From WisBusiness.com …
— National labor market conditions continued to deteriorate in March. Total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 663,000, and the unemployment rate increased from 8.1 to 8.5 percent. Since the beginning of the recession in December 2007, job losses have totaled 5.1 million, 3.3 million of which occurred in just the past 5 months.
See the statement from the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/jec.pdf
— When the Metro Innovation Center on East Washington Ave. begins filling with tenants, they may look a lot like the student-run companies SearchCloud.net, Proactive Sleep or even Wisconsin Relics.
Those three young firms were on display – along with eight others – Thursday afternoon at the old Gisholt Machine Co. Building, where the highly successful University Research Park (URP) has opened 10 incubator suites for nascent firms started by students and other entrepreneurs.
Greg Hyer, a URP associate director, said he believes the Metro Innovation Center will be an ideal setting for new information technology, engineering, medical device or computer science companies that are just coming out of the blocks. He said the URP has spent $300,000 to date on 10 suites that are wired with state-of-the-art phone and data connections.
Read more about the MIC soon at http://www.wisbusiness.com
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Press Releases
· AG Van Hollen: Announces $73,763.20 judgment against Fox Valley developers
· Alliant Energy: Avoid serious injury and service interruptions this spring: “Call before you dig”
· Autonomous Mind Consulting: Wisconsin solar energy professionals optimistic about growth prospects
· Capitol Lakes: Capitol Lakes and owner Pacific Retirement Services (PRS) celebrate one-year anniversary
· Dept. of Health Services: Grants will increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities
· Dept. of Workforce Development: Governor Doyle announces additional assistance for dislocated workers at Sanmina-SCI in Turtle Lake
· Focus on Energy: Kerry Group’s new center of excellence shines for green building efforts
· MMAC: Milwaukee sick leave administrative rules — your turn to speak out
· NARI of Madison: Madison remodeling professionals win awards for excellence; 3 awarded “2009 National Contractor of the Year”
· RedPrairie: Peet’s Coffee & Tea improves forecasting, inventory management with RedPrairie Site Operations
· Suttle-Straus: Receives awards in statewide print competition
· The Alliance: Announces health policy platform
– Health policy platform
– Health policy survey results
· UW-Madison: Engineering students use EPA funding to conserve water at medical school complex
· UW-Madison: Find local food with the 2009 Southern Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas
· Wisconsin Association for Justice: State Farm agrees: Consumers do not get the insurance they pay for
· Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance: Biodiesel basics #28 — biodiesel is safer than petroleum diesel
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· Wisconsin Technical College System: Wisconsin’s technical colleges Futurefest finalists selected
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TOP STORIES
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Update: GE Healthcare confirms another round of local layoffs : Though short on details, GE Healthcare officials on Thursday confirmed another round of worker layoffs in the Madison area. It was the second such action taken by the company since the beginning of the year.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/445541
Pleasant Prairie plant of Permacel to close : A Pleasant Prairie manufacturer of industrial tape says the global economic downturn figured in a decision to close by Sept. 30, eliminating about 100 jobs.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_PERMACEL_CUTS_WIOL-?SITE=WIMAD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Kohler cutting 455 jobs: Kohler Co. is cutting 455 jobs, nearly 7 percent of its work force, in the largest layoff yet this year as the company deals with plummeting sales from a poor housing market
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090403/APC03/904030453/1028
Factory will create 400 jobs in Wisconsin Rapids: Mayor Mary Jo Carson said Energy Composites Corp. plans to begin construction on the 350,000-square-foot plant as soon as this spring.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090403/GPG03/904030522/1247
Dean Foods buys Ashwaubenon, Waukesha plants: Dallas-based Dean Foods acquired milk bottling plants in Ashwaubenon and Waukesha in a deal effective Wednesday. The plants, which handled Morning Glory and Golden Guernsey products, were owned by Baraboo-based Foremost Farms.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090403/GPG03/904030525/1247
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WISBUSINESS FEATURED COLUMNISTS
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– TOM BURZINSKI: IT executive and consultant
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– News Corp. rumored to be buying Twitter
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/30/daily56.html
BIOTECH (back to top)
– Appeals court dismisses Third Wave suit against Qiagen
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/30/daily54.html
ECONOMY (back to top)
– Police cite economy for rise in domestic and child homicides in Milwaukee
http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/42329137.html
– Panel approves $240M for UWM
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/30/daily63.html
MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Truck hopes third try’s the charm in troop transport vehicle competition
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090403/OSH0101/904030362&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
– Ariens introduces all-electric riding mower
http://www.jsonline.com/business/42326287.html
LABOR (back to top)
– Network scheme is speed dating for jobs
http://www.jsonline.com/business/42358007.html
– Leinenkugel: prevailing wage hasn’t hurt Madison
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/42289832.html
REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– ‘Lifestyle’ hotel opens
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090403/GPG03/904030527/1247
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Planned fast-train stop at Madison airport disappoints some
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/42366067.html
RETAIL (back to top)
– 5 Guys Burgers opens at Bayshore
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/30/daily58.html
REGULATION (back to top)
– AtomicPark operator ordered to pay Microsoft $1.2 million
http://www.jsonline.com/business/42365382.html
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Bankers association: Late payments continue to rise
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/30/daily62.html
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