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| MATR Newsletter - Tue Dec 13, 2005 |
Action Alert!-Contact your Legislator Today! -SB133-Special Session Issue http://capwiz.com/voteformontana/issues/alert/?alertid=8305536&type=ST
"Start-up money is a critical area in Montana economic development", Liz Marchi President, Montana Ambassadors
Come Home Montana
Education
- Position Available – Request for Proposals Administrative Director for the Montana Ambassadors
The services required by the Montana Ambassadors may have to be performed anywhere within the State of Montana. Residency in a particular community in Montana is not a prerequisite for the position.
- Do it Ourselves! - Big Sandy, Montana
I just love towns like Big Sandy. They never give up, keep plugging away and find ways to reinvent themselves.
Montana Business
- What's the Return on Education?
Today, many parents have a gut feeling that education is the way to ensure prosperity for their children, yet there is surprisingly little certainty about how much education contributes to the nation's overall wealth.
- Handhelds Go to School. No more pencils, no more books ...
As school districts scout ways to engage students already accustomed to instant messaging and interactive video games, they're buying up the kind of tech tools once reserved for jet-setting corporate executives.
Montana Economic Development
- Two companies graduate from TechRanch in Bozeman, MT - Dobeck Performance Group and Elk River Systems
"It's a confirmation that what they're doing is working," said Gary Bloomer, TechRanch's director of client development.
- Big Sky Carvers, Montana Silversmiths chooses Butte for new distribution facility
“We looked all over the state for a central shipping location starting last July, and Butte was the overwhelming choice,” said Group Montana Chief Executive Dennis Potzman.
- Trademark complaint forces Missoula winery, Rattlesnake Creek Vineyard to find another name. Do you have a suggestion?
Rattlesnake Creek Vineyard needs a new name. Send ideas to owners Andy Sponseller and Connie Poten by Friday, Dec. 16.
- Annual Great Falls economic summit scheduled for Tuesday puts spotlight on region's retail scene
"If we had a different perspective about Great Falls and the state of Montana, we could do great things."
- Shades of green: Web site provides eco-friendly tips
"It's a whole lot of things you can try without selling your house and going and living in a yurt,"
- Pasta Montana honored as Exporter of the Year
Pasta is one of Montana's biggest exports
Developing Funding Opportunities in Montana
- Agriculture Development Council Selects Growth Through Agriculture Projects
The Montana Agriculture Development Council has awarded more than $299,000 of Growth Through Agriculture program funds to 12 projects for agricultural development, according to council Chair Ervin Schlemmer.
- Advice given to Montana farmers: Think global
"It is global, global, global," Bower said, opening a joint general session of the Montana Stockgrowers Association and Montana Grain Growers Association
- Will aircraft jobs land in Great Falls?
The company could bring 75 jobs initially and between 250 and 400 in the long term, said John Kramer, the president of the Great Falls Development Authority.
Funding and Building your Business
- Montana Economic developers hoping to include bill regarding The Montana Equity Capital Investment Act (SB 133) in special session
Start-up money is a critical area in Montana economic development, Liz Marchi http://www.dobusinessinmontana.com
- Angel Investors - more than just money
Angel Investors are a special breed. They are usually experienced entrepreneurs that have built and sold several companies. They are typically retired or not currently running a company. They love to start companies, solve the tough problems, build a great team, and be actively involved in finding customers, partners, and key employees. They tend to invest in companies that are within a one hour drive so that they can be actively involved and leverage their network of friends and business associates. If they can't commit their time and be actively involved in the major decisions of the company, they will probably not invest.
- State-Run Venture Funds Picking Up Slack for Private VCs. Thirty-six states have venture funds
"The results show a continuation of positive trends in the venture environment,"
- Action Alert!-Contact your Legislator-SB133-Special Session Issue
Contact your Legislator to sign Senator Jeff Mangan's special session petition
Regional Business
- "The Business Of Technology Law", 1/27, Billings, MT
While most of the attendees will be attorneys, this will be an excellent way for entrepreneurs and business professionals to gain a better insight into the legal side of the subjects. All interested are encouraged to attend.
- How to Get Investors for Your Startup
Raise the money you need by proving to investors that you've done your homework and are willing to sacrifice.
- Top 10 Signs Your Startup is Doomed
#7. You seriously consider giving away your last remaining $10,000 to a money-finder.
Regional Economic Development
- More jobs moving offshore. 3 mil jobs to be sent over decade. China lures outsourced jobs from India
"Any professional service that can be boiled down to predictable steps, even if they are complicated steps, is now exportable to south Asia," said Robert Reich, who was the secretary of labor in the Clinton administration. "We have to understand there is no longer any sharp distinction between manufacturing and services."
Utah Economic Development
- The Celtic Tiger to be emulated in Arizona - Because the World is Flat, the State must think global & The other side of the story: "Sunset on the Liffey?"
#1 Goal: • Significant investments in higher education, particularly in math, science and engineering. And while Ireland is attention-grabbing, it is not alone at the front of the new global economic competition. Similar strategies are in place in Singapore; Vancouver, British Columbia; Bangalore, India; and elsewhere. Arizona is competing on a world stage and against a lower-cost stage, at that.
Idaho Business
- Utah Tourism board hands out grants for advertising
A month ago, 22 other organizations were given $790,023 for similar promotional efforts. An additional $1 million in cooperative funds will be available sometime next spring for tourism campaigns that have a summer emphasis.
Wyoming Business
- North Idaho's Job Jubilee - Job placement services have been finding it difficult all year to find employees to fill openings in many sectors of the economy.
Employers are as frustrated as the agencies, and are trying to find ways to lure more workers while unemployment is continuing to shrink.
- Idaho could give films tax breaks
Today's film industry is seeking out locations in states and other countries that offer the most attractive incentives."
Government
- Making communities 'business ready' in Wyoming. Economic program defended
"I don't think that sits very well with the average citizen,"
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
- The Next Retirement Time Bomb
Off the government balance sheets - out of sight and out of mind - those obligations have been ballooning as health care costs have spiraled and as the baby-boom generation has approached retirement.
Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Maryland takes steps to turn tech research into tech companies
The Maryland Technology Development Corp. has compiled a directory of those companies and projects, all of which have won Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants, a $2 billion program giving awards to small businesses to develop proof-of-concept strategies and prototypes.
Incubators and R&D
- For all of you planning Christmas Parties. You'll get a chuckle out of this. (Warning. This is not politically correct)
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director TO: All Employees DATE: October 01, 2005 RE: Christmas Party
University TechTransfer
- Stimulating business development at smaller schools
If you have a college or university nearby, you have the opportunity to build a new business base for your region. Here are two good examples from last week of smaller schools making relatively big commitments to business development.
Connectivity & Communications
- 26 at BYU pitch gizmos commissioned by Motorola
BYU industrial design students were commissioned by Motorola to design innovative products that will help police officers in the future.
2005 Montana Legislature
- Six Wireless Communities Best Practices Award Winners
In one dramatic example, the town of Chamois high in the Italian Alps now has broadband Internet access enabling voice-over IP, video surveillance, and a Web cam to promote tourism. Recent permissions from the Italian government have opened the way for inclusion of 10 million more rural residents
- State wide rural broadband initiative launched in Michigan
“Making affordable broadband access available to residents, public entities, and businesses across the state will make Michigan more competitive in today's 21st century economy,” Granholm said. “This targeted effort will help us to accomplish our goal of expanding these services to the entire state by 2007. ”
- Comcast Seeks Edge In Phone Service Cable Firm Aims To Outdo Verizon
U.S. cable and phone companies are increasingly competing directly by trying to lure customers with a "triple play" of phone, high-speed Internet and cable TV service.
- Free Watson helps consumers find what they weren't seeking.
With the release of the new version 1.5 of Firefox, there's never been a better time to download the open-source browser, take it for a drive, kick the tires and see what it can do.
- Broadband Use for Elderly, Disabled a Key to Reducing U.S. Health Care Costs?
"Three types of benefits from broadband deployment and use are addressed: lower medical costs; lower costs of institutionalized living; and additional output generated by more seniors and individuals with disabilities in the labor force. Considered together, these three benefits are estimated to accumulate to at least $927 billion in 2005 dollars ...
- HP, DreamWorks will build, sell virtual conference rooms
Developed in partnership with DreamWorks Animation SKG LLC, the rooms are targeted at large corporations that are looking to cut down on the amount of time and money spent flying people to different locations.
- Beyond the Stereotypes, Beyond the Battles, Beyond the Classroom
The flourishing relationship between John Esp and the ranchers, loggers and miners in his community, and Tom Roy and his Environmental Studies students is an incredible example of what can be accomplished when we take the time (or muster the guts) to get beyond the stereotypes and have a conversation.
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