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This Weeks Articles...

1. HotelRed up for sale and could be converted to apartments
2. VP Harris touts administration’s $2T jobs plan in Wisconsin
3. A six-story, 79-unit apartment building is planned for a Walker`s Point former tannery. It`s the final phase of River Place Lofts.
4. Potential for additional growth `misunderstood` in Foxconn`s new deal
5. Milwaukee Tool Expands Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Corporate Operations Center
6. 28 Wisconsin school districts awarded money for manufacturing education
7. McShane Construction Company to build 302-unit apartment community in Wisconsin
8. OnLume of Madison raises $7 million; Milwaukee`s COnovate raises first investment round
9. UW-Green Bay: Supercharging the future by growing our own
10. Missed the Drive Thru Job Fair?
11. I-Team: Wisconsin`s worker shortage intensifies, businesses offer pay bumps and bonuses to fill jobs
12. Create Portage County using SPRINT grant to help local businesses, entrepreneurs
13. The Wisconsin Fund Coalition: Former WEDC, commerce secretaries back creation of state ‘fund of funds’
14. Workforce housing solutions making their way through Capitol
15. The CDC eviction moratorium may end. What does that mean for Wisconsin?
16. ALLETE acquires new wind development project in Wisconsin
17. Men’s homeless shelter measure fails by one vote at Madison City Council

2021 Sponsor Opportunities

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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is starting to spell out details of the next federally-funded grants to small businesses in the state. This is money was recently approved by the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress in response to ongoing economic challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evers said he`s directing up to $420 million from the American Rescue Plan go into what he`s calling the Wisconsin Tomorrow Small Business Recovery Grant Program.

Firms with annual gross revenue between $10,000 and $7 million will be eligible for $5,000 apiece. The state says about 84,0000 firms may potentially qualify.

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Ken Notes: I think the extra zero is a typo so 84K x 5K is where the 420 Million comes from. My question is how do we pay for this in the long run? At some point all this money spent on stimulus becomes a payable and the debtor is us. Just a thought...

With questions about a proposal to close six blocks of State Street on summer weekends, Madison’s Transportation Commission pushed off that decision Wednesday and asked for details on how the plan could work on just three blocks.

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Ken Notes: I love this idea! I would love it even more if 20 feet in the center of State were set aside for a rubber wheel electric drive Trolley that runs from Terrace to Terrace. Just a thought.

‘We cannot be termed ‘prison city’ anymore as we need to diversify our economic broad base’

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Ken Notes: I see the coolest Bread and Breakfast in the Midwest. Sell it to the city for $ 1.00, charge just a few bucks to stay and you will have tourists lining up to be incarcerated for a night or two. You still get to be "prison city" but with Chicago money, how cool is that!

Fetch Rewards has delivered to Madison its first unicorn — and, at least as important, lessons for how to achieve more high-growth startup companies.

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Ken Notes: Great story! I love the idea of Madison becoming a hub for companies like this.

Uncertainty around the future impact of the noise from F35 fighter jets based at Madison’s Truax Field led to the city’s Plan Commission halting a major development proposal earlier this week.

The Plan Commission on Monday reviewed a proposal to rezone property at 4000-4150 Packers Ave. and 4201 N. Sherman Ave. in order to allow construction of 124 single family homes as well as a potential mix of condominiums, apartment buildings, mixed-use buildings and commercial space called Raemisch Farm....
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Ken Notes: I hope that there is not a political agenda in this decision but I fear there is...

MADISON, WI. APRIL. 27, 2021 – A process that will help shape the future of Wisconsin’s forests and forest products industry begins with your ideas.

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Ken Notes: I cover this in far more detail in another publication, 5PNews.com. Please subscribe if you are interested in the Paper, Pulp, Printing, Packaging, and Plastic industries...

Madison’s newest housing project would offer up sweeping views of the UW Fieldhouse, become a prime location for parties before, during and after Wisconsin Badgers football games and be situated at the bustling intersection of Monroe and Regent streets amid their shopping and dining scenes.

The building is all there but it’s in the form of HotelRed.

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Ken Notes: Sad to see this for sale, I followed the development in WDN and remember the large number of delays and redesigns. Time is money and in this case it may have taken too long. I actually like the building, rooms, lobby space and the Wise restaurant and bar. I hope and believe it will become a cool new project.

Miron is currently constructing building set for June 2021 completion, adding Green Bay location to its six other locations

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Ken Notes: GREAT COMPANY, great fit and a very cool space. Any interest in hosting a busload from Madison after you open?? Titletown is an amazing development...

Cultured Decadence, a Madison startup specializing in cell-cultured seafood products such as lab-grown lobster meat, said it has closed a $1.6 million pre-seed round of funding.

The round was led by investors including Bluestein Ventures, Joyance Partners, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, gener8tor, GlassWall Syndicate, Bascom Ventures and Dao Foods, an investment holding company based in China.

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Ken Notes: This one is interesting. I want to taste it without knowing about the lab part. Does FRESH WISCONSIN LOBSTER sound weird to anyone else???

New chapter: University Research Park Creates a Sustainable Future Packed with Discovery.

The Wisconsin Idea is the notion that the benefits of the University of Wisconsin should ripple well beyond the borders of campus. If you wanted to see the Wisconsin Idea in action, you could visit University Research Park. Taking a pioneering role in solving today’s problems while constantly looking ahead to build a future filled with the promise of discovery is the signature of the University Research Park.

 The COVID-19 pandemic presented a challenge that companies and scientists in the park eagerly embraced. As the pandemic deepened, at least six private companies and two UW-Madison research labs at the west-side park swiftly pivoted to launch pandemic-related projects....
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Ken Notes: URP is, and always will be, one of my favorite entities in the state, and here is why. It partners with the community, UW, WARF, and Businesses. They support a "grow your business" philosophy. They encourage successful companies to pay back or better yet pay it forward -- and they do. They work hard to keep Wisconsin`s best and brightest in the state.

This new development will bring some missing pieces to the foot print, hotel, retail, housing, recreation space, dining, and more lab space are all part of the new business center model. OK the lab space may be unique to the UW park but how cool is that. Finally the Mandel Group has done some of the best projects in the state, the Third Ward among my favorites.

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Ken Notes: On this Earth Day let`s celebrate buildings that incorporate solar and storage in their design, and remember that these technologies are now good business. I also like the idea of campuses that include a connection with the outdoors and nature. Want to improve employee productivity, try encouraging them to take a 10 minute walk instead of a coffee break.

Vice President Kamala Harris promoted the president’s $2 trillion infrastructure proposal and toured two university research center in Milwaukee this week.

Harris highlighted Tuesday the federal funding the Biden administration plan would allocate for research and development programs aimed at clean energy and climate change solutions, as well as $100 billion that would be spent modernizing K-12 schools.

Harris’ chief spokeswoman, Symone Sanders, said that next week there “will be a number of meetings at the White House with bipartisan lawmakers trying to find common ground on the Biden and GOP Infrastructure proposals,” according to White House pool reports. Republicans have objected to the cost of the plan and say it contains too many items not directly related to infrastructure...

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Ken Notes: Just a note, I strongly support infrastructure and other programs, BUT every trillion dollars we go into debt is $3,000 for EVERY man woman and child in the US. Currently that is 28 Trillion -- soon to be 30+, or or just under $100,000 per person. This is really our children`s and grandchildren`s problem and I want to be among the first to apologize to them.

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Ken Notes: Watch the video, this project sounds very cool.

A new audit shows the performance of Wisconsin’s economic development agency is improving but still lacking.

The Legislative Audit Bureau released its biennial review of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation on Wednesday. The report says WEDC largely complied with state law in fiscal year 2019-20.

Auditors noted, however, that the agency didn’t always award tax credits for wages paid as required by law and sometimes waited more than a year to revoke tax credits for businesses that didn’t live up to their contracts...

See Also:

Audit: Wisconsin Economic Agency`s Performance Improving

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Ken Notes: Seems much better, but local ED professionals are often responsible for reporting and audits and they are not employees of WEDC or the State. In fact many are underfunded or even eliminated in local budgets.

I will suggest once again a partnership between WEDC and local communities to fund ED professionals at the local level. There is a great model for this type of program in the UW-Extension System.

A large downtown affordable apartment building and a Riverwest development that combines housing with a center for food entrepreneurs have both received preliminary financing approvals.

The 140-unit Michigan Street Commons would be built on around 7 acres bordered mainly by North Lovell, North 10th, West Michigan and West Clybourn streets.

Meanwhile, the 91-unit Riverwest apartments and food accelerator is planned for the 1100 block of East North Avenue, just west of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee`s RiverView Residence Hall...
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Ken Notes: Also cool...

A six-story, 79-unit apartment building is planned for a former tannery complex in Walker`s Point.

Construction is to begin in July on the building, developer Peter Moede Jr. said Tuesday. It will take about 14 months to complete.

The building will be the final phase of River Place Lofts, 625 W. Freshwater Way.

River Place Lofts is just west of South Sixth Street, overlooking the Menomonee River Canal, about one block north of West Virginia Street.

It features three former Pfister & Vogel Tannery buildings that were converted into apartments: the five-story, 63-unit, Beam House, completed in 2015; the six-story, 39-unit Dock House, which opened in 2018, and five-story, 28-unit Finishing House, which opened in 2019.
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WEC Energy Group’s Gale Klappa believes Foxconn Technology Group’s new, downsized contract with the state is misunderstood, saying the potential remains for major Foxconn development in Racine County beyond the next five years...

See Also:

Report: New Foxconn Deal Does Not Add Risk To State, Local Governments

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Ken Notes: Great observation, and we need to allow Foxconn to grow as it discovers exactly what it will be building in Wisconsin.

I will State for the thousandth time, We need a policy for all growing businesses to use TIF, Tax Credits, and access to our Tech and College Systems. This system should not require "deals or Agreements" especially those that are political in nature. I like 10% TIF for new brick and mortar with a signed development agreement, 2K tax credit per new employee over 50K for 10 years (20K total) - employment levels must remain above start number, and onsite access to job training programs. EVERY company is eligible!

NEENAH – Kimberly-Clark will move more than 250 positions in sales, marketing and executive management from Wisconsin to a new commercial center in Chicago, the company said Wednesday.

The move is expected to take effect in the first fiscal quarter of 2022, which begins in January.

The new Chicago facility will house the sales, retail and marketing teams for the company`s North American consumer products that include such brands as Huggies and Kleenex.

Kimberly-Clark said in an email that more than 2,500 employees will remain in Wisconsin.

See Also:

Kimberly-Clark moving 250 Fox Valley jobs to Chicago

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Ken Notes: First Texas now Chicago, I question if KC knows the value of Wisconsin, our schools systems, our quality of life, our role in a global society. Why not Madison or Milwaukee if you think the Fox Valley does not provide "access to people and partners with diverse experiences, skills and capabilities to grow our brands with world class commercial capability". We need more global players in the state not leaving it...

A friend of mine moved to Dallas in the 80`s with KC for "lower taxes" he told me, I now live in a gated community, send my kids to private school and my sail boat is 178 miles away instead of across the street.

By Tia Nelson:

My father’s environmental legacy is grounded in the past, but President Biden’s is being decided now as our future hangs in the balance. Can the President lead international action to reverse the current climate change trends? I am hopeful.

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Ken Notes: Happy Earth Day! Tia has always been one of my favorite people because she understands the balance required to move the nation forward. Let me suggest this is not a government problem it is a people problem...

Power tool manufacturer Milwaukee Tool will expand its corporate operations into downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company is expected to hire 1,200 employees within the next 3 years with an option to expand the office space by adding 150,000-square-feet, for up to an additional 790 employees.

Milwaukee Tool Expands Corporate Operations

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MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. - A new deal is now in place for one of the world`s largest technology companies. Wisconsin`s economic development leader detailed the new Foxconn contract Wednesday, April 21.

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Ken Notes: Lots of stories on this but bottom line, more in line with other contracts.

I am still worried about local investment, but so far they are paying for this. I also think Foxconn could hit a home run if their electric car or med tech programs take off. The new offer is still 57K per employee and/or more that 10% in property tax credits -- in reality the 80 million will be divided between local and state funding. We need a better way to report on this....

Eggers Division, a manufacturer of doors and countertop surfaces, is expanding in Neenah and Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The $16 million is expected to create 111 jobs over the next three years.

According to state officials, Eggers Division LLC and its parent entity, VT Industries Inc., are moving some of their business from Texas to Wisconsin, prompting the expansion in Neenah and growth in Two Rivers.

“We are actually moving an entire product line from a plant in San Antonio, Texas, to be able to move up to Two Rivers, Wisconsin,” Travis Mudloff, Senior Vice President of the Architectural Wood Door Division for VT Industries said...   ...more

Ken Notes: Great company and their doors are works of art, and the source of some of my favorite early desks (long story)...

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Ken Notes: Now if we could just get Milwaukee back open and events back on track...

The state and Foxconn Technology Group have a new agreement that`s vastly different than one previously negotiated in terms of the number of jobs, the amount of state money involved and the extent of Foxconn`s presence in Wisconsin.

But there are plenty of unanswered questions starting with what the Taiwan-based company plans to do with the massive site it controls in the Racine County Village of Mount Pleasant.

See Also:

Foxconn tax credits still a Wisconsin record, but back in line with previous awards

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Ken Notes: I know the answer and the answer is they do not know the answer. Give them time and space and let them figure this out. they need to do something and this they do know. "And now LIVE from the Globe", I wonder if they need an MC, I juggle....

SCS Engineers	Kraus-Anderson
The Gialamas Company	JSD Professional Services

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The vote of confidence in the co-working space industry continues. The latest example comes courtesy of commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE who acquired 35% interest in flexible workspace provider Industrious this week. The purchase makes CBRE Industrious’ largest shareholder. The real estate firm is expected to acquire another 5% in the flexible office space provider in the coming weeks to bring its stake up to 40%.

CBRE’s investment in Industrious is a sign the company is looking at the future of the co-working industry, rather than its present. Many companies are working from home these days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but when tenants do return to offices, they’ll likely want the lease flexibility a company like Industrious provides—at least that’s what companies like CBRE are counting on. CBRE’s recent surveys show that 86% of its occupier clients, including many of the world’s largest global corporations, plan to add flexible office space to their real estate strategies. Meanwhile 82% will lean towards buildings that offer a flexible office environment....
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Notes:

The growing popularity of Milwaukee area beer gardens is creating new locations beyond their traditional sites in parks as summer beckons — and the pandemic shows signs of retreating.

Along with providing outdoor gathering spaces for people to have fun, some of the new beer gardens will bring more life to underused sites, including a downtown Milwaukee parking lot and an empty building at Glendale`s redeveloping Bayshore mixed-use project.

Ken Notes: Interested in Craft Beer, Wine, and Spirits in Wisconsin? Check out WisCraftNews.com you can subscribe for free!

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Expanded transit connections, more economic opportunities and an affordable and reliable energy infrastructure are important concerns of business, economic development and community leaders in southeastern Wisconsin.

That’s according to some 40 attendees of a virtual presentation hosted by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, in partnership with Milwaukee 7. They were reponding to a 2021-25 draft plan presented by the Committee for Economic Development.

Officials said the future of economic development here in southeastern Wisconsin should be a regional approach. The plan represents a collaborative effort to develop a strategic plan that will diversify and strengthen the region’s economy.
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Ken Notes: Honestly why do we care? We made a deal with Foxconn based on jobs and build-out that they did not produce and therefore they did not collect. We now need to let them figure out where they are going and how can we help --- and WE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR ANY WISCONSIN COMPANY. I believe Missy Hughes gets this at least I hope she does. We also need to make sure Foxconn and other growth in the area covers the investment made by the local communities in land acquisition and infrastructure build-out.

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Ken Notes: Wow, very nice, I believe we will see a lot more upscale apartment and condo communities for the boomers now well int their 60`s and 70`s now looking for maintenance free lifestyles. Check out the website these units are pretty cool and the amenities are above and beyond.

MADISON (WKOW) -- Twenty-eight school districts in Wisconsin will receive funding to help students pursue careers in manufacturing and technical fields.

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced $635,000 in grants for the districts Wednesday to establish or expand local fabrication laboratory (fab lab) facilities.

“The fab labs program engages students in science, math, and engineering, allowing them to create and invent all sorts of things from robots to 3D models,” Evers said. “The skills learned in Wisconsin’s fab labs can help prepare our kids for their future, including good-paying jobs in technology and manufacturing, which are critically important for our state’s future and our economy.”...
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Ken Notes: We really need to explore more apprenticeships in the state. The FAB Labs are great in introducing kids to manufacturing tech but on site job training is an entirely different experience.

McShane Construction Company has been selected by repeat client Mandel Group to provide general construction services for Hackney House Apartments at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The new development will offer 302 units.

Last fall, McShane completed the construction of The West Living, a 177-unit luxury apartment community for Mandel Group in West Allis, Wisconsin...
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Ken Notes: I remain a Mandel fan....

Kraus-Anderson has completed Wild Rice Retreat, a year-round wellness retreat center that supports artistic expression in nature and nurtures individual creativity and human development.  Wild Rice Retreat is located on the shores of Lake Superior just outside Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Developed by Heidi Zimmer of Superior Living Arts, LLC and designed by Duluth-based Salmela Architects, the project integrates the new clustered villages into a 114-acre natural environment.

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Ken Notes: This is very cool. Imagine if Wisconsin had hundreds of these retreats like this across the State... Like motels for the mind...

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Ken Notes: This one may be even cooler... The slide show is a must see...

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Ken Notes: If your community is not working with Mary Gage, WEDC’s Vice President of Business and Community Development, you are missing out on a lot of great opportunities....

FOND DU LAC - Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation recently recognized Fond du Lac County businesses in the 30th Wisconsin Main Street Awards for revitalization, COVID-19 response and exemplary service.

Downtown Ripon took home two awards in the virtual ceremony held April 21: Best Volunteer Engagement and Best Historic Restoration.

Best Volunteer Engagement went to Rotary Square Beautification Project, for which volunteers raised funds and helped lay pavers, assemble pergola shades and install string lights in the 100 block of Watson Street, according to the Ripon Rotary Club Facebook page.

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The third tallest building in Madison; that’s what JLA Architects is calling a newly proposed building near Alliant Energy Center.

It’s a privately funded $40 million project that would stand 18 stories high, along Olin Ave. to John Nolan Drive. If the project does go through, it means the Wonder Bar Steakhouse and the Coliseum Bar would be torn down, leaving one employee of the 92-year-old building upset...
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OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN – Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation announces the addition of Teresa Martinez to the Greater Oshkosh team. Taking on the new role of Accounting Clerk & Workforce Development Coordinator, Teresa will provide accounting, analysis, and clerical expertise and take the helm on Workforce Development initiatives. Teresa will assist in coordinating the Winnebago Catch-A-Ride (WCAR) program, which provides access to reliable transportation for individuals facing this barrier to employment throughout Winnebago County...
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Ken Notes: I hope I got the right photo...

An existing industrial building in the city of Pewaukee will soon become an Amazon warehouse and distribution center that is expected to create more than 130 jobs. The common council approved the project on Monday.

The empty building at W232 N2950 Roundy Circle East sits on 16.5 acres and is 165,000 square feet. According to city documents, the estimated project cost is roughly $13 million.

Kyle DeGiulio, an Amazon manager of economic development policy, wrote to the plan commission April 9 to say the building would support the company`s same-day delivery program network....

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Two Wisconsin-based companies recently announced that they`ve raised private investment dollars after previously receiving federal and state grant funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

OnLume Inc., a Madison-based medical device company that has developed a fluorescence-guided surgery imaging system, announced on April 30 that it has raised more than $7 million in series A funding to assist plans for its commercial launch. The financing round was led by Las Vegas-based Cambridge Investment Group.

COnovate Inc., a Milwaukee-based startup that’s developing a patented 2-D material to add battery capacity and charging speed to lithium-ion batteries, announced Monday that it completed its initial fundraising round led by Green Bay-based Tundra Angels...

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Ken Notes: Nice to see needed startup and development funds now moving in the State.

GREEN BAY—There comes a time when you just need to grow your own. Such is the case with providing engineering talent in Northeast Wisconsin and UW-Green Bay’s efforts to meet the region’s needs. What started in 2015 with Engineering Technology degrees (mechanical, electrical and environmental) expanded to Mechanical Engineering in fall 2018. This fall, another piece of the puzzle falls into place when the University begins enrolling new freshman into its new Electrical Engineering program.

“UW-Green Bay is meeting the demand for engineers due to the manufacturing growth in the Green Bay area and the NEW North region,” said UW-Green Bay’s Dean of Science, Engineering and Technology, John Katers. “As the economy continues to shift toward one of innovation and technology—even in historically important manufacturing sectors like the paper industry—electrical engineers are in high demand. Because we have such a strong employer base in the area who can offer internships and other hands-on experiences, we can grow that kind of talent right here. It’s very exciting to be able to meet this demand.”...   ...more

Ken Notes: I have ALWAYS supported growing our own, and love the success stories from Wisconsin, like EPIC, Exact Science, Kohls, Kohler, Menards, Kwik Trip, Oshkosh... You get the idea...

Two Wisconsin legislators say Governor Tony Evers’ export expansion proposal doesn’t go far enough.  State Senator Joan Ballweg says, “We know that Wisconsin ranks first in exports for things like ginseng roots, prepared and preserved cranberries, raw fur skins, and bovine semen, yet these industries are excluded from the Governor’s proposal in his current budget.”

State Representative Tony Kurtz agrees.  “Over 104 billion dollars we produce, but yet we only export roughly, you know, about 3.5 billion dollars.”

Ballweg and Kurtz introduced their agriculture and agribusiness comprehensive export program Monday, which would require the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to create a plan and achieve export objectives by June 30^th, 2026...

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Ken Notes: Good ideas but I think the privates sector has a better chance here and the real hurdles are at the federal level. DATCP and WEDC can help but we need a delegation at at national and global levels to make a dent...

After years working in public schools, Garth Larson had seen enough.

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduate, who’d been both a teacher and administrator in schools around the Fox Valley, had time and again used time and resources on professional development opportunities that, to him, didn’t pay off.

One day around 2008, Larson was on his way back from a conference in southern Wisconsin and told his wife—fellow UW Oshkosh grad Tammy (Potter) Larson—”I think we can do better.”

The next year the two would launch what’s now known as First Educational Resources, a company designed to support educators and improve upon the types of experienced Garth was finding at conferences, workshops and other endeavors...
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Broihahn Management & Consulting	Keller	Engineered Construction
Coalesce Marketing	Miron Construction	Findorff
Artis REIT

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Notes:

GREEN BAY - Efforts to address homelessness and develop affordable housing in Wisconsin are getting a nearly $90 million boost from the American Rescue Plan.

Wisconsin cities, counties and regional consortiums received a total of $89.9 million of grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create affordable housing and provide services for people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless....
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Ken Notes: We need to rethink what an affordable home actually is. Now we do not build affordable housing we build subsidized housing and it is not the same thing, subsidized housing creates a dependency, makes it very difficult to leave, and cost us way too much...

MADISON, WI. APRIL 1, 2021 – The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), in consultation with the state Department of Health Services, is offering help to employers and business owners to talk with their employees about the COVID-19 vaccines and encourage as many as possible to get the vaccination.

“Employer support is key to getting Wisconsin’s workforce protected from COVID-19,” said Missy Hughes, WEDC secretary and CEO. “Getting immunized not only helps protect the employees but also their families, customers and communities. It’s what we need to do to build our state’s economy back stronger than ever.”

WEDC suggests employers can encourage employees to get the vaccine by:

• Telling employees where and when they can get vaccinated and how to make an appointment
  
  
• Organizing a workplace vaccination clinic (communicate with your local health department or find out more here)
  
  
• Providing paid leave for employees seeking vaccination from a medical provider or community vaccination site
  
  
• Eliminating transportation barriers by reimbursing travel costs such as bus or cab fare to a vaccination site
  
  
• Providing paid sick leave for employees who develop side effects from the vaccine

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All of the flyers from the employers that participated in the May 5, 2021 Drive Thru Job Fair can be found at the link...

Advanced Assembly (PDF)
Agrace (PDF)
Amazon (PDF)
Americollect (PDF)
Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation (PDF)
Arby`s (PDF)
Argus (PDF)
Associated Bank (PDF)...

Each is a one page PDF with actual info needed to apply.
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Ken Notes: Please note there are dozens more at the link... These are great tool for use in the classroom, have students pick a job and then research the qualifications, benefits, and opportunities. Share this with an educator..

The State should maintain a permanent site exactly like this with a link (pdf) for every company in the State with the ability to sort by career path, location, and skill sets...

Madison, WI – The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) is helping professionals in the retail food industry develop elite leadership skills through a special certificate program offered by the Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional & Executive Development, an affiliate of the Wisconsin School of Business.

Taught by top-ranked faculty, industry experts, and peers, the IDDBA Leadership Certificate will cover such topics as:
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A Virtual Job Fair is set for Friday, May 14, 2021 from 10 a.m.-noon. Job-seekers can meet virtually with multiple local businesses in a variety of industries. As of April 22, 41 area employers have registered to participate from a variety of different industries in the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB) area, which includes the counties of Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland and Rock, as well as neighboring counties. Additionally, schools have been invited from Rock and Green county for employers to highlight Youth Apprenticeship, full-time, part-time and seasonal opportunities.

Participating job seekers can talk with employers in real time, explore job vacancies, and submit their résumé...

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Ken Notes: This may be a great idea for both communities and companies.

Affordable housing development efforts in Milwaukee need more money, according to a Wisconsin Policy Forum report released this week amid an ongoing push to meet that need.

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"We`re hiring" signs and are not hard to find in Southeast Wisconsin. What appears to be hard to find are people to apply.

"You thought `Oh pandemic, lots of unemployment, I`ll be able to able to find a lot of workers, but that`s not the reality our businesses are seeing," said Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO Melissa "Missy" Hughes.

Hughes says the pandemic put a magnifying glass on obstacles families face in getting back to work.

"If part of our family`s ability to go to school or have their needs met is hindered then that impacts the family member and their ability to get to work," she explained.

Hughes says a lack of childcare, health issues, or not having access to reliable high-speed internet are all playing a role in Wisconsin`s worker shortage, which has been an issue for years....

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Ken Notes: This will be especially difficult for tourism and hospitality which must have a great season coming out of the pandemic.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway calls the plan “Housing Forward.” It is a sweeping framework that aims to address the short-term goal of housing insecurity and the lingering issue of housing shortages across the city.

Matthew Wachter, Madison’s Director of Planning, Community and Economic Development, said the plan builds on extensive research on the city’s housing issues.

“In the last seven years, the city of Madison has written seven different housing reports that look at different parts of the housing market…if you add all of those reports together, it’s 1,000 pages, it’s hundreds of recommendations, so what Housing Forward does is it goes through all of those and pulls out the ideas that rose to the top,” Wachter said....
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More financial support is needed to develop additional affordable housing units in metro Milwaukee, according to a new report.

Wisconsin Policy Forum released a report Wednesday taking stock of housing affordability challenges in the city, where more than half of renter households spend at least 30% of their income on rent.

Based on a survey of dozens of nonprofit organizations and private developers whose work involves affordable housing development or housing services, WPF said increased affordable housing development was named as the strategy most in need of increased financial support. More than half (54%) of the 61 housing leaders surveyed said it was the top priority to address the housing affordability gap
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OrthoIllinois withdrew its application to build an ASC (Ambulatory surgery center) in Beloit, Wis., after a months long controversy over planning and zoning, the Beloit Daily News reported April 12. 

The controversy began in October, when Rockford-based OrthoIllinois submitted a proposal for a conditional use permit to build a 25,605-square-foot ASC. 

The proposal was met with criticism by Beloit Health System, which said the ASC could harm the level of care the system offers, according to Beloit Daily News.

The Beloit Plan Commission denied OrthoIllinois` conditional use permit on Nov. 18 in a 3-3 vote. OrthoIllinois resubmitted plans for the ASC Dec. 9, claiming the city made a mistake in considering the ASC`s zoning use....

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Ken Notes: These are a very tough call, nice new development but it take the profitable part of your local hospital away while leaving their responsibility for emergency and no insurance health care both which lose money. A community needs to address it`s total care needs when allowing new development. If we are wondering why Health Care is so expensive we need to address these issues.

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) - After being awarded the Scaling Pandemic Resilience Through Innovation and Technology, or SPRINT grant by the Economic Development Administration, Create Portage County is turning its attention to north-central Wisconsin. The goal of the SPRINT grant is to create entrepreneurial services like Create Portage County in 10 Wisconsin counties.

“What this grant allows us to do is to provide support for other communities in the area that’s doing similar work to what we’ve been doing in Portage County,” Create Portage County Executive Director Greg Wright said...

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Developer Irgens overcame several challenges to complete the BMO Tower in downtown Milwaukee, the Business Journal`s Project of the Year for the 2021 Real Estate Awards. Find out more about the high-profile development that one of the newest addition to the city`s skyline...

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Wauwatosa officials advanced two developments that would add up to 769 more apartments to its already active housing market...

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Keller, Inc. has been chosen as the general contractor on a 5,000 square foot office build-out project for Fond du Lac County Land & Water Conservation located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Keller, Inc. is an award winning, single-source, design/build general contractor headquartered in Kaukauna, WI, with additional offices in Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau.  As 100% employee-owned, they are leaders in the construction industry specializing in new construction, remodel, retrofit, and reroof projects. They have the staff and expertise to take projects from the early phases of design through the construction process to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget...
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Stay up to date by reading our MadREP Report, a bi-monthly newsletter that features regional economic development news, events and opportunities.

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The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority has approved housing tax credits for projects in Ashland and Hayward.

According to grant information released on Tuesday, Commonwealth Development Corporation will receive $1,124,292 in state tax credits and $452,999 in federal tax credits for Superior View Cottages in Ashland. The new construction project includes 50 housing units.

Meanwhile, the Lac Courte Oreilles Housing Authority will receive $699,418 in federal tax credits to acquire and rehabilitate 24 housing units.
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Between 2010 and 2020, the Madison Region has seen a 76.4% increase in Computer Systems Design and Related Services (NAICS 54151) jobs, a category that includes video game development. That number is even more startling when compared against a 50% increase throughout the United States. (Emsi)

Wisconsin has a relatively low cost of doing business when compared to other states currently dominating the game development landscape. Business owners looking to relocate or establish new or satellite offices find Wisconsin to be an affordable option. The low cost of living/doing business, access to talent, the existing industry network and the high quality of life come together to make Wisconsin a viable option...
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Drexel Building Supply Inc. will create 50 jobs with an $11 million New Berlin development that will add a lumber yard to its existing Waukesha County operations.
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MADISON – Help make Wisconsin’s downtowns vibrant and dynamic places to live, work and do business by submitting your best idea to the Wisconsin Main Street Downtown Pitch Contest. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. will award $10,000 to bring the winning idea to life.

“Small businesses anchor our downtowns,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC, in a news release. “These businesses and their owners and employees draw neighbors downtown and create the energy and vitality of downtown districts throughout the state.”...

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Ken Notes: Strong potential here, I hope we can keep politics out of the mix, but here I am skeptical...

	Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority	nwrpc.com momentumwest.org 7riversalliance.org driftlessdevelopment.com grownorth.org prosperitysouthwest.com centergy.net madisonregion.org thenewnorth.com mke7.com
PropertyDrive.com	CirexNews.com	www.weda.org	DOA
Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Directory		Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

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The Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Green Bay aspire to offer a wide array of services, resources and expertise designed to help lead both budding and experienced entrepreneurs on the road to sustainable success.

Through this unique collaboration between the SCEDC and the SBDC, the Wisconsin Restaurant Initiative (WRI) has stepped to the forefront in aiding restaurant owners, many of which have been dealing with numerous challenges over the past year related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spearheaded by Southwest Wisconsin SBDC Business Consultant Jason Schleip, the Wisconsin Restaurant Initiative initially formed in December 2019 to address the specialized needs of the state’s restaurant industry...
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Ken Notes: I said last week KC should look at Milwaukee or Madison for more "urban" opportunities. Have they seen the new plans of the URP???

MADISON, WI. APRIL 28, 2021 – The City of Green Lake is receiving a $250,000 state grant to help renovate and reopen the Heidel House Hotel and Resort located in Green Lake.

The Community Development Investment (CDI) Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) will support substantial redevelopment of the interior buildings to reopen the hotel and resort, which has been closed since May 2019.

“A vibrant downtown is crucial to a city’s overall economic health and its quality of life, which is why one of WEDC’s top priorities is to support communities throughout the state as they invest in improving their business districts,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC. “This project will not only bring new jobs to the city but will also bring more visitors to enjoy the many amenities Green Lake has to offer.”...

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Ken Notes: Now is a great time to update your key projects...

In the first step of a multiyear investment on Madison’s south side, a proposal for a new parking garage that would serve the Village on Park and a future Black business hub gained support from the city’s Finance Committee Monday.   

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and area Alds. Sheri Carter, District 14; and Tag Evers, District 13, are proposing to change the project plan for a nearby Tax Incremental Financing district that would transfer $9.1 million to build a parking structure to serve the Village on Park at 2300 S. Park St....
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Both sides of Wisconsin’s political aisle are circulating legislation to increase affordable housing as a way to tackle workforce issues.

Statewide housing supply is at historic lows. Median home prices continue to rise and apartment rent increases are outpacing wage growth. The situation is spurring possible fixes from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and GOP lawmakers.

Median home prices surged in March as housing supply continues to shrink compared to last year, according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association’s most recent monthly analysis. Total listings of homes for sale fell about 37% over the last year, pushing median prices up over 10% to nearly $230,000 over that same period...
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Ken Notes: We just do not get this. Until a developer can make money build 100K homes we will not get 100K homes and people who can afford and need 100K homes are out of luck. We are happy to let them "check us out" or serve us dinner, but live next to us - no way. WHY????

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A federal judge on Wednesday tossed out the federal eviction moratorium, making it easier for landlords to kick out tenants behind in rent. Here are some things you should know.

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EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - Many restaurants and hotels are eager to welcome back customers and clients, but it`s hard to fully reopen when you`re not fully staffed.

Sheila Arredondo, owner of Silly Serrano in Eau Claire, has been looking to hire another cook and cashier for months.

"It just blows my mind how I can put out an ad and it can be weeks or months before somebody even applies for the position," Arredondo said...
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152 apartments, from studio to 3-bedroom units, available; 7-story building to open late fall 2021

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Ken Notes: Now that`s a lifestyle!

ALLETE Clean Energy has acquired the Red Barn wind project and signed an asset sales agreement with WEC Energy Group utility Wisconsin Public Service Corp. (WPS) and Madison Gas and Electric Co. (MGE).

WPS and MGE have applied to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to purchase the completed wind site from ALLETE Clean Energy to meet their future energy planning needs. ALLETE Clean Energy plans to complete construction and sale of the Red Barn wind project in late 2022, the wholly owned subsidiary of ALLETE, Inc. said in a news release.
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Ken Notes:We need to rethink this entire topic. We need to build Community Centers for everyone with access to Mail, Internet, Work Space, Health Care and Mental Health, Showers, Laundry, Exercise Equipment, Food... For housing we need to think micro, or co-housing, with some ownership component and self management. Imagine if every neighborhood had one...

Wisconsin is dotted with Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. During his decades-long career, the famed architect designed structures ranging from the Monona Terrace to the Robert Lamp House — a single family home on North Butler Street.

Now, one of Wright’s lesser-known buildings is getting a boost from the state of Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is awarding more than $90,000 in grant funding to help restore and update the Wyoming Valley School near Spring Green. Wyoming Valley, built in the late 1950s, is the only elementary school Wright ever designed.

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Ken Notes: WDNews relies on the actual journalism provided by your local media outlets. Without these partners we can not bring you the unbiased news, leads and updates you need to thrive in Wisconsin. Support your local media...

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Ken Notes: Tom Daykin is the source for ED news in MKE. This is a permanent link to articles in his blog which is updated daily...

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