(WisBusiness) TUES News Summary — 6 Jan. 2009

From WisBusiness.com …

— As the new legislative session opens in Madison, Democratic legislative leaders say jobs are the top priority.

Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, said his first priority for the new legislative session will be passing an economic stimulus package for the state that emphasizes building roads and bridges. “The big thing that’s going to dominate everything around here is going to be our economic stimulus package,” Decker said of the first month of the session.

On the GOP side, Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau said his party stands ready to assist majority Democrats in alleviating the state’s “unprecedented budget deficit.”

Fitzgerald said he hoped Dems would reach out to his party, but said differences remain on the best tactics to tackle the state’s most pressing issues.

“We cannot and will not shy away from discussing those issues,” Fitzgerald said. “Increasing taxes, any taxes, will only make the burden higher.”

See more on the opening of the session: http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=144811

— The Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group says WIsconsin’s infrastructure stimulus plan helps address the state’s biggest transportation issues but cautions that it may focus too heavily on new construction.

“We can’t afford to waste precious resources on new highways at the expense of ready-to-go projects to repair and maintain existing roads and bridges,” said WISPIRG’s Bruce Speight.

The WISPIRG report finds that 43 percent of Wisconsin’s transportation stimulus proposal is for public transportation projects, including the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee and Dane County commuter rail projects, intercity high speed rail, and upgrades to existing systems. But, of the nearly $3.5 billion proposed for roads and bridges, 86 percent is for new capacity while only 14 percent is for repair and maintenance of existing roads and bridges.

See the WISPIRG release: http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=144738

— The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Research Foundation announced that the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation will fund up to $500,000 in new grants in 2009.

The Catalyst Grant Program, the target of the money, provides seed funding for research projects at UWM that have strong potential for commercialization and making an impact on the local economy. Projects are selected based on their scientific excellence as judged by outside experts as well as their potential for creating university-corporate partnerships, intellectual property and startup companies.

See details on the announcement: http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=144793

— Erin Van Zeeland, Schneider National’s vice president of business transformation, has been selected as one of IDG’s Computerworld’s Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2009. Van Zeeland and winners will be recognized at Computerworld’s upcoming Premier 100 IT Leaders Conference, being held March 1-3, 2009, at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla.

See the press release: http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=144812

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Press Releases
· ABC Supply: Innovative Solution Center redesign creates product selection destinations for professional contractors
· Alliant Energy: Improving quality of life is focus of Alliant Energy Foundation grants
· Dept. of Workforce Development: Governor Doyle announces additional assistance for dislocated workers at APV North America, Lake Mills
· Farmers’ Health Cooperative of Wisconsin: To offer dental coverage in 2009
· UW-Milwaukee: Bradley Foundation augments its support for UWM Research Foundation Catalyst Grants
· WFC-MAC: Changes name to Cooperative Network
· Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation: Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s 2009 policy is available online
· Wisconsin Medical Society: Building primary care interest in Wisconsin not about money
· WISPIRG: New study: Both good signs and red flags in state’s transportation stimulus wish list
· WP Beverages: WP Beverages expands, Purchases Pepsi-Cola of Huron, South Dakota

For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82


TOP STORIES
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Penda merges with Michigan company : The two largest manufacturers of truck bed liners in the country have merged. Penda Corp. in Portage has merged with Durakon Industries in Lapeer, Mich., and will operate as Penda Corp. Penda employs about 290 people in Portage. The merger will increase the size of the company to about 600 employees over three facilities in Portage; Lapeer, Mich.; and Lerma, Mexico.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/430890

Oak Creek power plant builder seeks $40 million from MGE : Madison Gas & Electric is being asked to pay another $40 million for its share of the cost of the Oak Creek coal-fired power plant. The company that’s building the power plant, Bechtel Power Corp., says bad weather and other delays have raised expenses and put construction three to six months behind schedule for the first of two 615-megawatt generating units. Bechtel estimates, in a letter to project developer We Energies, Milwaukee, the power plant will cost nearly $2.7 billion, or $485 million more than the $2.2 billion price approved by state regulators, and says the owners should pick up the tab.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/430895

Mach One tentatively agrees to buy firm: Mach One Corp., an Ozaukee County provider of biological testing products for the agricultural and consumer markets, said Monday that it has reached a preliminary agreement to buy Modular Process Constructors LLC, a firm that supplies pharmaceutical companies with processing equipment. Monte Tobin, CEO of Mach One (Pink Sheets: MNCN) in Belgium, said the proposed deal would position Mach One to meet a business plan objective of eventually providing one of the company’s product lines into the human market.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/05/daily3.html

Trucker to lay off 160 in Oak Creek: YRC Worldwide Inc. has informed state of Wisconsin officials that it is laying off about 160 workers at its terminals in Oak Creek. In Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification letters sent to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development last week, the Overland Park, Kan.-based trucking company said it is closing its Yellow Transportation terminal and laying off workers at its Roadway Express terminals at 6880 S. Howell Ave. in Oak Creek. The layoffs affect 97 employees at Yellow Transportation and 63 workers at Roadway.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/05/daily8.html

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WISBUSINESS FEATURED COLUMNISTS

– GREGG HOFFMANN: Contributor, WisBusiness.com

– TOM STILL: President, Wisconsin Technology Council

– JENNIFER SERENO: Senior manager, Wood Communications Group

– STEVE JAGLER: Executive editor, Small Business Times

– TOM BURZINSKI: IT executive and consultant
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– Recession trumps glitz at Vegas gadget show
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/430797

– Online video viewing soars
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/05/daily13.html

BIOTECH (back to top)
– UWM’s Catalyst grant program wins continuing support for research
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37093949.html

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Better Business Bureau report cards coming out
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090106/APC03/901060428/1028

– Stores to airlines, many brands vanished in 2008
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090101/OSH03/81231110/1167

– Construction spending falls less than expected
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/430801

– Bradley Foundation to support UWM research
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/05/daily9.html

– Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce cancels formal ball
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37092724.html

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– MillerCoors puts MGD 64 on draft
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/05/daily11.html

LABOR (back to top)
– Pinnacle XL’s Lyons learns strategies for global business growth
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/05/smallb1.html?b=1231131600^1754380

– Madison rated top city to find a job in 2009
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37104329.html

– Lake Mills APV workers eligible for federal assistance
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37092154.html

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– MidWest Chemical & Equipment earns certification
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090106/GPG03/901060528/1247

– Restaurateurs report interest in buying Cafe Zoma
http://77square.com/food/features/story_430864

INVESTING (back to top)
– Plexus Corp. to release earnings Jan. 28
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090106/APC03/901060441/1028

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Great Dane is expanding at Hilldale
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/430861

– MLG Capital boosts apartment investments
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/05/story6.html?b=1231131600^1755320

– St. Norbert receives $1M sports complex gift
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/05/daily10.html

– Milwaukee area avoids sharply rising office vacancy rates
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37090444.html

– Post office completes purchase of Oak Creek land
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37105524.html

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– State & National Cheese Production Up in November
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=19&yr=2009

– WI Federation of Coops is Now Called ‘Cooperative Network’
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=14&yr=2009

RETAIL (back to top)
– Retailers, customers both contribute to shopping experience
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090106/GPG03/901060526/1247

– Markquart to merge Chippewa Falls, Lake Hallie dealerships
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news.asp?id=BIQRBQEOHGL

– Sleep Inn & Suites opens near airport
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37092504.html

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– UW Credit Union opens new branch at MATC
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/430881

– Nolan Accounting acquires Mitter Accounting
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37091909.html

Media Partners
—Channel3000
—Small Business Times
—Madison Magazine
—BusinessWeek

National Business Roundups ( back to top)
–YAHOO FINANCE: http://finance.yahoo.com/
–CNBC BUSINESS NEWS: http://www.cnbc.com
–ABC BUSINESS NEWS: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/
–GOOGLE NEWS: http://news.google.com/news/en/us/business.html

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