Volume 2 - Issue 5 - Circulation 3,500 Week of 1.29.09 to 2.5.09

Madison Area - 2/2/09 - From old, established neighborhoods to new residential and mix-use developments, city living - whether it's Madison, Middleton or Sun Prairie - is safer and sounder than ever before...

Ken Notes: Madison Magazine takes a look at some great projects.

Madison Area - February 3, 2009 - Restaurant diners are not nourished by food alone. What the chef sends out of the kitchen takes center stage, of course, and the quality of the service is critical, too. But the atmosphere surrounding us as we eat also plays an important supporting role in a restaurant's performance. Restaurant design includes things like theme or concept, architecture, landscaping, furniture, flooring, table settings, color choices and lighting as well as elements like signage, tables, menu design, a Web site and even the playlist on the sound system....

Ken Notes: Developers and Brokers need to save this article to show clients what can be done with a space. It is fantastic and the videos are great. This will get you clients thinking about what could be. The videos are FANTASTIC. Thanks 77 Square, this is the best web article of the year so far!

2/1/09 - To suggest that we are all worried about the effects of the economy on our community would have to be an understatement... I am now offering one more overly simplistic solution for the greater economy and our community. The financial "time-out," just like a basketball game that is headed south. Let's call a time-out while there is time left in the game. I'll use the example of the Overture Center to illustrate...

Ken Notes: My last BusinessWatch column. My very special thanks to Amanda Wegner (who for the record is brilliant) and Pat O'Gara for the opportunity. If you have read my columns and would like them to continue please pass my name along to any publication that may have an interest.

Monona - 2/5/09 - WPS Bank has opened it's first office in Monona Wisconsin. The new bank is funded by insurance leader WPS and will focus on community service and quality products...

Madison - WED., FEB 4, 2009 - Banks that loaned money to build Overture Center are demanding a new debt repayment plan and raising the possibility of foreclosure on the $205 million arts facility. In a letter to the private, nonprofit entities that built Overture, the banks say the loan is technically in default and "may be called at any time."...

Ken Notes: See my solution is not so far fetched now.

Madison - 2/5/09 - The University of Wisconsin System gave more than $1.7 million in need-based financial aid to students last semester thanks to a scholarship donation. Nearly 2,000 students received the aid from the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars. Roughly the same amount in aid will go to about the same number of students in the current semester. The fund was created with a $175 million gift from UW-Madison graduates John and Tashia Morgridge...

Ken Notes: The UW may singlehandedly keep Madison in business and I want to say thanks, I hope that one of the 2,000 returns the 175 million dollar favor in twenty years or so!

Madison - 2/04/2009 - The Madison Children's Museum got the keys Friday to its new home off the Capitol Square -- a former department store-turned-office building that museum officials say will give them five times the space, allowing them to serve more children and families and bring in more money to sustain operations. Money already pledged and a challenge grant from a national foundation have whittled to $2.38 million the amount needed to reach a $10 million fundraising goal for renovating the property at 100 N. Hamilton St...

Monona - January 31, 2009 - A Florida company has purchased South Towne Mall and hopes to spruce up the outside and find tenants for long-vacant space. The purchase by CGCMT 2004-C2 Monona Mall LLC, a Miami company, included space that is now home to Hobby Lobby, Dollar Bill and a vacant area that once held South Towne Cinema and Famous Footwear, which both closed in 2006. It did not include the ShopKo and Kohl's anchor stores but did include outbuildings where the tenants include Radio Shack, West Marine, Subway, K Nails and a Cash Store....

Ken Notes: Monona is doing a lot of things right these days.

WISCONSIN - This is a comprehensive data base of all business professionals in development, planning, government, commercial real estate, architecture, construction, and service providers to business. Any professional may enter his or her own business card for free. FutureWisconsin is Wisconsin's own social networking data base to promote new business in the state...

Ken Notes: Network with professionals doing business in the state...

Madison - 2/05/2009 - The last piece of the East Washington Avenue construction puzzle will finally be put into place beginning Monday with the rebuilding of the interchange and bridge with Wisconsin 30. Roadway work on the $18.8 million project is expected to be completed by Dec. 1, with landscaping work scheduled in spring 2010...

Ken Notes: Now that the road is done it won't be long until we see several new projects along this corridor. Build it and they will come.

Madison Area - 2/02/2009 - Mattel Inc. on Monday reported that its fourth-quarter profit fell 46 percent, hurt by the stronger dollar and the weakest holiday season in decades. The results fell far short of analysts' expectations and sent shares of the world's largest toymaker plunging nearly 18 percent in early trading, falling $2.54 per share to $11.65. Mattel's only unit that saw higher sales in the fourth quarter was Middleton-based American Girl...

Ken Notes: Attention attention please -- Wisconsin is a good place to do business. Bright ideas, bright people, bright products.

Middleton - 2/03/2009 - American Superconductor, which has its booming wind power unit based in Middleton, on Tuesday reported a fiscal third quarter loss slightly better than what it forecast last month. The Devens, Mass.-based company reported that for the three months ended Dec. 31 it lost $7.8 million, or 18 cents per share, compared with a loss of $7.3 million, or 18 cents a share, in the same period of 2007...

Ken Notes: Wrong title - Wisconsin division shines amidst economic downturn.

Recent commercial property listings from PropertyDrive.

Wisconsin - More than $336 million in federal stimulus money has been allocated to counties, cities, towns and villages in Wisconsin. Of that total, about $124 million has been allocated through the state Department of Transportation for road, bridge and transit projects. And more than $48 million in Housing and Urban Development funds has been allocated...

Ken Notes: Great Resource

Madison, Fitchburg, Middleton and Sun Prairie -

The seller of real estate is required to file a Real Estate Transfer Return (RETR) with the County Register of Deeds when recording deeds of property conveyances. State statutes require those returns to be filed electronically beginning July 1, 2009. Below is a link to the electronically filed Real Estate Transfer data as of July 1st 2009 and forward. The data will be updated on a weekly basis...

Ken Notes: This link is a regular feature of WDN...

Wisconsin - 2/04/2009 - Wisconsin will have 74,000 new or retained jobs under President Barack Obama's stimulus plan, according to estimates from the White House' Council of Economic Advisers and the chief economist for Vice-President Biden. The estimate was released in a state-by-state analysis given Tuesday by National Economic Council Director Larry Summers....

Ken Notes: I hope so, but I strongly question the figures. I know what projects are being submitted, and while many are beneficial most jobs are either temporary or public sector.

Madison - 2/04/2009 - OK, I get the part about fixing up the bridges and roads. But can somebody explain again how the $900 billion economic stimulus package is going to replace the millions of jobs being shed as the air continues to rush out of the greed bubble? Here is the running layoff total from last week, just in Wisconsin -- and we're supposedly not taking it as bad as a lot of other states: Automotive supplier Strattec Security Corp...

Ken Notes: Mike Ivey looks at the state stimulus package and is even a little more skeptical -- ok a lot more skeptical!

Treasury Department Debt to the Penny Link
CNN Money Scorecard
Government Recovery Website
Wisconsin State Budget Google News

Create a vibrant, innovative and prosperous entrepreneurial business climate, nurturing, connecting and celebrating entrepreneurs and their companies...

Ken Notes: A valuable resource worth visiting for all businesses in the state. A special thanks for BizStarts for compiling and sharing the resource!...

Wisconsin - 2/03/2009 - Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin said Monday it issued 110,000 shares of its senior preferred stock to the U.S. Treasury Department in return for $110 million in cash, effective last Friday. Anchor also issued a warrant to the Treasury Department to buy up to about 7.4 million shares of common stock at a price of $2.23 a share. The Madison bank holding company's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq market under the symbol ABCW. The stock closed Monday at $2.03 per share, up 1 cent from Friday's close. AnchorBank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Anchor BanCorp...

Ken Notes: If anyone is interested I will gladly sell a piece of Wisconsin Development News.

Wisconsin - 2/04/2009 - The Madison area's unemployment rate climbed to 4.2 percent in December, up from 3.4 percent a year ago, but the local job picture remains better than the state and a nation as a whole. Wisconsin's jobless rate was 5.8 percent in December, compared to a national rate of 7.1 percent. A year ago, the state unemployment rate was 4.6 percent and the national rate was 4.8 percent....

Ken Notes: Again a title suggestion - Wisconsin and Madison Weather Economic Storm Better Than Most.

Wisconsin - This section allows you to access any of our current space needs and acquire some brief detail regarding each. You'll notice that in addition to posting our current RFPs and RFIS, we are listing other significant needs for which we are seeking space....

Ken Notes: Brokers should check this often...

Madison - WED., FEB 4, 2009 - In a move some observers and investors have predicted for months, Spectrum Brands filed for bankruptcy reorganization Tuesday with a deal that will eliminate one-third of its $2.6 billion of debt...

Middleton - 1/29/2009 - Officials in the City of Middleton held a public work session Saturday that provided a glimpse of major changes that could take place as part of tax increment financing (TIF) district 4. The new TIF district was created in the fall of 2008, and while projects are still in the conceptual stage, the district's impact could be vast...

Fitchburg - 2/4/2009 - Yes, that library, the one voters approved - or didn't approve, depending on your point of view - last November. The Fitchburg Common Council has agreed - again - to consider a resolution approving construction and operation of a library....

Fitchburg - 2/4/2009 - After meeting with him three times, residents are friendlier toward Joe McCormick, but they still wish he and his project would go away. That's doesn't appear likely, however. Residents fear McCormick's proposed 128 "luxury" apartments ...

Madison - 2/05/2009 - After several years of development, a Fitchburg-based online music search company has launched, hoping to gain a foothold in the crowded online music arena. NewTunes, formerly Ohigo, officially opened for business in January at newtunes.com, although its technology is not quite out of the beta stage (where small glitches are discovered and fixed before an "official" launch)....

Ken Notes: Not exactly development but this is an interesting project and could grow into something special. The new website is here!

Town of Verona - February 1, 2009 - The Dane County Board faces a tough zoning decision that pits a town land-use plan against a group of teenage girls who love horses. The ongoing zoning battle between a town of Verona horse trainer and her neighbors could have implications for the Dane County Board's year-old comprehensive plan, a document that guides the county's zoning policies. Mandy Sahf, 28, owner of Liberty Stables, runs a show barn on 10 acres where hundreds of girls as young as 3 have learned to ride horses since 2002...

Middleton - 2/5/2009 - Mayor Kurt Sonnentag said Middleton could continue to build on a "solid" economic foundation despite the nation's slumping marketplace in his annual State of the City Address Friday. He added that the city must stay proactive in courting new businesses and jobs if it is to fend off the recession...

APPLETON - 2/5/09 - A survey of of businesses by the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce reflect the realities of a tough economy. About 17 percent of businesses forecast a decrease in employees, compared to two percent of businesses last year. About four percent of business predicted profits would decline last year. That number this year has jumped to about 22 percent...

La Crosse - February 05, 2009 - By most accounts, it’s an ambitious plan. But to La Crosse Common Council member Tom Sweeney, it’s a dangerous plan. And one man’s crusade against a new city/county strategic plan for sustainability quickly escalated Tuesday to a passionate fracas that had both sides waxing philosophical on freedom. Sweeney’s frustration over the comprehensive plan at times took peculiar turns to sort of an anti-communist rant...

Ken Notes: It's not just Madison.

JEFFERSON - February 03, 2009 - The company that runs Wisconsin’s biggest ethanol plant has filed for bankruptcy reorganization. But Renew Energy LLC Chief Executive Officer Jeff White said the company hopes to come out of bankruptcy around the middle of the year after reorganizing its balance sheet, possibly through a sale. He said the plan is to continue operations at current levels to keep the business attractive to potential investors or acquirers....

Milwaukee - 2/4/2009 - In its 2009 forecast for the metro Milwaukee commercial real estate market, Brookfield-based NAI MLG Commercial says "continued positive absorption" is expected this year for the area's industrial space. "Industrial activity in Milwaukee remains stable after a volatile economic year," the report states. "The 2008 industrial market experienced an increase in leasing compared to 2007...

Ken Notes: Lets hope...

St. Francis - February 05, 2009 - Cousins Center rezoned for Cardinal Stritch. Cardinal Stritch University officials passed the first major hurdle in their quest to establish a $150 million South Shore campus at the Cousins Center and adjacent We Energies property...

Cudahay - February 05, 2009 - City officials have yet to decide Economic Development Director Lara Fritts’ role on the Community Development Authority and how her office space will be configured at City Hall...

Wauwatosa - February 5, 2009 - Even though no recent large-scale development has occurred in Pabst Farms, there is no concern over the necessity for a possible bailout because of the success of the tax incremental financing district (TIF) that was created for the project.. Even though...

Brookfield - Feb. 4, 2009 - Mixed-use zoning needed before plan moves forward. As Waukesha County nears approval of its long-term comprehensive development plan, the town of Brookfield plans to revisit a rezoning plan for an important commercial section of the town...

Cudahy - February 05, 2009 - Market research is first step to plot Cudahy’s strategy. In less than a month since becoming the city’s economic development director, Lara Fritts has been diligently working to bring business to Cudahy...

La Crosse - Friday, January 30, 2009 - Pacal Industries in La Crosse is the latest Wisconsin company to lay off employees. The metal fabricating firm, headquartered in Roseville, Minn., laid off 89 employees on a temporary basis because of a "sudden and unexpected" decline in business from Terex Corp., one of its main customers...

Delafield - February 03, 2009 - Public hearing raises issues among aldermen. Last-minute changes in plans for a residential development rejected by the Plan Commission have raised philosophical issues about what role council members should play in the process of zoning and land-use approvals for development projects.. Last-minute...

A single source for all economic development news for Greater Madison and beyond. Wisconsin Development News, (WDN) is published weekly by Ken Harwood.

Available to commercial brokers, developers, financial professionals, community planners, public officials, the press and others who have expressed an interest in Wisconsin development. All stories should link to their original source in the original context. These pages may contain advertising, and I encourage patronage of both our sponsors and the related advertisers and publications I link too.

We link to Editorial and Opinion articles each week, this does not suggest we agree with the stance of the author. The "Ken Notes" items are the opinion of our editor. We will include any comments or feedback sent to WDN. Ken also writes a monthly column for Capitol Region Business Journal and other state publications.

The focus for WDN is to create a positive view of economic development for the Greater Madison Region. The publication will also feature news from around the state, nation, and world that offers insight to policy, trends, and projects that may be of interest to the reader.

Please forward any information you would like included for consideration. We do our best to include any non advertising stories, press releases, or articles from other sources that you feel would be of interest to the reader. WDN can also host your news stories and press releases online. Please feel free to forward WDN.

We continue to develop this newsletter because of the positive feedback we have received in the past and strong encouragement to continue. As always let us know what you think.

Ken

Kenneth Harwood
WisconsinDevelopment.com LLC
P.O. Box 930234
Verona, WI 53593-0234
608.334.2174
ken@wisconsindevelopment.com