(WisBusiness) FRI News Summary — 30 May 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— Wisconsin women have made “significant strides” toward improving their economic status over the past five years, according to a new report from Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton.

Lawton said progress has been made in four areas key to women’s workforce participation and economic success since 2003, when the Wisconsin Women = Prosperity initiative was launched.

Those four areas are: economic sufficiency; leadership and political participation; health, safety and well being; and educational achievement.

See the release:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=127386

— Wisconsin could have nearly 1 million job openings by 2016, according to figures in a long-term employment study released by Gov. Jim Doyle today.

The study, prepared by the Department of Workforce Development, says two-thirds of the positions will be due to Baby Boomers retiring and other workers leaving the workforce. The other third will be new jobs.

The report said occupations with above-average wages that have numerous job openings include: registered nurses (21,800 openings), elementary school teachers (9,600 openings), carpenters (7,000 openings) and welders (3,600 openings).

“We are continuing to grow our economy in the face of national economic challenges, creating good-paying job opportunities for hard-working Wisconsin families,” Doyle said.

See the release:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=127339


— Do you believe your business is unnecessarily burdened by out-dated or overly-burdensome existing state administrative rules or regulations? Does your these business feel its voice is not being heard on issues related to existing state administrative rules or regulations?

If your answer is “yes” to either of those questions, you are invited to inform the Wisconsin Small Business Regulatory Review Board (SBRRB) about difficult existing state administrative rules or regulations.

See story: http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2008/5/29/#small-businesses-can-sound-off-about-state-regulatory-burden

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REGISTER NOW: “The Wisconsin Economy in a Time of Uncertainty”

June 3, 7:45 AM at the Madison Club

–A WisBusiness.com-WisPolitics.com Forum presented by AARP Wisconsin–

Panelists include: Scott Lockard, U.S. Bank, Madison market president, James R. Imhoff, Jr., chairman/CEO. First Weber Group, Inc., Bill Duddleston, director of the Center for Economic Education at Edgewood College, Department of Revenue Administrator of the Division of Research and Policy John Koskinen, and State Representative Patricia Strachota, Chairwoman of the Assembly Committee on Jobs and The Economy.

For more details go to: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=127084

For ticket information, contact Jim Greer at 608-237-6296 and greer@wispolitics.com

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Press Releases
Actress Melissa Joan Hart Dishes on Her Newest Role – Potty Training Mom
Book Details Provocative, Sometimes Gruesome History of Organ, Blood Donations
Governor Doyle Announces Nearly One Million Job Openings Projected in Wisconsin by 2016
Governor Doyle Announces Winners of 2008 Pulp and Paper Energy Efficiency Awards
Green Bay Diocese Looks to Microsoft Dynamics NAV to Replace 15 Accounting Solutions
Kramer(R) Lighting Sees Brilliant Results With New LED Technology
Lands’ End Introduces Family Reunion Contest
Lt. Governor Lawton Reports Wisconsin Moving Forward with Wisconsin Women = Prosperity Initiative
THE EDGE(TM) From BetaLED(TM) Shows-Off Its New Curves
The Manitowoc Company Announces Its Revised Implementation Agreement With Enodis plc
Weathering the Credit Crunch

For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82


TOP STORIES
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MGIC stock plan hangs in balance: Stockholders to vote on increase in shares… MGIC Investment Corp. stockholders will vote on increasing the number of authorized shares in the Milwaukee company by 53% at a special meeting next month, according to a proxy filed Thursday with federal officials. Shareholders also will be asked to approve issuing more than 19.99% of the stock if some bond owners want to convert their holdings to equity. The votes are needed because MGIC sold $390 million in convertible debentures in March as part of a financing transaction that raised $840 million in capital for the company. MGIC, the nation’s largest mortgage insurer, expects to lose money this year as it is hit by fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis and needed to raise capital to help its bond rating.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756435

A plan to boost Racine County’s economy: Laundry list of critical concerns drove creation of development plan… “Work force development is at a crucial crossroads,” begins the text of the landmark development plan released Thursday. The plan, “Higher Expectations: A Workforce Development Strategy for Racine County,” is designed to guide this county out of its job-related ills by covering all the bases involved in creating a vibrant employment picture: Raising standards and expectations for public education. Supporting stronger, more financially stable families. Creating jobs in communities with high concentrations of unemployed workers. Enhancing work force transportation alternatives.
http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/05/30/local_news/doc483f8311e255d740744319.txt

State projects long-term job trends: Wisconsin officials are predicting that the state will have the greatest demand for registered nurses and school teachers over a 10-year period ending in 2016, according to a long-term employment projections report released Thursday. The 10-year report from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Office of Economic Advisors also projects that more than two-thirds of the approximately one million job openings expected to occur between 2006 and 2016 will result from retirements, illness or career changes. “As many students are graduating, and some workers are upgrading their skills, or learning new skills, it’s important for them to know that the demand for skilled workers is high in many areas of our economy,” Gov. Jim Doyle said in a press release.
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/26/daily31.html?surround=lfn

State banks report lower profits: State banks report lower profits
Delinquent loan and lease ratio nearly doubles for Wisconsin’s savings banks… Profits at Wisconsin’s commercial banks dropped nearly 7% in the first quarter as loans linked to real estate continued to turn sour and cut into earnings, a report released Thursday shows. In the first three months of 2008, the ratio of delinquent loans and leases to total loans and leases jumped to 1.56% from 0.98% at the state’s commercial banks, which lend mainly to businesses. Wisconsin’s savings banks – those focused mostly on mortgage lending – had a net income decline of almost 9%, according to the report by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The ratio of delinquent loans and leases to total loans and leases nearly doubled for those banks, rising to 2.01% from 1.08%.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756476

Women called key to state’s economic health: More leadership roles needed, says lieutenant governor… While the state has made strides in improving the status of women in Wisconsin, more needs to be done to involve a greater percentage of women in workplace and community leadership positions to ensure the economic vitality of the state, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton said. Lawton was in Green Bay on Thursday to unveil a midterm report on her Wisconsin Women = Prosperity initiative that looked at where the state has made progress and where work is needed. One of the key areas for improvement, Lawton said, is the inclusion of more women in leadership roles, both at work and in the community. “When we come out of this economic downturn … we can’t afford to sideline one ounce of talent,” she said.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/GPG0101/805300604/1978/gpgnews

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WISBUSINESS FEATURED COLUMNISTS

GREGG HOFFMANN: Contributor, WisBusiness.com

TOM STILL: President, Wisconsin Technology Council

JENNIFER SERENO: Senior manager, Wood Communications Group

STEVE JAGLER: Executive editor, Small Business Times

TOM BURZINSKI: IT executive and consultant
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– Accelerated Genetics Announces Summer Interns
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=662&yr=2008

BIOTECH (back to top)
– WPPI to expand, remodel Sun Prairie HQ with efficiency focus
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/288765

– Milwaukee’s carbon footprint grows slightly, report says
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/26/daily33.html?surround=lfn

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Blueprint for building jobs
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756465

– Gas hits new high while oil tumbles
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/288913

– Chippewa Falls lands sand plant
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news_local.asp?id=BGP3EF1RDC9

– Mil-what-ee? Image survey has flaws
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756477

– Economic growth improves; Numbers still behind U.S. historical average
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/APC03/805300475/1028

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– GM officials finalizing restructing plans
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/288837

– Joy Global raises earnings outlook
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756434

LABOR (back to top)
– Outlook for state job prospects is sunny
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/288786

– Kapco treats employees to free fuel
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/May_08/05292008_10.asp

– Hurd cuts 14 jobs in Merrill
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/WDH0101/805300668/1981/WDHnews

– Despite slower economy, most area grads are finding work
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/05/30/news/01jobs30.txt

– Nilsestuen Calls on Industry to Get Involved in Ag Ed Workforce Council
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=660&yr=2008

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Winery reopens in Freedom
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/APC0101/805300471/1979/APCnews

INVESTING (back to top)
– American Superconductor stock hits a new high
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/288755

– Dow ends day up
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080529/APC03/80529137/1028

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Hotel Sierra revamp offers suite new look
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/GPG03/805300572/1247

– Dorm boom threatens landlords
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20048702&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20048702%26snippet%3Df

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Farmers struggle with fertilizer, diesel prices
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/May_08/05292008_06.asp

– Prices Still Going Higher on NASS Cheese Survey
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=663&yr=2008

– Pork on the Move in Wisconsin This Weekend
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=664&yr=2008

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Madison-area gas stations hyping benefits of ethanol-free fuel
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/288841

– Cash woes stall plan for Green Bay river projects
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/GPG0101/805300613/1978/gpgnews

– Air travelers at Austin Straubel face new layer of security
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/GPG0101/805300600/1978/gpgnews

– Hangar project falls off radar
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20048703&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20048703%26snippet%3Df

RETAIL (back to top)
– Developer courts Pabst Farms tenants
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/May_08/05292008_05.asp

– Belgian brewing giant could be eyeing Miller parent
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/288788

– Sears Holdings swings to surprise loss on slumping sales
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/288761

– Cost increases hit every step, ‘farm gate to food plate’
http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/MNH0101/805280823/1980

REGULATION (back to top)
– Monona smoking ban moves on to City Council
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/288914

– IRS shutters Schulers
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/may/29/irs-shutters-schulers/

TOURISM (back to top)
– Rising gas cost rocks boaters
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756517

UTILITIES (back to top)
– Alliant unit gains more wind farm work
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/288793

– Integrys unit to sell Cassville power plant
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/26/daily30.html?surround=lfn

– About 750 without power throughout area
http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/05/30/local_news/doc483ff6a15245c158816886.txt

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Boscobel mental health services unit to close July 31
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/288854

– Hospital group to offer incentives to attract nurses
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/WDH0101/805300674/1981/WDHnews

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Falk insurance claims settled
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756450

– MWBank opens Slinger branch
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/May_08/05292008_09.asp

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Burr resigns from On Broadway
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/GPG03/805300577/1247

– WMC Foundation summit planned for June 12
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/GPG03/805300574/1247

– Cedar Community’s Jaberg chosen for Harvard seminar
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/May_08/05292008_07.asp

– NBA’s Stern says Bradley Center has some seasons left
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756461

– Bayshore hires new general manager
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/26/daily34.html?surround=lfn

BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– John Oncken: ‘Bittersweet day’ as renowned Holstein herd goes on the block
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/288785

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