— The Dow Jones opens this week slightly higher after the national unemployment picture came in better than expected last week. The Dow opens today at 10,388, 79 points higher than last week’s open. In Wisconsin, the manufacturer Johnson Controls saw its stock rise by more than nine percent on the week. It was selected to provide batteries for a new electric van Ford will start making next year. — More than 70 Wisconsin chamber of commerce executives participated in this year’s annual economic outlook survey compiled by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. This year’s survey results show concern surrounding Wisconsin’s business climate, but reveal more general optimism than last year. Eighty percent of respondents feel the state is headed in the wrong direction to keep Wisconsin competitive, and 25 percent said state government is very anti-business, compared to only 9 percent in 2008, and 2 percent in 2007. There are bright spots in some communities. In 2008, 28 percent of respondents thought that employment in their community would decrease, compared to only 13 percent this year. But when considering the future business climate, only 28 percent think their communities will see moderate growth, versus 45 percent in 2008. See details from the survey: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=178840 — Nine Wisconsin manufacturers have committed to reducing their industrial energy intensity by 25 percent over the next 10 years as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s new Save Energy Now LEADER Program. Wisconsin is home to more than a quarter of the companies that have signed the pledge Those firms include BPM Inc., Briggs & Stratton, Didion Milling, Flambeau River Papers, Manitowoc Grey Iron Foundry, Neenah Foundry, Quad/Graphics Inc., Thilmany Papers and ThyssenKrupp Waupaca. See details: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=178832 — Gov. Jim Doyle and energy industry leaders are cheering the installation of solar panels on the State Capitol rooftop. Forty-eight panels are being installed this month on the Capitol roof as part of a project to raise public awareness of renewable energy and to increase energy efficiency throughout the Capitol. The solar panels are expected to produce slightly more electricity than a typical home would use in a year. Madison Gas & Electric is fully funding the $78,000 project and installing a demonstration kiosk inside the Capitol to educate the public on solar energy. See details: http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=178792 TOP STORIES Wells Fargo to cut 26 area employees: Wells Fargo, citing the need to make cuts in its Menomonee Falls real estate resource center, will permanently lay off 26 employees beginning in February 2010. Gokhman facing development hurdles: The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s decision to deny New Land Enterprises LLP and Wiechmann Enterprises an opportunity to obtain federal loan guarantees for their proposed downtown Milwaukee apartment building is one of a continuing series of setbacks for prominent developer Boris Gokhman. 22 percent water rate hike on the table: With miles of aging and break-prone pipes, old wells to replace or filter, and decreasing water sales, it’s not difficult to understand the financial bind faced by the Madison Water Utility. But Tom Heikkinen, the utility’s general manager, said a proposed 22 percent increase in water rates will go a long way toward putting the utility on more sound financial footing.
************************************************************ See commentary from around the state and columns from WisBusiness contributors Jennifer Sereno, Kevin McKinley, Tom Burzinski, Gregg Hoffmann, Tom Still and Steve Jagler: ************************************************************
ECONOMY (back to top)
LABOR (back to top) – Former pilots hit the ground with new career goals
REAL ESTATE (back to top) – Lac du Flambeau casino project avoids foreclosure once again – Market trends change Pabst Farms plan
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top) – State & National Cheese Production Higher in October
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
RETAIL (back to top)
TOURISM (back to top) – With real and man-made snow, ski areas are getting ready for the season
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top) – Wisconsin sleeps on IRA conversion break – M&I Corp. ratings downgraded
MANAGEMENT (back to top) – MillerCoors names Hispanic leader of year – New Associated chief drills for ills
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