— Wisconsin business owners and managers that sell goods, services or technology to the federal government or who want to learn about federal contracting are invited to attend an upcoming conference in Washington D.C. that will address significant changes on the scene. The Wisconsin in Washington conference, open to any Wisconsin business, is set for June 23-24 and is being organized by the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI). See details: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=161945 — Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton joined with federal Small Business Administration officials on Tuesday to unveil new SBA loans for small Wisconsin businesses. Saying small businesses are the backbone of Wisconsin’s economy, Lawton said “small business owners need to know that SBA loan fees have been eliminated, we’re trying to get banks back in the mood to lend, and Wisconsin wants to maintain a market for loans from the SBA.” “Today, too many small businesses were buffeted by economic storms caused when large lenders spent too much of their time developing new varieties of derivatives rather than producing value-added products,” Lawton said. Released June 15, the American Recovery Capital Business Stabilization is a new micro-loan program that provides no-interest loans with up to a 5-year payback period, allowing small businesses to borrow enough to make loan payments for up to six months. The loans come with a 12-month grace period before repayment. The program is first come-first serve, and sunsets September 2010. See details: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=161905 — The state has submitted its incentive package aimed at wooing GM into producing a line of small cars at its idled Janesville plant, but officials are remaining mum on the specifics. Two other sites are under consideration: one in Michigan and another in Tennessee. GM’s decision is expected by the end of the month. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, a former UAW local prez, has been working with Gov. Jim Doyle and other officials to put together an incentive package for GM. His office declined to provide specifics of the package in order to preserve the state’s bargaining power, but pointed to Janesville’s workforce, plant size, and cost-saving concessions the plant’s union agreed to last year as reasons why Janesville would be a good site. See more: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=161942 TOP STORIES SBA loan program helps small businesses survive: Through fee waivers and special loan programs, the federal Small Business Administration is helping to shore up Wisconsin small businesses so they can survive the recession. Gov. Doyle submits proposal to revive GM plant: Gov. Jim Doyle personally submitted Wisconsin’s proposal Tuesday to General Motors Corp. to reopen its Janesville factory. Wisconsin is competing with two other states to land a plant to make GM’s new small car. Merge commences etrials exchange offer: Merge Healthcare Inc., a West Allis provider of medical imaging software and technology, has launched an exchange offer for all of the outstanding shares of etrials Worldwide Inc., a North Carolina company that provides clinical trials software and services.
************************************************************ See commentary from around the state and columns from WisBusiness contributors Jennifer Sereno, Kevin McKinley, Tom Burzinski, Gregg Hoffmann, Tom Still and Steve Jagler: ************************************************************
TECHNOLOGY (back to top) – Watts updates its image by going high-tech
ECONOMY (back to top)
MANUFACTURING (back to top) – Allenton building firm now making its own steel panels
LABOR (back to top)
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REAL ESTATE (back to top) – May housing starts exceed predictions – New Colts coach to visit Beloit for housing grand opening – Panel seeks details on UWM lakefront building proposal
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top) – Long-vacant Heinemann’s space downtown may get Dick’s Pizza
RETAIL (back to top) – Restaurant to open in former Water City location – Survey: Retail losses are up
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HEALTH CARE (back to top) – GE executive sees health care opportunities FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
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