THU AM News: Groups driving startup growth getting $3.5M through Ignite Wisconsin effort; Statewide home sales down 3.9% in January

February 19, 2026

— Organizations driving startup growth across Wisconsin are getting $3.5 million in newly announced state funding.

After Gov. Tony Evers referenced the new Ignite Wisconsin funding in his State of the State address Tuesday evening, WEDC yesterday rolled out details for the four consortiums getting support through the program.

The guv said the effort will “advance startups in our state in targeted sectors to boost our homegrown innovation.” That includes emerging technology such as fusion energy, according to details provided by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

One of the recipients, the Wisconsin Fusion Energy Coalition, is getting $778,000 to establish the state as a “national hub” for this industry through business creation and attraction and other related efforts.

Led by the 5 Lakes Institute — which promotes tech development in the Great Lakes region — the coalition plans to provide financial support to five startup teams and technical help to more than 80 companies over 18 months. Expected impacts include 24 new jobs and three new product lines.

“WEDC’s support will help us build out a vibrant ecosystem around decades of world-leading fusion energy research at UW-Madison and Wisconsin’s strong manufacturing base that is well-positioned to be an important part of this new industry’s supply chain,” Kathleen Gallagher, the institute’s executive director, said in a statement.

Other partners in the fusion coalition include the UW-Madison College of Engineering, the UW-Whitewater Fiscal and Economic Research Center, WARF and the Wisconsin Procurement Institute.

Meanwhile, the Cheese Wedge Consortium in northeastern Wisconsin is getting $1 million to provide accelerator programming, pre-seed funding “bootcamps” and corporate engagement efforts. Led by the New North economic development group, the effort will include equity investments, legal and housing stipends for relocating entrepreneurs, co-working spaces and more.

The consortium plans to support 21 startups and 42 participants within a year, while providing direct funding to 18 businesses, creating 46 new jobs and generating $3.4 million in revenue, according to the WEDC overview.

Patti Habeck, president and CEO of the New North, says the effort “is about creating a thriving region where ideas flourish, and solutions to the world’s challenges are born.”

Another $950,000 is going to the Wisconsin Frontier Technology Consortium, led by the Wisconsin Technology Council. This group is focused on boosting emerging tech such as AI, robotics, advanced materials and quantum computing through a new research lab, an accelerator program, and a roundtable gathering to explore related hurdles.

The Frontier consortium says it will support 24 startups in two years, host four labs and four statewide roundtable events, create 50 jobs, provide grants and generate more early-stage investments.

“This end-to-end platform will support founders from innovation to impact and ensure that breakthroughs in deep technology benefit Wisconsin’s core industries and workers,” Tech Council President Maggie Brickerman said in a statement.

The final $772,000 is going to the Center for Technology Commercialization’s Foundry Factory, which aims to boost the “high-growth” startup ecosystem in the state’s southeastern region. Elements of the CTC effort include an innovation bootcamp, startup accelerators, pitch events and company matchmaking.

The Foundry Factor aims to provide funding to 15 businesses over two years and technical help to 60 businesses, as well as “pre-accelerator” programming for 15 early-stage teams. CTC Director Margaret Ramey says the two-year initiative is “designed to spark a lasting cultural shift toward a more connective, innovative region.”

See the release and see more on Ignite Wisconsin here.

— Statewide monthly home sales declined 3.9% over the year in January as total listings declined for the first time in more than two years.

That’s according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association’s latest monthly real estate report being released today. It shows 3,484 homes were sold in the state last month, down from 3,625 in January 2025.

At the same time, total statewide listings dipped 1.7% over the year, reaching 16,945 in January.

WRA Board Chair Amy Curler notes total listings had been growing on an annual basis for 28 months in a row before this decline.

“We suspect this is just a temporary deviation from the trend, and we’re cautiously optimistic that the spring and summer markets will see growing inventories,” she said in the report.

Meanwhile, the state’s median home price rose 7.9% over the year, from $292,000 to $315,000 last month.

Home sale prices have risen in five of the state’s six main regions over the past year, the report shows. Stronger growth was seen in the northeast and southeast regions, up 11% and 10%, respectively. The south central region saw 6.8% growth while the central region was up by 6.5% and the western region was up 4.5%. The median price in the northern region was largely flat over the year.

Despite this growth in sale prices, WRA President and CEO Tom Larson points to “upward trends” in affordability in the state. The report shows the average monthly 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell from 6.96% to 6.10% over the year, driving up the group’s affordability index.

“Hopefully these improvements in affordability continue,” he said in the report.

Looking ahead, WRA consultant and economist Dave Clark expects “significant improvement” in housing market supply within the next five years as the baby boomer generation continues to age. Clark notes the youngest of the generation are now 62 years old while the oldest have turned 80.

“As those in this demographic cohort continue to age, their propensity to buy homes will diminish, and their propensity to sell will increase, thereby releasing inventory for younger generations,” he wrote.

See more in the report.

— Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce has named John “Jack” Link as the newest inductee into the Wisconsin Manufacturing Hall of Fame, recognizing his impact on the U.S. meat snack industry.

Link Snacks Inc., known for the brand name Jack Link’s, is the world’s largest manufacturer of meat jerky, according to WMC’s announcement. The company dominates more than a third of the U.S. meat snacks industry, the group notes.

The business remains headquartered in the village of Minong in Washburn County, where Link was born and raised.

In a statement on his induction, Link called it “a true honor.”

“I’ve been fortunate to work alongside family and Team Members who’ve become family, grounded in hard work, values, and our Wisconsin roots,” he said. “This recognition belongs to our entire team and everyone who’s been part of the 40-year journey. I’m grateful and excited for what’s ahead.”

See the release.

Top headlines from the Health Care Report…

— Wisconsin will join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, Gov. Tony Evers announced in his final State of the State address.

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

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