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A historic $75 million gift will fuel construction of a much-needed new engineering building at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

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Ken Notes:Thank you to the entire Levy family. What a great addition to an even greater school!

The WAEWDC 2024 annual report is available online.

Wisconsin employment hits fourth straight monthly record high, DWD reports

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Notes:

Seven projects linked to startups founded by UW-Madison researchers have been chosen for $500,000 in funding from the State Economic Engagement and Development program, supporting further research and technology advancement. 

The university’s Discovery to Product program, which coordinates the SEED program, yesterday announced recipients for funding in fiscal year 2025. The $500,000 total includes a matching grant of $250,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Funding varies by recipient, up to a maximum of $100,000, according to a D2P spokesperson. 

D2P Interim Director Abram Becker says the grants will offer “crucial support to these outstanding early-stage companies” as they develop their technologies for market readiness...

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Ken Notes: I remain a huge fan of the Wisconsin Idea and it is clearly working for us. These programs will keep Wisconsin on the map as one of the nations leading research institutes and the WARF and SEED programs will help attract the most brilliant professors and researchers to the campus.

US renewable energy developer National Grid Renewables has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Microsoft for its Portage Solar Project.

Portage Solar is a 250MW solar project in development in Portage County, Wisconsin, on 2,167 acres of primarily agricultural land.

In addition to the solar array, the project will include the construction of a new on-site substation, an operations and maintenance building, and a battery energy storage system with a proposed capacity of up to 137.5MW/550MWh.

Portage Solar received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in April 2023. Construction is expected to commence in 2025, and the project is slated for operation in 2027...
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Regional business survey, recent corporate partnerships reveal growing need for accessible employee training and skill development

Green Bay, Wis.—UW-Green Bay’s 2024 Continuing Education and Workforce Training Business Survey revealed that human resource managers in Northeast Wisconsin face significant challenges in assessing their employee training needs, securing leadership buy-in to address specific gaps and finding cost-effective employee training programs. Those findings from the second annual survey, together with recent corporate training partnerships, have led the University to expand its customized training solutions in an effort to tackle the region’s growing needs.

“The velocity and scale of workforce training and retraining needs are a challenge for small and large employers alike, and the needs keep growing,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “There’s no doubt that rapid technological advances, automation and AI are all contributing to this evolution in the workplace and the skills employers and employees need to be successful. Our role as a regional comprehensive university includes partnering with employers to navigate the change and deliver the education and training their employees need.”...
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Ken Notes: In the 1980`s while PCs were making an entrance into corporate America I worked with Fox Valley Tech to train both users and far more importantly corporate execs on what to expect from adopting new technologies. It was this understanding that helped companies embrace the tech with a clear understanding of what it could and more importantly what it could not do.

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside has been nationally recognized in a recent Forbes article for its innovative approach to workforce development and collaboration with local businesses.

The article, titled “Colleges, Companies, And Communities Are Working Together To Improve Higher Ed,” highlights UW-Parkside’s involvement with Higher Expectations for Racine County, working with educational, business, and community partners to improve outcomes for young people across the region.

It also highlights the Parkside Promise Plus program, which covers any tuition not covered by federal and state grant aid and scholarships for Wisconsin students with limited resources.

The Forbes article underscores the university’s commitment to creating practical, real-world learning opportunities for its students. It notes that these collaborations are not only enhancing the educational experience but are also driving economic growth in the region...

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Ken Notes: Congrats, nice to see national attention for this program...

It’s been nearly a decade since Amazon planted its flag in southeast Wisconsin, spurring a wave of industrial development that has transformed the Interstate 94 corridor into one of the fastest-growing submarkets in Chicagoland.

In fact, the inventory of industrial product in southeast Wisconsin is now more than 84 million square feet across 652 buildings, surpassing that of the older and more established Lake County submarket, which comprises 80 million square feet, according to CBRE.

Abundant, large parcels of improved land made it easy for developers to launch new projects, many of them big-box warehouses ranging from 500,000 to 1 million-plus square feet, with plenty of space for trailer parking as well...

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Ken Notes: Just imagine what the corridor could have been with a high speed rail system running right the middle of it!

Convenience-store retailer expects site outside Madison, Wisconsin, to open in 2025

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STURGEON BAY - On the surface, it might seem the Regional Broadband Summit taking place Oct. 24 in Sturgeon Bay is meant primarily for local government officials, business owners, decision makers, IT pros and others with a stake in bringing high-speed internet services to areas lacking it in Northeast Wisconsin.

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SCS Engineers	Kraus-Anderson
The Gialamas Company	Miron Construction

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The suburb is actively exploring ‘upfill’ development in underutilized corridors

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Ken Notes: The "burbs" could all have an impact, especially if they were to allow height and density. The problem is affordability and that will remain an issue for some time to come until we bring developers to the table and work together...

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Gov. Tony Evers along with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority announced on Wednesday a new program to help repair and renew older homes across the state.

The More Like Home™ Repair and Renew Loan program will offer low-interest loans between $5,000 and $50,000 to owners of houses more than 40 years old. Officials said homeowners can use the money toward important house repairs like roofing, plumbing and heating.

Gov. Evers said having stable housing plays a crucial role in helping families succeed.

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MILWAUKEE — Edison School Apartments had its official grand opening on Thursday.

Gorman & Company, in partnership with other local developers and organizations including, Cupid Development, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), and the State Historic Preservation Office, transformed North Milwaukee High School into affordable housing.

The project costed $25.5 million.

The redevelopment features 63 apartments for seniors and 12 newly built three-bedroom townhomes on the property for young families. The senior apartments are all located in the former school and the townhomes were built across the parking lot.

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Ken Notes: But a $333K per they may not be that "affordable"...

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - Governor Tony Evers announced a new bill to help Wisconsinites stay in their homes on Wednesday.

Evers along with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) announced the ‘More like Home’ Repair and Renew loan program.

Helping homeowners of older homes make critical repairs that increase energy efficiency, safety and security.

$5,000 to $50,000 low interest loans are available to home owners whose houses are more than 40 years old.

WHEDA CEO and executive director Elmer Moore Jr., says these loans can help enhance property values, improve health and prevent displacement if you lose your insurance.

“WHEDA is statutorily obligated to focus our work on families who are low to moderate income...We know that even families that earn into the six figures, still need help getting access to the resources to make these vital and necessary improvements.” Moore said.

Moore continued to say that this is an opportunity to make critical energy improvements that can change how communities feel about the sustainability of their homes...

See Also:

Wisconsin announces $50M in low-interest home repair loans

Brooke Street Lofts Wins Coveted Community and Economic Development Award

Green County Home Construction Cooperative wins coveted Community and Economic Development Award

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Ken Notes: I do like Phil...

The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) is excited to announce the Brooke Street Lofts apartments project has won a 2024 Community and Economic Development Award (CEDA) in the Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse category. The CEDA Awards were established by WEDA to recognize economic development projects, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Wisconsin economy. Winners were recognized at the annual CEDA Awards ceremony, which was held September 26, 2024, in Eau Claire, WI.

Three CEDA finalists were selected in each of the four following CEDA categories: Business Retention and Expansion; Community Impact; Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse; and Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention. The winners in each category were announced and celebrated at the awards ceremony that was attended by over 200 economic development professionals from across the state...

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Broihahn Management & Consulting		Engineered Construction
Coalesce Marketing	Miron Construction	Findorff
Artis REIT

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Beyond Microsoft project, Alliant Energy hints more data centers could be coming to Wisconsin

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MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – Officials in Wisconsin announced that the month of August saw new record highs for jobs and employment throughout the state.

According to a release from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), preliminary estimates from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) say this is the fourth consecutive monthly record for state employment during which time the number of nonfarm jobs throughout the state also reached a new all-time high.

Officials say employment estimates for August 2024 show Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate came in 1.3 percentage points below the national unemployment rate of 4.2%...

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MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced it will host learning sessions on redevelopment of properties known as brownfields. Local government officials and others interested in learning more about brownfield redevelopment in Wisconsin are encouraged to attend.

The sessions are free to attend, and the same content will be covered at each session.

• Nov. 12: The Innovation Center (1221 Innovation Drive, Whitewater), 10 a.m. – noon
• Nov. 15: Health and Human Services Building (303 W. Chapel Street, Dodgeville), 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
• Nov. 20: City Hall Community Room (127 S. Sawyer Street, Shawano), 10 a.m. – noon

A brownfield is a property with the potential for redevelopment, but its reuse is complicated by real or perceived contamination in the soil or groundwater. Brownfields can be found in many locations and vary in size, age and past use.
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The Marquette Graduate School is working to develop the EXCEL Milwaukee Fellowship Program, which will place Marquette graduate students in local nonprofit organizations to create mutually beneficial relationships, thanks to a planning grant from AmeriCorps.

The Graduate School is embarking on a year-long planning process to develop the EXCEL Milwaukee Fellowship Program with the goal of earning a three-year program grant from AmeriCorps. A formal proposal for the three-year program grant will be submitted in the spring. Dr. Scott D’Urso, Maggie Nettesheim Hoffmann and Alisha Klapps Balistreri are serving as co-PIs on the planning grant. 

In alignment with Marquette’s strategic plan, Guided By Mission, Inspired To Change, and its theme of “Care for the World,” this program would establish additional university and community partnerships, build capacity for nonprofit organizations in Milwaukee and provide research-informed support for nonprofit programs, outcomes and systems.

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The Department of Workforce Development recently announced a program that will assist employers with the costs of occupational training for full-time unemployed, underemployed, and existing workers.

The Fast Forward Program assists employers with innovative solutions that will help meet the needs of their workforce.

“Any business interested in building its pool of skilled workers should consider applying for this grant,” said Amy Pechacek, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The Fast Forward program is an investment in Wisconsin’s workforce, providing a training boost that fills positions while offering workers the skills they need to succeed.”...

...The application deadline is 3:00 pm. CT, Monday, October 28, 2024.

More information and instructions to apply can be found at  https://wisconsinfastforward.com/

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A report from a UW-Madison working group says the university’s culture around entrepreneurship “emphasizes gatekeeping and risk management,” weakening its ability to attract startup talent.

The university yesterday released a report called “Empowering the Wisconsin Idea: The Future of Entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,” authored by a group of business experts assembled by UW-Madison leadership.

The Report is Here

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MOUNT PLEASANT, WI ­– The Village of Mount Pleasant has hired long-time southeastern Wisconsin business reporter Sean Ryan as its communications director.

The village is gaining population and property value thanks to development of new housing, and job-creating businesses such as Microsoft Corp., and a new Educators Credit Union headquarters. The Mount Pleasant Village Board approved the new communications director position to better promote the village, and inform residents about public services ranging from snow plowing to parks programming.

In this role, Ryan will coordinate internal and external communications. That includes social media, responding to reporter inquiries, and reinforcing the village’s identity, brand, and mission.

“As our community grows, so does our desire to improve services and amenities, and to encourage more people to enjoy them,” said Mount Pleasant Village Administrator Maureen Murphy. “With Sean on the team, we can help more residents enjoy parks programs, attend live concerts at Campus Park, or use basic services like garbage and recycling pick-up. We can also better promote Mount Pleasant to the region – and the world­­­ – as a great place to live and work.”...

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Ken Notes: I know Sean, MP got a good one. He has always kept me in the loop!

Stay up to date by reading our MadREP Report,a bi-monthly newsletter that features regional economic development news, events and opportunities.   ...Full Story Here

(The Center Square) – An audit of businesses that received grants and tax credits from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. resulted in 9% of businesses not providing the agency with documentation to prove they deserved the award.

An additional 19% of businesses didn’t keep the required paperwork and now understand what they need to keep in the future. Now, the WEDC must decide what to do about the businesses that did not provide the required proof.

The state collected 664 performance reports across the state from awardees and audited 80 of those included 40 tax credit workbooks...

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Ken Notes: The WEDC did go above and beyond by partnering with local organizations to get millions of federal dollars into the hands of businesses that would have otherwise failed. The issue was not the WEDC or the local groups, it was the individuals who thought they could take advantage of a difficult situation and cold call ever LLC and registered business in the state.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin is looking at another artificial intelligence project.

The state’s economic development arm, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., announced it is putting together a concept paper for a new manufacturing AI effort.

WEDC boss Missy Hughes said if Wisconsin is chosen, it could unlock a new wave of investment into the state.

“The potential is, between federal funding and private sector matching, to be a 10s of millions of dollar-investment in this opportunity,” Hughes said.

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The 2024 Wisconsin Economic Summit takes place at the La Crosse Center in beautiful La Crosse on Oct. 15 and 16, 2024.  This year promises to be a groundbreaking event that will explore the latest trends in innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) and how they are shaping the future of our economy.

Online registration closes at midnight on Oct.10. In-person registration is available at the Summit.

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Local partners planning Startup Week events, leading up to December 4 regional event; Deadline for entry by uploading pitch ideas is October 31

NEW NORTH, October 1, 2024 – Continuing to support entrepreneurial activity in Northeast Wisconsin, New North Inc. is working with 12 of its local partners to hold pitch events during Startup Week in the state. The event winners will advance to a regional pitch event, scheduled for December 4 at TitletownTech in Green Bay.

Entrepreneurs within the New North who are interested in participating in the qualifying, local pitch events are asked to upload their pitch ideas at https://www.startupwi.org/new-north. The deadline to do so is October 31. Those registering will be asked to select the one local pitch event that is closest to them or where their business is/will be located.

The local and regional entrepreneurial pitch contests are supported by the NEW Launch Alliance of New North Inc., along with WBD Inc. The NEW Launch Alliance was formed to create a more robust and productive entrepreneurial ecosystem across the 18 counties of the New North region, connecting entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, educators, accelerators and other resources....

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MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Wisconsin officials announced the start of a $100 million investment to support start-ups and entrepreneurs across the state.

The Wisconsin Investment Fund is a public-private venture capital initiative to help small businesses grow, Gov. Tony Evers explained during a news conference at Forward BIOLABS on Wednesday. Forward BIOLABS is a nonprofit in Madison that has helped launch startup companies....
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Economic Development Division	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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Vermilion Development, a Chicago-based company, broke ground on a $96 million multi-family development called Lane Lock Apartments at 1617 Sherman Avenue in Madison on Monday.

The development includes three buildings totaling approximately 309 market rate units and is adjacent to Tenney Park. Two buildings are planned to be five stories tall. One building is planned to be a row of three townhomes.

Vermilion has spent years on its plans for Lane Lock Apartments, with the exterior architecture changing at least once in 2022 and interior layout changes last year...
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Roughly five months have passed since the Social Development Commission abruptly shut down and laid off its entire staff, creating gaps in essential services for low-income Milwaukee residents.

So what happened?

The results of a state audit launched after its closing should fill in some details. Already clear, however, is that SDC’s past leaders significantly weakened internal financial controls with little outside scrutiny, an investigation by WPR and Wisconsin Watch found.


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Some projects such as The Couture get built after years of delay. But for every project without a hitch, some projects such as The Caroline and the Hotel Third Ward hit roadblocks.

The latter project was slated to be an 11-story hotel addition to the historic Hoffco building in the Third Ward. In 2021, Wimmer Properties proposed turning the former warehouse into a 102-room boutique hotel operated as a Marriott Tribute Portfolio. The neighborhood architecture board gave approval, but the Hoffco building currently stands as is.

The story is similar for a handful of public and private projects across the city....
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The Social Development Commission is selling its properties on Milwaukee’s North Avenue for about $3 million to help pay for expenses needed to move the now-closed agency forward, NNS has learned.

The SDC’s main office at 1730 W. North Ave. and two parking lots are listed for $2.59 million, and its nearby warehouse and parking lot at 1810 W. North Ave. are listed for $639,000 by Ogden & Company, Inc.

William Sulton, SDC’s attorney, confirmed on Tuesday that the buildings are for sale. 

He said the board made the decision on Sept. 18 to sell the properties to limit ongoing expenditures, plan for future operations, pay some of SDC’s debts and avoid future debt...

See Also:

How Milwaukee’s giant anti- poverty agency unraveled: weak controls, little oversight

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(WTAQ-WLUK) — A handful of projects in rural Northeast Wisconsin communities received federal dollars to lower energy costs and create jobs.

$93 million was awarded to 23 projects across the state — six of which are in the Northeast Wisconsin region. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America (REAP) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs.

Officials say the funding will help build a more resilient and prosperous future for people living and running businesses in rural areas of Wisconsin.

“This grant funding will invest directly in farmers, business owners, and cooperatives, helping lower energy costs and increase sustainability,” said USDA Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa in a news release.

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CEDARBURG — Ozaukee Economic Development held its annual Business of the Year/Economic Forecast Breakfast Sept. 26. Three businesses were honored in the categories of small, medium and large businesses. The annual economic forecast was moderated by a panel of, from left, Jim Winistorfer of Doig Corporation, Paul Westphal of RBC Wealth Management and Manuel Rosado of Spectrum Investments.

Photos courtesy of Ozaukee Economic Development

Ken Theiler, owner of Hometown Heating Air and Electric in Cedarburg, accepts the award for Medium Business of the Year.

Left, Kristina and Phil Eckert hold the award they received for their business, glaze in Thiensville. glaze was honored for small business of the year. Above, Shelly Pollum accepts the award for Large Business of the Year. Pollum is president and owner of RAM Tool in Grafton...
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It’s not a huge grant and the city is not guaranteed of getting it, but members of the Common Council were excited about what it could do for Milwaukee.

Milwaukee’s Department of City Development (DCD) is vying for a $250,000 grant from a newly-created Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation program. The program would help the city fund the startup or expansion of other small businesses.

“We do anticipate that this is going to be a highly competitive statewide competition [for the funds]” said Matt Rejc, head of the city’s Commercial Corridor Team, in explaining the proposal to the  Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee Tuesday...
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"I`ve never met a teacher that did not want to learn, or I`ve never met a teacher that did not want to do their best," says Olentangy Orange High School Principal Monica Asher.
Professional development can make or break your teachers’ motivation and engagement in the goals you’ve set for the current school year. It should be something your teachers look forward to, but oftentimes such opportunities miss the mark. Here are some tips from a leader who prioritizes meaningful PD in her building.

In a northern suburb of Columbus, Ohio, Principal Monica Asher spearheads numerous initiatives for her 2,000 students and nearly 140 staff at Olentangy Orange High School. Successful PD programming is one area that tops her list.

Ashers says that empowering and promoting teachers’ voices and ownership are the key components of a meaningful PD program...
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Ken Notes: Good read!

MONROE — The Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) in Green County is partnering up with UW-Madison Extension on a new effort to engage rural entrepreneurs and strengthen community connection. As part of a grant-funded program from Compeer Financial, Extension is providing coaching and guidance for local groups to spur sustained entrepreneurship. The groups selected for this program recently moved into a phase to implement best practices and procedures for economic growth.

Extension’s Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) is an entrepreneurial development program designed to advance small town economies through a targeted business approach. Wisconsin REV is being developed in partnership with Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA), Compeer Financial, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), and e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. This effort is being funded by Compeer Financial. Launched this year, Wisconsin REV provides coaching, resources and connections throughout the visioning and implementation process as each community explores what economic development means for their communities. More information can be found at https://go.wisc.edu/wirev....

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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...

Land & Space Development Database

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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...

Our Current Publications:

WisconsinDevelopment.com	On Hiatus	WWHNews.com
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Online at WisconsinDevelopment.com  & WDNGreen.com Featuring Storues & Links you can use everyday to help your bisiness and Wisconsin grow! Edited and published by Ken Harwood @ LinkedIn. 

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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.

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