(WisBusiness) TUES News Summary — 24 Mar. 2009

From WisBusiness.com …

— Proposed Wisconsin ballast water treatment rules that would be 100 times stronger than neighboring Minnesota’s could cost the Port of Superior hundreds of jobs.

That’s the assessment of Superior Mayor Dave Ross, a critic of the regulations being considered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

“Oceangoing shippers will simply go the Port of Duluth if they can’t meet Wisconsin rules,” said Ross, who testified with other civic, business and labor leaders Monday at a DNR hearing in Milwaukee.

Environmental groups, however, say the new rules are needed.

See story at http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=153097

— Rep. Mark Pocan, co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee, told WisPolitics.com Monday that an informal count of committee members indicates there are enough votes to keep a version of the film tax credit in the budget.

Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget proposes eliminating the tax credit and replacing it with a $500,000 grant program. The film tax credit program has been controversial because in 2008 nearly all of the $5 million the state estimates flowed into Wisconsin’s economy from the film industry was given back in tax credits.

Pocan, D-Madison, said the details of how the program will look are still coming together, but he expects “something closer to what’s there but with caps and other adjustments.”

— Commerce Department executive assistant Zach Brandon said the agency will continue to try to educate committee members about why it’s pushing for the change.

Brandon said many people don’t understand the film tax credit is actually paid out like a subsidy. For example, the state paid out $4 million for the Johnny Depp film “Public Enemies,” while the state measured only $275,000 in tax revenue that it took in off the film. That means the state coffers are almost $4 million in the hole on the film.

He also said Wisconsin should not be part of a national race among states to offer more and more lucrative benefits to Hollywood so they’ll consider bringing a film to their backyards.

— Gov. Jim Doyle kicked off the $1.9 billion reconstruction of the I-94 Milwaukee-to-Illinois corridor with a ceremony Monday at a “park & ride” lot on Milwaukee’s south side.

The project, expected to be completed in 2016, will widen the freeway from six to eight lanes and make safety and aesthetic improvements.

Doyle said the timetable for the project has been accelerated thanks to $91 million in stimulus funds. He estimated the project will create 2,300 new jobs and employ 5,500 workers.

See the release:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=153086

— Madison-based Thrive has released the first of its annual Sector Snapshots, a review of the strengths of each of the region’s target sectors (agriculture, biotechnology and healthcare).

These reports are sector-specific sector-specific supplements to the overview regional data provided in Thrive’s annual State of the Madison Region report, released in December (www.thrivehere.org/regionalmetrics).

The first report released this week is the Biotechnology Sector Snapshot.
It says the region’s biotech sector grew 95 percent from 2000 to 2007, increasing from 2,900 jobs to over 5,700. The broader bioindustry set of companies employs over 10,000.

See the release: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=153048

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Press Releases
· ABC Supply: New roles for several key leaders at ABC Supply Co. Inc.
· ActionCOACH of Elm Grove: Announces Tom Palzewicz receives “Action Man” recognition at North American Regional Conference in Las Vegas
· Alliant Energy: As moratorium end nears, Wisconsin Power and Light Company heats up customer assistance efforts
· Cross Plains Area Chamber of Commerce: Offering two scholarships to area high school seniors
· DATCP: 62nd Alice in Dairyland finalists to be named March 27
· Dept. of Revenue: Department releases February revenue collections
· St. Croix Economic Development Corp.: Census Bureau reports St. Croix is state’s fastest-growing county
· Thrive: Releases first annual sector snapshot: biotechnology
· U.S. Rep. Kagen: Makes resources available to small businesses
· UW-Madison: Connections program continues to expand
· Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek: Attorney Phil Koutnik elected as trustee of the Public Policy Forum
· Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation: Energy initiative leaders recognized for industry expertise
· Wisconsin Public Service Foundation: Donates thousands in UPPCO’s service area

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


TOP STORIES
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ABP Induction lays off 31 workers: ABP Induction LLC, a Brookfield provider of induction heat treating, forging and other metal treating services, has informed the state of Wisconsin that because of various order cancellations and postponements by customers, it has laid off 31 workers at its Brookfield site.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily5.html

Middleton firm to close, 51 to be laid off: LDS Test & Measurement LLC has decided to close its operations in Middleton, resulting in the loss of 51 jobs.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily6.html

Cummins lays off workers in Bloomer, BRF: Land said 44 people were laid off in Bloomer, leaving 175 people at the plant. Another 30 were cut in Black River Falls, leaving 163 at the Jackson County plant, and 265 people remain at the Viroqua plant after 53 people were let go there.
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news.asp?id=BJHS8CCDJ1C

Manitowoc aluminum rolling mill cutting 86: Koenig & Vits, operators of an aluminum rolling mill at 2015 Mirro Drive, will begin a permanent elimination of 23 salaried and 63 hourly production employees beginning in May and continuing through July.
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090324/APC03/903240529/1028

Gannett initiates more furloughs: Gannett Co. Inc. announced Monday it will institute another round of unpaid furloughs as well as a wage freeze for most of its employees in its U.S. divisions and corporate headquarters to control expenses.
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090324/APC03/903240535/1028

Marinette Marine gets order from Navy: Marinette Marine said the contract would prevent more than 200 announced layoffs and another 100 that were under consideration. The company said 170 workers already laid off will not be recalled for work on the LCS, but could be if additional commercial contracts are received.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090324/GPG03/903240410/1247

Shipping industry critical of proposed Wis. rules : Shipping industry officials say Wisconsin’s proposed rules to stop ocean-going ships from dumping ballast water with invasive species in the Great Lakes aren’t workable.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_BALLAST_INVASIVE_SPECIES_WIOL-?SITE=WIMAD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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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)
– PSC asks people to tell of broadband needs
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_BROADBAND_SURVEY_WIOL-?SITE=WIMAD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

– Tech firm breaking into a crowded field
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/smallb1.html?b=1237780800^1798077

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Johnson Controls lands Clinton initiative deal with South African bank
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily9.html

– Oshkosh bids to build new military vehicle
http://www.jsonline.com/business/41720422.html

LABOR (back to top)
– Survey: Staffing levels won’t grow in Wisconsin and northern Illinois
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090324/APC03/903240526/1028

– Appleton approves final layoff notices for 43 teachers
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090324/APC0101/903240537/1979

– School district looks to layoff 45 teachers to fix potential $2 million budget deficit
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090324/OSH0105/303240007/1987

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Madison, Marcus Corp. intensify talks on hotel to serve Monona Terrace
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/444201

– ‘Sustainable’ neighborhood standards get tougher
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/444235

– Senior housing developers get boost from M & I
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/41586877.html

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Port vies for stimulus cash for projects
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090324/GPG03/903240401/1247

– Doyle kicks off I-94 construction
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily15.html

– AirTran will resume nonstop D.C. service
http://www.jsonline.com/business/41718467.html

RETAIL (back to top)
– Pier 1 to shutter 16 stores
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily10.html

REGULATION (back to top)
– State seeks $225 million after jury finds overcharges
http://www.jsonline.com/business/41701717.html

TOURISM (back to top)
– Bud distributor extends racetrack deal
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily8.html

– Brewers file another suite suit
http://www.jsonline.com/business/41720427.html

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Hospitals begin to embrace quality improvement methods
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily13.html

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– M&I, AnchorBank could benefit from federal rescue plan
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/444217

– TomoTherapy changes accountants
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/444195

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