By Brian E. Clark
RISING
BIO 2008
Wisconsin will send around 120 people and spend at least $250,000 to
show off the Badger State’s biotech prowess during this year’s BIO 2008
International Convention, which runs from June 17-20 in San Diego.
More than 55 companies, plus UW-Madison and other entities will be
represented at the 1,600-square-foot Wisconsin Pavilion. Gov. Jim Doyle
will lead the delegation and introduce famed biotech venture capitalist
and UW grad Steven Burrill when he speaks at the pavilion on June 17.
In addition, the guv will host a private reception for heavy hitters on
June 18 at the swank Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel in San Diego.
This is the third year in a row that the state has had a major presence
at BIO. The state unveiled its pavilion in Chicago in 2005, when more
than 60 companies participated. Wisconsin also took the pavilion to
Boston for last year’s gathering. Each time, the state spent $250,000
to promote itself.
MIXED
Wisconsin economy
The Badger state economy is in a lull, but not a recession, according
to state Revenue Department chief economist John Koskinen. He says the
Wisconsin economy is doing better than most of its neighbors and should
post a growth rate of up to 1.5 percent this year.
Koskinen said that rate should increase to 3 percent as economic
conditions improve for both Wisconsin and the nation.
Koskinen also said Wisconsin’s employment level is lower than many
other states and below the national average. For April, the Badger
State jobless figure was 4.4 percent, down from 5.2 percent in March
and well below the U.S. unemployment level of 4.8 percent.
FALLING
Rock County auto industry
South-central Wisconsin got a blow this morning when General Motors
revealed plans to close its Janesville plant in a little more than two
years, leaving approximately 2,600 people out of a job. Union officers
and elected officials vowed to fight the decision, but GM brass didn’t
leave much room for optimism, saying that high oil prices mean demand
for the trucks and SUVs made in Janesville is unlikely to rebound.
The move was not entirely unexpected, especially considering the 750
layoffs announced in April, but still hit the community hard. And the
impact of the decision will likely expand beyond the fences of the
factory, as GM suppliers like Lear and LSI have already announced
layoffs.
See WIsBusiness coverage of the move:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=127877
In a separate move announced before the GM bombshell, German owners
have decided to consolidate operations of the ThyssenKrupp company for
competitive and cost reasons, which means around 140 workers will lose
their jobs this fall.
The ThyssenKrupp plant makes parts and production equipment used in
automotive factories. All totaled, the operations employ 175 people,
including mechanical and electrical engineers, robotic engineers and
administrative personnel. Work at that plant will be phased out by
Sept. 30, a company spokesman said Friday. Thirty-four of the employees
will be offered jobs with ThyssenKrupp Krause Inc. and ThyssenKrupp
Drauz Nothelfer in the Janesville area and Auburn Hills, Mich., near
Detroit.
