— Oshkosh Corp. hosted Defense Secretary Robert Gates for a tour of a production facility in Oshkosh on Thursday. “Thousands of M-ATVs will soon be on their way to Afghanistan,” Gates told employees. “With every vehicle you complete, you are saving American lives and giving our troops the tools they need to accomplish their mission and come home safely.” See the press release for more: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091112006279/en — The newest episode of “WisBusiness: The Show” includes the Wisconsin Stock Report, commentary from Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still, and an interview with Tim Keane, director of the Marquette Golden Angels Network. See the show: http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=176742 — The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has granted We Energies a $90 million rate increase, which translates into an average 4 percent boost. It will take effect on Jan. 1. Industrial users will see a 2 percent to 3 percent rate hike, while residential customers will face a 5 percent to 6 percent hike in their utility bills. The PSC says the average residential customer will see a monthly increase of approximately $5 for electric service as a result of this adjustment. See the WisBusiness story: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=176766 — The recession has cut demand for windows used in new construction, so one glass company with Wisconsin operations has started making glass for solar panels instead. Cardinal Glass says its transportation costs are low because Wisconsin has abundant deposits of a type of sand that’s an ideal raw material for solar panel glass. And with government policies backing alternative energy, Cardinal’s focus on solar panels has allowed it to keep all its plants open despite the downturn. See more in a new interview with Cardinal Glass vice president Kelly Busch: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=176771 — Wisconsin’s economy has long been characterized by industry “clusters” — groups of businesses that rely on similar workforce skills, materials and infrastructure. Success comes when group synergies such as supply and distribution networks, applied knowledge and a regional reputation for quality emerge, creating competitive advantages and access to new markets for the group as a whole. At a daylong conference earlier this month sponsored by the Wisconsin Business Council and the Wisconsin School of Business, leaders from industry, academia and government gathered to explore emerging industry clusters that may provide opportunities for job creation and above-average wage growth in the years to come. Industries highlighted at the event included water, wind and forest products. See more on industry clusters in a new BizOpinion column by Jennifer Sereno: http://blogs.wisbusiness.com/bizopinion/2009/11/emerging-industry-clusters-draw.html — Gov. Jim Doyle has signed a new law that limits the phosphorus content in household automatic dishwasher soap. The restriction is a move to improve water quality because phosphorus can cause algae blooms in lakes and rivers. Twelve other states have already passed similar laws. The law will go into effect on July 1, 2010, allowing time for stores to sell their current inventory of soap. See a reaction from the bill’s author: http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=176667 — A new report from the Wisconsin Hospital Association finds the recession has slowed hiring in Wisconsin’s hospitals, but they’re still working to recruit for positions that are hard to fill. State hospitals list pharmacists, lab technologists, and physical and occupational therapists as being the most difficult positions to recruit. But the recession has eased concerns about a nursing shortage. The tough economy means nurses are voluntarily increasing their work hours, postponing retirement dates, and older nurses are returning to work. See more from the Health Care Workforce 2009 Report: http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=176625 TOP STORIES Gates praises Oshkosh Corp. workers’ ‘amazing display of industry’: Defense Secretary Robert Gates praised Oshkosh Corp. workers Thursday for their efforts to quickly produce and ship the next generation of armored troop trucks, saying delivery of the company’s mine-resistant M-ATVs is making a “real difference in Afghanistan.” Wis. regulators approve electric rate increase: We Energies customers will face bigger electric bills. The state Public Service Commission has approved a $90 million rate increase for We Energies subsidiary Wisconsin Electric Power Company, or WEPCO. That translates to $5 more a month for the average residential customer. State plans $70 million I-94 project: The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is planning to spend up to $70 million to repave 27 miles of Interstate 94 in Waukesha and Milwaukee counties starting next spring, if federal stimulus money can be allocated to fund the project for southeast Wisconsin’s most heavily traveled freeway.
************************************************************ See commentary from around the state and columns from WisBusiness contributors Jennifer Sereno, Kevin McKinley, Tom Burzinski, Gregg Hoffmann, Tom Still and Steve Jagler: ************************************************************ TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
ECONOMY (back to top) – Doyle to head trade mission to Israel
MANUFACTURING (back to top) – Fox Valley: Area manufacturing companies look to future of work force – Lemon liqueur maker moving to Menomonee Falls
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REAL ESTATE (back to top) – More units, less jobs will sink Milwaukee apartment market
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