(WisBusiness) MON News Summary — 23 Feb. 2009

From WisBusiness.com …

— Today’s WisPolitics/WisBusiness energy conference is underway at Monona Terrace.

See more: http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=148737

— Stroh Die Casting of Milwaukee announced a layoff of 60 employees on or about April 27. Employees will be given 60 days pay and benefits regardless of layoff notice date.

See the state filing: http://www.wisbusiness.com/1008/090220stroh.pdf

— PDM Solar Inc. in Wausau has received a $210,000 loan from the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund for the development of new solar-powered air conditioning equipment. Department of Commerce Secretary Richard J. Leinenkugel announced the award on behalf of the Gov. Jim Doyle at a press conference in Wausau.

See details: http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=149929

— A new multidisciplinary course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is preparing entrepreneurial graduate students to bring biomedical innovations to the patients who need them.

The UW-Madison Bio Innovations and Opportunities in Medicine and Engineering (BIOME) course brings together students from academic backgrounds as diverse as engineering, medicine, education and business. “This breadth is essential for providing the creativity needed to find innovative solutions for complicated problems,” says first-year biomedical engineering master’s student Ben Schoepke.

See more: http://www.engr.wisc.edu/news/headlines/2009/Feb23.html

— The $787 billion stimulus package is now law and U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl explained to this week’s edition of UpFront with Mike Gousha why the stimulus had to be done.

See more: http://www.wisn.com/upfront/18770619/detail.html

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Press Releases
· Dr. Chris Milkie: Milwaukee foot doctor first in Wisconsin to offer new laser cure for toenail fungus
· Ford Motor Co.: Gives “first look” of 2010 Ford Mustang to Wisconsin Early Mustangers club
· Hawks Nursery: Small Business Community Award presented to Hawks Nursery
· Mason Wells: Increases focus on food packaging and ingredient companies
· Mercury Free Wisconsin: International treaty on mercury becoming a reality
· UW-Madison: Four UW-Madison faculty awarded prestigious Sloan Fellowships
· Wellspring Wisconsin: Wisconsin summer camp helps kids lose weight and adopt healthier lifestyles

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


TOP STORIES
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Stroh Die Casting, Construction Forms plan layoffs: Stroh Die Casting, Wauwatosa, and Construction Forms Inc., Port Washington, notified the state Friday that it plans to conduct mass layoffs.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/02/16/daily78.html

Great Wolf will take $36 million in write-downs: The Madison company, which will release its fourth-quarter earnings Wednesday, said it expects to record a non-cash pre-tax charge totaling about $19 million in its joint venture that owns the Great Wolf Lodge Resorts in Lake Delton and Sandusky, Ohio.
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/439930

Devicor is seeking acquisitions: With the backing of up to $250 million in equity capital, a Racine man is trying to use the slumping economy to build a new corporation.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/02/23/story4.html?b=1235365200^1781402

AnchorBank faces $116 million debt deadline : The parent company of AnchorBank, which received $110 million in federal Troubled Asset Relief Program funds about three weeks ago, has a debt problem that threatens the bank’s survival if it can’t be resolved.
http://www.jsonline.com/business/40037752.html

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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)
– Coleman woman’s hobby drives idea for online home business
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090221/GPG03/902210601/1247

BIOTECH (back to top)
– Madison-based Nerites wins $134,000 innovation grant
http://www.jsonline.com/business/39913872.html

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Countrywide to waive penalties
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090221/GPG03/902210604/1247

– Resurgence of economic activity will not occur overnight
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090222/OSH03/902220481/1167

– Wisconsin in line for $3.7B in federal stimulus
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/02/16/daily76.html

– Stimulus package plays out across nation
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/02/16/daily77.html

– Midwest consumer prices rise in January
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/02/16/daily72.html

– Uncertainty eats at car shoppers
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/40038422.html

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Fox Cities manufacturers ready to shine
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090222/APC03/902220539/1028

– Pierce Manufacturing receives truck order worth $4.1M
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090222/APC03/902220535/1028

– Fiserv Inc. takes on a new brand look
http://www.jsonline.com/business/40058697.html

– Actuant reports 23% drop in December-January sales
http://www.jsonline.com/business/39906427.html

– Brady reports $4.2 million loss
http://www.jsonline.com/business/39907837.html

– National Presto Industries reports rise in fourth-quarter profit
http://www.jsonline.com/business/39992432.html

LABOR (back to top)
– ADDY Awards: Leaving a mark: Social marketing and charitable focus has been a lifelong focus for Ted Knupp
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/439812

INVESTING (back to top)
– Brady reports $4.2M net loss, cuts outlook
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/02/16/daily69.html

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– BusinessWeek: Pewaukee is nation’s ‘best affordable’ suburb
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/02/16/daily75.html

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Milk Production Hits 20 Year Higher in Wisconsin
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=228&yr=2009

– Farm column: Dairy farmers forced to cut costs creatively
http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20090222/FON03/902220499/1327

– Minks give their all fur Wisconsin ranchers
http://www.jsonline.com/business/40008472.html

– Wisconsin’s ethanol boom sputters, stalls
http://www.jsonline.com/business/40008467.html

– Renew ethanol bankruptcy leaves trail of uneasy creditors
http://www.jsonline.com/business/40008477.html

REGULATION (back to top)
– Rebate credit leading to errors on tax returns
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/439843

– JBS Packerland parent ends bid for National Beef
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/02/16/daily71.html

TOURISM (back to top)
– Visitors bureau plan aims to increase travel to area
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090222/GPG03/902220697/1247

UTILITIES (back to top)
– Update: Public hearings set on power-line proposal
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/439729

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Treasury investment in banks misunderstood, executives say
http://www.jsonline.com/business/40041287.html

– Mid-Wisconsin Bank parent accepts federal TARP investment
http://www.jsonline.com/business/40005532.html

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Anchorbank CEO to step down by fall
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090222/APC03/902220536/1028

– Grede Foundries names new CEO
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/02/16/daily74.html

BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Tom Saler: Takeover of banks may be inevitable
http://www.jsonline.com/business/39992547.html

Media Partners
—Channel3000
—Small Business Times
—Madison Magazine
—BusinessWeek

National Business Roundups ( back to top)
–YAHOO FINANCE: http://finance.yahoo.com/
–CNBC BUSINESS NEWS: http://www.cnbc.com
–ABC BUSINESS NEWS: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/
–GOOGLE NEWS: http://news.google.com/news/en/us/business.html

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