(WisBusiness) TUES News Summary — 5 Aug. 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— Most of the 115 businesses in the University Research Park on the Capital City’s west side are biotech companies that require wet labs for their ongoing experiments and product development.

But in the research’s park urban expansion in the former Marquip Building at 1245 E. Washington Ave., the targets for the 10 new incubator suites in the former manufacturing site will be high-tech entrepreneurs working in the areas of information technology, engineering, medical devices and computer sciences.

The effort is starting out small, with a lease of 6,000-square feet. But it has the potential to “explode” within a few years as faculty members and students start their own businesses, said UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley.

“There has been a ‘sea change’ of interest about entrepreneurship and starting businesses among students who want to create their own jobs instead of working for someone else,” said Wiley.

See the full story:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=132762

— Industrial employment in Wisconsin dropped 2.1 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2009 Wisconsin Manufacturers Register, a compilation of state industry data published annually by Evanston, Ill.-based Manufacturers’ News Inc.

The Register reports that Wisconsin lost 13,276 industrial jobs from June 2007 to June 2008, the heaviest loss MNI has reported for the state over the past several years.

According to earlier MNI reports, Wisconsin saw a 1.5 percent drop in industrial employment between June 2006 and June 2007, and the state saw a 3 percent jump in manufacturing jobs over the previous two years, with a 1.7 percent gain reported in the 2004-2005 period and a 1.4 percent increase posted over the 05-06 survey year.

See story: http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2008/8/4/#manufacturing-employment-in-wisconsin-falls-21-percent

— U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold was in Milwaukee Monday to show support for an AFL-CIO organization for non-unionized workers called Working America.

Feingold said he is hearing more frequently during his listening sessions concerns about jobs, foreclosures, gas prices and health insurance than he has previous during his tours of the state.

“I have never seen people more hard-pressed on these kinds of issues than they are now,” Feingold said. “It’s more important than ever that Congress take care of the working men and women who are the heart and soul of our economy in Wisconsin and around the country.”

Following his comments, Feingold signed on as a member of the group and posed for pictures with about 15 of the group’s organizers and canvassers.

Wisconsin AFL-CIO executive vice president Sara Rogers pointed to declining family incomes, high unemployment, increasing foreclosures, high health care costs and rising gas prices in Wisconsin and praised Feingold for being supportive of the group’s efforts to bring about change.

Working America state director David Wehde said the organization, which claims 2 million members nationwide, has signed up 15,000 people in Wisconsin during the past eight weeks and aims to sign on another 10,000 before Labor Day.

— The state Department of Justice spent 537 hours investigating the sale of the Kewaunee nuclear power plant and campaign donations to Dem Gov. Jim Doyle, according to documents.

GOP Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced a year ago the agency was closing the investigation, begun under his Dem predecessor Peg Lautenschlager, after finding no evidence on wrongdoing. The department released more than 400 pages last week detailing that conclusion.

It released another 20,000 documents related to the investigation Monday. The records included e-mails between the governor’s staff and employees at the Public Service Commission as well as communications among DOJ staffers about the probe.

— Nineteen state legislators have written a letter to Wisconsin’s members of the U.S. House and Senate urging the repeal of the moratorium on “offshore and domestic oil drilling.”

The letter, signed by 18 Republicans and Dem Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer, was also sent to Gov. Jim Doyle.

Read the letter:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/080804drillnow.pdf

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WISBUSINESS LUNCHEON: Global Warming Task Force Co-Chairs
Tuesday, August 12, 11:45 am, The Madison Club

WisBusiness.com, The Madison Club and Madison Magazine present “The Madison Business Luncheon” on Tuesday, August 12, with featured guests Global Warming Task force Chairs Roy Thilly of the Wisconsin Public Power and Tia Nelson of the Board of Public Land Commissioners.

Learn more about the Global Warming Task Force: http://dnr.wi.gov/environmentprotect/gtfgw/

Sponsored by Xcel Energy.

This event is open to the public, and the price for lunch is $19. Call the Madison Club to register at (608) 255-4861. The luncheon starts at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.

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THANKS TO OUR WISBUSINESS SPONSORS

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Press Releases
· Klein Insurance Group And The Hanover To Help Richland Center’s ‘extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ Family
· Manitowoc Signs Definitive Purchase Agreement For Pending Sale Of Its Marine Segment To Fincantieri Spa
· New $8.9 Million Project Aims To Unlock Stem Cell Secrets
· New ‘Urban Research Park’ Offers Jolt Of Electricity To Madison High-Tech Startups
· Novashield, Inc. Launches Novashield Antimalware Version 2.0 With 90-Day Free Trial
· South Pole Researchers Training This Week At UW’s Physical Sciences Lab
· Undergraduate Entrepreneurs Create Successful Business In Madison

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


TOP STORIES
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UW-Madison granted nearly $9 million for stem cell research: The University of Wisconsin has been awarded a prestigious $8.9 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to continue its pioneering work with human embryonic stem cell research. An interdisciplinary team of researchers will use the grant to fund several projects aimed at exploring the unique ability of stem cells to transform themselves into all of the different types of cells that make up the human body. The grant will also help efforts to build and refine techniques for growing large amounts of embryonic stem cells.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/299245

Related:
– University of Wisconsin researchers get grant to study stem cells
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779606

F. Ziegler expands despite economic concerns: It’s becoming a common story in the news — yet another business is foundering, reporting reduced profits and layoffs due to economic worries. But at least one Fond du Lac company is flourishing. F. Ziegler Enterprises, 1209 Industrial Parkway, has had so much success the machine shop is expanding. In September, it plans to move to a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the Northgate Business Park in North Fond du Lac. Ziegler currently occupies 20,000 square feet and has 7,000 square feet of warehouse storage space at an off-site location, said Operations Manager John Martin.
http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/FON0101/808050437/1289

Doyle’s trade mission on hold; India trip postponed after resignation of commerce secretary: Following last month’s resignation of the state commerce secretary, Gov. Jim Doyle’s office has postponed a major trade delegation to India originally scheduled for November. “We are going to postpone the mission until 2009,” said acting Commerce Secretary Aaron Olver, adding that no new date has been set. … Doyle’s aides said the decision to postpone the India trip was meant to give the new commerce secretary time to learn the job and take a role in planning the trip.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779590

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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)
– Manitowoc: Downtown to be Wi-Fi accessible
http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/MAN0101/808050529/1358&located=RSS

– Wisconsin Web Academy to provide 70 virtual classes
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/MNH0101/80805017/1732

BIOTECH (back to top)
– Seattle: Bothell biotech laying off 30 percent of employees
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008091975_mdrna050.html

– ImClone says buyout offer comes up short; Biotech says Bristol-Myers’ $4.5B bid ‘substantially undervalues’ company
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/imclone-says-bristol-myers-bid-undervalues/story.aspx?guid=%7B5EB063D4-6155-412F-9FBA-A1425A826D04%7D&dist=msr_1

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Rising prices beat down consumer spending in June
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/APC03/80804036/1028

– Feingold will propose economic development bills
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779589

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Appleton will sell Bemrose Group
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/APC03/808050477/1028

LABOR (back to top)
– Gas prices force workers to make sacrifices
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/APC03/808050472/1028

– Jobs should remain after Weyerhaeuser plant sale
http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/MAN03/808050528/1358

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Appleton: Chamber honorees to share success tips
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/APC03/808050474/1028

INVESTING (back to top)
– Local stocks start week in a slump
http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2008/8/4/local-stocks-start-week-in-a-slump

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Report: Real estate agents willing to cut commission
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/355622822/daily10.html

– Madison: Midvale Heights residents win battle with developers
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/299297

– University Research Park plans urban campus
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/355524120/daily8.html

– Eight proposals compete for UWM dorm project
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/355514079/daily7.html

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Tree-killing beetle found in state
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/APC0101/808050491/1004

– Wisconsin too dry for crops’ liking, says weekly report
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/299284

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Appleton: Valley Transit route changes could become permanent
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/APC0101/808050469/1004

– Transportation alternatives to be explored at Eau Claire conference
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/299238

RETAIL (back to top)
– Miles Kimball acquires women’s catalog
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/APC03/808050489/1028

– Grocery packaging shrinks but not prices
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/GPG0101/808050552/1207

– Convenience stores add products to boost profits
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/WDH0101/808050595/1581

– Weyco 2Q profits remain flat on sales growth
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/355708775/daily13.html

– Germantown Sendik’s set to open Sept. 4
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/355536524/daily9.html

REGULATION (back to top)
– Weston blocks local smoking ban, favors statewide change
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/WDH0101/808050620/1581

TOURISM (back to top)
– Attendance higher than expected at AirVenture
http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/MAN0101/80805022/1358

– Madison: Mifflin Street Block Party Might Be Getting Sponsor
http://www.channel3000.com/news/17097593/detail.html?rss=c3k&psp=news

– Monroe County campground, resort could close
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/04/daily6.html?ana=from_rss

UTILITIES (back to top)
– Menasha Utilities gets $860,000 settlement
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/APC0101/808050478/1004

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Wausau: Aspirus to more than triple beds for newborn critical care
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/WDH0101/808050622/1581

– Froedtert physician to open concierge medical practice in Mequon
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779593

– Humana reports lower 2Q net income
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/355622821/daily11.html

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Heights Finance Corp. expands
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080803/APC03/808030554/1028

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Fond du Lac: Area businesswomen invited to WIM gala
http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/FON0101/80804104/1289

– Plexus Corp. appoints new board member
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080803/APC03/808030557/1028

– Ex-Miller CEO Adami coming out of retirement
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/355461798/daily4.html

BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– The biotech bright spot
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/08/01/the_biotech_bright_spot/

– Bill Berry: USDA stands firm on conservation lands
http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/299254

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National Business Roundups ( back to top)
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–CNBC BUSINESS NEWS: http://www.cnbc.com
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