WED AM News: Women increasing their presence in Wisconsin craft beer scene; USDA announces nearly $7M in loans and grants in the state

— Beermaking has traditionally been a man’s job. But the craft brewing industry — and pioneering women in the field — are changing that.

And they are supporting each other through a group called the Pink Boots Society, a national organization made up of women in the brewery business. In Wisconsin, the organization has 55 members. It is open to women who work in all areas of the beer industry. 

WisBusiness.com asked a former editor, Brian Clark, to scope out women in Wisconsin’s craft brewing industry.

Here are four of their stories:

<b>Jessica and Erika Jones, Madison</b>

In their previous (working) lives, Jessica Jones was a Lutheran minister, and her spouse, Erika, toiled in the nonprofit world.

But the pair left those careers behind and say they’ve found their true calling with the Giant Jones craft brewery, which they opened four years ago on Madison’s east side. 

Since then, Giant Jones has won a number of awards, including a recent bronze at the Great American Beer Festival in September for its Doppelsticke Altbier in the “Other Strong Beer’’ category. 

The couple — both of whom grew up in the Fox Valley — operate one of the few women-owned breweries in the state. 

“The impetus for starting our own brewery was simply that we both really like beer,” explained Erika, who said they began with home brewing when they were living in Berkeley, Calif.  “Then we met some professional brewers and just fell in love with craft beer and the craft beer community.”

See the full story here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2022/women-increasing-their-presence-in-wisconsin-craft-beer-scene/ 

— The USDA has announced $6.4 million in loans and about $550,000 in grants for businesses and other organizations in Wisconsin. 

These federal dollars are part of a $981 million round of funding going to recipients in 47 states, Guam and the Virgin Islands, according to a release from the USDA. The funding is meant to support rural businesses and entrepreneurs. 

In Wisconsin, Octopi Brewing in Waunakee is getting a $1.75 million loan to purchase packaging and manufacturing equipment. The agency says this project is expected to save 155 jobs. And THD LLC in Toma is getting a $4.6 million loan to buy and operate the Tomah Best Western, which is expected to save 15 jobs. 

Meanwhile, the UW Board of Regents is getting a nearly $200,000 grant to offer technical assistance to dozens of startup and established cooperatives working in retail grocery, manufacturing, green energy, forestry, agriculture, and veterinary services. 

Cooperative Development Services is also getting $200,000 for similar cooperative efforts, which are expected to benefit 70 groups in the upper Midwest region. 

Three groups are getting smaller grants to assist “microentrepreneurs and microenterprises” in rural areas: Advocap Inc. of Fond du Lac, with about $12,000; Stevens Point-based Cap Services Inc., $84,000; and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation of Milwaukee, $57,000. 

See more details on the funding: https://www.rd.usda.gov/media/file/download/120622-new-and-better-markets-chart-final 

— Fetch has announced two new executive appointments as the company scales its technology and operations to keep up with a growing user base for its rewards app. 

Charles McColgan joins the Madison-based company as its first chief information officer after nearly three decades of experience scaling companies and building data and security products. McColgan will lead all data engineering, data analytics, data science, machine learning and analytics engineering teams.

And Wade Bruce has been named chief technology officer. Bruce, who joined Fetch in 2019, will now lead all software engineering and development operations. 

Fetch CEO Wes Schroll says inflation and “tough macroeconomic conditions” are driving consumer demand for ways to save money, while digital advertising trends are pushing brands to “explore new ways to connect directly” with their customers. 

“These factors have supercharged our growth rate and pushed us ahead of our 2022 growth targets,” he said in a statement. “Bolstering our leadership team with top talent at this crucial time will set us up for success as we aim for even bigger things in 2023.”

The company has also dropped “Rewards” from its official company name, logos and branding.

See more at Madison Startups: 

Listen to a recent podcast with Schroll: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2022/wisbusiness-the-podast-with-wes-schroll-fetch-rewards/ 

<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report … </b></i> 

— Wisconsin has been ranked 21st among U.S. states for the health of its residents in the latest report from the United Health Foundation. 

<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>

Sign up here: http://forms.gle/o8FtqTLviGJPja8C9 

#TOP STORIES#

# Wisconsin rent prices normalize as evictions return to pre-pandemic levels

https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-rent-prices-evictions-housing-pre-pandemic-levels

# See where rural broadband is (and isn’t) available in Wisconsin

https://captimes.com/news/business/see-where-rural-broadband-is-and-isnt-available-in-wisconsin/article_93919213-d6fb-59c1-a5a0-b659880b7595.html

# ‘It’s a learning experience’: Riley intern gains on-the-job training by building Waukesha office expansion

#TOPICS#

# AGRIBUSINESS 

– Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer finalists named

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1221&yr=2022

# CONSTRUCTION 

– Historic Preservation Commission rejects plans to raze Mitchell Street building for apartment development

# ENVIRONMENT 

– State spongy moth count was higher for third straight year

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1223&yr=2022

# FOOD AND BEVERAGE

– Steny’s set to expand to Pewaukee with fish fry drive-thru, outdoor sports

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2022/12/06/stenys-expand-pewaukee-drive-thru.html

# HEALTH CARE 

– Racial, ethnic disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes remain wide in Wisconsin

https://www.wpr.org/racial-disparities-maternal-infant-health-preterm-birth-rate-wisconsin-march-of-dimes

– More Wisconsin high schoolers reporting anxiety, depression

https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-high-schoolers-anxiety-depression-youth-risk-behavior-survey

– Three legacy Aurora Health Care execs named to Advocate Health leadership

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2022/12/06/advocate-health-execs-aurora.html

# LABOR 

– Federal labor regulators and Superior police investigating death of worker at Superior shipyard

https://www.wpr.org/federal-labor-regulators-and-superior-police-investigating-death-worker-superior-shipyard

# LEGAL 

– 2,000-cow Kewaunee dairy operation charged with fraud, conspiracy in manure dumping

https://madison.com/news/local/environment/2-000-cow-kewaunee-dairy-operation-charged-with-fraud-conspiracy-in-manure-dumping/article_0e792bf8-3255-598d-8aa9-2744d43893d7.html

# MANAGEMENT 

– Krentz re-elected president of WFBF, Rural Mutual Insurance

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1222&yr=2022

# REAL ESTATE 

– Greenwald Gardens in Mukwonago goes up for auction

– Milwaukee Tool buys parcel of land across the street from Brookfield HQ for parking

– Internet goes wild for mid-century ‘time capsule’ house for sale in Allouez

https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/2022/12/06/internet-goes-wild-for-mid-century-modern-house-for-sale-in-green-bay/69690074007/

– Menasha taps COVID funds for $4.9 million redevelopment of Jefferson Park

https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/local/2022/12/06/menashas-jefferson-park-redevelopment-to-advance-with-federal-funds/69674005007/

# SMALL BUSINESS 

– Zippy Lube Coffee, Donuts & Fried Chicken opens, ‘the actualization of a dream’

https://madison.com/entertainment/dining/restaurants/zippy-lube-coffee-donuts-fried-chicken-opens-the-actualization-of-a-dream/article_fd987a01-3b3e-53bb-90f0-48ea6695c717.html

# SPORTS 

– Packers’ Aaron Jones again nominated for NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year

https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2022/12/06/green-bay-packers-aaron-jones-nominated-for-nfls-walter-payton-man-of-the-year/69704680007/

# TOURISM 

– Milwaukee County now considering demolishing The Domes as potential option

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2022/12/06/milwaukee-committee-on-parks-and-culture-considers.html

# TRANSPORTATION 

– Madison’s airport is the priciest of nation’s 100 busiest airports

https://captimes.com/news/business/madisons-airport-is-the-priciest-of-nations-100-busiest-airports/article_d5a8b408-8a55-57cb-bbb5-a07ec8f220ac.html

– Sun Country Airlines eyeing opportunities to add flights in Milwaukee and Wisconsin

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2022/12/06/sun-country-airlines-open-to-new-opportunities-in.html

# PRESS RELEASES

<i>See these and other press releases: 

https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>

Arch Solar: Habitat for Humanity and Arch Solar join together to install solar on 49 Wisconsin homes

Wisconsin’s state-chartered banks: Report sound third-quarter financial performance