Milwaukee area economy slows in July, report shows

The Milwaukee area’s economy slowed in July, according to the latest economic trends report from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.  The report shows 10 of the 22 economic indicators in July saw improvement over the year. That’s the first

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Diverse business groups getting $15.7M in grant funding

Organizations supporting diverse businesses across Wisconsin say they’ll use new grant funding to bolster mentorship, training, technical support, staffing and more.  Officials yesterday announced $15.7 million in new grant funding for these groups. At a press conference at the Sherman

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Fetch looking to expand, reach new markets

With over 17 million active users and valued at $3 billion, Fetch Rewards is looking to expand from grocery chains into other retail stores and restaurants.  That’s according to company co-founder Tyler Kennedy, who discussed the company’s path forward yesterday

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Federal Reserve speaker highlights benefits cliff impact

A project advisor for the Federal Reserve says about 750,000 people in Wisconsin are impacted by “benefits cliff-related issues,” arguing this is holding back the state’s workforce.  Graham Anderson, lead project advisor for the Federal Reserve Branch of Atlanta Benefits

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Water Council touting phosphorus removal product agreement

The Water Council is touting a new agreement for a product that can remove phosphorus from stormwater, agricultural runoff and other municipal wastewater.  According to a release from the Milwaukee-based water technology organization, the phosphorus-absorbing pellets were developed by a

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Business groups top lobbying list

Business groups representing manufacturing, real estate, construction, health care and farming spent the most money lobbying Wisconsin lawmakers in the first six months of the year.  The top five for spending were: Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, $348,511; Wisconsin Realtors Association,

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DNR announces new PFAS standards in effect

— The Department of Natural Resources has announced new PFAS standards are now in effect for drinking and surface water as well as new requirements for firefighting foam.  The Natural Resources Board approved the new regulations in February. They require

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Milwaukee area economy slows in July, report shows

The Milwaukee area’s economy slowed in July, according to the latest economic trends report from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.  The report shows 10 of the 22 economic indicators in July saw improvement over the year. That’s the first time less than half of these data points improved over

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UW Health nurses call for union recognition on Labor Day

UW Health nurses argue patient care is suffering as fewer and less experienced nurses are being asked to shoulder a greater burden.  Speaking over the weekend at a news conference organized by advocates for unionization, UW Health nurse Shari Signer said cuts to staffing ratios and benefits as well as

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COWS report shows progress in reducing wage disparities

 A new report from a UW-Madison think tank shows wage growth in the past two years has helped to close some of the state’s “pronounced racial and ethnic disparities.” The “State of Working Wisconsin” report, from the progressive policy-focused Center on Wisconsin Strategy, shows the strongest wage growth by percentage

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WTCS leader calls student loan relief plan ‘good first step’

The head of the Wisconsin Technical College System says the Biden administration’s student loan relief plan is “a good first step” toward lessening the burden on borrowers.  In an interview yesterday, WTCS President Morna Foy noted technical college students tend to have higher levels of financial need compared to other

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Diverse business groups getting $15.7M in grant funding

Organizations supporting diverse businesses across Wisconsin say they’ll use new grant funding to bolster mentorship, training, technical support, staffing and more.  Officials yesterday announced $15.7 million in new grant funding for these groups. At a press conference at the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace in Milwaukee, Department of Administration Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld

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Student loan relief plan to wipe out $4.14B in debt in Wisconsin

An expert with the Student Borrower Protection Center estimates the Biden administration’s student loan relief plan will eliminate $4.14 billion in federal student loan debt in Wisconsin.  Ben Kaufman is the director of research and investigations at the nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. In an email, he said the

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Slowdown in homebuilding linked to higher mortgage, interest rates

Higher mortgage rates and interest rates likely contributed to a recent decline in new homebuilding in Wisconsin, according to an economics expert at Marquette University.  David Clark is a professor of economics and executive associate dean in the university’s College of Business Administration. In a recent interview, he explained rising

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Fetch looking to expand, reach new markets

With over 17 million active users and valued at $3 billion, Fetch Rewards is looking to expand from grocery chains into other retail stores and restaurants.  That’s according to company co-founder Tyler Kennedy, who discussed the company’s path forward yesterday during the Badger Startup Summit, held in Madison as part

Read More »

Federal Reserve speaker highlights benefits cliff impact

A project advisor for the Federal Reserve says about 750,000 people in Wisconsin are impacted by “benefits cliff-related issues,” arguing this is holding back the state’s workforce.  Graham Anderson, lead project advisor for the Federal Reserve Branch of Atlanta Benefits Cliff Policy Research, gave an overview of this topic yesterday

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Water Council head says innovation key to water scarcity challenges

Water Council President and CEO Dean Amhaus says technological innovation is needed to address national and global water scarcity.  Speaking yesterday to members of the Milwaukee Rotary Club, Amhaus highlighted a number of lakes and other freshwater reservoirs around the world that have shrunk dramatically in recent decades.  “In June

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Water Council touting phosphorus removal product agreement

The Water Council is touting a new agreement for a product that can remove phosphorus from stormwater, agricultural runoff and other municipal wastewater.  According to a release from the Milwaukee-based water technology organization, the phosphorus-absorbing pellets were developed by a Kentucky startup called Water Warriors. This company participated in The

Read More »

Business groups top lobbying list

Business groups representing manufacturing, real estate, construction, health care and farming spent the most money lobbying Wisconsin lawmakers in the first six months of the year.  The top five for spending were: Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, $348,511; Wisconsin Realtors Association, $324,436; Wisconsin Infrastructure Investment Now Inc., $312,264; the Wisconsin Hospital

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Builders group points to ‘acute shortage’ of lots for new homes

The Metropolitan Builders Association says an “acute shortage” of available lots in the Milwaukee area is limiting the home building industry.  A release from the Waukesha-based trade association shows total lots in the metro Milwaukee area reached a peak of 20,488 in 2004 before falling to 1,237 in 2012. While

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DNR announces new PFAS standards in effect

— The Department of Natural Resources has announced new PFAS standards are now in effect for drinking and surface water as well as new requirements for firefighting foam.  The Natural Resources Board approved the new regulations in February. They require the DNR to monitor sites it suspects are contaminated. Systems

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