Recent News

Indemnification Provisions in Incentives Agreements: Best Practices and Special Public Entity Issues

Monday, September 21, 2020

Indemnification provisions are an important part of the fine print of many contracts. These clauses generally operate to protect one party against the other party’s actions or failures to act that lead to a loss claimed by a third party (not a party to the contract). A common example is the indemnification provisions (or entire agreements) used in the rental car setting. Before you drive off the lot, the rental car company will require you indemnify (or protect) it against a third party (not you) bringing a claim due to your being in an accident. Read full article.

Optimizing Project Outcomes Through Advanced Project Planning

Monday, September 21, 2020

While APP involves a modest amount of additional upfront time for planning, the investment pays significant dividends throughout the project — and at the most critical times. Detailed planning is executed in advance, enabling the project team and stakeholders to discuss project objectives, prioritize needs, and examine costs from the very outset. This relieves some of the reactive urgency surrounding these decisions, when such issues are addressed amid the thin margins associated with not only time but also the cost of business today. Using APP, facilities that have inevitable downtime related to modifications can plan more efficiently. Read full article.

Site Selection 2020: The Importance of “Regional Depth” with Global Reach

Monday, September 21, 2020

The last several years of corporate site selection have been influenced by many trends. Among these are corporate tax cuts, a red-hot industrial real estate market, the explosion of e-commerce, increasing trade protectionism, record economic growth and, in a stunning reversal, a global health pandemic and recession. It seems the ever-shifting tide of global and domestic affairs can be confusing at best and downright frightening at worst to corporate executives evaluating where to locate their next headquarters, newest manufacturing plant, or distribution center. Risk and uncertainty have never seemed higher, and without looking deeper and thinking differently, it can b...

New Strategies for Learning and Development in an Increasingly Virtual World

Friday, September 18, 2020

Newly dispersed work teams are facing new challenges. During the early months of the global pandemic, more than three-quarters of organizations reported 80 percent or more of their employees were working from home, according to a global survey on workplace re-entry. While workplace mobility isn’t new, the scale of remote work has accelerated digital transformation, with rollout timelines shrinking from years to weeks. Workflows have also been upended as employees try to adopt new tools as part of their daily routines. Read full article.

Front Line: COVID-19 Spurs More Automated Manufacturing

Thursday, September 17, 2020

The global pandemic has upended the labor market and dramatically and suddenly reversed U.S. economic expansion. COVID-19, especially, has caused U.S. manufactures to face unprecedented labor challenges. With COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, these shortages are escalating. Many factories have shuttered to protect workers and prevent COVID-19’s spread. Even before this global crisis, in 2018 Deloitte had already projected that manufacturers would face shortages of some 2.4 million workers through 2028. Read full article.

How are Uncertain Times Altering Company Location Strategies?

Thursday, September 17, 2020

As corporate decision-makers develop their business strategies for the future, the markets they consider are rapidly changing. This dynamic trend was already in place before the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic as businesses sought to alleviate concentration risk. With the unprecedented impacts on the global economy of the current public health crisis, however, the search for alternative locations has taken on new urgency and quickly became a priority. Read full article.

Dunn County is an Ideal Location for Onshoring Companies

Monday, September 07, 2020

Site selectors looking for U.S. sites should consider Dunn County for its strategic midwest location near the Twin Cities, affordable property, broadband access and strong infrastructure. Onshoring is top of mind for business executives who have watched their supply chains be disrupted and product deliveries delayed to COVID-19. For four decades companies have offshored manufacturing operations overseas in order to save costs. COVID-19 has forced companies to ask, “At what cost?” If the cost is an inability to supply customers and fulfil contracts it may not be worth it. With 60% of U.S. manufacturing companies surveyed by Thomas reporting COVID-19 busines...

Dunn County is Telecommuter Forward, Offering Broadband Access that's Critical for Remote Work

Wednesday, September 02, 2020

Telecommuting used to be the way of the future. Thanks to COVID-19 it has become a present day reality for people throughout the state of Wisconsin and the rest of the country. Many companies have chosen to offer remote work options to employees to lesson the spread of COVID-19 and that has created an incredible opportunity for people to live where they want to - rather than where they have to. Dunn County is known for its rural beauty and access to outdoor recreation. For people living in the Twin Cities, the county has often been visited for weekend recreation an...

The GRID awarded nearly $100K in grants to advance Northwoods economic development

Tuesday, September 01, 2020

A Northwoods organization created to spur entrepreneurship and business growth recently received $95,000 in grants to advance economic development in the region. The funds will go to support the Guiding Rural Innovation and Development, or The GRID, initiative, currently based at Nicolet College. Of the total, $50,000 came from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, $35,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and $10,000 from Associated Bank. Read full article.

WEDC Report Evaluates COVID-19 Impact On Wisconsin's Economy And How The State Can Move Forward

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Industries are “reeling” and so are other sectors of the state that are critical to its long-term success: education, child care and health care. As grim as all that might sound, though, it has also given Wisconsin a chance to focus on important priorities, according to Missy Hughes, CEO and Secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). “We have challenges in our economy that are longstanding,” Secretary Hughes told a group of legislators and staff last week. “This is an opportunity to say, ‘OK, how are we going to fix that? How are we going to move forward?’” Read full article.

Take Wisconsin’s travel pledge

Monday, July 27, 2020

Today I’m writing to you with another way we can join together to support Wisconsin travelers and the tourism economy. While there are many variables that make the challenges each of you face unique and difficult, there’s one constant we all rely on – people. Behind every vehicle heading out on a road trip, every footstep exploring a new nature trail, every rock skipped across Wisconsin’s fresh coast and every dollar spent on new gear, lodging or great Wisconsin food and beverages, is a person – a person with a choice regarding how, when and where they spend their tim...

Dunn County Offers a Great Alternative to City Living: Especially in a Pandemic

Thursday, July 23, 2020

There have been clear advantages of living in Dunn County during the global pandemic. Everywhere has been influenced by COVID-19 and Dunn County has not been immune. Still, we have a lot to be thankful for – including how much easier it is to live here than in an expensive and highly populated city or suburb. Many people who live in the cities and suburbs, including in the Twin Cities, have begun asking themselves if they want to remain in the city or move to a quieter and less populated community. Though the Cities do provide access to greater cultural amenities...

COVID-19 Promotions and Resources for Dunn County Businesses

Monday, July 20, 2020

COVID-19 has negatively impacted businesses throughout Dunn County, and the country. Fortunately, ours is a community where people want to help and support each other. Many of the promotions and resources for local businesses are coming from other businesses and local organizations who want to help however they can. Promotions and resources that could help your Dunn County business. Downtown Menomonie Relief Grants Businesses in Downtown Menomonie can apply for a $1,500 grant to help those who have been partially shut down due to COVID-19. Click here for details. FREE video to promote your business. Dialog Design Co. and AB Videography are giving away fre...

A Disciplined Road Map for Industrial Site Selection

Monday, June 22, 2020

It’s almost always good news when an industrial manufacturer needs to find a new plant site. It means business is growing, new markets are emerging, and financials are healthy. However, this is the point of time in the business cycle when decisions about next steps need to be made carefully. Unfortunately, this is when many businesses get tripped up. Plant owners and managers may agree on the need for new production lines, more distribution capacity, new automation processes, and more staff. But this is also when additional rigor is most urgently needed to analyze the best-case business scenarios for that nex...

Preparations for the “New Normal”

Monday, June 22, 2020

Until an effective treatment is proven or a vaccination is widely distributed, we’ll continue to have more questions than answers regarding a succinct definition or timing of the “new normal.” However, what we do know now is that the COVID-19 crisis has exposed the over-reliance on just-in-time global supply chains. Moving forward, the more successful companies will modify these chains to increase reliability, utilize localization, and create redundancy. Strategies such as rapid satellite facility deployment and workforce balancing will be key to maintaining competitiveness. Read full article.

The Nature of Incentives Compliance in the Age of the Coronavirus

Monday, June 22, 2020

Economic development compliance is historically a long process, one that is typically managed over a multi-year time frame. Companies have negotiated incentives to help offset costs associated with growth and expansion and count on the economic benefits as part of their strategic growth plan — specifically, their plan for building the future of their business and their teams. What no one counted on was a global pandemic bringing life as we know it to a standstill. The dramatic slowdown of the economy has caused business leaders to take a close look at all aspects of their business, which should absolutely includ...

Rural Prosperity

Friday, June 19, 2020

The land. The people. The way of life. Wisconsin’s rural landscape is integral to our state’s identity—both for the quality of life it affords its residents and for the escape it offers to those seeking to partake of Wisconsin’s natural splendor. Maintaining the vibrancy of Wisconsin’s rural economies requires an understanding of the diversity of its industries—from agricultural production and working forests to main street businesses. The variety of rural Wisconsin’s economic assets must be reflected in a coordinated statewide approach to building and maintaining rural prosperity throughout the state. WEDC is committed to helping rural stakeholders navigate the program...

Finding Talent in a Time of Economic Change

Thursday, June 18, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has caused more economic disruption than the U.S. has seen since the Great Depression. No one can say for sure what the landscape will look like as the economy recovers, but it’s clear that a lot of puzzle pieces won’t snap back into the same places as before. In a post-pandemic reality, business operations may look dramatically different. Many people will be forced to transition from one job or career to another. Put another way, there will be an incredible need for workforce development as millions of idled workers return to the workforce. The country’s many workforce program...

Innovation in America Reaches New Heights

Thursday, June 18, 2020

The concept of an “innovation center” is certainly not new. However, without much fanfare, over time, some operations have reinvented the traditional center model, changing how and where they operate, leaning upon new partners and resources, and switching out the types of clients or markets served. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, these centers now have additional herculean challenges sprung upon them in a world facing unprecedented levels of economic and social upheaval. How can innovation be supported in this “new normal” era so organizations cannot just survive, but thrive? Read full article.

Risk Management, Enhanced Communication Needed in Post-Pandemic Environment

Thursday, June 18, 2020

COVID-19 has significantly altered the landscape for businesses globally that will reverberate well beyond and into the future. Manufacturing and supply chain decisions for corporations have had to make adaptations due to the massive disruption from this pandemic. Understanding and implementing the new norms will be quintessential to success in this environment. Cost-driven decisions have stranded and left companies vulnerable due to a lack of redundancy in manufacturing. Going forward, adapting a strategy that has supply chain alternatives and enhanced protocol for these facilities will be paramount for implementation. Creating a safe environment that allows employees access to counseling, as wel...

Stout has one of top plastics engineering programs in U.S.

Saturday, June 13, 2020

The University of Wisconsin-Stout has been named one of the top U.S. public colleges offering plastics engineering programs by Plastics Today, a publication and site for plastics professionals. UW-Stout is one of eight universities noted in the article for the polymer/plastics engineering programs. Read full article.

Leaders in agriculture talk profitability for the industry

Thursday, June 11, 2020

For beef and corn producer Cal Dalton, late December and early January was an optimistic time on the farm. Crop and cattle prices were decent, and Dalton felt a renewed energy after an extended downturn from China embargoes. But then COVID-19 hit. “It pretty much destroyed our markets,” Dalton told a WisPolitics.com-WisBusiness.com virtual luncheon yesterday. He noted a dollar drop in corn prices, a dollar fifty drop in soybean prices and a twenty dollar hundredweight drop for cattle. Read full article.

New program offers aid for Wisconsin farmers who have experienced losses due to COVID-19

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Government agencies including WEDC and the U.S. Small Business Administration have announced initiatives to help ease the impact of COVID-19 on Wisconsin business owners, and now the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is joining the relief efforts with direct aid for farmers. The Wisconsin Farm Support Program will provide $50 million in direct aid payments to Wisconsin farmers who have experienced losses due to COVID-19. Read full article.

New video: Reopening guidelines and checklists for businesses

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Last month, WEDC posted guidelines for businesses of different types to reopen safely and protect the health of their employees and customers, addressing such topics as social distancing, personal protective equipment, ventilation, cleaning and sanitization. Now a checklist has been added to the end of each guidelines document, so business owners can be sure all the relevant areas have been addressed as they reopen. Watch the video to learn more about the guidelines and checklists. Watch the video here.

Stout student receives $10,000 grant for women in technology

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

AUniversity of Wisconsin-Stout senior is one of 100 students worldwide to win a $10,000 scholarship from the Google Women Techmakers Scholars Program. Kendra Aumann-Weyenberg, of DeKalb, Ill., who is majoring in computer science with a game design and development concentration, said she was thrilled to learn she was one of only 20 students in the U.S. who had received the scholarship. Read full article.

WESTconsin announces scholarships

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

WESTconsin Credit Union has awarded 13 $1,000 scholarships to area high school seniors, including three in Dunn County. Rachel Dietrich, Menomonie High School graduate, received the employee and immediate family scholarship. WESTconsin Credit Union employs many high school students in its $MARTCU offices and office locations. Many of WESTconsin’s employees have graduating seniors each year, too. Dietrich will use the money to help fund her post-secondary education plans at University of Minnesota-Duluth, where she will be studying Chemical Engineering. Read full article.

Stout students compete for Big Idea

Saturday, June 06, 2020

Justin Bryant, who graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stout May 9 with a degree in computer science, has been looking forward to the Steam release of a PC game entitled Ninja Scarf he and other teammates created. Bryant, of Green Bay, and teammate Katelyn Zenz, of Lancaster, a senior majoring in BFA game design and development-art, will be competing in the WiSys’ Wisconsin Big Idea Tournament student business competition virtually on Wednesday, June 10. Read full article.

WisBusiness: The Podcast with Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at UW-Madison

Friday, June 05, 2020

This episode of “WisBusiness: The Podcast” features Mark Stephenson, director of dairy policy analysis at UW-Madison. America’s Dairyland has faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding to an uneasy past few years of trade dilemmas, oversupply of milk and tariffs. Read full article.

2020 Best to Invest

Friday, May 29, 2020

This annual report is usually a celebratory recognition of some of the world’s best performing economies, especially those most successful at attracting investment and creating jobs. And we’ll still do that. But it’s impossible to highlight last year’s successes as populations and economies in every corner of the world are ravaged by an unprecedented crisis. The world we celebrate on these pages no longer exists, what comes next hotly debated by talking heads on tv screens. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) has declined for the last four years. It’s collapsed this year. It will be years, perhaps decades, before global FD...

New group looks to help consumers shop local farms in western Wisconsin

Friday, May 29, 2020

Trends in the ways consumers get their food and how farmers and producers move their products has been evolving. These trends could be accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic as some people may be increasingly uncomfortable shopping in crowds at grocery stores and nationwide food supply chains face challenges. Read full article.

5 Ways HR Leaders Can Engage and Empower Hourly Workers

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

The turnover rate for hourly employees has always been, and continues to be, extremely high. Retail, for example, has a turnover rate of around 60 percent, and other sectors can be even higher than that. This is a real problem for businesses since replacing an employee costs on average $4,969, according to a 2015 survey. For any business, that is a large cost that could be avoided with better management. HR managers can mitigate this level of turnover by engaging with hourly employees, so they feel listened to and respected, and empowering them with specific work benefits that can lower this churn rate. Let’s dive into five ways that HR leader...

9 Strategies To Build An Employee-First Culture

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Organizations should recognize that if you take care of culture, then the customer experience and profits will take care of themselves. Putting your people at the center of your thinking and decision-making will never steer you in the wrong direction. Culture is experienced in every employee’s actions, 365 days of the year. It is not about the organizational perks, being perfect or being tied to a rigid set of rules. Culture is when employees feel empowered to work autonomously and make decisions driven by core value Read full article.

Improving Productivity for Remote and Distributed Work Forces

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

At a time when more people are working from home but business deliverables and deadlines remain the same, managers are seeking tangible ways to make remote work function just as well as the usual methods for employees they support. Below are four tangible steps that managers can take to combat communication or productivity issues that can occur for teams who aren’t used to working remotely. Read full article.

Amazon Said To Be In Talks To Buy Self-Driving Startup Zoox

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Amazon may be preparing to make a big move into the self-driving vehicle world as the logistics giant is said to be in “advanced” talks to acquire Zoox, a stealthy developer of robotaxi technology, according to the Wall Street Journal. Along with Amazon, other interested parties are considering offers for the Silicon Valley startup, a person familiar with the matter tells Forbes. The purchase terms would value Zoox below its estimated market value of $3.2 billion, a level attained after its last funding round, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. There’s no final agreement yet, and the timing of when ...

Main Street Marketplace online retail portal launches

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

MADISON, WI. May 26, 2020 – A new online retail portal is now available to connect shoppers within and beyond our state’s borders with more than 230 Main Street businesses across Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced today. The website, www.mainstreetwi.com, provides a searchable database of more than 230 locally owned shops that offer online sales and shipping. Visitors can choose to search by geography or by product category. Read full article.

What’s Good For The Planet Can Also Be Good For Business

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

By making sustainable packaging for e-commerce and the industrial supply chain, Ranpak is doing well by doing good. Ranpak is a leading global provider of environmentally friendly protective packaging solutions, and its systems play an increasingly important role in an ever more complex and interconnected economy. Ranpak serves a broad array of industries, including e-commerce, food and beverage, healthcare, automotive, machinery and consumer goods. Read full article.

It's Time To Close The Digital Divide

Friday, May 22, 2020

With so many school districts around the country working feverishly to implement distance learning programs, there is no better time to talk about the digital divide and a student’s right to education. While the term "digital divide" can be used to describe many instances in which marginalized kids and those that require assistive technologies do not have access to the technologies that they need to stay competitive with their more affluent peers around the world, what I want to address in this article are the millions of K-12 students across the United States who don’t have internet access at home. Read ful...

WisBusiness: The Podcast with Buckley Brinkman, Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity

Friday, May 22, 2020

This episode of “WisBusiness: The Podcast” features Buckley Brinkman, executive director and CEO of the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity. WCMP collaborates with the UW Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center and the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership to help the state’s manufacturers grow their businesses and become more profitable by offering services and programs. Read full article.

Focus Forward - Reopening with Safety in Mind

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Why the 2020 U.S. Census is Important to Dunn County

Monday, May 04, 2020

The data gathered by the U.S. Census is critical for economic development efforts in Dunn County. Why? Because the data influences the amount of federal funding the county and our individual communities receive from the federal government. This funding goes to pay for things that directly influence quality of life and economic development. For example, federal funding helps to pay for the local schools that are educating our children and preparing the next generation of workers. They also help to pay for critical infrastructure projects - projects that are key factors in determining business expansion and attraction plans. Public works an...

Dunn County Businesses Need Your Support During COVID-19

Monday, April 20, 2020

Dunn County businesses need the support of our community during the COVID-19 crisis. Fortunately, it is possible to make a considerable economic impact, even when business activities are restricted. Ways to Support Local Businesses During COVID-19 Most businesses have altered how they do business in response to COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean they are closed. In many cases, they have simply moved online or to an ordering system. This makes it possible to continue supporting local businesses, even if you are unable to physically shop or dine there. Think about the businesses that you typically buy from, restaurants you eat at, ic...

How Leah Pritchett Turned Her Drag Racing Hobby Into A Career

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Leah Pritchett’s love for drag racing started at a young age—thanks to her father who was a land speed racer and dreamt of racing with his family. What started as a hobby when Pritchett was eight years old later became Pritchett’s passion that she turned into a career. Now, Pritchett—who won her first career national event in 2016—has risen to the top of a male-dominated sport. But as women become more successful in the racing world, she’s optimistic that it’ll inspire others to go after new and bigger opportunities. Read full article.

Automotive Site Selection in Small and Rural Communities

Friday, April 17, 2020

Site Selection Factors for the Automotive Industry The U.S., Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA), for example, which has now higher local [requirements] content. So before, the local content for automotive projects was at about 62%, and now they raised it to 75%, which means you have to manufacture much more in the U.S. For example, Germans like to ship in the engine but that is a very large part [of the car]. So, the whole supply chain is changing. And then, with all the new agreements with China, for example, the tariff war going on, back and forth, how many tariffs ar...

Corporate Site Location in the COVID 19 Hurricane

Friday, April 17, 2020

COVID 19 is similar but not the same as a hurricane. The differences between COVID 19 and a hurricane are in scale, scope, and length. Both events have dramatic personal impacts on human safety and economic security, but a hurricane hits one area while COVID 19’s target is everywhere. A hurricane lasts for hours, but COVID 19 lasts for months. From a corporate site location perspective, COVID 19’s impact has transformed the global economy and corporate site location into New Orleans during Katrina. Economic Disruption COVID 19 is a massive economic disruption. Manufacturers like Honda, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, and others have temporaril...

In Focus: Key Success Factors for Building a Cannabis Processing Center

Friday, April 17, 2020

On January 1 of this year, Illinois was the latest state to legalize recreational cannabis, and there are strong indications that New York will be following suit. By the end of 2020, more than 40 U.S. states could have marijuana laws on the books — a boon for industrial speculative developers looking to diversify by seeking new growth opportunities beyond e-commerce leasing. The development of facilities for cannabis processing is highly specialized — more akin to the development of a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant than an e-commerce warehouse. Even then, it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are subject to federal oversigh...

In Focus: Mitigating Risk with Aggressive Support in Economic Development

Friday, April 17, 2020

The rapid global spread of the COVID-19 virus has left businesses frantically looking for viable solutions to protect employees and consumer health and presents tough choices for business leaders. The coronavirus has desperately affected the business community and, in particular, the supply chain. For example, here in South Carolina, the Port of Charleston is one of the leading import-export hubs in the country. The port is anticipating a container drop in March and April but, with extreme safety measures, expects normal shipments starting back in May. Read full article.

Milestones and Incentives in the Site Selection Process

Friday, April 17, 2020

The Biggest Misperception About the Incentive Process I think a lot of companies that aren't familiar with the incentive process come to us and have the misconception that they simply make some commitments, they sign a lease, shake the hand of the mayor, and receive a check. It's actually a much more complex process than that. It requires working with the municipalities for multiple years in order to show that you've met the commitments to receive the incentives that have been awarded based on the company's performance. Read full article.

Redevelopment of Former Coal Plant Sites

Friday, April 17, 2020

Coal-fired power plants across the United States shut down in 2019 at the second-fastest pace on record. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), plants with a combined total of more than 15,100 megawatts ceased operating nationwide last year — enough to power 15 million homes, and second only to the number of megawatts retired during 2015. The reasons behind these closures are many: decreasing wholesale prices, competition from comparatively cheap and plentiful alternate energy sources such as natural gas, subsidized solar and wind energy, continued compliance with federal energy regulations, and public concern over coal’s effect on climat...

Research, Engineering, and Design: The Talent Cluster in a Talent-Focused World

Friday, April 17, 2020

here’s the talent? Ask a corporate executive or a site selection consultant the number-one factor driving location decisions and the response will be skilled labor. In Area Development’s 33rd Annual Corporate Survey and 15th Annual Consultants Survey, “availability of skilled labor” ranked number one on both surveys — not surprising while reinforcing talent-focused strategies. If talent is the number-one factor, why do so many economic development strategies focus on clusters of companies versus clusters of talent? A New Approach One benefit of starting a new regional economic development organization is the ability to consider new approaches without being tied to previous thinking. A...

What Will the City of the Future Look Like?

Friday, April 17, 2020

The city of the future will be more walkable, connected, educated and infrastructure-laden than what currently passes for a competitive location. According to a recent survey of economists and site selection consultants, the “must-have” ingredients for the most competitive locations of the future won’t come easy or cheap, but they will be indispensable to attract growing businesses and the talent needed to make them thrive. Read full article.

Where To Find Food, Housing Help And More In Wisconsin During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Are you in need of food? Do you need someone to pick up groceries? Are you looking for ways to help during the COVID-19 pandemic? Here’s a non-exhaustive list of resources across Wisconsin. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, you can search for services online at 211 Wisconsin, dial 211 on your phone, or text your ZIP code to 898211. We’ll keep updating this list as the outbreak continues. Read full article.

Foxconn facility might be used to make ventilators amid COVID-19 pandemic

Sunday, April 12, 2020

MOUNT PLEASANT — Medtronic, a Minnesota-based medical device company, may start using Foxconn’s Mount Pleasant facilities to manufacture ventilators to help fill in shortages amid the COVID-19 crisis. Medtronic’s CEO, Omar Ishrak, told CNBC on Monday that “we are doing everything we can working 24/7 with Foxconn to bring this up to the factory in Wisconsin.” “The medical and technical experts from both our companies (Medtronic and Foxconn) are working closely to fast-track the research and development and production processes so additional ventilators can be quickly produced to fight the current global pandemic,” a statement from the Foxconn Technology Group said. Read full article.

Funeral homes adapt to gathering restrictions, which go at odds with industry's function

Friday, April 10, 2020

It goes against the purpose of the industry. When faced with loss, funeral services bring friends and family together to share grief and remember a loved one. During the COVID-19 pandemic and with Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home Order in place, local funeral homes have been doing what they can to continue to provide services to families while still following regulations. Read full article.

DHS predicts coronavirus infections to peak in three to six weeks

Thursday, April 09, 2020

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm predicts the state’s coronavirus peak will happen in the next three to six weeks. The peak and an extension of “Safer at Home” depends on how much in-person voting contributed to the virus spreading. Palm told Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce in a webinar the prediction is based on how well Wisconsin continues to implement Gov. Tony Evers’ “safer at home” order and “what the impact of the election might have on transmission rate.” Read full article.

WHEDA innovates for customers, communities, economic recovery

Thursday, April 09, 2020

April 8, 2020 Greetings: The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority was created in 1972 to expand access to affordable housing and economic opportunity for people throughout Wisconsin. To continue this important work during the COVID-19 pandemic, WHEDA is adapting and innovating to support low- to moderate-income home buyers, renters, affordable housing providers and other partners. While we are focused on meeting the immediate needs of our customers and communities, our extensive range of actions includes work to forge a successful recovery. I’d like to commend our staff for their incredible dedication and resilience in adjusting our operations to meet these challenges while preparin...

Wisconsin Biopharma Startup FluGen Is Developing a Coronavirus Vaccine

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

As the coronavirus continues to plague countries throughout the world, scientists have been scrambling to develop a vaccine for the illness as the number of global cases surpasses 1 million and deaths top 76,000. More than 140 experimental drug treatments and vaccines for the coronavirus are currently in development worldwide, and a Wisconsin startup is among those working towards a cure. Read full article.

Local upcoming CVTC spring graduates adapt to new learning, workforce

Monday, April 06, 2020

The final semester of college is supposed to be about real-world learning, searching for employment and celebrating graduation. For spring graduates, that ideal final months of school will be much different this year. Riley Henneman, from Bloomer, is in his final semester of the automation engineering technology program at Chippewa Valley Technical College. Instruction typically involves the greatest amount of hands-on work as students near their point of entering the workforce, but with buildings closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been a challenge to receive the same level of learning. Read full article.

More manufacturers producing PPEs to fight COVID-19

Monday, April 06, 2020

Manufacturers across the region continue to step up and change what they are doing to help in the fight against COVID-19 by making personal protection equipment (PPE) for health care employees and first responders. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. put out the word to manufacturers across the state to see how they could help. Here are three of the latest companies in the New North to get involved. Read full article.

Pivoting during a pandemic

Monday, April 06, 2020

Manufacturers in the state are ramping up their efforts to supply personal protective equipment such as face shields, as well as crucial parts for medical devices used in the pandemic response. Midwest Prototyping President Steven Grundahl says his company intends to produce 1 million face shields for health care workers after pivoting in response to the current crisis. “We’re used to doing short runs and unique projects; problem-solving is our daily business,” he told WisBusiness.com. Read full article.

Ag leaders calling for purchase program for excess dairy products

Friday, April 03, 2020

Agriculture groups in Wisconsin are urging the federal government to immediately begin purchasing excess dairy products to donate to food banks and other programs. The push comes as farmers and other producers are grappling with an oversupply of milk and other dairy products driven by closures of schools and restaurants, which make up a major piece of their market. Read full article.

Inside the DIY Movement to Make Face Shields and Masks for Healthcare Workers

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

There was a period last year when I was in the market for a new couch. Instagram knew this, obviously, so while scrolling through pictures of my friends’ vacations, babies, dogs and nuptials, I became intimately acquainted with a number of affordable midcentury modern-esque furniture companies — including one called Inside Weather. From where I sit right now, in the midst of a pandemic that threatens to claim as many as 200,000 American lives before it’s over — it’s hard to fathom the hours I once had to think about couches. And as it turns out, that’s how Ben Parsa, th...

IRS Explains Coronavirus Tax Credit Details, Including Advances

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

The IRS and Treasury Department have explained how business can claim the new Employee Retention Credit. It is designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19. The IRS News release is IR-2020-62, and a Republican Senate Finance Committee take is here: . From the IRS, here are some questions and answers. Read full article.

Small Business Owner? This Forgivable Loan May Help Keep Your Business Afloat During The Lockdown

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

In addition to including stimulus checks for individuals, the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act includes a $349 billion stimulus package to help small businesses make their payroll and rent payments over the next few months. This stimulus program, called the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), is designed to help small businesses avoid laying off employees over the next few months while social distancing requirements keep many small businesses closed or operating at less than full capacity. Read full article.

The Domino Effect: 5 Ways Coronavirus Will Forever Change Retail

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

Following World War II, i.e. the last event of a similar magnitude to what the world now faces with coronavirus, the United States was focused on controlling the spread of communism. One popular theory at the time, domino theory, suggested that the rise of communism in one nation could quickly spread into other nations. And, while this Cold War-era paranoia is no longer relevant in today’s day and age, the concept is nonetheless still useful in examining what impact the events of the last few weeks will have on the future of many industries, especially retail. Like dominoes lined up perfectly on...

U.S. Broadband Holding Up Under Work-From-Home Strain, Speedtest Finds

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

While Americans hunker down to wait out the COVID-19 storm and online schooling goes into full swing, U.S. broadband speeds are largely holding up to the challenge, according to new stats from PCMag's sibling company Ookla Speedtest. Fixed broadband speeds in the U.S. have largely flattened out after a slight dip between March 15 and 22, Ookla's results show, although speeds in Canada are continuing a slow decline. Both countries still have considerably better broadband than Mexico or much of Europe, according to the results, with average speeds between 110 and 140Mbps. Read full article.

Why You Fear Public Speaking and How to Overcome It

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

Public speaking continues to be a top fear of humanity. Whether you’re speaking to a group of 10 or 10,000, public speaking is nerve-wracking. Yet most professionals agree that public speaking is a powerful skill capable of transforming one's business or career. As a professional speaker for over eight years, I’ve had experience training small groups of executives, pitching business plans to key stakeholders and delivering keynote presentations to thousands of people around the world. The below is my best advice for removing anxiety before any presentation. Read full article.

10 Products to Get You Through Working From Home

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

A large portion of the American workforce is working from home these days. For some, that's no problem and it's business as usual. For others, it's tough to be as productive as you once were. Given that we may be working from home for quite some time, it's a good idea to start thinking about how you're going to get the most out of every day. Not sure where to start? Here's a primer on how to optimize every ounce of time you spend in your home office. Read full article.

5 Workouts You Can Do at Home for Free Right Now

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

As gyms across the country are deemed “nonessential businesses” and shut down for the foreseeable future, the number of virtual fitness resources is exploding. For some, that means purchasing expensive stationary bikes with virtual classes instead of attending a daily indoor-cycling class. But a $2,200 Peloton bike is simply too expensive for most Americans, especially when there are so many free options available right now. “The irony is that many people are probably exercising more now than they would otherwise, because they have nothing else to do,” says Jennifer Cohen, an Entrepreneur contributor, and founder and CEO of No Gym Required. Read full article.

7 Ways to Recover From Too Many Online Meetings During the Day

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

As most startup founders and entrepreneurs can tell you these days, meeting hangovers are real. Right now people are meeting online for everything from work, to happy hours with friends, to therapy sessions or even working out. A large number of these meetings can seriously deplete your precious resources. One of the primary obstacles to recovering from meetings is the time it takes to switch from one point of focus (the meeting) to another (deeper work). After a fruitless or stressful meeting, your productivity is drained as your resources are reallocated to deal with the resulting mental stress. Read full article.

6 Steps to Taking Your Startup Accelerator 100 Percent Virtual

Monday, March 30, 2020

So you have your next startup accelerator program going on right now or coming up fast. You may be asking yourself, how do I provide as much value without face-to-face relationships? Can I have as big of an impact virtually, or should I delay our timeline? Can I even do it at all? Short answer: Yes, you can. Now is the time to step up as innovators in the startup ecosystem. It’s time to evolve. Just like the startups they fund, accelerators are always ripe for an upgrade. Read full article.

How is WI Helping Small Business?

Monday, March 30, 2020

The head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Secretary-Designee Missy Hughes, joins Josh to discuss how her agency is getting support to small businesses across the state, working to digest the new federal relief legislation, what assistance is available to sole-proprietors, and the issues around what is and isn’t an “essential business” in WI. Read full article.

Who Is Eligible For Small Business Loans In The Economic Stimulus Package?

Friday, March 27, 2020

President Trump signed the third and final economic stimulus package into law this afternoon. The law provides clear guidelines on what small businesses are eligible, and what their loans will look like. Here are the details. The total amount of money going in the fund is $349 billion. The loans are federally-guaranteed (meaning there is no interest on the loan), and tax-free. All loan payments are deferred for one year. Read full article.

How A Navy Officer Turned A Big Idea Into A $118M Business

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Page, a senior and midshipman first class, was developing a thesis project that was helping him graduate from the academy so he could fulfill his dream of becoming a SEAL or naval aviator. But then a senior professor walked into the lab. He wanted to hear about Page’s project. Over the next few hours, Page explained a new kind of water treatment technology, an idea he had since high school. When the student finished his presentation, the teacher flipped his notebook over and looked at him. Read full article.

How To Start Rebuilding The Post-Coronavirus Economy Now

Friday, March 20, 2020

When recent tornadoes hit Tennessee, signs were soon up declaring “Nashville Strong!” Similar declarations of strength show up all over our country with handmade posters and T-shirts whenever a natural disaster or tragedy hits. We need to bring that same optimism and can-do attitude and declare “America Strong” through our current challenge. COVID-19 has not only infected thousands, but has thrust us into an economic recession. How long, how deep and how many are impacted by the recession will be influenced not just by the virus, but by action taken by government leaders to recover from the economic impact. Read full article.

DWD announces “dramatic increase” in Work-Share Program

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

The Department of Workforce Development announced it has more than 500 “work-share” plans with almost 18,000 participants in Wisconsin. The program is designed to help employers keep employees during slow business periods by reducing worker hours. It allows employees to file for partial unemployment benefits while keeping benefits from their employer, therefore avoiding financial challenges associated with a total loss of work. Read full article.

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