— This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Sachin Shivaram, CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry.
The 114-year-old family-owned company melts scrap and other metals to make cast parts out of aluminum, iron and stainless steel. It has five plants in Manitowoc, where the company’s main operations are located, as well as a presence in Indiana and Minnesota.
“We provide a custom metal part for a company who wants to make whatever they make,” he said. “So whether it’s engines, or tractors, or cookware, medical equipment, satellites — anything that requires a custom shape.”
Looking ahead, Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry is making major investments in expanding its own operations, Shivaram said. The company last month announced plans to build a new foundry in Manitowoc.
“Quite simply, we’re putting a lot of capital to work,” he said. “This year, for instance, we’re investing 100% of our … pre-tax and pre-interest earnings back into the business, which is a lot. Normally, a company like ours may invest 5%, 10% into the business.”
Shivaram shares details on the state’s foundry industry, noting Wisconsin is the most foundry-intensive state in the country based on GDP and workforce involved in casting metals. He also provides insights on top trends in this space, including “nearshoring or onshoring” of manufacturing supply chains.
“That should directly benefit companies like ours, because we’ve always competed against foreign production, and now more of those opportunities are coming our way,” he said.
Listen to the show here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisbusiness-the-podcast-with-sachin-shivaram-wisconsin-aluminum-foundry/
See the full list of WisBusiness.com podcasts: https://www.wisbusiness.com/category/podcast/
— Milwaukee is getting about $9.3 million in federal funding for a $16 million port improvement project, according to a recent White House announcement.
The dollars are part of a $653 million round of funding announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, supporting 41 projects at ports around the country. Funding is being provided through the Port Infrastructure Development Program.
Milwaukee’s project involves building two grain storage silos, upgrading electrical services and funding the purchase of grain and cargo handling equipment to improve port capacity. Grain storage capacity at the port will increase by more than 1.3 million bushels, the White House overview shows.
The project will also improve transportation reliability by having the port rely more on electrical power instead of diesel power, according to the White House. While it’s being characterized as “high risk due to an ambitious schedule and the basis of the cost estimate,” the Maritime Administration says it will work closely with recipients to ensure the project meets all federal requirements.
— Gov. Tony Evers announced he’s putting $36.6 million in federal ARPA funds into five building projects that Republican lawmakers rejected in his capital budget.
That includes $15 million for a new sports and convention center in Janesville and $9.3 million to help build a new soccer stadium in Milwaukee.
Evers said the projects will have a long-term impact on the state’s economy and development in the five communities.
“These five projects will have a long-term impact on our state’s economy and on economic development in these communities from Green Bay to Janesville,” Evers said.
See more on the projects at WisPolitics: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/thu-pm-update-vos-moves-impeachment-resolution-to-committee-six-weeks-after-introduction-and-on-heels-of-pressure-campaign/
— The USDA is providing $19.5 million through various initiatives to support infrastructure and economic development projects in Wisconsin as the Biden administration ramps up outreach to rural communities across the country.
The funding is grouped into three categories: $11.92 million in rural jobs and infrastructure awards across five projects; $5 million to expand renewable energy and lower energy costs across 40 different projects; and $2.6 million for 10 projects through the Rural Partners Network, an effort of USDA Rural Development.
One of the largest individual awards include a $2.6 million grant and a $900,000 loan for the village of Wonewoc, providing extra financing due to higher project bid costs on an expansion of its wastewater treatment facility.
Meanwhile, the village of Edgar is getting a $4.3 million loan and a $1 million grant, also for improvements to its wastewater treatment infrastructure.
See the full list of funded projects here: https://www.rd.usda.gov/media/file/download/wi-11020223-rd-investments.pdf
— Clean Wisconsin is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit to continue halting Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline running across the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s reservation.
The environmental group filed a brief in support of the tribal nation’s lawsuit seeking to block Enbridge from continuing to operate part of the line that meanders near the Bad River. Clean Wisconsin argues a rupture would cause catastrophic, irreversible harm to the neighboring ecosystem, specifically many resources tribal members have historically relied on.
U.S. District Judge William Conley in June ordered Enbridge cease operating portions of the pipeline, which carries 540,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada.
Enbridge is still in the process of appealing the decision, but Clean Wisconsin in the brief filed yesterday argues the stakes are too high to lift Conley’s order.
“Lake Superior is the guardian of 10% of the world’s freshwater,” the group wrote. “Its waters are pristine. With a predominantly forested watershed and exceptionally clean aquatic environment, the healthiest of the Great Lakes is a critical source for drinking water.”
The group also argues a spill would threaten the last extensive coastal wild rice beds along the Great Lakes, several rare and threatened species and other resources the Ojibwe people have relied on for centuries.
See the press release:
See the filing:
— Downtown foot traffic in Milwaukee had recovered to 86% of pre-pandemic levels in mid-June, according to updated figures from the University of Toronto.
The university’s School of Cities previously analyzed cell phone data across dozens of U.S. and Canadian metropolitan areas for an ongoing study. In early August, its report covered data through the end of May.
It has now released updated data covering the period through mid-June, and altered its analysis in a number of ways, including changing its definition of downtown to reflect the central location with the highest concentration of employment.
Based on the latest analysis, Milwaukee is now ranked 15th among the metro areas included in the report, bumping it up one spot on the list.
Only one city on the list, Las Vegas, had more downtown activity than during the 2019 comparison period, with a 103% recovery. The rest ranged between 97% recovered — El Paso, Tex. — and 53%, St. Louis, Mo.
See the updated report: https://downtownrecovery.com/charts/rankings
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— Wisconsin’s infant mortality rate increased 8% between 2021 and 2022, according to newly released federal data.
And the Department of Health Services has announced a new service that will provide resources and guidance for families with children who have special health needs.
<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>
Sign up here: http://forms.gle/o8FtqTLviGJPja8C9
#TOP STORIES#
# EPA announces $17M for Milwaukee sewer overflow relocation as part of larger cleanup project
# ‘Last Supper Club’ author Matthew Batt finds the joy in waiting tables
# Downtown soccer stadium, Bronzeville arts center getting $14 million
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin bills to support farmers and food security
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=974&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Career fair connects Milwaukee students to construction workforce
– Milwaukee County breaks ground on highway maintenance facility
– This downtown apartment tower plan may soon undergo city review for a 2024 groundbreaking
# EDUCATION
– Sullivans give $10 million to Carroll University’s business school
# ENVIRONMENT
– GOP bill would end restrictions on spring hound hunting and training in northern Wisconsin
# HEALTH CARE
– Bipartisan bill would create regional mental health crisis centers in Wisconsin
# LEGAL
– Advocate Aurora patients can join $12.2M settlement in data privacy case
# POLITICS
– Opposing sides: Two politicians from different parties share thoughts on agriculture, immigration, housing
# REAL ESTATE
– Wildwood affordable apartments completed in Sun Prairie
– Johnson Controls unveils $6M project in Glendale, relocates downtown Milwaukee staff
– Redevelopment site? Regal Rexnord lists 56-acre West Milwaukee campus for sale
# SPORTS
– Milwaukee Brewers want stadium funding bill passed now. Here’s why.
– Evers doles out ARPA money for Iron District soccer stadium, Bronzeville Center for the Arts
– For Steve Mariucci’s son, singing the national anthem at Lambeau is full-circle moment
# TOURISM
– Governor Evers restores railroad museum funding that was removed from budget
# UTILITIES
– Wisconsin’s largest utility moves up plans to stop using coal as a fuel source
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=972&yr=2023
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Dairy Business Association: Cal Ripken Jr. headlines speaker lineup for Dairy Strong 2024 conference
First Stage: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical returns this holiday season!
