— Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy says the TitletownTech startup program “could be as impactful as anything that the Packers have done.”
He spoke yesterday at the 10th annual Wisconsin Tech Summit, held by the Wisconsin Technology Council at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The event is designed to help early-stage companies and entrepreneurs connect with established businesses and prospective investors from across the state.
In his keynote speech, Murphy touted the importance of the TitletownTech program for both the startup companies it helps fund and the regional economy. This partnership between the Packers and Microsoft was formed about four years ago to provide investment funding and other support for emerging businesses.
“It’s an effort to attract new businesses, not just to Green Bay but also to Wisconsin, and will hopefully grow and drive initial business development in our ecosystem that will attract additional entrepreneurs and their families,” Murphy said.
The TitletownTech fund can invest between $100,000 and $2 million per company, with a focus on startups with potential for significant growth. The program primarily considers businesses in sports media and entertainment, agricultural and water technology, manufacturing, construction, supply chain solutions and digital health.
Along with boosting startups in those industries, Murphy explained the program aims to address a key weakness in the Green Bay economy: a shortage of college graduates relative to other cities of comparable size.
“Particularly with TitletownTech, with some of the companies that we’re investing in and that will end up having a base here in Green Bay, will attract more college graduates,” he said.
Plus, he noted the trend toward remote work makes it more feasible to pull young professionals from larger metro areas such as Chicago and Minneapolis to Green Bay and elsewhere in Wisconsin, where the cost of living is lower and “quality of life will be much better.”
“I think we’re now a lot more attractive to people,” he said, attributing that shift to the Packers’ investment in the community as well as efforts by the Greater Green Bay Chamber and other economic development groups.
Murphy also touted the direct impact of the team, noting each home game results in about $15 million dollars in local economic activity. He added the Packers are looking at hosting an upcoming NFL draft in Green Bay, which would have an estimated $90 million impact.
“We’re very hopeful that we’ll be able to have a NFL draft here, either in 2025 or 2027,” he said.
Listen to an earlier WisBusiness.com podcast with Cordero Barkley, a partner with TitletownTech:
— In the latest episode of “WisBusiness.com: The Show,” First Business Bank President and CEO Jim Hartlieb talks about the collapse of two specialty banks and implications for the larger banking industry.
The show also previews upcoming events from the Wisconsin Technology Council.
Watch the latest episode here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisbusiness-the-show-with-jim-hartlieb-of-first-business-bank/
See the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisconsin-technology-council-wisbiz-the-show-features-jim-hartlieb-of-first-business-bank-coming-events-tech-metrics/
— Attorney General Josh Kaul led a 23-state letter calling for Kia and Hyundai to address rising car thefts among models lacking anti-theft immobilizers.
The Dem AG alongside Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson yesterday called the issue a “crisis of car thefts.” Kaul in the letter calls on the South Korean auto manufacturers to address the roughly 800 percent increase in stolen Kias and Hyundais from 2020 to 2021. The same models sold in the U.S. lacking immobilizers have the anti-theft devices installed as standard equipment in Europe and Canada. Most other manufacturers also equip U.S.-market vehicles with immobilizers standard, too.
“Kia and Hyundai need to step up to address the scourge of theft of vehicles they manufactured without anti-theft immobilizers,” he said.
Milwaukee last year reported 10,477 car thefts. Compared to Chicago’s 21,516 car thefts and significantly larger population, Milwaukee had roughly one stolen car for every 55 residents while Chicago had just one for every 128 residents.
The move comes as state lawmakers are working to advance a bill that would reclassify most Wisconsin laws that bar people from taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent into one carjacking category. Police in a public committee hearing on the measure said it would make investigating car thefts easier.
The companies earlier this year launched a free software update in an attempt to address the issue. The update requires the key to be in the ignition to turn on the car and extends the duration of car alarms from 30 seconds to 60 seconds on vehicles lacking immobilizers, according to a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration press release.
See Kaul’s release:
See NHTSA release: https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/hyundai-kia-campaign-prevent-vehicle-theft
— UW-Madison’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center is getting $27.5 million in federal funding this year to continue developing renewable fuels.
With this year’s federal dollars, the GLBRC’s total funding so far will hit $410 million, making it the largest federally funded project in the university’s history, according to the release.
The university yesterday announced the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded five years of funding for the research center, supporting efforts to develop “sustainable alternatives” to gasoline, diesel fuel as well as other hydrocarbon fuels and petroleum products.
The research center could see up to $147.5 million in the next five years, depending on the availability of congressional funding, the university said. It’s located in UW-Madison’s Wisconsin Energy Institute and includes Michigan State University as well as other partner institutions.
Tim Donohue, the center’s director and a professor of bacteriology at UW-Madison, says its goals include reducing net greenhouse gas emissions from fuels and chemical production and “developing a sustainable circular bioeconomy that benefits industries and communities that haven’t traditionally been producers of fuels and chemicals.”
Researchers at the GLBRC are studying methods for converting non-food plants into low-carbon replacements for various fossil fuels, otherwise known as biofuels. As part of that effort, the scientists aim to boost “plant productivity” and find better ways to convert plants into the chemicals used in materials like plastic, lubricants and nylon.
See more details in the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/uw-madison-doe-renews-funding-for-great-lakes-bioenergy-research-center-uw-madison-hub-to-receive-27-5-million-for-2023/
See an earlier story on the center’s work: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2019/currently-unused-biomass-could-be-used-to-make-valuable-fuels/
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report …</b></i>
— Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has announced birth control resources will be made available to Medicaid patients through the organization’s mobile app.
<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>
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#TOP STORIES#
# Utility regulators approve $649M purchase of Wisconsin’s largest renewable energy plant
# Twin Cities, Chicago among top 10 markets for sports business. Where Milwaukee ranks.
# Green Bay Packers lining up NFL draft support from community leaders
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin honey production up 48 percent, price down a nickel
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=334&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Construction management course costs at UW would go up under budget plan
# ECONOMY
– Wisconsin layoff notices up from this time last year, showing signs of possible economic slowdown
– Northwestern Mutual investment chief sees a recession coming, but how bad will it be?
# EDUCATION
– Students use creativity, recycled materials in Winona State engineering design competition
# ENVIRONMENT
– DATCP reminder: Check runoff risk prior to spreading manure
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=336&yr=2023
# LABOR
– Northwestern Mutual to move 6000 workers to downtown Milwaukee with $30 mil subsidy
# LEGAL
– 23 attorneys general write letter to Kia and Hyundai over car thefts
# MANUFACTURING
– Wisconsin Brewing Company targeting Milwaukee area to grow Lake Louie brand
# MEDIA
– Stellar Tech Girls takes top cash prize during season premiere of Project Pitch It
# POLITICS
– Dan Kelly’s deleted blog posts raise new questions beyond development and construction
# REGULATION
– Appleton’s road diet for College Avenue advances to council for vote
# RETAIL
– Northridge Mall industrial redevelopment generates call to add retail
# SPORTS
– Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis launches podcast, stars in upcoming basketball film
# TRANSPORTATION
– Within range? Potential buyers weigh incentives and Wisconsin’s charging infrastructure amid EV transition
# UTILITIES
– Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center receives $27.5M to develop cleaner fuel alternatives
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction: Adds construction and marketing staff
