From WisBusiness.com …
— Motorists have used carports for decades to shield vehicles from the ravages of weather, including paint-fading sun. Now comes an idea for using solar-collecting carports to help power vehicles.
Solar Carport Canopy is a product that can provide an innovative solution for businesses looking to economically power plug-in hybrid vehicles while reducing costs and their carbon footprints.
As a contestant in the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest, Farhat Iqbal of Verona developed the idea for the Solar Carport and was one of 50 entrants to move to the semi-final phase of the competition.
Read more about the company: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=154893
— Ball Plastics filed notice with the state that it will close its plastics plant in Watertown on June 7, affecting 46 workers.
See the state filing: http://www.wisbusiness.com/1008/large/090408ballplastics.pdf
— Durham School Services in Madison said it received notice from the Madison Metropolitan School District that its contract for transportation services will not be renewed. Durham’s Madison facility will close on or about June 12, 2009, affecting 63 workers, although employees will be given the option of transferring to another Durham location.
See the state filing: http://www.wisbusiness.com/1008/090408durham.pdf
— A new analysis from Schneider Logistics predicts tough times ahead for the shipping industry. The review sees 2009 “shaping up as the worst year for freight in memory, following two straight years of freight decreases.”
And the report expresses concern about the ability of the industry to gear back up once demand increases in a recovery: “There is a growing concern about the rapid withdrawal of capacity from trucking markets as carriers rush to align their fleets with sharply diminishing demand. That pullback matches today’s economic reality, but it does not bode well for shippers not positioned for a turnaround. Shippers should not be lulled into a false sense of security that there is a lot of capacity.”
See the report for more: http://www.wisbusiness.com/1008/090408schneider.pdf
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Press Releases
· Monona Plumbing and Fire Protection, Inc.: Local plumbing contractor catches top honor
· North Shore Bank: Reports gain in net income for first quarter of 2009
· Schneider National: Schneider Logistics’ 2009 State of the Industry Review
· UW-Eau Claire: Maintains prestigious business accreditation
· UW-Eau Claire: UW-EC and Veolia partner to launch commercial compost program
· WPMCA: Oil franchise tax not feasible, OPIS director says
· Zizzo Group Advertising and Public Relations: Named agency of record by Faith Technologies
For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82
TOP STORIES
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Ball Corp. to close Watertown plant: Ball Corp., which operates several plants in Wisconsin, has informed state officials that it intends to close its Ball Plastics Packaging division plant in Watertown, resulting in the loss of 46 jobs.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/04/06/daily46.html
Dean Health Systems to eliminate 90 positions : Dean Health Systems, one of a troika of high profile integrated health operations headquartered in Madison, will eliminate 90 of its 4,500 positions immediately, officials announced Wednesday.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/446356
State, Lac du Flambeau reach casino pact: The Lac du Flambeau Chippewa band has agreed to make $3.7 million in back payments under a new casino agreement it signed with the state on Wednesday.
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news.asp?id=BJMIJEMCJAN
Olsen’s Mill Files for Bankruptcy, Avoids Being Sold to Creditors: Even though 10 bidders showed up this week to make offers to buy the financially-strapped Olsen’s Mill at public auction, the company’s owners were able to pull off a last minute effort to keep their organization by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court.
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=437&yr=2009
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WISBUSINESS FEATURED COLUMNISTS
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– TOM STILL: President, Wisconsin Technology Council
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BIOTECH (back to top)
– TomoTherapy and Avalon reach settlement
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/446325
ECONOMY (back to top)
– MMAC: Milwaukee-area economy remains flat
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/04/06/daily45.html
MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Manufacturing conference set in Milwaukee
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090409/GPG03/904090571/1247
– Shares of Rockwell surge on takeover talk
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/04/06/daily43.html
– Vollrath Co. buys Anvil America
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/04/06/daily36.html
– Harken puts new factory on hold
http://www.jsonline.com/business/42712212.html
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Fox Valley’s small business owners hope credit markets loosen up
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090409/APC03/904090526/1028
– St. Francis brew pub packs ’em in
http://www.jsonline.com/business/42712282.html
REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– City OKs $3.5M riverfront development loan
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090409/GPG0101/90409008/1978
– Business Beat: Urban digs for University Research Park
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/446167
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Ashwaubenon trucking company marks 50 years
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090409/GPG03/904090567/1247
– Summer won’t bring back $4 gasoline, expert says
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/446376
REGULATION (back to top)
– Bill would regulate ‘puppy mills’
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/04/06/daily47.html
– State sends investigator to view feet-nibbling fish
http://www.jsonline.com/business/42691332.html
HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– University of Wisconsin-Madison based program aims to better drug treatment
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/446353
MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Associated Banc-Corp CEO pay valued at $2.13M last year
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090409/APC03/904090542/1028
– Compensation down 13.5% for Fiserv CEO Yabuki
http://www.jsonline.com/business/42699372.html
– National Presto CEO’s compensation jumps 13.7%
http://www.jsonline.com/business/42700492.html
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