the realization of the goal in WGA’s policy resolution that calls for the development of 30,000 megawatts of clean and diversified energy by 2015.
Funding and Building your Business
- International Career Opportunity - Cleantech Market Advisor - Irish State Agency
This is an opportunity to promote Irish companies and Ireland.
- How To Find A Great IT Job In A Bad Economy
Job-finding tips from IT pros who were pink-slipped, but survived to work another day include aggressive networking and skills training.
Incubators and R&D
- FREE Workshop - "Doing Business With Government Entities", 2/26, Missoula
Looking for new markets for your small businesses’ goods or services? Consider selling to the federal government.
- Some startups adding muscle in tough economy
"This is such an extraordinary downturn that there's been a tremendous increase of interest in ways to cut costs and change the contracting model for software."
- In Praise of Marketing
Marketers do a surprisingly poor job of marketing Marketing, says Professor John Quelch. "They do not appreciate, let alone articulate, the economic and social benefits of marketing." Here is the story that needs to be told.
- Despite Cutbacks, Firms Invest in Developing Leaders
Companies Renew Focus on Employee Training, Betting That Strong Managers Will Help Through the Recovery
- Better Business Bureau - Red Line Advisory - Corporate Capital Team Leaving Automated Messages for MT Businesses re: Grants
BBB issues this educational warning to make small businesses aware that there are a number of entities offering businesses similar to identical type services such as these and cautions that while there is a non-refundable upfront fee for the service, this won't guarantee that you will receive a grant.
- Marketing to Moms? Read the Digital Mom Report
Anyone who is trying to market products or services for moms should read this exellent report.
Montana Education Excellence
- A lot of energy - Montana State University ag researchers keep exploring potential of biodiesel fuel
“It’s relatively easy to make biodiesel,” Flynn said. “It’s much more difficult to get it pure enough to meet American Society of Testing and Measurements minimum biodiesel specifications.”
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- "Expanding Your Horizons" One-day math/science conference for junior high-aged girls seeks presenters, sponsors
Participants rotate through four, forty minute interactive sessions during the day. This is a tremendous opportunity to expose young women to many exciting math and science careers and encourage them to pursue math and science courses in high school and college.
- Career mentors at Bozeman High
The high school has identified as a major problem that it has “lots of kids with lots of potential who don’t know what they want to do.”
- University of Montana Named to Community Service Honor Roll
“In this time of economic distress, we need volunteers more than ever.”
University TechTransfer
- Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway’s Foundation donates $25,000 to Provider Pals
Provider Pals nonprofit program was piloted in rural Montana and has grown to include more than 10,000 students per year in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Denver and Washington, D.C., and several Montana communities including Libby, Troy, Eureka, Willow Creek and others.
Idaho Business
- Missouri patent fight shows perils of `tech transfer'
Ror every Gatorade success story, missteps or disputes like the one in Missouri are more typical.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- Commerce director: Idaho's film credits are a dud
A bill last year to help turn Idaho into tinsel town was more smoke and mirrors than lights, camera, action because it didn't include any money for tax breaks.
Community
- OUR OPINION: Let North Dakota University System keep power over tuition
The Roundtable’s members “looked into the future and saw a state that, in the absence of overt action, would continue to: ** Lose population, especially young people and adults in the prime working years of their lives. ** Fall farther and farther behind the rest of the country in per capita income, threatening the ability of its citizens to maintain their quality of life. ** Be unable as a state to compete in the new information-based economy.”
Connectivity & Communications
- Google Earth 5.0 Includes Historical Imagery - View Urban Growth/Sprawl
This is a great idea. I know a lot of people that pay for aerial photgraphs over time to see how a future property was developed.
- Missoula Convention And Visitors Bureau Seeking Event Info For Meet Me In Missoula, 5/1-3
If your organization has a cultural event occurring in Missoula this weekend, please email the CVB at [email protected] by February 20.
Energy
- The Broadband Internet?
“Today people know that they want more “Internet” so they ask for more of the same by saying “broadband”. Our future lies in universal connectivity and simplicity. We can do better than living in the past glory of telecommunication.”
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Boulder. Colorado on track to become first smart-grid city
Energy-saving appliances and thermostats will feed information to the network. And all of it will enable Xcel to distribute electricity when and where it’s needed, saving millions of dollars and the need to build more power plants.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- Big Brother is Watching --- 2009 Inauguration Photo - Super HI-DEF - Amazing!!!
The robotic camera weighs in at 1,474 megapixel.
Non-Profit News
- Strengthening Crumbling Concrete
A new technique could prevent buildings and bridges from suffering serious structural damage.
Transportation
- Liberate Your Website With A Content Management System. (501 Tech Club), 2/19, Missoula
Stop trying to take on 21st-century challenges with 20th-century web development techniques! This workshop will show you how a web Content Management System (CMS) can help streamline your web workflow, enable non-technical staff to update your site, make event calendars easy, and more.
VIRUS ALERTS
- Startup, Coulomb Technologies gives boost to electric cars: 'vending machines for electricity'
"Our company is all about enabling the purchase of electric vehicles."
- Now is the opportunity to bring back rail to Montana
“If we tried to do this five years ago ... it would have been a lot more difficult. This is the best opportunity we've ever had.”
- Hackers Using Parking Tickets As Trojan Horses
Hackers in Grand Forks, North Dakota of all places have hit on a clever Trojan Horse: using a fraudulent parking ticket to direct unsuspecting motorists to their virus laden websites.
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