— A new report from Visit Milwaukee shows the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship run brought $57.6 million in direct and indirect spending to the city.
The NBA Finals, held in mid-July, resulted in $28 million of that economic impact, the report shows. The larger spending figure includes that total as well as the impact of the three playoff rounds as well, held between mid-May and early July.
The estimated impact of those rounds ramped up over time, with the first round against the Miami Heat resulting in a $2.7 million impact, the second round versus the New Jersey Nets bringing in $12.8 million, and the third round against the Atlanta Hawks resulting in a $14.1 million impact.
The economic impact figures include estimates of spending on lodging, transportation, food and beverage services, retail purchases, recreation, venue rentals and business services. It also includes estimates for indirect impact and induced impact, covering dollars spent between businesses to support the activity and money spent by their employees.
VISIT Milwaukee President and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith calls the impact “a vital boost” to the local economy.
“These dollars pumped much-needed life into many of the businesses that struggled the most during the pandemic, and they helped support thousands of jobs,” she said in the report.
Over the course of the championship, the direct spending impact is broken down into the following categories: approximately $8.4 million on lodging, $6.6 million on recreation, $5.8 million on retail, $5.2 million on food and beverage, $4.3 million on transportation, $1.2 million on business services and $39,000 on space rental.
The overall championship run generated over $1.1 million in local taxes, the report shows.
Aside from the direct and indirect economic impact, the report highlights the branding impact of the playoffs and NBA Finals for Milwaukee. Based on analysis from media reporting service Meltwater, the championship games resulted in about as many earned media impressions for the team as the rest of the season combined, covering the period between December and early May.
“The world now knows that Milwaukee is a city of champions and that excitement clearly resonated with thousands of local fans and visitors,” Williams-Smith said.
See the report: https://www.visitmilwaukee.org/media/press-releases/economic-impact-data-for-milwaukee-bucks-champions/
— The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. will soon begin accepting applications for new startup support programs under the Entrepreneurship Partner Grant program, which provides up to $50,000 for these efforts.
Applications are being accepted through Oct. 29 for new programs ranging from technical support for entrepreneurs to educational efforts, a release from WEDC shows. The grant program has two tracks, including competitive partner grants for pilot projects and new programs, and non-competitive open grants for established programs that have previously received funding.
The maximum amount for the open grants going to established programs is $200,000, the release shows.
Groups starting new programs can begin applying Monday. Grants will be awarded based on how the project supports startup growth in Wisconsin as well as its impact on underserved communities. WEDC says about 10 groups will likely receive the grants, which will range in size from $10,000 to $50,000.
“We know that starting a business is a challenge,” said Missy Hughes, WEDC secretary and CEO, in the release. “We also know that investing in a culture of innovation and support for entrepreneurs — particularly people of color, women, LGBT individuals and those in rural areas who have not been served by other programs — pays off in new opportunities for all.”
See more on the grant program here: https://wedc.org/programs-and-resources/entrepreneurship-partner-grant/
— A UW System report on mental health and counseling found that 7.5 percent fewer students used campus counseling services during the 2020-21 school year than in the previous year.
Report authors note that decrease is “believed to be related to access issues” related to the pandemic and raises concerns, given other findings highlighting “increased mental health distress” among students during the pandemic. Just over 13,000 students utilized counseling services, compared to over 14,000 in the prior school year.
That drop followed a 55 percent increase in utilization of counseling services between 2009-10 and 2019-20, the report shows.
About 81 percent of counseling clients reported that the pandemic had added to their stress levels. A survey of students receiving counseling found 98 percent reported that “most or all” of their counseling sessions were done remotely, and 88 percent felt that telecounseling services had a positive impact on their well-being.
“Telehealth has been a useful alternative during the pandemic, but our surveys show students prefer in-person counseling,” said UW System President Tommy Thompson in a statement. “Having more counselors will help us provide more in-person counseling to meet demand.”
The ratio of students to counselors “worsened slightly” in the most recent academic year after several years of improvement, the report shows, reaching an average of 1,533-to-1. The recommended ratio is 1,000-to-1 in a “high utilization environment,” the report shows.
“With counseling utilization expected to rebound to pre-pandemic levels or greater in 2021-22, the need to address staffing shortages is expected to become even more critical,” report authors wrote.
In line with national trends based on college student mental health surveys, the prevalence of anxiety, stress and depression, as well as concerns about procrastination/motivation and attention/concentration all increased in the latest report.
Still, the report shows that counseling appears to be helping the majority of student clients. Post-counseling surveys show over 80 percent of students reported improvements in overall well-being and on specific mental health issues that led them to seek counseling.
See the full report here: https://www.wisconsin.edu/student-behavioral-health/download/UWCIAP_Annual-Report_20-21_FINAL.pdf
— A recent study illustrates how HealthyMyne’s technology can identify if certain cancer patients will benefit from immunotherapies.
The study was published in the scientific journal Cancers and focuses on the Madison company’s radiomics technology, which uses medical imaging to analyze treatment targets and indicators known as biomarkers.
Researchers compared patients with lung cancer who underwent immunotherapy with other patients with glandular cancer who underwent chemotherapy on its own or in combination with targeted cancer therapy.
They used HealthMyne’s imaging analytics technology to identify a number of metrics used to predict overall survival and “progression-free survival,” a measure of survival without the disease worsening. Of the 573 factors identified among the two patient groups, the scientists found 19 were significant for predicting overall survival and 108 were significant for predicting progression-free survival.
The study authors say the findings demonstrate these “radiomic features” can help identify patients who would get the most out of immunotherapies, which help the body’s immune system fight off cancer and other diseases.
Rose Higgins, CEO of HealthMyne, says drug developers “need an accurate and efficient means” for selecting and categorizing patients for clinical studies.
“Numerous examples of peer-reviewed research have shown that radiomics and precision image analysis identifies biomarkers that drive greater personalization of treatment and provides new insights for better decisions,” she said in a statement.
See the study here: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/16/3992
— The state Department of Health Services has backed the recommendation that certain populations who received Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine get a booster and began the process of helping providers begin delivering the shots.
The agency’s move comes after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Friday announced those who received the Pfizer vaccine could receive booster shots. Those covered include seniors 65 and over, nursing home residents and those at least 50 years old who have underlying medical conditions.
The DHS highlighted those the agency said should get a booster shot of Pfizer at least six months after their second dose. That includes those living in long-term care.
The agency also said certain populations may receive the booster, including those aged 18-49 with underlying medical conditions and those 18-64 who are at increased risk of transmission because of their job or institutional settings. That includes first responders, educators and manufacturing workers.
The DHS announcement comes as Wisconsin’s seven-day average of new confirmed cases was at 2,603 as of Sunday. Wisconsin last averaged those numbers in January, before the vaccine was widely available. Nearly 57 percent of the state’s population has now received at least one dose of the vaccine.
“Booster doses are another tool at our disposal to stop the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant and slow the spread of COVID-19 in communities throughout Wisconsin,” said DHS Secretary Karen Timberlake.
The CDC has not yet recommended boosters for those who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Gov. Tony Evers received the Moderna vaccine when he received the first and second dose in February and mid-March.
“The governor encourages eligible Wisconsinites to get the safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine and the Pfizer booster if applicable,” Evers spokeswoman Britt Cudaback said. “In the event the CDC recommends a booster shot for which the governor is eligible, the governor will receive the booster shot and will encourage eligible Wisconsinites to receive one as well.”
See the DHS release: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/releases/092721.htm
— The latest USDA crop progress report shows farmers “had a busy week” with mostly good field conditions for fieldwork.
Temperatures were slightly above normal, while precipitation varied across the state from less than one-fourth of an inch to over 3 inches, the report shows. It covers the week ending Sept. 26.
Harvesting is underway for grain corn, silage corn, soybeans and hay, while fall tillage and manure spreading is also proceeding. Farmers are continuing to plant winter wheat, with planting 42 percent complete. That’s nine days behind last year’s pace, but four days ahead of the five-year average.
See the report here: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Wisconsin/Publications/Crop_Progress_&_Condition/2021/WI-Crop-Progress-09-27-21.pdf
#TOP STORIES#
# Local hospitals helping provide care for Afghan evacuees at Fort McCoy
# Dane County Executive Joe Parisi proposes $10 million crisis triage center
# Grocers see rolling shortages as COVID-19 pandemic lingers
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– World Dairy Expo to move 2022 schedule up a day
# CONSTRUCTION
– Mared Mechanical construction business moves to Menomonee Falls
– Dane County proposes $10M for new crisis center in 2022 budget
# ECONOMY
– Wisconsin bars and restaurants are bouncing back, but not to pre-pandemic levels
# EDUCATION
– Farm Tech Days launches ag-based school curriculum
– Northwestern Mutual to provide more than $3 Million in education grants throughout Milwaukee
# ENVIRONMENT
– Vibrant fall colors expected for much of Wisconsin. Here’s when to expect leaves to change.
# FOOD AND BEVERAGE
– Private suite karaoke and team building bar to open in the Brewery District
# POLITICS
– Strategist: Abortion could be mobilizing issue for Wisconsin Democrats in 2022
– Wisconsin Assembly to consider slate of K-12 bills Tuesday
# REAL ESTATE
– Hovde Properties moving forward with redevelopment of Lake Avenue property
# RETAIL
– Cousins adds storefront to Walker’s Point commissary
# SPORTS
– NBA Finals brought in $28 million to Milwaukee
– See photos of Team USA’s Ryder Cup victory at Whistling Straits
– USA earns landslide Ryder Cup victory in Wisconsin
# TOURISM
– This is Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Week
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
