MON AM News: Stoughton Trailers breaks ground on new headquarters project; Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals slamming Ascension

May 13, 2024

— Stoughton Trailers has broken ground on its new global headquarters project, which CEO and President Bob Wahlin hopes will help elevate Stoughton as a destination for young professionals and their families.

The semitrailer manufacturer early last year announced its plans for the new headquarters, replacing the office building it had been using since the 1960s. Company leaders on Friday broke ground on the project, which will include a 53,000-square-foot facility where more than 200 workers will eventually be located.

The facility is being built on a more than 200-acre parcel of land, with about 180 acres being developed for the project, Wahlin said last week in an interview. The office building will take up around 10 acres, while 36 acres will be dedicated to prairie, ponds and wetlands and another 28 acres will be used for a community park.

Wahlin noted the project includes lots of collaborative space, a golf simulator, yoga room and exercise area, as well as an in-house health clinic staffed by nurse practitioners.

“We’re pretty happy about it; we think it’s a great example of physical, mental and business health, and we’re finally moving dirt to make it happen,” he said.

Under the latest development timeline, the headquarters building is expected to be finished by fall 2025, according to Wahlin. But other elements of the larger development will take longer, he noted. Initial plans for the space envisioned athletic spaces such as community bike paths and walking trails, an amphitheater and commercial and residential developments.

The company has worked with city officials on a “needs analysis” for the local community, which highlighted demand for athletic fields, gym space and aquatic facilities, Wahlin said. Next steps for the process include reaching out to other businesses that may be interested in aspects of the development, he noted.

Wahlin argued Stoughton is increasingly being seen as a “desired community” for young people in the Madison area to raise a family, and wants the company’s new home base to serve as an anchor for attractive community assets.

“Stoughton has a lot going on to revitalize the downtown … It’s really starting to separate itself in being a stronger choice in Dane County, particularly as a choice when young professional families consider either Stoughton or Verona, Oregon, McFarland, Waunakee, Sun Prairie — those are all strong communities, and I think this is something that can help Stoughton step forward and be one of those leading communities,” he said.

Along with that aspiration, Wahlin said the project is part of a larger internal plan to develop a workplace for “the next generation” of Stoughton employees. Along with workers at Stoughton Trailers, it will also be used by employees of other Stoughton umbrella businesses including its trucking, logistics, aftermarket parts sales, rental and leasing operations.

He noted the company plans to host training activities and other events for its workers in the new space, in hopes of fostering a more connected culture.

“At a time where people maybe have a stronger desire to work from home, we’re hoping this is a place where people can come in, not only be more comfortable and more productive to work, but also come to a place and develop beyond their immediate work responsibilities,” he said, adding the project represents “what we think is the next level … of an office environment.”

See the release.

— The Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals is slamming Ascension for its “failure to respond appropriately” to the loss of its charting system in the wake of a cyberattack on the Missouri-based health system.

After Ascension’s electronic health records system was taken offline last week, union members of the WFNHP at Ascension St. Francis raised concerns about test results being delayed, doctor access and potential for medical errors due to the system interruption.

“The loss of our EHR has dramatically slowed down care and significantly reduced nurse’s and other healthcare workers’ ability to care for patients,” the group said in a statement.

The press release highlights complaints including hospital administration refusing to divert patients at St. Francis; nurses being unable to adequately page doctors, look up prior test results for cardiac patients, confirm orders or insurance coverage for outpatient exams; operator and emergency alert phone numbers not working; and more.

“It is our understanding that lower level supervisors have been instructed to tell nurses that there will be no diversion, and nurses must take a higher number of patients than what has been agreed between the union and management as an appropriate staffing ratio, exacerbating this crisis,” the group said.

The health system did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the federation’s concerns.

See the release and see more on the cyberattack in headlines below.

Top headlines from the Health Care Report…

— Voters on a Dem call knocked GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde for past comments saying people struggling with obesity should pay more for health care and that “Obamacare” should be repealed.

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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— The White House is touting $6.9 billion in public investments made in Wisconsin across infrastructure, clean energy and more under the Biden administration.

Federal officials on Friday released a fact sheet promoting the president’s “Investing in America” agenda, which also highlights $2.4 billion in private sector commitments in the state’s manufacturing and clean energy industries.

It shows $6.6 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been announced for 513 projects in Wisconsin, including $4 billion for infrastructure, $1.4 billion for high-speed internet and more than $510 million for clean water. It also includes $113.4 million for clean transportation and $127.2 million for climate resilience.

The fact sheet also highlights several federally funded infrastructure projects in the state, including the $1 billion U.S. Department of Transportation award to replace the Blatnik Bridge spanning Superior and Duluth, Minn.

Speaking Friday during an online press conference, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian said the Biden administration has announced more than 56,000 specific infrastructure projects and awards in 4,500 communities across the country.

She noted the president’s signing of the CHIPS and Science Act is the largest U.S. investment in semiconductor manufacturing in history.

The fact sheet highlights $192 million in private sector commitments to invest in semiconductors and electronics in Wisconsin.

“We’re growing our economy from the middle out and the bottom up, bringing manufacturing jobs back to America, creating good-paying jobs and tackling the climate crisis,” she said. “And thanks for our Investing in America agenda, we’ve seen companies announce private investments of $866 billion in manufacturing and clean energy since the president took office.”

See WisPolitics coverage from Biden’s recent stop in Wisconsin, where he put a spotlight on Microsoft’s $3.3 billion planned AI datacenter in Racine County.

— WEDC has announced plans for seven international trade missions taking place this year and next year, including visits to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia.

These trips are meant to connect Wisconsin companies with new markets overseas, with a focus on top export destinations for products made in the state.

Participating companies get tailored market analysis from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. as well as curated meetings with local businesses. The agency also handles logistics, transportation, scheduling and translation services.

“With our extensive range of opportunities, there’s bound to be something perfect for any Wisconsin company seeking to boost international sales,” said Aaron Zitzelsberger, WEDC’s senior director of global trade and investment. “Our trade missions are crafted to nurture connections, offering personalized one-on-one experiences that pave the way for lasting success.”

Planned trade missions include: the United Kingdom, July 21-26; Australia, Nov. 1-9; United Arab Emirates, Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 2025; Mexico, Feb. 23-28, 2025; China, March 2025; Canada, April 6-11, 2025; and Switzerland and Germany in a combined trip, May 18-24, 2025.

See the release.

— The Republican National Committee is urging businesses to apply for the recently announced 2024 Convention Fest, a daytime event taking place during this summer’s Republican National Convention.

The 2024 Republican National Convention on Friday highlighted National Small Business Day in an email, which notes space is limited for local businesses to participate in the four-day showcase event. The application deadline is 5 p.m. May 22.

Anne Hathaway, the chairwoman for the RNC’s Committee on Arrangements, says Wisconsin’s small business network “is not just a robust, innovative, and diverse community, but the backbone of our economy.”

“We are excited to showcase the best of what local businesses have to offer and demonstrate to our convention guests and to the world why Wisconsin is the perfect host for the Republican National Convention,” she said in a statement.

See more at the WisPolitics Convention Corridor page.

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