(WisBusiness) TUES News Summary — 13 Jan. 2009

From WisBusiness.com …

— State agencies should expect to see flat or reduced budgets, state grants will shrink and public employees shouldn’t expect a raise in the next budget, Gov. Jim Doyle told business and investment leaders at an economic forum. But he also said that the stimulus plans presented an opportunity for the state to do some “really big things.”

Doyle said he believes there is strong support in the incoming administration and Congress for broadly defining what constitutes infrastructure in a possible federal stimulus package to include rail, airport, harbor and other improvements.

“This is an opportunity for us to do some really big things,” Doyle said, and listed projects such as the KRM commuter rail line, a possible high-speed rail line throughout the Midwest, and a “smart” electrical grid system.

“I’m actually really looking forward to this year,” Doyle said, “because I think that despite these enormous challenges, this opportunity that we have is not an opportunity that comes along very often, and it may not come along in another generation, of really doing some major things in Wisconsin to improve this state and really get our economy moving again.”

In the wake of Quad/Graphics announcement that it would cut 550 jobs (with 400 of those being in Wisconsin), Doyle said he expects more layoffs in other companies going forward. What concerns him is seeing companies that were recently planning expansions now pulling back.

“Quad/Graphics is a great example of a company that’s been expanding; it has had good expansion plans and good growth plans,” Doyle said. “And now because of where the economy’s gone they’ve had to make some really difficult adjustments.”

Quad/Graphics executives spoke with Doyle Friday about the company’s plans and said they believe the company is strong and will be in a good position when the economy rebounds.

Read more from Doyle: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=145520

Listen to audio of the event: http://blogs.wispolitics.com/multimedia/audio/2009/01/090112DoyleFL.mp3

— Hutchinson Technology Inc. filed notice it will be closing its photo etch operations in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The approxiomately 100 layoffs are expected to take place in March.

See the state filing: http://www.wisbusiness.com/1008/large/090112HTI.pdf

— Consumers who were improperly billed, failed to receive promised rebates, or received promises of warranty services never delivered may be eligible for restitution thanks to a lawsuit brought against Dell Computers.

Dell has agreed to resolve these allegations and those brought by 33 other states by entering into an agreement whereby Dell will provide restitution to Dell customers who experienced problems with the company’s financing promotions, rebate offers, technical support and repair policies.

Under the agreement, Texas-based Dell, Inc., and its subsidiary, Dell Financial Services, LLC, admit no wrongdoing but agree to pay $1.5 million in restitution to eligible consumers who file claims postmarked by April 13, 2009. Dell will pay an additional $1.85 million to the states for reimbursement of legal costs and other expenses, of which Wisconsin will receive $46,666.

See the press release: http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=145448

— Waukesha-based Environmental Systems Inc. has acquired ECC Controls Inc.

ESI provides a wide range of technology and services in the areas of building automation, systems integration, networking and IT infrastructure, security, life safety, building operations and software applications in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. ECC provides temperature controls, building automation, energy management and security systems in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

****************************************
THANKS TO OUR WISBUSINESS SPONSORS

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Madison Gas & Electric
• University Research Park
• Wisconsin Technology Council

****************************************