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MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced today, as the state and country celebrate Earth Week, that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) awarded $7.8 million from the Energy Innovation Grant Program (EIGP) to 28 projects that will expand access to clean energy and invest in the adoption of innovative technologies and processes. Since the program’s inception in 2017, the PSC has awarded $40 million to 169 EIGP projects statewide.

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EVANSVILLE – Standing alone on the floor of the once-humming Stoughton Trailers factory, company president Bob Wahlin assessed his mothballed machinery.

Nearly all the lights were off in the 330,000-square-foot plant, located on the eastern edge of town, just off U.S. Highway 14 between Madison and Janesville. It was, Wahlin said, "pretty depressing."

Then his iPhone flashed with a news alert.

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Milwaukee`s average rent is at $1,835, while the state`s is just above $1,600

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Ken Notes: This is not good news...

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MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Gov. Tony Evers announced on Tuesday, April 23 in a press release that Wisconsin has been awarded a $62.4 million federal grant to install solar systems in low- and moderate-income households.

The funding, part of the Biden Administration`s Solar for All initiative, comes from the Environmental Protection Agency and aims to facilitate access to renewable energy across the state, with the announcement aligning with Earth Week celebrations.

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Could a soybean-based foam help extinguish fires and prevent toxic chemicals from seeping into Wisconsin waterways?

The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board certainly hopes so.

The board’s president, Pat Mullolly, recently visited Dalton, Georgia, to observe farmers and volunteer firefighters using a new soybean-based product called SoyFoam.

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More places in America are going to get a taste of the ButterBurger as Culver`s plans to expand to 51 new locations this year.

The casual dining restaurant is opening locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and, of course, Wisconsin. The news was first reported by Eat This, Not That!

"There is always the possibility that we may open even more, however, the current projections and development tracks are for 51," Eric Skrum, director of public relations and communications at Culver`s, told USA TODAY on Friday.

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Ken Notes: Great company, great product, great people!

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LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) -- In this edition of You Ask, We Answer Sean asks, "What`s being built at the corner of Jackson and Fourth Streets by City Brewery?"

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The city of Racine last week took another step to revive the 33-mile Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) commuter rail project.

The Racine Common Council on April 15 passed a resolution for the mayor and city clerk to enter into a contract with rail provider DB E.C.O. North America Inc. to study possible passenger train infrastructure along the existing Union Pacific line along Lake Michigan. An iteration of the KRM project was proposed more than a decade ago, but the plan died in 2011.

The project could return with partnerships with the private sector and the development community, said Trevor Jung, the city’s mobility coordinator and project leader.

“For us, this is not about politics. This is about making your community a stronger place,” said Jung.

The city hasn’t finalized the contract, but officials expect the study will be completed by spring of 2025. It’s spurred by a $5 million congressional grant as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Racine passed a measure for federal investment in 2021.

The project would serve around 25% of the state’s population concentrated in southeast Wisconsin, Jung noted. Racine is in the third-largest economic region in the U.S., he added.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), the KRM passenger rail would provide access to over 400,000 jobs within 30 minutes by transit. Nearly 50% of households in the corridor would have incomes less than $50,000, planners added.

“That’s not even including the jobs created by building the system,” Jung said. “This would be just about once the system is built and the access workers will have to jobs in the corridor.”

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The incentives would assist Kikkoman’s $800 million investment in expanding to Walworth and Jefferson communities.

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Ken Notes: I have toured Kikkoman`s and it is one of Wisconsin truly hidden jems and suggesting the "Masters" take the product seriously is a huge understatement. We could learn a great deal from the pride they take in their product...

Some City of Two Rivers revitalization projects are being recognized by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

The group is celebrating the best downtown revitalization projects of 2023 for the 33rd Wisconsin Main Street Awards ceremony at Gather in Broadway in Green Bay.

Two Rivers won awards in two categories including Best Public-Private Partnership in Revitalization for redoing Central Park West and Best Interior Project over $50,000 for the Cool City Brewing Company.

Other projects around Eastern Wisconsin come from Green Bay, Fond du Lac, and De Pere.

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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
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Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Directory		Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

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Like many communities across the country, Green Bay has been struggling with a shortage of affordable housing. A new, federally-funded development on the city’s east side hopes to help.

Senior Advisor to the President Tom Perez visited the development Thursday to see those federal funds in action. He was joined by Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich and Brown County United Way CEO Robyn Davis.

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Over a decade ago, Appleton’s Jeff McMullen found himself in a sea of red suits, black boots and meticulously styled white beards and mustaches. 

McMullen was attending his first International Santa Celebration. At that point, McMullen had played Santa only a few times here and there, but the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas needed instructors for the event. A former student in one of McMullen’s clown character development seminars felt McMullen’s teachings could translate into the world of Santas. 

Little did McMullen know the conference would change the trajectory of his life. 

“Up until then I was just a guy in a red suit, but at that point I made a commitment to being the best Santa I could possibly be,” McMullen said. “It’s really become a 24/7 project for me, 365 days a year.”

There, at the international celebration, "Santa Mac," the beloved Santa behind Santa’s Magical Christmas Cottage in Buchanan, was born.

On Friday, McMullen will become the first Wisconsin Santa inducted into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame, which honors those who have propelled the legend of Santa Claus, at the IBRBS conference in Memphis.

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Ken Notes: Jeff has always been my definition of a professional. Love what you do and do it well. When I was a juggler and magician (long long ago) we often had the opportunity to work together and Jeff taught me a great deal. He was in every sense an artist and I am guessing still is. Congrats.

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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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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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