Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/missoula-s-terraechos-receives-m-in-venture-capital-funding/article_0511cd50-51a6-11e1-827f-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1lk5ZijHc

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Frenchtown Mill Feasibility Study:

BitterRoot Economic Development District (BREDD), Inc is offering interested individuals or organizations an opportunity to submit a Statement of Qualifications to BREDD to prepare a two phase feasibility study for the Frenchtown Mill, located in Frenchtown, Montana. The entire Request for Qualifications can be accessed at http://www.bredd.org.

Summarized Scope of Work:

• Phase I: Analysis and Selection of Potential Industrial Opportunities for In-Depth Analysis:
• Phase II— In-Depth Feasibility Analysis and Final Report
• Final Deliverable: Feasibility Study focused on 3-4 potential Industrial Opportunities for the site

  Additional Information:

• Up to a total of $50,000 is available for this project, made available by the Montana Department of Commerce to BREDD through the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Funds (BSTF) and by M2Green Redevelopment LLC.
• BREDD anticipates that one contract will be issued for the entire scope of work, to one individual or organization.
• The anticipated duration of the project is six (6) months.
• Proposals are due no later than 4:00 p.m. MST on February 1, 2012
• Contact Marcy Allen with questions at 406-258-3435 or mallen@bredd.org.

Full Request For Qualifications:

”Our Headwaters product provides the state a highly effective, affordable and environmentally safe corrosion inhibitor that not only helps keep the roads clear, but reduces the impact on infrastructure and the environment,” said Jere Kolstad, President of Rivertop. ”Essentially MDT will put sugar and salt on our roads to keep winter drivers safe and our state’s economy flowing, while protecting infrastructure investments and our environment.”

Road maintenance departments across the country are increasing the use of liquid deicers rather than traditional road salts due to their effectiveness and ease of application. Furthermore, salt brines can be cost-effectively enhanced to limit their corrosive effects. The roads maintenance industry historically has used phosphate-based inhibitors; however these have been phased-out of use in favor of alternatives that are environmentally benign, like Headwaters.

Rivertop’s Headwaters is derived from sodium gluconate and is formulated to maintain a higher level of consistency and reliability as compared to other biobased inhibitors.

Broadening the local economic impact of the contract, Rivertop will work with two other Montana-based companies to supply MDT with bio-based inhibitors. Rivertop will team with a local chemical company and a local trucking company to formulate and deliver the inhibitor from Missoula to the MDT’s supply depots throughout the state.

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A new biotech partnership has formed in Missoula to examine whether the niche area of vaccine production could become an economic driver for the region.

The Missoula Vaccine Partnership will explore the possibility of developing a regional center of excellence for vaccine production. A $25,000 Big Sky Trust Fund grant was awarded to the project last week to help study the concept’s feasibility.

“What we’re trying to do is understand, can it be done here?” Rocky Mountain Biologicals president Suresh Daniel said.

Daniel pitched the vaccine production hub idea to the Missoula Economic Partnership and has worked for more than a year with the economic development initiative to form the advisory board that is now guiding the process.

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/biotech-partnership-formed-to-examine-vaccine-production-feasibility-in-missoula/article_791d80f2-1314-11e1-a881-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1eMOry4sb

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/missoula-based-rivertop-renewables-secures-m-investment/article_b8dd8280-0812-11e1-84a2-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1dLC4nN4Z

Sustainable Manufacturing Workshop and Technical Assistance Funds available to regional manufacturers to learn practices and implement changes, to become more competitive in green markets.

(October 27, 2011) MISSOULA, Mont. – The BitterRoot Economic Development District, Inc  (www.bredd.org) announces a Sustainable Manufacturing Project, providing education and technical assistance to regional manufacturers, made available through grant funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration.

The project has two phases:

In Phase One, BREDD is partnering with Kath Williams + Associates (www.kathwilliams.com) from Bozeman, MT,  to research, develop and present a one-day workshop on Sustainable Manufacturing to manufacturers in Montana.  The workshop will take place in Missoula, MT on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at First Interstate Bank, 101 E Front Street.  The workshop registration fee is $20.00.  Lunch will be provided.

“Our workshop goal is to help manufacturers gain skills and knowledge about the green building products manufacturing industry that will stimulate thinking about new, appropriate, sustainable tactics and strategies they can employ in their individual market,” said Marcy Allen, BREDD Executive Director.

Kath Williams, past president of the World Green Building Council, researched and designed the curriculum, and will teach the workshop. “I hope upon completion of the workshop participants will be empowered to better understand how their products and business can best fit into Montana and regional green manufacturing markets,” said Williams.

Chris Allen, CEO of Missoula’s internationally-known Biomimicry 3.8 (www.biomimicry.net), will also present during the workshop.  Biomimicry 3.8 trains, connects, and equips a global network of biomimicry leaders who will transform the world by emulating nature’s designs and core principles.

Phase Two will provide assistance to participating manufacturers to help implement changes to become more competitive in green markets.  Workshop attendees will be eligible to apply for Technical Assistance funding after the workshop, to assist in implementing  Sustainable Manufacturing Tactics and Strategies.

Manufacturing companies, especially in the wood products industry, are among the hardest hit by changes in the economy and trade impacts. Finding new markets helps manufacturers compete globally and use their greatest strength to compete with imported products. This Sustainable Manufacturing Project will help diversify the regional economy by teaching companies how they can take advantage of this growth and market green products. It will also coach companies on how to produce more green products and to meet sustainable product  demands from investors, clients, and policy makers.

BREDD’s Sustainable Manufacturing Project is one of five projects funded by the EDA grant, which was awarded to BREDD in 2010, providing funds to implement a trade adjustment strategy to increase competitiveness in the global marketplace, creating economic growth and increased employment opportunities throughout the region.

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Creating top quality Nordic ski facilities has been a grassroots community effort. Last year, the community hired nationally recognized trail design group, Morton Trails to conduct a feasibility study. The study found that Seeley Lake is a prime location for internationally sanctioned Nordic Ski competitions.  The current trail system is maintained by volunteers.

This investment is a great first step in bringing a Nordic ski training facility to Seeley Lake. BREDD continues to work with the Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club and the Seeley Lake Community Council economic development subcommittee to explore developing a Nordic ski lodge and training facility in Seeley Lake.

Read more about the Nordic ski lodge and training facility project.

Read more news from NBC Montana  and the Missoulian.

Cris Jensen, Airport Director, stated “One of the more requested air service enhancements we’ve received from the community has been intrastate air service, specifically to Billings, Montana.” Jensen added “Due to the high volume of requests, we’re asking for the public’s assistance.”

In order to attract a quality regional airline to serve Missoula, specific data and a level of community support must be established. To that end, the general public and the business community are invited to participate in an on-line survey. The brief survey’s results may aid in recruiting a regional air carrier, and provide information that will aid in their decision-making process.

A link to the on-line survey is accessible from the Airport’s homepage at www.flymissoula.com.

“This is going to help Montana train our own scientists and engineers who will work on issues dear to our state and who will be tomorrow’s entrepreneurs creating high-tech jobs right here under the Big Sky,” said Governor Schweitzer.

Schweitzer’s office was instrumental in securing $3.5 million in matching funds for the grant, the largest ever received by the Montana NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

“This grant shows that we know how to work together in Montana to get things done. Our entire university system got on board to make this happen and the whole state will benefit,” Schweitzer said.

Officially called a Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-1 Program Award, the new grant is the highest level grant awarded by NSF EPSCoR, and competition among states for the funding is fierce.

Clayton Christian, chairman of the Montana Board of Regents, praised the teamwork of Montana State University, the University of Montana, the Governor’s Office, and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education. “This was a very competitive process,” Christian said. “It shows how higher education can deliver for Montana when we work together with a focus on success.”

Mark Young, professor of plant sciences and plant pathology at MSU, is the Montana EPSCoR program director, but Montana EPSCoR is administered through the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and serves every university, college and research institution in Montana. Montana was one of the five states that joined NSF EPSCoR when the program began in 1980. Montana is now one of 27 participating states.

EPSCoR is funded by the NSF and other federal agencies to help scientists and engineers in rural states become nationally competitive and to assist states in building their infrastructure. NSF EPSCoR also builds state and federal partnerships that use science and engineering to create new jobs and improve rural economies.

“We are very proud to show the citizens of Montana, and the rest of the country, that we can work together to help create a better, stronger state,” said MSU President Waded Cruzado.

“The development of completive research capacity for the state and the opportunities this will provide for students on all our campuses is immense,” said UM President Royce Engstrom. “This demonstrates how the university system can drive vital research and, ultimately, job creation for the betterment of everyone in our great state.”

The grant will allow the hiring of at least 12 new science and engineering faculty members across the state. The grant will support undergraduate and graduate student research. It will set up a math mentoring system where Native American students in tribal colleges will help students in tribal high schools make the transition to higher education. It will involve interactions with Montana businesses, especially resource-based companies that may have special needs or interests. It will involve social scientists who will examine issues, especially as they relate to science and engineering. Education and outreach will be an important component of the grant.

Overall, programs funded by the grant will be to improve the science and engineering infrastructure in Montana. Infrastructure in this case refers to people, ideas and research equipment.

“Instruments come and go, but people are what drive the research infrastructure in any state,” Christian said.

Examples of previous Montana NSF EPSCoR successes include:

• Between 2001-2007, EPSCoR awarded 106 Phase 0 and Phase 1.5 Small Business and Innovative Research (SBIR) proposals. These awards, of $3,000 to $5,000 assisted small businesses in leveraging larger funding, such as SBIR Phase I or II or partnerships with researchers.

• More recently (2007-2011), EPSCoR supported the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership which helped small businesses successfully apply for 90 SBIR awards totaling more than $24 million.

• More than $22 million in external funding has been brought into the state by 23 new faculty hired under the most recent award (2007-2011).

• Seven new tribal college faculty members have been hired.

• Since 2007, 107 tribal college students participated in EPSCoR research projects.

• Since 2001, a total of 258 graduate students have received support.

• Since 2001, a total of 1,344 undergraduate students have received support.

• Since 2001, a total of 87 new faculty have been hired across the state.

Young, the Montana EPSCoR program director, works with the Montana University System Science and Technology Advisory Committee (MUS-STAC), whose members come from MSU, UM, the Governor’s office, state legislators and the business community across Montana. The MUS-STAC is led by Deputy Commissioner Sylvia Moore in the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

News Release from Montana Governor’s Office 10/3/2011