— Public Service Commission Chairperson Rebecca Valcq is praising a $1.05 billion investment in broadband for the state, saying along with public and private dollars, the funding “will make it possible to achieve our goal of internet for all.”
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, also applauded the investment, which comes after the GOP-run Joint Finance Committee didn’t put any state money toward broadband expansion grants in the state budget.
JFC Republicans said they would rely on federal dollars coming to the state as they rejected the $750 million in state money that Dem Gov. Tony Evers had proposed for the work. JFC Co-chairs Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, and Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The federal money will be provided under the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden two years ago. The funding is part of more than $42 billion in grants across the country, according to a White House release.
The PSC earlier this year indicated it expected the state to receive between $700 million and $1.1 billion. Wisconsin is one of 19 states to receive more than $1 billion under the program.
White House senior adviser Mitch Landrieu in a press call with Pocan and Baldwin yesterday said the next step is for Evers to submit a plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. He said once the NTIA signs off on the plan, 20 percent of the funds will be allocated. He said construction will likely begin early next year.
Baldwin said the investment is long overdue. She said about 650,000 Wisconsinites don’t have access to high-speed internet, while another 650,000 can’t afford it.
“Simply put, we are leaving these Wisconsinites behind and that’s unacceptable,” she said.
Pocan said broadband is essential.
“I’ll tell you, these days having broadband is like having water or electricity in your home. You absolutely have to have it,” he said.
Pocan noted many people in his district and across the state still don’t have affordable broadband, arguing it is a “lifeblood” for commerce.
See Baldwin’s release:
See Valcq’s statement:
— GOP U.S. Reps. Tom Tiffany, of Minocqua, and Glenn Grothman, of Glenbeulah, recently introduced legislation seeking to expand broadband access in rural areas by eliminating reporting requirements for smaller broadband companies.
Under the bill, rural broadband providers with under 2,000 investors would not need to follow U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission public reporting requirements. Currently, broadband providers with at least 500 investors must follow the requirements.
”Instead of being able to supply rural America with high-speed broadband networks, our local providers are caught up in Washington’s bureaucratic red tape. This bipartisan bill will give small broadband providers the tools to expand quality internet access across rural America,” Tiffany said.
See the release:
— Crop growth in Wisconsin continues to proceed ahead of the five-year average, though dry conditions are still hindering growth.
That’s according to the latest USDA report, which covers the past week. It shows rainfall in some portions of the state helped ease the moderate drought Wisconsin is experiencing, but crop growth is still being affected. Soil moisture levels worsened over the seven-day period since the agency’s previous report.
The most recent report shows 98 percent of the corn crop had emerged as of Sunday, which is seven days ahead of last year and eight days ahead of the average. Corn condition was rated 42 percent “good to excellent,” which is 8 percent lower than the previous week.
And 97 percent of the state’s soybean crop had emerged, which is six days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the average. Its condition was rated 45 percent good to excellent, a decline of 7 percent from the prior week.
Meanwhile, 70 percent of the oat crop was headed — a measure of crop maturity — which is 11 days ahead of last year and nine days ahead of the average. Its condition was 45 percent good to excellent, down 3 percent.
And winter wheat was 93 percent headed, four days ahead of last year and three days ahead of the average. Its condition was rated 49 percent good to excellent for an increase of 1 percent.
See the report: https://www.wisbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/WI-Crop-Progress-06-26-23.pdf
See a recent related story: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/dry-conditions-impacting-crop-growth-in-wisconsin/
— SHINE Technologies later this year plans to begin producing a medical isotope used in targeted cancer treatment at a facility in Janesville.
The Janesville-based company recently announced this will be the largest facility in North America dedicated to producing lutetium-177, a radioactive material that can deliver precise therapy to cancer cells when combined with a targeting molecule.
According to a release, the new facility will initially be able to produce 100,000 doses of Lu-177 annually, with the possibility of boosting that to 200,000 doses per year over time.
Equipment is currently being installed at the facility and the process should wrap up by July, the release shows. Once licensing and validation requirements are met, the company plans to begin producing Lu-177 for commercial use in late 2023.
The company says two Lu-177 radiotherapies have been approved for commercial use so far, and predicts further “rapid growth” in this market as new therapies move through the clinical trial process.
Greg Piefer, the company’s president and CEO, notes advancements in radiopharmaceutical therapies “have shown great results” in improving survival rates for cancer patients, with more promising results seen when therapies begin earlier.
“We’re excited to play an important role in making sure these groundbreaking therapies reach patients faster, potentially saving or extending the lives of many tens of thousands of people each year,” Piefer said in a statement.
SHINE also produces its own ytterbium-176, which is used to make Lu-177. According to the release, this material has historically only been sourced from Russia.
See an earlier story on the company: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/shine-to-offer-new-radiation-testing-service-later-this-year/
See the release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shine-technologies-announces-opening-of-largest-lutetium-177-production-facility-in-north-america-301858214.html
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— A gas station in Kenosha is getting about $260,000 in federal funding for renewable fuel infrastructure.
The USDA yesterday announced more than $25 million in grants from the Inflation Reduction Act for the domestic biofuels industry, including the grant for BP Kenosha Travel Plaza.
The gas station will use the funding to install four dispensers of E15 fuel, two dispensers of B20 — a common biodiesel blend — one ethanol storage tank and one biodiesel storage tank. Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable fuel that’s made from animal or vegetable fats, or recycled restaurant grease.
According to a fact sheet from the agency, this expansion project in Kenosha aims to support the sale of more than 1 million additional gallons of biodiesel per year.
The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program provides grants covering up to 75 percent or $5 million of total costs for projects like these.
See details on all 59 funded infrastructure projects here: https://www.rd.usda.gov/media/file/download/usda-rd-nr-hbiip-chart-06262023pdf
See more on the program: https://www.rd.usda.gov/HBIIP
— Twenty nonprofit groups in northeastern Wisconsin are set to receive $110,000 in grant funding through an effort aimed at supporting diverse businesses in the region.
Economic development group the New North yesterday announced the “microgrant” dollars through a fund created earlier this year alongside The Business Council and the Ethnic & Diverse Business Coalition.
Funding will go toward various programs providing marketing and technical support to startups and other small businesses, as well as events focused on these companies. Juan Corpus, an official with the New North, said all recipients are aligned with the group’s goals.
“We believe their events and/or initiatives will make a significant impact in their respective communities,” said Corpus, the New North’s vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion.
See the full list of recipients and funded projects: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/new-north-microgrant-fund-makes-awards-to-20-non-profit-organizations/
— Gov. Tony Evers recently met with John Ridley in Milwaukee, the screenwriter and director who is pushing to have more movies filmed in Wisconsin.
“This is not a lefty liberal issue, this is not a conservative issue,” Ridley told WISN’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “This is a jobs issue.”
Ridley, a Milwaukee native, is the founder and CEO of No Studios and is beginning the conversations with policymakers to encourage better tax incentives targeting movie studios and networks to bring production to Wisconsin. The effort is modeled after other states like Georgia and Ohio.
“It really isn’t even about the Legislature,” Ridley said. “It’s going to come down to that, but it’s about going to people who are part of the hotel industry and saying here’s how this benefits you. It’s about going to farmers, who unfortunately they’re struggling right now, to say to them look there’s an opportunity. And there really is an opportunity.”
Ridley said his goal is to work with lawmakers to have a serious piece of legislation in the next several years.
See more from the show: https://www.wisn.com/upfront
#TOP STORIES#
# Menominee site receives national historic designation as company seeks to mine for gold
# Personal property tax has been around since the 1830s. Why Wisconsin legislators cut it in 2023
# Wisconsin to receive more than $1 billion in federal funds to expand broadband in underserved areas
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Ag-Water Nexus field trip explores water challenges, solutions in Southwest Wisconsin
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=623&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– WisDOT study seeks alternatives to reconstructing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee
# EDUCATION
– Madison schools’ interim leader promises transparency, focus on kids
– West Bend would consolidate its 2 colleges into 1 under GOP plan
# ENVIRONMENT
– An air quality alert has been issues for Wisconsin through Thursday. Here’s why the smoke from Canadian fires continues to affect us.
# HEALTH CARE
– 4,000 kids, many disabled, are waiting for dental care at Children’s Wisconsin. That may change soon.
# MANUFACTURING
– Northeast Wisconsin manufacturer loses $9.7B defense contract to Indiana company
– SHINE Technologies opens new facility to produce medical isotope Lu-177
# POLITICS
– Sales tax could help Milwaukee but new state law also comes with steep costs. Here’s how.
– Meagan Wolfe defends tenure as elections chief to lawmakers ahead of commission vote on her future
# REAL ESTATE
– Cudhay an ‘overlooked’ market, developer says in advancing 78-unit apartment plan
– Wisconsin’s new housing program budgeted $525 million to lend to developers
# RETAIL
– Formann Mills finds buyer for company, saving Milwaukee location
# TECHNOLOGY
– Techqueria opens Milwaukee chapter focused on serving Latinx professionals in tech
# TRANSPORTATION
– Should I-794 be repaired or removed? Here’s what we know about new conceptual plans
– Nearly $35 million in federal grants to improve streets, highways in Milwaukee County and Kenosha
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Dane County Parks: Environmental Fun Fair sparks youth interest in science and nature
Wisconsin Historical Society: Announces 2023 Board of Curators award winners
