Recent News

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.

10 essential pieces of advice for anyone who wants to leap from employee to entrepreneur

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. It’s difficult, risky, and stressful; but if you’re successful, you’ll become the master of your destiny. These business founders and "Advisors" in The Oracles share how they made the leap from employee to entrepreneur — and how you can too. Click here to 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 Get Your People Engaged And Aligned During The Coronavirus Outbreak

Monday, March 23, 2020

Complexity is the defining business and leadership challenge of our time. But it has never felt more urgent than this moment, with the coronavirus upending life and business as we know it. Governments are scrambling to mitigate the effects of the outbreak, and business leaders are rushing to protect their people, their customers, and their companies. For the next few weeks, we’ll be drawing on our deep knowledge base about what it takes to lead through the most complex and confounding problems, to offer you insights and advice about how to keep a steady hand on the wheel during th...

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.

Best and Worst States for Business

Friday, March 13, 2020

As one of the top states, Colorado boasts a highly-educated workforce. Nearly 42% of adults in the state have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 32.6% share of adults nationwide. There will also not likely be a shortage of labor in the state anytime soon. Click here to read full article.

Menomonie joined in taking steps to improve Red Cedar watershed

Friday, March 13, 2020

Creating a healthy watershed takes a commitment from top to bottom. For the Red Cedar watershed the beginning of that commitment is there. In Menomonie the city has taken strides on the reduction of sediment and phosphorus in lake while also taking an interest in education of youth regarding storm water. Click here to read full article.

Menomonie eight-graders agree to be part of district's first associate degree academy with CVTC

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

A group of Menomonie eighth-graders is looking to their futures. With an eye toward college, 27 students agreed to be part of a new embedded degree program agreement between Chippewa Valley Technical College and the Menomonie school district that would allow them to earn an associate degree in business management during their four years in high school. Click here to read full article.

Menomonie chamber announces new tourism manager

Monday, March 09, 2020

The Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce announced Monday that Kimberly Stickfort will be the chamber’s new tourism manager. “For the past few years, I have worked for a social media agency and I look forward to using my expertise in online marketing to continue growth of Menomonie’s tourism,” Stickfort said. “I am excited to start working with the chamber of commerce and the community.” Click here to read full article.

Wisconsin banks backing call for more flexibility in ag lending

Friday, March 06, 2020

The Wisconsin Bankers Association is backing an effort from U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin to give financial institutions more flexibility in lending to farmers. Baldwin and Republican U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota urged financial regulators in a recent letter to relax certain regulations that limit loans to agricultural businesses. “The letter encourages regulators to listen to the judgement of local bankers who obviously know their customers well, and know the cycles well and have a lot of experience with it,” said WBA President Rose Oswald Poels in a recent interview. “Providing greater deference to bankers is always a positive.” Click here t...

WEDC awards nine grants to support entrepreneurship programs throughout Wisconsin

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced today that nine organizations have been awarded a total of $432,000 in grants this year to help develop or expand innovative programs aimed at advancing the climate for entrepreneurship throughout the state. The grants are being awarded as part of WEDC’s Entrepreneurship Support Program, which is now in its fourth year. The grants will help fund activities that promote entrepreneurship or deliver education, training and other resources to assist new and aspiring business owners, particularly in underserved communities and rural areas. Nearly 350 entrepreneurs and organizations are expected to receive services through programs funde...

Wisconsin hosts largest technical dairy competition in world

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

The largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the world started Tuesday in Wisconsin, with a record 3,667 entries from 26 nations. The 55 judges taste, sniff and inspect the 132 classes of dairy products during the biennial World Championship Cheese Contest. The judges include cheese graders, cheese buyers, dairy science professors, and researchers from 19 nations and 14 states. Click here to read full article.

Frank assumes role as UW-Stout Chancellor with a future focused on diversity, sustainability and student success

Monday, March 02, 2020

It was symbolic for new UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank as she begins her role as the university’s first woman to lead the university as Women’s History Month begins. Frank officially assumed the role on Sunday and began her first day as chancellor on campus Monday. She started her day with a meeting with the Chancellor’s Cabinet followed by a walk around campus to introduce herself and get acclimated with UW-Stout’s day-to-day operations. Click here to read full article.

Reasons Site Selectors Should Choose Dunn County

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Dunn County Wisconsin is one hour from the Twin Cities Metro. This proximity to the Twin Cities offers strategic benefits for companies looking to access the Metro while paying less in real estate cost and in wages. Existing Twin Cities companies, and those looking for a strategic Midwest location, are attracted to West Central Wisconsin for the following - #1 Convenient interstate access and proximity to the Twin Cities The Twin Cities is located just 60 miles from West Central Wisconsin. Interstate access makes it easy to access the Metro, in addition to major cities throughout the country. From Dunn County, businesse...

Emergency Preparedness and Response: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Chinese authorities have confirmed an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in early December 2019. Currently there are hundreds of confirmed cases in China, including cases outside Wuhan City, with additional cases being identified in a growing number of countries internationally. The first case in the United States was announced on January 21, 2020. Read full article.

The future of retail in the US: industry trends and market trends

Monday, February 24, 2020

Retail sales volume was higher in 2019 than ever before — and it will only continue trending upward as the entire experience becomes more streamlined and frictionless for customers. However, the face of the industry is changing rapidly; Business Insider Intelligence recently reported that in 2019 ecommerce sales surpassed 10% of total retail sales for the first time ever. The growing online trend impacts both e-tailers and brick-and-mortar sellers. Because merchants must embrace ecommerce to boost their own growth, the roles of solutions providers like BigCommerce and Shopify, as well as marketplaces like Amazon, could expand further in the coming years, due t...

The network is an entrepreneur’s best asset

Monday, February 24, 2020

Entrepreneurs have a lot to think about when building a business, and one of the most important may be strengthening and tapping their networks. More than 20 years of academic research has tied business networking to entrepreneurial success, demonstrating that networking is an important way to validate opportunities, connect to resources, and access information. Research has suggested that entrepreneurs have on average twice the number of online network connections as nonentrepreneurs. Although the raw size of an entrepreneur’s network does not necessarily correlate with startup success, engagement with a tightly connected subset of that network does. An MIT study demonstrates tha...

A Formula for Growth After the Start-Up Stage

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Much attention is paid to how entrepreneurs create an innovative product or service and bring it to market, pivoting quickly to solve financial and logistical challenges along the way. But after the start-up buzz wears off, owners must figure out how to scale their businesses for long-term, stable growth. Rather than simply working harder, a new report suggests, second-stage companies should consider a different strategy to reach the middle market, incorporating five conditions that were compiled and tracked by TrueSpace, a consulting firm, and the analytics firm Gallup. Click here to read full article.

American business world optimistic about $100B trade target with Turkey

Thursday, February 20, 2020

The presidents of the U.S and Turkey have agreed to keep the bilateral trade volume target separate from other problems ,and the U.S. business world has expressed optimism about economic relations with Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an on Wednesday said he and U.S. President Donald Trump have decided to keep their target of reaching $100 billion in trade volume separate from other disputes between the two countries. The decision was agreed upon in a recent call with Trump, Erdo?an said. Click here to read full article.

Bank of America Community Development Banking Provided a Record $4.88 Billion in Lending and Investing in 2019

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Bank of America Community Development Banking (CDB) provided a record $4.88 billion in loans, tax credit equity investments, and other real estate development solutions, surpassing last year’s record of $4.7 billion. CDB delivers innovative financing solutions to help create affordable housing for individuals, families, seniors, students, veterans, the formerly homeless, and those with special needs. These efforts are part of the company’s commitment to deploying capital to address global issues outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Bank of America Global Corporate and Investment Banking also provided $351 million in tax credit investments, resulting in an additional 4,400 affordabl...

Delta lifts off with $1 billion pledge to become carbon neutral

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Delta Air Lines has become the latest aviation company setting its sights on becoming "carbon neutral," with an ambition to reach that target by 2030 and pledge to invest $1 billion in achieving the goal over the next 10 years. The investment will focus on driving innovation, advancing clean air travel technologies, accelerating reductions in waste and emissions, and establishing new offsetting and natural carbon sequestration projects, the company said. Click here to read full article.

FCC Launches New $20.4B Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to Subsidize Broadband Networks in Areas Without 25/3 Mbps

Thursday, February 20, 2020

The FCC approved and released an order that will inject $20.4 billion in funding for the deployment of networks for the provision of high-speed broadband internet access and voice services in areas that are otherwise too costly to be adequately served by the market (typically, rural areas). Although publicly funding voice communications networks in high cost areas is a long-standing policy in the United States, in 2011 the FCC adopted a new approach. The agency decided to focus high cost funding on the upgrading of those networks so that they would be capable of providing high-speed internet access services in addition to voice...

Small business confidence rises, signaling a more positive outlook for the US economy

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Small business sentiment is on the rise to kick off 2020, with confidence nearing all-time highs, according to data from CNBC and SurveyMonkey. The CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small Business Confidence Index climbed two points in the first quarter, from 59 to 61, as concerns over trade policy impacts lessened, thanks to a trade deal with China and the signing of the USMCA. This is a sharp turnaround from the lows seen last summer as trade turmoil weighed on Main Street’s outlook. The Small Business Confidence Index is calculated based on entrepreneurs’ responses to a set of eight questions about their businesses as part o...

The Hidden Power of Guarantees in Community Development Finance

Thursday, February 20, 2020

If you’ve ever had someone co-sign a loan for you, then you know how a guarantee works. That other person, maybe a parent or relative, is promising the bank that in case you can’t make your monthly payment, they’ll make the payment in your place. If all goes well, your parent or relative may never need to step up for you. This process is often a formality, but it can also be a prohibitive barrier if you don’t have a parent or relative with good credit. Guarantees are a very common tool to support financial institutions themselves. The Federal Deposit Insuranc...

Wisconsin dairy farmers lead sustainability efforts

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Dairy farmers are leading Wisconsin's sustainability efforts. 72nd Alice in Dairyland Abigail Martin stopped by Wake Up Wisconsin on Thursday to explain how farmers are caring for the land. Click here to read full article.

General Aviation’s Contribution to U.S. Economy Remains Strong

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

A group of seven general aviation associations today welcomed an updated study detailing the contributions of general aviation to the U.S. economy. The study, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, determined that general aviation supports a total 1,179,200 jobs and a total of $246.8 billion in total economic output in the U.S. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Helicopter Association International (HAI), National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) sponsored the study, with the support from JETNET LLC. and Conklin & de Decker. Leaders o...

Broadband Roundup: Congress Questions FCC Over Rural Fund, Banning Huawei, T-Mobile/Sprint Merger and Inequality

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Over twenty members of Congress sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Friday asking for clarification on the changes to the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund announced during the agency’s vote to approve the program on January 30. In a last-minute change, the FCC eliminated the ability for areas receiving state subsidies for broadband deployment to also receive RDOF funds. “We are concerned that the RDOF Order may inadvertently undermine the ability of the states to help close the digital divide due to the rushed process undertaken by the FCC’s adoption of the Order,” the member of Congress wrote. Click here to read ful...

Franchises that work out: Many of the hottest US businesses to franchise involve fitness

Saturday, February 15, 2020

For many Americans, entrepreneurship seems like an attractive option. Owning your own business means not having to answer to a boss everyday and often a much higher earning potential than a salaried job. However, running a business is also far riskier than working in an established company. One way for budding entrepreneurs to minimize the risk is to start a franchise location. Franchisees are entrepreneurs who acquire a license to operate one or many locations of an established brand. Though they typically pay an annual licensing fee, in addition to often high upfront startup costs, franchisees benefit from tried and teste...

Mission Wisconsin: Helping transitioning veterans find a new future in Wisconsin

Friday, February 14, 2020

A summit aimed at helping veterans transition from active duty to life in the Midwest was held in Green Bay this morning. Kris Schuller reports the meeting is also helping to raise the profile of a recruitment program called Mission Wisconsin. In the Hotel Northland employers, veterans and community leaders meet for the Veteran Ready Summit, to learn more about a state initiative called Mission Wisconsin. Click here to read full article.

The Business of Better Health Care

Friday, February 14, 2020

THERE'S A SAYING IN business that employers should take care of their employees, who will take care of the customers, who will take care of the company's bottom line. This philosophy is especially true in hospitality, where front-line employees have the most frequent interactions with our guests. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly difficult for employers to look after their employees because of ever-increasing health care costs. Since 1999, the average cost of family premiums for employer-provided health insurance, which covers most Americans, has increased by approximately 250% – about five times faster than inflation. Average deductibles have more than tripled over this time frame. Click here to read ful...

What is the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund?

Friday, February 14, 2020

On February 7, the Federal Communications Commission released the report and order that creates the framework for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, the latest effort to extend the reach of broadband networks deeper into rural America. The FCC's own research estimates that $80 billion is needed to bring broadband everywhere in the U.S., so the $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is a significant -- although likely insufficient -- step in closing the digital divide over the next decade. Here we review the framework and note some controversy around the FCC decision. Click here to read full article.

Cheesemaker considers expansion into Menomonie

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, known for its cheese curds and artisan cheeses, is looking to expand into Menomonie. The Pierce County-based creamery is slated to meet with the Menomonie City Council next week about the possibility of opening its third manufacturing location in the city. Read full article.

Regional leaders need to join together to stay competitive in the global market

Thursday, February 13, 2020

In 2014, St. Petersburg, Fla. mayor Rick Kriseman and Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn went on a trade mission to Chile. But, in recognizing that scale matters in such attempts at global competitiveness, the two mayors made their trip not as representatives of two separate cities, but as dual ambassadors of the Tampa Bay region. Prior to the trade mission, the economic development organizations (EDOs) of three neighboring Florida counties—Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco—joined forces to create Global Tampa Bay, aligning their international business engagement strategy in a regional economic partnership. This meant pooling resources, sharing a budget, taking turns as chair, an...

Demand For Broadband Internet Remains High In Rural Wisconsin

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Grant Applications Under State Program Are Double Money Available This year, Wisconsin will provide a record amount of money for broadband internet in underserved areas of the state that need it for business, government and school. The $24 million the state is making available in 2020 through the Broadband Expansion Grant Program is the largest amount since the program began in 2014. But it is not enough to meet demand. Read full article.

Expanding entrepreneurship for everyone

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

The NIA Office of Small Business Research (OSBR) team is intrigued by startups and their unique role in research and development. Of course, we’re a bit biased — after all, we lead NIA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) programs, which are designed to help new companies commercialize products and technology to extend the healthy, active years of life. The OSBR team is pleased to support a diverse range of innovative ideas. To help broaden our reach, we recently produced a factsheet (PDF, 5.3M) that explains how our SBIR/STTR programs can provide significant seed funding to small businesses to addres...

Rocky Vista welcomes first digital health students

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Students at Rocky Vista University's College of Osteopathic Medicine with an interest in digital health are now enrolled in the new digital health track. The advent of digital health — the integration of technology into healthcare to improve a patient's wellbeing — has created a need for physicians who are knowledgeable about its emerging tools. Click here to read full article.

States, Governors Focus on Broadband Expansion

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

GOVERNORS ACROSS THE country are increasingly prioritizing broadband deployment and high-speed internet access in a bid to resolve connectivity concerns that disproportionately hang over America's most rural communities. Of the 40 State of the State speeches delivered so far this year, 20 included references to high-speed internet access or state broadband installation projects, according to a U.S. News analysis of governors' prepared remarks. Click here to read full article.

How to Catch Hold of a Borderless Industry

Monday, February 10, 2020

A look at what makes fintech firms and ecosystems tick. What do fintechs do all day? “That’s the million-dollar question, right?” says Jackson Mueller, associate director at the Milken Institute’s Center for Financial Markets. He defines fintech as “the use of technology in the provision of financial products and services.” Among the sector’s characteristics, he says, are: The nature and pace of innovation and adoption: “Things are constantly moving at breakneck speed.” Read full article.

In Focus: Taking Steps to Fill Your Company’s Talent Pipeline

Sunday, February 09, 2020

Companies must take the time to identify potential new hires, build a relationship, and follow up with training and support in order to build today’s — and tomorrow’s — workforce. It’s no secret the manufacturing and construction industries are facing a shortage of workers at every level. To build a talent pipeline, manufacturing and construction companies need to embrace the challenge, dedicate resources, and invest in programs to change the future. Building a solid talent pipeline requires a multifaceted approach that addresses internal and external factors of your organization. Read full article.

Cultivating Talent from Untapped Communities

Saturday, February 08, 2020

By hiring from diverse and underserved communities, a company can boost innovation along with its bottom line. The current U.S. labor market bodes well for workers: unemployment has been consistently low and demand for talent remains high. But this wreaks havoc for companies who face a talent shortage to fill vacant IT roles. In IT alone, the U.S. has an astounding 918,000 open roles. Much of this job growth stems from digital transformation. As companies digitally transform and tech roles infiltrate all industries, corporations and hiring managers need help to fill vacant positions. It’s time to seek alternative pipelines and cultivate talent from untapped communities. Rea...

Hot Jobs: Growing Industrial Sectors

Friday, February 07, 2020

Although the number of jobs lost during the Great Recession have been regained, not all regions or industry sectors have experienced the same recovery. Where are the best job opportunities, and in what sectors? The research from market analytics consultant Emsi suggests that some of the most attractive sectors in terms of decent-paying jobs are also doing fairly well in terms of job growth. Most states will welcome all the manufacturing activity they can get, for example, and many states have been seeing healthy manufacturing job growth in recent years. Auto manufacturing is in respectable shape, biopharm is healthier all the time...

Wisconsin wage growth had a strong finish to 2019

Friday, February 07, 2020

A slow start to the year held down Wisconsin’s average wage growth in 2019, but the state finished the year by averaging more than 3% growth during the fourth quarter in most industries. In December, the average hourly wage for private sector employees in the state was $27.10, up from $26.19 in December 2018, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wisconsin averaged year-over-year wage growth of 1.9% for all of 2019, a figure that ranks 43rd in the country. Click here to read full article.

Economic development head Melissa Hughes looks to take agency in new direction

Thursday, February 06, 2020

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.’s fourth CEO, Melissa “Missy” Hughes, said her first four months have been spent developing a new direction for the state’s top economic development agency. The shift in direction, which Hughes and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers have said entails a greater focus on small businesses and rural communities, rather than on controversial deals like the one for the massive Foxconn project, is reflective of Hughes as a departure from previous leaders of the embattled WEDC since its 2011 creation. Read full article.

Front Line: New DOT Focus on Rural Development

Tuesday, February 04, 2020

“Economic success” is a critical component of the Department of Transportation’s new initiative. Last October U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced a new initiative focusing on transportation and related development challenges in rural areas. The new effort was called ROUTES — Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success. ROUTES will build on two successful DOT discretionary grant programs, now called BUILD and INFRA (previously known as TIGER and FASTLANE, respectively). BUILD supports varied projects. INFRA has a freight focus. Read full article.

Mission Wisconsin team profile: Steve Janke

Tuesday, February 04, 2020

The goal of the Mission Wisconsin initiative is to connect military personnel and families separating from service with the great opportunities Wisconsin has to offer, whether that’s quality education, a fulfilling career, a welcoming community or any support they need as they move into the next phase of their lives. Like any mission, it couldn’t happen without boots on the ground—the Mission Wisconsin team. We recently talked with Steve Janke, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who now serves as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC’s) military talent attraction case manager. Read full article.

WEDC head backs current agency structure, calls for finding 'innovative ways' to help farmers

Tuesday, February 04, 2020

The new head of Wisconsin's job agency said keeping the organization in its current form is "really the way to go" in promoting economic development among businesses and communities throughout the state. After spending four months on the job, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes said she "would advocate strongly for leaving the structure the way it is" at the agency — the entity Gov. Tony Evers at one point pledged to de-fund as a gubernatorial contender. Read full article.

Dairy expert predicts U.S. milk prices will climb in 2020

Monday, February 03, 2020

UW-Madison’s director of dairy policy analysis predicts U.S. milk prices will continue to climb in 2020 as low production helps clear out domestic and international stocks of milk. Still, Mark Stephenson noted that a recession would throw these numbers off course, though he doesn’t expect an imminent downturn. Read full article.

The Evolution of Facility Design

Monday, February 03, 2020

Attracting and retaining the next generation of talent is now a critical input to the facility design process. When looking to build a new facility or renovate an existing one, manufacturing leaders need to consider several factors for the best return on investment. In the past, operational efficiency was often the most prominent, if not the only consideration. But today, the physical characteristics of a manufacturing facility must now deliver beyond operational excellence. The building or campus’ presence must now also serve as a recruiting tool, a reinforcement of brand, a testament to the company’s mission and values — not t...

What Should High-Growth Companies Look for in a Community?

Saturday, February 01, 2020

While there are many key factors to consider when selecting a location, the three “must haves” for entrepreneurial, high-growth companies are an existing entrepreneurial ecosystem, an affordable cost of doing business, and the “cool factor.” I'll start off by stating the obvious…you’re reading this article because you understand the importance of selecting the optimal business location. I believe this to be true across the board, regardless of industry sector, company size, facility type (i.e. headquarters, distribution center, etc.) or other factors. But perhaps it is most important to entrepreneurs and high-growth startup companies (herein referred to collectively as entrepreneurial companies). Whil...

Light industrial is all the rage for e-commerce.

Friday, January 31, 2020

As an industrial real estate broker in one of the country’s hottest submarkets, Patrick Turner sensed opportunity when he heard a news report announcing the closure of a national-brand bakery complex near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. “A light went off in my head,” says Turner, a vice president in the Rosemont, Illinois, office of Colliers International. “When you’re talking about urban infill, you can’t just go out and find 10 acres [4 hectares] anywhere around the airport. It just doesn’t happen.” Read full article.

How to Catch Hold of a Borderless Industry

Thursday, January 30, 2020

The 2020 Regional Workforce Development Rankings

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

We may one year choose to rank states’ primary workforce development programs, but not this year. That would take a panel of objective experts gauging outcomes based on copious input from program clients and many other sources. Perhaps one year. Instead, this exercise looks in general terms at states’ workforce development climates, if you will, much like the state business climate rankings we publish each November. It’s an admittedly blunt instrument, but then it isn’t promising something it can’t deliver. These rankings take a regional look at states’ commitment to workforce development relative to other states in the same region base...

5 Predictions for Wisconsin’s Tech Ecosystem in 2020

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

In 2019, Wisconsin made strides to position itself as a place for tech and startup growth. Northwestern Mutual in Milwaukee launched a $150 million fund to invest into startups. Madison was named No. 7 on a list of the best startup cities in the Midwest. And Titletown Tech, the venture hub and fund operated by the Green Bay Packers and Microsoft, officially opened. Each milestone was evidence of Wisconsin’s growing tech ecosystem. To get a sense of what Wisconsin’s tech future looks like, Wisconsin Inno asked several venture capitalists and startup experts about what they see coming down the pipeline in 2020. Read full article.

WEDC wants to prioritize rural growth

Monday, January 27, 2020

The state’s economic development agency wants to make rural areas a priority. Missy Hughes is the CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and she’s looking forward to setting up a new Office of Rural Prosperity. She hopes people will reach out to them with ideas for potential businesses and projects. Read full article.

2020 Vision

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Our annual 50-state report focuses on economic development laws, leaders, policies, indicators and projects from the past year. Use it to form a clearer picture of every state’s business climate. The collective knowledge and capabilities of the U.S. workforce is worth an estimated $240 trillion,” wrote Joe Parilla, a fellow at Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, in a December 2019 research note, “four times more valuable than the country’s physical capital stock and 10 times more valuable than all the urban land in the United States.” What form does that value take? One way to quantify it is by professional certifications. Accordin...

Tips for Navigating Incentives in Site Selection Process

Saturday, January 25, 2020

A thorough understanding of the components of each incentive program is key to a mutually successful incentive offer and ultimately a community partnership. More Collaboration Expected Compared to 10 years ago, there have some notable changes to today’s site selection process. I think one of the more important changes is the incentive package. The kinds of incentives offered a company 10 or 15 years ago, or maybe even five years ago, are going to be very different than what they're going to receive right now. Unemployment's really, really low right now, so communities aren’t as concerneddon't care right now about the number o...

Broadband in 2020: The Momentum West Region is Telecommuter Forward!

Friday, January 17, 2020

The Momentum West region is comprised of several Telecommuter Forward! certified communities. These communities have demonstrated a commitment to supporting telecommuters through the installation of fiber and ready access to fast internet speeds. As a result, the region has become home to a growing number of telecommuters working for corporations throughout the country - all from the comfort of home. The ready availability of broadband can be attributed to a partnership between local telecommunications companies, cooperatives, local government and the state. Telecommunications companies and cooperatives have heavily invested in broadband and government grants have helped to pay for a portion o...

4 Steps to Growing Your Business Now

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Did your growth stall in 2019? Here's how you can engineer a bigger, better year for your business. Q: My business stalled out in 2019. What can I do to give myself the highest likelihood of growth in 2020? -- Aden, Minneapolis The challenge of growing a business is surprisingly similar to the difficulties of losing weight. It’s something I realized after growing my first business, a fitness consultancy called Born Fitness. Each year, people set resolutions (goals, KPIs), start off strong (lots of early-year focus), get frustrated (friction from the process), plateau (return to old habits), and watch apathy set in (panic and lack of focus if goals ar...

Are You Meeting (and Setting) Customers' Expectations?

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

To succeed, the value of what you offer must be greater than what people expect. My family and I went out for brunch recently in Miami. We ordered about $60 worth of food, and when the waiter asked what I’d like to drink, I said what I always do: “Just water, please.” “We charge 50 cents for water because we filter it five times,” the waiter said. That’s ridiculous, I replied. The waiter agreed -- in fact, he said, he’d been trying to talk the restaurant’s owner out of this policy for a while now. But the owner wouldn’t budge because he’d invested in som...

Menomonie business wins Main Street Makeover Contest

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Ted’s Pizza Palace to receive up to $10,000 to help give business facelift MADISON, WI. – Ted’s Pizza Palace in downtown Menomonie has been named the winner in the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC’s) annual Main Street Makeover Contest. The restaurant, celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2020, is a well-known local dining destination owned by Jim and Kim Gounaikis. A downtown mainstay, the restaurant was selected as the winner of the makeover contest based on the business’s successful track record, clear community support and the potential to refresh the interior and exterior of the building to create an enhanced dining experience tha...

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.

Recent News

30 Extra Hours for Fun!