— While most technology industry executives hold a dim view of current state economic conditions, 45 percent of those responding to the first WisBusiness.com Tech Leaders Survey said the Wisconsin economy will improve during the next year and nearly three-quarters of the executives rated the overall prospects for their own companies as good or excellent. Sixty-six percent of survey respondents rated the current condition of Wisconsin’s economy as fair, while 22.4 percent rated it as poor. Nearly 12 percent (11.6 percent) said the state’s economy is good. Executives who responded to the survey are most optimistic about the prospects for the company they run. Nearly three-quarters of the executives rate the overall prospects for their own companies as good (50.4 percent) or excellent (21.9 percent). Twenty-two percent rate those prospects as only fair and 5 percent rate them as poor. Seventy percent of survey respondents said that things will get better for their companies during the next 12 months. The initial survey was conducted from June 23 through July 6, and collected responses from 277 technology company executives from across Wisconsin. The survey is a project of the Wisconsin Technology Council, in partnership with WisBusiness.com and the Luminis Group, Ltd., a Madison-based corporate and marketing communications firm. See more on the survey later today at http://www.wisbusiness.com — It’s the fundamental challenge facing media today: As communication migrates from the television, magazine page or newspaper to online, how can the industry make money? For newspapers, free Internet ads like Craig’s List have all but eviscerated that once-lucrative classified business, and the contracting economy has further shrunk automotive, real estate and retailing ads. Broadcasters, too, have seen the rise of digital media cut into their traditional franchise, but less dramatically. In the latest WisBusiness Media Watch column, writer Erik Gunn looks at the ways state media outlets are working to make money while still offering free online content. Read his column: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=164355 — Citizen Action of Wisconsin argues that a new poll of business owners in Wisconsin shows “strong” support for health care reform in the state’s small business community. Citizen Action and national business advocacy group Small Business Majority collaborated on the poll, which showed 75 percent of respondents supporting a package that includes both public and private coverage options for small businesses and individuals. The poll also identified controlling costs as the main issue for small businesses, and that 84 percent of the businesses that do not offer health insurance say they can’t afford to do so. The poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners on behalf of Small Business Majority, surveyed 200 small business owners by telephone interview from May 20-29. The random sample of small business proprietors, defined as businesses employing up to 100 individuals, was obtained through commercial vendor InfoUSA. The margin of error is plus or minus 6.5 percent with a 95 percent confidence interval. See the WisBusiness story for more: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=164354 — The White House says 30 Wisconsin colleges and universities are among the more 1,100 schools contributing to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ “Yellow Ribbon Program.” The program funds tuition above the highest in-state undergraduate tuition rate for veterans participating in the new GI Bill. Participating schools contribute up to 50 percent of the expenses, which are then matched by the DVA. Wisconsin schools participating in the program include Marquette University, Beloit College, Edgewood College and UW-Green Bay’s graduate program. See the press release: http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=164312 TOP STORIES High court to rule in major lead paint case : The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether a Milwaukee child sickened by lead paint can sue manufacturers for defectively designing the product. Madison researchers optimistic but cautious on new stem cell guidelines: Many associated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison are cautiously optimistic about the future of stem cell science in the United States following the government’s release July 6 of its final guidelines for taxpayer-funded research using embryonic stem cell lines. APAC brings back laid-off employees: Chicago-based APAC Customer Services Inc. is adding 450 employees at its downtown Green Bay call center, 301 N. Adams St. Green Bay General Manager Joe Dickerson said the plan is to increase call center employment to about 1,050 within 90 days. Sheboygan’s J.L. French files for bankruptcy protection : Collapsing sales and production in the auto industry forced J.L. French Automotive Castings Inc. into bankruptcy for the second time in three years.
************************************************************ 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) – Paying the doctor bills online: LaserNet links with Bellin Health to simplify payment
BIOTECH (back to top)
ECONOMY (back to top) – Wisconsin up in millionaire rankings
MANUFACTURING (back to top) – 300 Patrick Cudahy workers are back on job
LABOR (back to top) – Study: Job-loss rate slows in tech sector – Oshkosh Corp. job fair draws up to 1,500 applicants
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
INVESTING (back to top)
REAL ESTATE (back to top)
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
RETAIL (back to top) – Target store could come to Hilldale – Charming Shoppes will keep Wisconsin unit – Walgreens wants to add beer, wine sales at area stores
REGULATION (back to top)
TOURISM (back to top) – Wisconsin HOG rally could be multi-state next year
HEALTH CARE (back to top) – Children’s Hospital exiting pediatric care at Kenosha Medical Center
PRESS RELEASES (back to top) For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 |
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