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FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS FEBRUARY 25, 2015 | 23 Off the Blogs
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FVCC AND IMAGINEIF LIBRARIES PRESENT KALISPELL MINI MAKER FAIRE
The second annual Kalispell Mini Maker Faire will return to Flathead Val- ley Community College Feb. 28. Free and open to the public, the Kalispell Mini Maker Faire will feature interac- tive exhibits and informative presenta- tions by local “makers”.
Co-sponsored by FVCC’s Entrepre- neurship Center and ImagineIF Librar- ies, the Kalispell Mini Maker Faire is a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness. During the event, exhibitors will showcase their creations and share what they learned in the process.
Exhibits will range from sumo- wrestling robots to the honey produc- tion process to the construction of a three-dimensional printer. Information on these topics and dozens more will be available to faire goers.
Along with exhibits, the event will feature presentations by FVCC instruc- tors and students engaged in STEM (sci- ence, technology, engineering and math) projects. Electronics instructor Gordon Sheldon will deliver a presentation on how he built an electric vehicle for his personal use.
ImagineIF Libraries will host an in- teractive play area for young children, as well as offer attendees the opportunity to have their picture taken with robots.
The Kalispell Mini Maker Faire will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Arts & Technology building on the college campus. Espresso, coffee and an assort- ment of food items will be available for purchase.
For more information, visit www.ka- lispellminimakerfaire.com, or contact FVCC Entrepreneurship Coordinator Jill Seigmund at (406) 756-3834.
STUDY: MONTANA’S HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY IS THRIVING
Montana’s high-tech industries are booming, and the growth isn’t showing signs of stopping, a new study reports.
The study by the University of Mon- tana Bureau of Business and Economic Research showed that wages in those industries are twice the median earn- ing per Montana worker, and they are projected to pump $35 million of invest- ments into the state this year.
The study commissioned by the Montana High Tech Business Alliance also projects the growth of high tech businesses to be eight to 10 times great- er than the average statewide economic growth.
Launched in April 2014, the alliance strives to provide networking, promo- tion and job growth for high tech and manufacturing jobs around the state.
“High tech and manufacturing rep- resents a very strong economic engine for the state,” Greg Gianforte, MHTBA board chair, told the Independent Re- cord.
The biggest challenge facing these companies is finding skilled workers to hire, Gianforte said. This is why the al- liance launched a high tech jobs portal that could help connect those companies with the skilled workers they seek.
Most of this booming growth is oc- curring in the greater Bozeman and Mis- soula markets. Alliance director Chris- tina Henderson said about two-thirds of MHTBA’s members are in those two metropolitan areas.
But the beauty of many technology careers, Henderson said, is they don’t suffer from geographic limitations.
“The opportunities to grow busi- nesses in Helena are similar to what’s going on across the state,” she said.
The alliance has several members in Helena that are striving for growth, such as digital and non-digital gaming devel- opers Anvil Studios, LLC.
Born and raised in Montana’s capital city, Dylan Kahn partnered with oth- er “young talent” to “pursue this new, emerging demographic in the game in- dustry.”
Though working in Helena and oth- er remote communities now, Kahn said the company is contemplating a move to Bozeman or Missoula within the next six to 10 months.
CLOSING WEEKEND FOR WTC’S ‘THE HOBBIT’
It is closing weekend for the White- fish Theatre Company enchanting ad- aptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hob- bit.”Finalperformancesofthismagical children’s tale are on Feb. 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. The final matinee perfor- mance is on March 1 at 4 p.m.
“The Hobbit” is a family-friendly ad- venture that follows the quest of ordi- nary Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo’s easy-going life is drastically altered when he makes a very out-of-character decision to join a quest through Middle Earth with wiz- ard Gandalf and a throng of dwarves to recover stolen treasure. This action- packed theatrical experience will take you on an extraordinary journey, cap- turing the imaginations of children and adults alike.
Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office at 1 Central Ave. in Whitefish or by calling 862-5371. For more information, visit www.whitefishtheatreco.org.
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