While business growth continued in 2019 in southeastern Wisconsin, Pleasant Prairie seemed to reap a good portion of it.
Ken Harwood
Advocating for Wisconsin
Ken [at] KenHarwood.com
608.334.2174
Ken [at] KenHarwood.com
608.334.2174
This Weeks Articles...
Wisconsin`s rural manufacturers don`t have enough affordable and current housing. Here`s how a new bill aims to change that.
Foxconn Promised Wisconsin `Innovation Centers,` But Hasn`t Yet Delivered
TIF Legislation Could Stymie Development Momentum
Why Madison, Wisconsin is a Model for the Next Great Tech Hubs
Reich Brothers and Rabin Worldwide Spearhead Development of OM Station on Former Oscar Mayer Site
Wisconsin student entries welcome 2020 Governor’s Business Plan Contest
Milwaukee Tool to expand Wisconsin footprint with investment in Menomonee Falls campus
Massive Wisconsin mansion near Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers` home up for auction without reserve
Eppstein Uhen principal and shareholder John “Chris” Gallagher dies
Madison nonprofits awarded more than $600,000 in grants
OPINION: Wisconsin needs another Dane County — and Milwaukee`s research institutions can help
Wisconsin ranks among best states for start-up businesses
Whole Foods to relocate to larger space at proposed Madison Yards
Johnson Leaving OCEDC To Head State Region
Millions paid to advisers on Foxconn project
Village to break ground on three developments
Wisconsin startups are surviving
Famous Chinese New Year Gift, Wisconsin Ginseng, Now Available at Costco
Central Standard Craft Distillery will move Downtown with new tasting room
Klarbrunn`s Wisconsin-only flavor raises nearly $25K for Badgers Give Back
...moreFoxconn Promised Wisconsin `Innovation Centers,` But Hasn`t Yet Delivered
TIF Legislation Could Stymie Development Momentum
Why Madison, Wisconsin is a Model for the Next Great Tech Hubs
Reich Brothers and Rabin Worldwide Spearhead Development of OM Station on Former Oscar Mayer Site
Wisconsin student entries welcome 2020 Governor’s Business Plan Contest
Milwaukee Tool to expand Wisconsin footprint with investment in Menomonee Falls campus
Massive Wisconsin mansion near Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers` home up for auction without reserve
Eppstein Uhen principal and shareholder John “Chris” Gallagher dies
Madison nonprofits awarded more than $600,000 in grants
OPINION: Wisconsin needs another Dane County — and Milwaukee`s research institutions can help
Wisconsin ranks among best states for start-up businesses
Whole Foods to relocate to larger space at proposed Madison Yards
Johnson Leaving OCEDC To Head State Region
Millions paid to advisers on Foxconn project
Village to break ground on three developments
Wisconsin startups are surviving
Famous Chinese New Year Gift, Wisconsin Ginseng, Now Available at Costco
Central Standard Craft Distillery will move Downtown with new tasting room
Klarbrunn`s Wisconsin-only flavor raises nearly $25K for Badgers Give Back
Notes:
Ken Notes: I used to publish MadisonNotes.com but did not have time to market it effectively. If there is a student looking for a side income or marketing firm that wants to promote events like this I would love to talk. The publication was very well received and two years later I still get what happened emails...
A Nine Dragons Paper subsidiary’s planned $189 million investment in a Biron paper mill ranked as the No. 1 economic development project for this year in the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.’s annual list...
1. ND Paper Inc.
2. Nouryon Pulp and Performance Chemicals LLC
3. Catalent Pharma Solutions LLC
4. Matalco Wisconsin LLC
5. Nexus Pharmaceuticals Inc
6. Sub-Zero Group Inc.
7. Badger Solutions LLC 8. CSL Centro Sperimentale del Latte USA Inc.
9. Eurofins Food Chemistry Testing US Inc.
10. Salm Partners LLC
11. City of Stevens Point
12. American Builders & Contractors Supply Co. Inc.
13. Deere & Co.
14. Faith Technologies Inc.
15. Menard Inc.
Similar Report:
...more
Ken Notes:Great list and details! I noticed they did not include the TIF portion of project investment, this is OK because it is not State dollars or WEDC dollars, but is obviously a substantial part of the "Deal". I would love to see this included as a reference with a note about any development agreements guaranteeing value. A missing part of the state statutes on TIF laws in my opinion (i.e. no requirement for development agreement)...
Thumbs up for tracking and sharing this data, it truly is a new day at WEDC...
Local startup experts share what’s next.
We (Madison Magazine) caught up with some local startup experts to find out what’s ahead for 2020 in the startup community.
Tom Still
President, Wisconsin Technology Council
...The support system for entrepreneurs is stronger than it has ever been...
Joe Kirgues
Co-founder, gener8tor
...(we) urge others to join gener8tor as a mentor to support the amazing entrepreneurship initiatives emerging throughout the community...
Sabrina Madison
Founder, The Progress Center for Black Women
...Get out of your comfort zone and support entrepreneurial ventures that are unlike your own...
Jasmine Timmons
Madison director of operations, Doyenne
...Anyone can get involved and become part of the ecosystem...
SEE ALSO:
Milwaukee Regional Innovation Center angel fund invested $40,000 into startups
Ken Notes: Great article... a must read. If you are a Madisonioan consider a subscription, we need more good journalism!
Ken Notes: Most fun I have ever had in the studio, give this on a listen!
12-28-19 – Development Matters – Hour 1
Ken Harwood is joined in studio by OBJ, AKA Old Black Joe, AKA Guy Fields for a fun blues driven Development Matters. Development Matter with host Ken Harwood airs live Saturdays from 10 AM to Noon.
12-28-19 – Development Matters – Hour 2
Ken
Harwood is joined in studio by OBJ, AKA Old Black Joe, AKA Guy Fields
for a fun blues driven Development Matters. Development Matter with host
Ken Harwood airs live Saturdays from 10 AM to Noon. ...moreKen Notes: If you would like to be a guest on an upcoming show call me at 608.334.2174 or use LinkedIn to send me a message...
MARINETTE - Rural manufacturers` ability to attract and retain workers is hindered by a lack of affordable and current housing. A bill up for vote in the Wisconsin Assembly aims to alleviate this housing gap.
The housing challenge in rural Wisconsin is steep. In the city of Marinette for example, more than one in three housing units were built in 1939 or earlier, according to a 2017-18 housing study by Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission. Only 4% of the city`s housing was built in 2000 or later.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine employs nearly 1,400 people and over 500 contract workers in its Marinette shipyard, and some employees find "affordable housing is either unavailable or with a common problem of a one-hour commute time," the city`s mayor, Steve Genisot, wrote in an October 2019 letter to Rep. John Nygren, a Marinette Republican....
See Ken`s comments!
Development Matters Radio Show Website
...moreKen Notes: This is even more of a problem in our cities. Imaging being a cook or retail clerk in Madison. There is nothing you can afford in the city or even close. I am not sure mandates are the answer but we must sit down with builders, developers, and planners NOW and figure this out!
Brad Boycks, the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Builders Association was on my radio show over the weekend and he had some great ides, if you only have a few minutes listen to his 4Q2020 segment. His organization clearly recognizes the problems and has great ideas. If I were a Governor or legislative leader I might give him and others a call...
Two years ago, former Gov. Scott Walker stood in a crowded office tower in downtown Milwaukee about 30 miles north of Foxconn`s planned manufacturing plant.
Seven months earlier the company announced it would build a 22-million-square-foot facility in Mount Pleasant in exchange for one of the largest tax incentive deals ever made between a state and private company. Those plans have since changed. Foxconn is currently building a nearly 1 million-square-foot manufacturing building in Mount Pleasant that is expected to be open later this year or in early 2021.
The company and the state are currently renegotiating their contract to reflect the changes...
See Also:
Foxconn cancels plans for $5 billion investments in India
...moreKen Notes: The keyword is, "Yet". The time line has clearly changed and Foxconn is still looking for it`s direction. The Globe project is a major commitment and "in the dirt" here is good news for Wisconsin. Also the aerial views in the globe article are worth sharing.
They have recently cancelled huge plans in Aisa lets not force them out of Wisconsin just yet. Also note they did pay their property taxes...
“Founded in 1976 by George and Candy Gialamas, The Gialamas Company specializes in Class A Commercial Real Estate. Old Sauk Trails Park, is one of the most prestigious business parks in Wisconsin; containing numerous office buildings supplemented by restaurants, hotels, financial institutions, a childcare facility and a walking/jogging trail system....
...more
...A sponsor of Wisconsin Development News
The year saw the village involved in numerous, high-profile projects as it continued to develop land along I-94.
Leading the pack was the announcement that two pharmaceutical companies — Nexus Pharmaceuticals and Fresenius Kabi — planned to open facilities in the village...
Ken Notes: Pleasant Prairie is aggressive in attracting new and maintaining old businesses. The State could learn much by working with them, seeing how they market south of the border, how they built their business parks, attracted great retailers, and have landed dozens of iconic nationally known companies, work with Marquette University, established distribution centers, created vertical market niches...
2019 was another banner year for Economic Development in Sun Prairie. As always, it was again a unique year that brought a wide diversity of fast-paced economic activity that has become synonymous with Sun Prairie.
Some of the top 2019 highlights were:...
10. Main Street and Grand Avenue Development Moving Forward
9. City Participates in Joint Marketing of Opportunity Zones
8. City Acquires Downtown Properties
7. Royle Printing and Palmer Johnson Expand in the Sun Prairie Business Park
6. Downtown Redevelopment Plan Completed
5. City Approves Purchase Agreement with Developer for Schneider Property
4. Park 151 Development Accelerates
3. MacDon Opens New R&D Facility in the Sun Prairie Business Park
2. Imperial Blades Acquired by Milwaukee Tool
1. Continental Mapping Opens in QBE Building
Ken Notes: WisconsinDevelopment has completed a $100,000 dollar study of economic development in Wisconsin and has concluded that the key to success is to include Prairie in the community name. Legislation is now in the works for Mad Prairie, Milwaukee Prairie, Wausau Prairie, and more... Green Prairie was withdrawn because none of the other Prairies made the playoffs...
The remake of East Washington Avenue into a housing, commercial, and food and entertainment destination continues, with the latest offering closer to Capitol Square.
LZ Ventures is proposing to demolish a series of buildings on the 400 block of East Washington Avenue plus three houses on North Hancock and North Franklin streets for a 10-story apartment building with 160 units, commercial space and underground parking, preliminary documents submitted to the city show.
The proposed building would rise to 10 stories facing East Washington Avenue and drop to eight stories at the rear of the site, the back side appearing as two towers connected by a one-story structure, the documents show. The ground and first floors would provide a total 4,112 square feet of commercial space with a rooftop deck atop the first floor at the rear of the building, and a community room, swimming pool and game room on the ninth floor...
Since November alone:
- Brink has offered a five-story building as the next phase of his massive Archipelago Village that
already includes the 144-room Hotel Indigo. Plans for a glassy,
11-story mixed-use tower have already been approved, and he is pursuing
plans for a 10-story housing tower, all across the street from Breese
Stevens Field on the 900 block.
- The Salvation Army won approval for a $25 million redevelopment to create an expanded homeless shelter and low-cost housing on the 600 block.
- The North Central Group unveiled plans for a six- to nine-story, millennial-focused hotel at 825 E. Washington Ave. ...
Ken Notes: This is an amazing corridor and the development is spectacular, my question is haw can we balance this growth with housing that is more affordable for the service and retail workers in the community. I am not suggesting we keep the multi-flat units currently on this sight because we will need the density this project provides, I would like to see some smaller units with shared amenities in some of these projects. What if we had some 250 to 350 sq. ft. units with some shared common spaces in the new apartment complexes we are building. We have models for this in student housing, we need to replicate this for the private sector...
The state of Wisconsin continues to capture significant investment from global business leaders. Economic wins in the past 12 months alone include companies such as Milwaukee Electric Tool, Oshkosh Corporation and Leonardo DRS. All have committed to constructing and occupying significant new corporate headquarter facilities in Wisconsin. By themselves, it is estimated these three developments will create or retain over 2,500 jobs and add $75 million in local assessed property value. And what is turning out to be the economic success story of southeast Wisconsin, Milwaukee Electric Tool just announced another massive campus in Menomonee Falls that could produce an additional 770 jobs in the area. We are experiencing a generational wave of long-term corporate investment throughout the state...
...A bipartisan coalition of legislators have proposed a change in TIF law known as SB 560. Supporters of the bill are looking to fundamentally change the way that local communities utilize TIF. Specific areas that would be changed through the legislation include restrictions on up-front cash grants that communities can provide and the need for unanimous consent amongst local TIF boards to amend territory and financing timelines for existing districts.
The impacts of this legislation could be chilling on corporate site selection...Ken Notes: Here are the details on 560:
Ken Notes: I am not sure this is so bad. TIF is our only powerful development tool and substantially weakening it could slow down some projects BUT this legislation seems more geared to getting paid back which is a must when working with a company and 20% is a huge amount for participation by a company most would be more than happy with that. I always tried to limit the amount that any company would get at 10% which left a little to help the infrastructure and other companies in the district. Finally the unanimous vote only gives schools, tech and the county a little bit more say in length and investment issues...
SCS - At the forefront of sustainable environmental solutions for over 40 years and ...A sponsor of Wisconsin Development News
Years from now, 2019 may be remembered as a significant year for the Milwaukee area, that set the stage for even bigger things in 2020.
As this year comes to a close, I am continuing my annual tradition of providing a list of my picks for the biggest southeastern Wisconsin business stories of the year (you can also check out my lists for 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015).
20. Milwaukee becomes a cruise ship destination
19. Alpine Valley bounces back
18. Redevelopment plans unveiled for Bayshore
17. Soldiers Home project begins
16. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel changes
15. Hotel development boom
14. Medical College, Greater Milwaukee Foundation to redevelop King Drive building
13. MSOE opens new comp sci building, completes renovations to innovation and technology center
12. Astronautics leaving central city for suburbs
11. Huge year for the Bucks, Giannis and Fiserv Forum10. Iconic Milwaukee business leaders pass away
9. Uline plans another big expansion
8. Quad’s big deal dies, company selling off two division
7. Molson Coors to move hundreds of jobs to Milwaukees
6. Fiserv acquires First Data
5. American Family making big moves in Milwaukee
4. Milwaukee Tool to build massive Menomonee Falls campus
3. Strauss Brands plans to move to Century City collapse
2. Foxconn project progresses, but state says it’s not eligible for incentives
1. Milwaukee picked to host 2020 Democratic National Convention
Ken Notes:One to share and bookmark for future reference...
An influx of new residents and redevelopment are waking up the sleepiest section of Downtown.
Long plagued by vacant storefronts and the drawn-out demise of a once-vibrant shopping center, the heart of West Wisconsin Avenue in Downtown Milwaukee is poised for a revival.
Not long ago, the city’s Westown section was so pocked with prominent empty spaces that former police chief Edward Flynn once proposed moving the 1st District police station there just to fill the void. Now, an array of projects is breathing life into the neighborhood.
Transformation, however, doesn’t necessarily equate to hot and trendy. Local real estate and development experts say Westown has to carve out its own identity, and it doesn’t have to be like the bustling reinventions of the Third Ward or Walker’s Point to be a success.
SEE ALSO:
Opening date set for Wahlburgers in Milwaukee`s 3rd Ward
Ken Notes: Milwaukee is booming with some great projects. My guest last week on Development Matters was Pat Kressin with Graef, great show, Listen to his answers to 4Q2020 Here...
In short:
Madison, Wisconsin is one of many non-traditional tech hubs that deserves attention from companies who are looking to establish new offices.
Software company Zendesk established an outpost there a few years ago, after deciding to prioritize its employee’s existing connections and ties to the city.
Zendesk’s success--and the proven potential for companies to both thrive in and grow non-traditional tech cities--should motivate companies to consider cities like Madison.
Do we really need to set our sights on traditional tech hubs anymore? Some companies are betting that we don’t.
...moreA few years ago, when software company Zendesk
was contemplating building its second HQ, it considered Austin and
other buzzy tech scenes, as any company would. But ultimately, it chose
to create a hub in Madison, Wisconsin...
Ken Notes: Madison is well on it`s way and we can help. We need a streamlined process for development approval, a well prepared support and service employee base, great places to live at every income level, and more networking opportunities. Companies like EPIC, Raven, Zendesk and Forte need to host events for other smaller companies to attend, demonstrating Madison is where you come to grow!!! Interesting angle on the photo, I thought they shopped out the terrace but this is down King Street...
Madison Office Lifestyle Portfolio is a portfolio of 16, Class A amenity-rich office properties ranging from 14,000 square feet to over 300,000 square feet in size, and is home to over 130 tenants.
...more
The state of Wisconsin is paying $4B in incentives to Foxconn, but what it is getting in return has changed considerably.
The Chinese electronics manufacturer will no longer be manufacturing large liquid-crystal display panels at the complex it is building in southern Wisconsin, Reuters reports. Foxconn CEO Terry Gou`s special assistant Louis Woo told Reuters that most of the 20M SF facility — promised to cost $10B — would be devoted to research labs and specialty product assembly.
"We`re not building a factory," Woo told Reuters, labeling Foxconn`s current plan as a technology hub...
See Also:
Foxconn pays village $8.397 million
...moreKen Notes:The fact is that at this time Foxconn does not know exactly what it will be building in Wisconsin, if anything. The focus is now on finding a product niche with a profit margin to sustain a large Wisconsin plant. They thought it was screen tech but the bottom fell out of the market. So now the investment is on research with the thinking that if the find the right product Wisconsin will still be a player. They did pay their local tax bill which is a very good thing!!! Also the State payments are STILL predicated on job creation so no jobs, no billions in income tax credits.
MOUNT PLEASANT, on the other hand, has already made an investment and is on the hook if Foxconn walks - they get repaid in property taxes over the next several years...
ROCKFORD — Amazon plans to hire 500 full-time employees to staff its massive distribution center just over the Wisconsin border in Beloit, the company said Monday.The 1 million-square-foot facility is under construction on an 80-acre site in Beloit’s Gateway Business Park, less than 20 miles from Rockford. It is expected to open late in the third quarter of 2020 or early in the fourth quarter, according to the Rock County Development Alliance.
Employees will package and ship small items, such as electronics and books, alongside Amazon robots. The facility will offer $15 an hour minimum wage, along with health benefits and a 401(k) plan, according to the Beloit Daily News...
...more
A $100 million project that includes housing, retail and restaurants would replace one of Madison’s oldest shopping centers — the largely shuttered Westgate Mall on the West Side — if plans are realized.JT Klein Co., a Madison development company that since 2014 has overseen $60 million worth of housing projects, is under contract with Hy-Vee to purchase the 9 acres that hold Westgate Mall. The proposal, which does not include the grocery store site, would demolish the mall that was constructed in 1960 and bring new life to the property at the corner of Tokay Boulevard and South Whitney Way..
Ken Notes:The old photos alone are worth a trip to this article. I actually liked this mall and miss the special interest films they used to run. I thought Hy Vee would bring more energy.
After two years of intense, behind-the-scenes infrastructure and renovation work, a multi-tenant, mixed-use project on the 70-acre former site of Oscar Mayer’s headquarters is once again open for business on Madison’s north side.
OM Station is the result of a collaborative, coast-to-coast effort involving the proper-ty’s new ownership/development group (a joint venture between Rabin Worldwide in Mill Valley, Calif., and Reich Brothers LLC in White Plains, N.Y.). The Madison office of commercial real estate company CBRE is leading the efforts on leasing and marketing the project to new occupants.
“We view this a long-term investment. We’re committed, but we know it will take time,” says Nate Ellis, senior vice president of real estate for Rabin Worldwide, adding that the site is “a fantastic infill redevelopment” in a university city with a growing tech base and a strong entrepreneurial spirit.OM Station offers 275,000 square feet of office space, more than 1 million square feet of multi-story manufacturing and cold storage space, and more than 300,000 square feet of single-story warehouse, distribution, and manufacturing space.
...moreKen Notes:Developers and brokers can view this project next Thursday at 4PM. chase Brieman with CBRE will be my guest Saturday to talk about this project on Development Matters.
Looking for a self-directed project this semester that can lead to prizes, mentoring and live connections to the business world? The 17th annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest will accept entries online for the 2020 competition until 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31.
The contest is designed to encourage entrepreneurs in the startup stage of tech-enabled businesses in Wisconsin. It links up-and-coming entrepreneurs with a statewide network of community resources, expert advice, management talent and possible sources of capital...
...more
We will power our communities and empower cooperative members
to improve the quality of their lives.
`It`s hard to say if this is a dying giant,` says enviornmental activist
Wisconsin’s frac sand industry appears to be migrating away from the state’s rural north, and towards more favorable territories as far south as Texas. Not necessarily because the Badger State’s resources are depleted, or because the sand is of a lower quality. Rather, the coveted “northern white” sands of Wisconsin and Minnesota are more expensive to transport and process...
Ken Notes: This is an economic game, when you need to cut costs you use poorer quality sand that is close, when money is flowing you use better sand from the north and pay for the shipping.
The same is true for oil, when foreign oil is cheap and available we use that, when it is expensive we use domestic oil...
Governor Tony Evers, together with senior leaders of Milwaukee Tool, local government officials, and regional economic development officials, recently announced that the company would be expanding its footprint in southeastern Wisconsin with a new campus in Menomonee Falls.
Milwaukee Tool’s investment will lead to the creation of 870 new jobs by 2025. Milwaukee Tool expects to invest over $100 million to construct and outfit the Menomonee Falls campus, which will complement the company’s current Global Headquarters campus in Brookfield. Milwaukee Tool will also invest $7.5 million to expand its Imperial Blades subsidiary in Sun Prairie...
Ken Notes: I know, old news. But we should really celebrate this new project. I like the numbers here, about 25K per job over time in credits not up front cash, they also got just under 4 million in land for a dollar and an open ended pay as you go developers agreement, so the city is not on the hook for investments. This investment should stay below 10% which is a win win for both the company and the community!
BOULDER JUNCTION - The town of Boulder Junction could expand Internet access soon after a two-year broadband push.A potential internet upgrade comes after the town sent out a survey in 2017 to receive opinions on economic challenges the town faced
Economic Development Chair Dennis Aukstik said after learning about this issue his board decided to take action.
"Our economic development committee moved forward on investigating and analyzing how to improve high-speed broadcast," said Aukstik
Ken Notes: I will say this one more time if anyone is listening! We have a one time opportunity to develop a statewide high speed grid by working with the cellular companies as they develop their 5G networks. Once they have built this out in the metros it will be TOO LATE to leverage our permitting and state support to get a larger inclusive network!!!!!! Please share this comment with anyone who will listen.
East Washington Avenue will be
home to a millennial-focused hotel touting internet-connected
televisions, a multitude of power outlets and other technology features
in each guest room, a Middleton-based developer announced this month.North Central Group plans to break ground on the Moxy by Marriott in the fall with the hotel opening in 2021 at 825 E. Washington Ave.
The hotel, which is still in the planning phase, will be between six and nine stories tall with 156 rooms and a mixture of on-site parking and off-site valet parking. The property is just a block away from FPC Live’s music venue The Sylvee as well as Breese Stevens Field, which hosts Madison Forward Football Club games as well as concerts and other events.
An enormous-but-unfinished French chateau-style mansion located in the Green Bay, Wisconsin suburbs is scheduled to hit the auction block with no reserve next month.Elite Auctions." data-reactid="12">The 27,699-square-foot, three-level home includes eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms and three half baths, according to the listing with Elite Auctions.
Designed by Jim La Plant, the home includes amenities including an elevator, 25-foot ceilings in the ballroom, multiple fireplaces and a built-in buffet in the dining room, according to the listing. The kitchen includes three islands and a 15-foot-long counter. Every bedroom includes an en suite bathroom and a walk-in closet.
Video is here: Https://youtu.be/5joPwVQDhMo
See Also:
AARON RODGERS AND DANICA PATRICK BUY $28M CALIFORNIA HOME
...moreKen Notes: Could be a bargain last sold for 1.4 and valued at more than 10 million!!! Watch the video. Auction is February 8th, if one of my readers gets it I want a tour and the right to ask the neighbors for a cup of sugar...
Illinois Joins Growing Number Of States To Legalize Recreational Marijuana
Any changes to Wisconsin`s current marijuana policy appear unlikely, with state lawmakers recently saying they won`t consider a proposal to allow medical use. But that isn`t stopping state residents from going to Illinois to buy legal weed.
On Wednesday, more than $3 million in marijuana was reportedly sold on the first day of legal sales of recreational pot in Illinois...
Ken Notes:With taxes between 20 and 30 percent that is nice coin for Illinois. What if Wisconsin legalized it and earmarked the revenue for health Care or apprenticeship or education or tourism or small homes for the homeless or law enforcement or environmental lands or ....
Miron’s comprehensive range of construction services are designed to meet the unique and diversified needs of our clients. Contact Us.
...more
...A sponsor of Wisconsin Development News
Two big fans of Milwaukee neighborhoods, landmarks, history and progress narrated bus tours aimed at national news media in town for preliminary planning of their Democratic National Convention coverage.
A relatively small group of news media members took advantage of separate motor coach tours led by Milwaukee city development commissioner Rocky Marcoux and Visit Milwaukee communications director Kristin Settle. Several hundred news producers, technical staff and reporters participated in information sessions and tours of Fiserv Forum and the Wisconsin Center, but barely more than a dozen went for the rides...
...moreKen Notes: This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase Wisconsin. Let show the world how to get along and grow a State....
Milwaukee-based Eppstein Uhen Architects announced today that principal and shareholder John C. “Chris” Gallagher has died from complications with cancer.
”We are deeply saddened beyond words by Chris passing” said Greg Uhen, chief executive officer of EUA “I first met Chris in 1984 where we crossed paths at another firm and we immediately became close friends. Ten years later Chris joined EUA, and for the next 25 years I had the pleasure to collaborate with him on hundreds of projects in the Milwaukee area and throughout the U.S. Chris was an extremely talented designer, very driven and smart, yet humble, and above all, a genuine friend. He was an instrumental member of our practice and will leave a legacy of lasting impact on all of us here at EUA. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris’ family at this extremely difficult time.”
...moreKen Notes:So sorry to read about this, Eppstein Uhen continues to do great work in Wisconsin and Chris will be missed...
River Falls finds more ways to grow
DCEDC hopes for 2020
Established in 2001, KA’s Wisconsin team upholds our commitment of more than 40 years of construction service in Wisconsin. Combined with the resources of the total KA enterprise, we are capable of undertaking work of virtually any size, scope, or location, whether locally, regionally, or nationally.
...more
Welcome 2020 WDN sponsor Kraus-Anderson Construction Company. Please check out the link to view the amazing projects they have developed from idea to completion.
From marijuana legalization (or the lack thereof) to opposition to F-35
fighter jets, these were the nine most-read opinion columns written by
Cap Times guest writers in 2019: ...moreKen Notes:Cap Times continues to be one of my favorite reads and they do not have a paywall... I love Journal Sentinel and subscribe but hate that my readers in Green Bay can not see what is going on in Milwaukee if I aggregate too many stories.
A new nightclub is planned for the site of the old Plan B/Prism space at 924 Williamson St. Austin Carl, who studies computer engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said he loves creating memorable events as a DJ and hopes to provide something fresh.Canopy, which Carl expects to open on Jan. 18, would be a coffee shop by day and nightclub by night on weekends..
...more
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) - The President and CEO of Dairyland Power plans to retire in July.
Barbara Nick has served as the head of the cooperative for the past five years. Before coming to Dairyland, she was with the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation/Integrys (WEC Energy Group).
The cooperative said that among the accomplishments during her tenure, Dairyand`s solar investment doubled the solar generation in Wisconsin in 2016...
...moreKen Notes:Dairyland was and still is a leader is solar and wind technologies...
MADISON (WKOW) -- Twenty-two local nonprofits can now deepen their community impact thanks to new funding awarded Monday.
The Madison Community Foundation (MCF) announced $605,000 in grants to organizations in the Madison area, aimed at supporting the expansion of their charitable work and cultural development of the community.
"It’s ... very important that we have major institutions paying artists, keeping them here," Tom Linfield, MCF community impact vice president, said. "We don’t want to lose our artists to other bigger cities. We have the richness and we have the variety, and we want to keep them here and continue to make Madison quite extraordinary."...
...moreKen Notes:Well done!
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Residential - Commercial - Retail - Controlled Environments
FIRE / WATER / STORM DAMAGE RESTORATION
DESIGN / BUILD & REMODELING
“Located in the Madison region for over 30 years, Engineered Construction is an industry leader in commercial construction and the restoration of commercial and residential fire and water damage.” See comments from our clients here. ...more
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A vacant building and parking lot near the northwest corner of West Wells Street and North 27th Street on Milwaukee’s west side could be turned into a vertically integrated food facility consisting of an urban farming operation, commercial kitchen, educational programming, and related retail and office space, that aims to benefit area businesses and residents.
The project, known as the Milwaukee Food Tech Incubator, is being proposed by New York-based Planet to Plate at the Cecilia Annex building located at 817-831 N. 27th St. and the neighboring parking lot at 2734 W. Wells St.
...moreKen Notes: Attention Madison, this is an idea worth stealing! We have the kitchens, this programs ups it a notch with some marketing...
In June 2018, President Donald Trump attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a Foxconn factory in Wisconsin. Ever exuberant in his comments, he called the project the "eighth wonder of the world" and "one of the great deals, ever." Always a bragger, his praise was directed at himself for orchestrating the use of state subsidies and tax credits to bring the Taiwanese multinational electronics company to Wisconsin for it to manufacture high-resolution LCD screens.
...moreKen Notes: WOW, I would hate to have to admit that Trump is correct about fake news but why do we allow press to say "the state legislature offered a subsidy package of $4.5 billion, mostly in direct cash payments". This is wrong these incentives are tied to jobs and brick an mortar. No jobs no money - I worked hard to eliminate the up front cash handouts that were given to companies in the past. They go on to detail exactly what the new plant will look like, which is interesting because Foxconn does not no what it will look like. Why does media get to use a crystal ball, remember when they printed news and op-ed guys like me pontificated, now it is the other way around...
Dane County, with its University of Wisconsin, stands out as the Wisconsin’s big driver of innovation and employment. Last year (from June to June) this one county of 72 created a whopping 70% of our state’s private-sector jobs, and many were our highest paying. Meanwhile, most of the rest of Wisconsin fared poorly under austerity budgets.
What kinds of areas generate innovation and prosperity? “World cities and regions,” like London, Silicon Valley and Shanghai, and smaller cities built around world-class universities, like Madison. In short, research universities attracting top talent are the secret sauce, creating innovation and high-paying work. These, in turn, create tax revenues to support less developed areas.
Dane County excepted, most of Wisconsin has been bleeding out young people to other states. With lackluster business and job creation, our state desperately needs another Dane County. The obvious answer is Milwaukee....
Ken Notes:Great Read! I would suggest that Madison also has much to learn from Milwaukee. Beer, manufacturing, water research... Milwaukee should be proud as well. The issue of UW funding this article advocates for must be balanced with a focus on Wisconsin`s youth. A UW Madison is of little value if we can not retain the graduates. Status is a good thing, but I would be more focused on the benefits to the state...
As an affiliate of McMahon Associates, Inc., IPR provides Public/Private Partnership (P3) opportunities for a vast array of projects in small to medium-sized communities, as well as offering Municipal Administrator Services to local governments on an as-needed basis... and... A sponsor of Wisconsin Development News ...more
Madison’s arts leaders share dreams for a vibrant city
The arts scene in Madison is strong and growing, which is a wonderful measure of the cultural health of our community. At a time when several performing arts organizations in Milwaukee have closed their doors, our city is welcoming new companies and new facilities, including UW-Madison’s Hamel Music Center, and the Youth Arts Center, a home for Children’s Theater of Madison and Madison Youth Choirs, projected to open in late 2020. And institutions like Overture Center are having record years in both revenue and attendance. Many weekends, audiences must choose from a plethora of professional, touring, university and community events and exhibits, because there are too many for one person to take in...
Ken Notes: I miss doing MadisonNotes.com where I focused attention on the arts scene that do not get enough attention. Several are mentioned in this article...
Over the past two years, thousands of former Illinois residents have made the move to Wisconsin.
In
a recently released study of U.S. Census Bureau statistics, Storage
Cafe, a nationwide self-storage website, revealed that Wisconsin
welcomed 25,155 new arrivals from Illinois in 2018, the largest number
of people who entered the state from other regions...
...They point to better jobs, lower taxes, lower-priced homes, access to better schools for their children, recreation and a better overall lifestyle, according to reports by the Kenosha Area Business Alliance and other state and local organizations...
Ken Notes: It is about jobs, taxes, schools, and lifestyle...
Eau Claire (WQOW) - The odds a start-up business has at staying afloat are better in Wisconsin than in other states.That`s according to an analysis done by the chief economist for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
Wisconsin ranks in the top third in the country when it comes to private establishment growth in the last decade as well as net business creation.
In Eau Claire, the city makes it easy for businesses to get up and going with a wide variety of loans, grants and programs available.
City officials said start-ups are essential for the city`s economic foundation.
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I will have a few new sponsorships available for 2020.
Also welcome Kraus-Anderson, & Artis REIT sponsors for 2020.
My Current Sponsors are:
SCS Engineers
Dairyland Power Cooperative
Miron Construction
The Gialamas Company
Engineered Construction Inc. / General Contractors
Findorff - Character Community Craftsmanship
JSD Professional Services
These companies are making a difference!
...moreKen Notes: Please remember sponsors may not agree with everything I say but they support the conversation that will help keep Wisconsin pursuing the development projects and growth that makes us strong...
Submissions due Jan. 31
The Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest is accepting entries until the end of January for the 2020 competition.
Now in its 17th year, the annual contest is designed to encourage and support entrepreneurs in the startup stage of tech-based businesses throughout the state. The contest, which is produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council, connects entrepreneurs with a statewide network of community resources, mentoring, talent management and possible sources of capital. In 2019, finalists shared in more than $200,000 in cash and service prizes.
Contestants must submit a 250-word idea abstract for their proposed business, which is due by 5 p.m. Jan. 31...
A massive proposed development on Madison’s West Side has its first retail tenant and it will mean more space for shoppers and fewer worries about flooding.
Whole Foods Market, currently located at 3313 University Ave., has signed a lease for a 50,000-square-foot space at Madison Yards, a mixed-use development that is home to the 608,000-square-foot state Department of Transportation office building. Ultimately, according to plans from Smith Gilbane, the developer of the 21-acre site, the more than $300 million plan calls for 400 units of upscale housing, a hotel, offices and more than 110,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and entertainment space.
Ken Notes:Radio show on this project is coming soon.
April 28-29, 2020
Radisson Hotel and Conference Center
2040 Airport Drive
Green Bay, WI 54313
A Conference on Building Communities of Equity and Opportunity
T1W will bring together individuals and organizations from multiple sectors across Wisconsin to address the most persistent barriers to inclusion, what is working, and what is promising on the horizon.
T1W will bring together individuals and organizations from multiple sectors across Wisconsin to address the most persistent barriers to inclusion, what is working, and what is promising on the horizon.
Oneida County Economic Development Corporation Director Stacey Johnson will be changing positions soon to take a similar job description with the state.
Johnson spoke to the Rhinelander common council meeting Monday...
"My position as Economic Development Director will be changing in the coming weeks. I still we be doing economic development, however I will be doing it from the capacity of regional executive director of the WEDC. My area will be the central Wisconsin area, however I will stay on any of the projects we`ve discussed here in city council...."
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Semco Windows And Doors Has Long Been A Major Employer In North-Central Wisconsin
A window manufacturer in north-central Wisconsin has closed suddenly, leaving 141 workers without jobs.
Semco Windows and Doors was founded in 1941 and has long been a major employer in Merrill, which has a population of around 9,000 people. According to a notice filed with the state, the business` closure is the result of "the company`s inability to obtain further financing, the lack of orders, insufficient cash and the inability to sell the company."
The business` last day was Dec. 31, according to the notice, which is dated Dec. 30, 2019. But employees didn`t learn of the closure until Thursday...
Ken Notes:Sad to hear this, but an opportunity now exists in Merrill for a new company with skilled labor, hey Menards you sell windows don`t you...
MOUNT PLEASANT — While many eyes are on how much taxpayer money the Foxconn Technology Group could receive through incentives, some consulting firms have already received thousands — and in one case, millions —of dollars working on the project for the state, Racine County and Mount Pleasant.
In total, among the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Racine County and the Village of Mount Pleasant, consultants and other firms have been paid more than $5.3 million from 2017 to October 2019.
Ken Notes: For the record, I do not receive anything from Foxconn or any organization dealing with Foxconn. Wish I did but I don`t.
Stay up to date by reading our MadREP Report, a bi-monthly newsletter that features regional economic development news, events and opportunities. ...more
A Wisconsin power tool manufacturer plans to build a new $100 million campus in the Milwaukee suburbs and add 870 new jobs in the state over the next five years.
Milwaukee Tool said the new complex in Menomonee Falls would complement its existing headquarters in nearby Brookfield and provide additional flexibility to expand and consolidate operations in southeastern Wisconsin.
The company will also invest more than $7 million to expand its Imperial Blades subsidiary near Madison, Wisconsin.
...moreKen Notes: Last weeks news but still getting national attention...
Wisconsin would lack adequate revenues to manage a moderate economic downturn without raising taxes or cutting services, according to a new analysis from Moody’s Analytics.
If a moderate recession were to strike, Wisconsin would face a shortfall equaling 4.8 percent of its total 2019 revenues, the analysis says. That’s the 11th worst outcome among the 50 states, according to Moody’s Analytics...
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Dairy Queen, condos, business park included in event
The Village of Waterford will host groundbreaking ceremonies for a trio of new developments – including a Dairy Queen restaurant – on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
A new business park and condominium complex round out the new developments. The projects will add an approximate value of $4.2 million to the village property tax rolls, according to village officials.
All three proposed projects are located along Highway 36 in the area between Sixth Street and South Seventh Street. The groundbreaking ceremonies will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the area of South Seven Street....
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As 2019 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on year one of leading the Department of Workforce Development.
Maybe my family`s background in commercial fishing on the Great Lakes (think "Deadliest Catch" with heavy Wisconsin accents) informed our vision, but in this first year our agency prioritized casting a wider and stronger workforce net to achieve greater economic outcomes for Wisconsin. Despite the challenges presented by national trade tensions and a tight labor market, after meeting with Wisconsinites across the state and witnessing the diverse programs administered by DWD and other public and private workforce stakeholders, I can`t help but feel proud about our work in 2019 and optimistic heading into 2020...
MADISON - First Class Cosmetology at 306 State St. in downtown Beloit is among five businesses named as finalists in the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation`s (WEDC`s) Main Street Makeover Contest.
Businesses in 34 communities that are part of the Wisconsin Main Street Program had the opportunity to nominate themselves for a "makeover" that will take place in the spring of 2020.
The winning business will receive personalized technical assistance and up to $10,000 to implement recommended changes, which could include interior and exterior design improvements.
Other finalists were Chefusion in Green Bay, Flex & Burn in Kenosha, Ted`s Pizza Palace in Menomonie and Kingsley Crossing in Shullsburg...
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MADISON — The mythology that Wisconsin is somehow not a good place to start and grow a business took another hit the other day from someone who digests and understands the data, the chief economist for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
His insights deserve the attention of young companies here and elsewhere.
John Koskinen, who has advised a bipartisan collection of governors and legislators for decades, described some of the metrics defining Wisconsin’s startup economy during a recent meeting of the Wisconsin Technology Council’s board of directors...
Ken Notes:As always a great read. I like the old stories even more Harley-Davidson, Kohler, Am-Fan, Northwest Mutual, Briggs & Stratton, Kohls, Trek,Schneider National, Culver`s, Cousins Subs, Erbert & Gerbert`s, OshKosh `BGosh, Oshkosh Truck, Menards, Carmex....
Findorff, builders of Wisconsin`s finest projects...and ...A sponsor of Wisconsin Development News
JACKSON, MI – A 200,000-square-foot building is nearly complete in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for Jackson-based Alro Steel.
It`s expected to be finished in February and will replace a 54,000-square-foot building Alro has in the same city...
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Waterford, WI – On Jan. 22 the Village of Waterford will hold three groundbreakings for new developments, all on the East side of the Village. Residents will be happy to know that the Dairy Queen Grill and Chill is among them. A new business park and condos will round out the groundbreaking adding new business tenants and residents alike. These projects will add an approximate value of $4.2 million to the Village...
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Wisconsin Ginseng Distributor Prince of Peace Enterprises, Inc. Expands Wisconsin Ginseng Market...
WAUSAU, Wis., Jan. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wisconsin Ginseng is now available in many Costco stores across the United States, including stores in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Prince of Peace Enterprises, Inc. Ginseng Tea and Slices are now available at Costco stores and at Costco.com.
This current program is for a limited time and aligns with the Holiday
Season & Chinese New Year, as well as high travel seasons where
consumers take gifts back to Asia and is available in select Clubs, while supplies last. Prince of Peace Enterprises, Inc. is working to launch Wisconsin Ginseng in Costco stores in Canada and Australia.
...moreKen Notes: I like the fact that most US Ginseng is a Wisconsin Product!!!
Central Standard officially announced that the locally-born craft distillery will purchase the historic Wisconsin Leather Building, found at 320 E. Clybourn St., with plans to move into a new tasting room, events space, rooftop patio and more in the Downtown hub this summer.Central Standard co-founders Evan Hughes and Pat McQuillan made the announcement for the distillery`s new Cream City brick hotspot at its future Downtown headquarters on Friday morning...
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Ken Notes: Wisconsin needs to embrace it Distillery, Brewery, and Wine Making establishments and continue to promote them as tourism destinations.
JSD provides complete services in Planning & Development, Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Water Resources, Landscape Architecture, Construction Services, Surveying & Mapping, and Environmental Services. Offices in Madison - Milwaukee - Kenosha - Fox Valley & Wausau.
Madison’s rising property valuesare a sign of the city’s collective prosperity, but the higher prices for homes and apartments make both unaffordable for many. What are the costs of gentrification and how should the city respond?
The Cap Times will bring together an excellent panel to discuss those questions on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at the High Noon Saloon, led by city government reporter Abigail Becker... ...moreKen Notes: I ask about this each week on my radio show...
A University of Wisconsin-Madison student is working with Clintonville to develop a riverwalk plan for the city.
City Administrator Sharon Eveland informed the city council in an Oct. 8 memo that UW-Madison’s Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture selected Clintonville for a service-learning project.
“This is a yearlong project with a community partner where the student develops, with oversight by the professors, a usable plan for the community partner,” Eveland said in the memo.
When contacted by the Clintonville Tribune-Gazette, Eveland said the student has already met with Eveland and many city department managers and will develop a useable riverwalk plan.
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THREE LAKES
- Americans spend nearly $162 billion per year on temporary stays at
hotels and motels. Community members of Three Lakes hope a small chunk
of that number can go towards boosting their economy.The Three Lakes town board has approved funding for a hotel feasibility study, costing up to $10,000. It`s part of a collaborative effort to improve tourism housing options and bring back the business they lost when the town`s last hotel caught fire.
All that remains of the March 2019 fire is the Oneida Village Inn sign. It`s a burning reminder of the lost hotel. Three Lakes Town Chair Jeff says the hotel brought a lot of business to the Northwoods.
"They would come here and snowmobile, stay for hockey tournaments, stay in the summer time, and things like that," said Bruss. "We lost the ability to have whatever that was 40 plus or minus rooms that were full on busy weekends."
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MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) -- A special flavor of Klarbrunn’s Sparkling Water meant a big gift for the University of Wisconsin Athletics Department’s Badger Give Back program.
“Klarbrunn is excited to not only partner with Badgers Give Back, but recognizes the program’s ability to deliver immediate impact in the communities that have enjoyed Klarbrunn Sparkling for decades.” said its Director of Marketing and Brand Development Tyler Hartmann.
Since releasing its Bucky’s Cherry Berry flavor, which was only available in the Badger State, in 2018, Klarbrunn has raised nearly $25,000 for the fund, which helps encourage positive health and nutrition habits in people of all ages...
...moreKen Notes: What a great idea!
Ginseng extract market is projected to cross USD 35 million by 2026, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Rising demand for organic products to mitigate risks posed by synthetic ingredients should fuel product demand." data-reactid="13">Global Ginseng extract market is projected to cross USD 35 million by 2026, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Rising demand for organic products to mitigate risks posed by synthetic ingredients should fuel product demand.
Increasing prevalence of chronic disorders including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes along with geriatric population and utilization of herbal remedies for mitigating diseases shows elevating market opportunities for ginseng extract. Ginseng extracts play a vital role in the manufacture of various products in personal care & cosmetics, food, dietary supplement and pharmaceutical applications owing to its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties... ...more
There are many who believe society has “summoned the demon” through technologies that threaten to addict us to screens, make us more vulnerable to cyber-snoops and replaceable by machines.
All possible, of course, but the same society that has released the digital genie won’t squeeze it back into the lantern. Instead, it should compel that genie to work for people.
In
2020, the pace of tech innovation will accelerate in areas vital to
commerce, health, manufacturing, cyber-security, communications and
more. Here are a few trends to watch:
The robocalypse is nigh?
Living on the edge (computing)
Breaking the privacy deadlock
Trade’s emerging tech side
Playing TikTok-Toe
Improving human health
Ken Notes: As always, great read!
Downtown Kenosha Inc. is seek applicants for its Façade Improvement Grant Program.
The program was established to assist property owners and commercial tenants in the downtown Kenosha business improvement district with the restoration, renovation, redevelopment and repair of commercial businesses in its downtown district.
The grant program aims to encourage new and existing business and property owners to invest in their storefronts, awnings and signs, while restoring the original character of historic buildings and providing a catalyst for redevelopment of the area...
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...
Note: I changed the link here to Toms Twitter account. JS limits the number of articles I can read so I look at TD`s Twitter feed every week. I`ll Still include JS articles but after ten you need to subscribe.
I also updated the picture because, well Tom is getting old and development is taking it`s toll!!!
Milwaukee
- 1/1/2020 Journal Sentinel business reporter Tom Daykin talks about
commercial real estate and development, including stores, hotels,
offices, condos, apartments and industrial buildings...
Land & Space Development Database
...more
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...
Online at WisconsinDevelopment.com (4 weeks of articles) - Searchable at Search WDN - WDN Tool Box, Links you can use everyday to help you and Wisconsin grow! Edited and published by Ken Harwood @ LinkedIn. Click Here To Subscribe or add Friends and Colleagues... WDN si Available free thanks to our SPONSORS... Why I publish WDN... WDGreen Environmental News From a Business Perspective!
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Ken Notes: "Ken Notes" may be reprinted in context without permission. Attribution should be Ken Harwood, Editor Wisconsin Development News or Ken Harwood Advocate for Wisconsin.