A new advocacy group called the Northwoods Policy Network has formed to promote the state’s northern region, with a focus on business attraction and economic viability for rural communities.  Paul Schecklman, the nonprofit’s executive director, says the group aims to drive conversations around what’s important for northern Wisconsin and help

Legislation from Dem authors would revive WEDC’s Main Street Bounceback program with state funding, establishing it permanently in Wisconsin statute.  Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison and Rep. Alex Joers of Waunakee sent a co-sponsorship memo late last week to other lawmakers seeking support for LRB-5328. They point to the success

Dem Gov. Tony Evers has appointed John W. Miller to serve as secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Miller is a former Universities of Wisconsin regent. But Senate Republicans refused to confirm the appointment after Miller vocally opposed a deal the system cut with Assembly Speaker Robin

A recent survey from Neenah-based compliance firm J. J. Keller & Associates found labor shortages, rising material costs and job site safety are top challenges facing construction companies.  The company’s research arm, the J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights, yesterday issued the study results alongside the American Society of

The Legislative Audit Bureau is recommending WEDC establish a written policy for when it should revoke tax credits after recipients don’t meet the terms of their contract.  LAB on Friday released its latest report on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., which includes 14 recommendations for improvements as well as an

Concerns around risk allocation and economic viability are the main hurdles to further nuclear energy development, according to a UW-Madison expert.  Prof. Paul Wilson, chair of the university’s Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics, spoke yesterday during a policy event hosted by the Wisconsin Conservative Energy Forum at the

Wisconsin’s competitive edge in biotech is being threatened by “national headwinds” for the industry, according to a startup specialist at WEDC.  Shayna Hetzel, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., spoke yesterday during a meeting of the agency’s board of directors. Representing the Wisconsin Investment

QTS Data Centers has announced a new research effort with UW-Madison, putting $1.5 million toward improving data center sustainability.  The global digital infrastructure business and the university on Friday announced the Advancing Data Center Sustainability research initiative, which involves the UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and other faculty across

A panel discussion around AI highlighted differing views on the technology’s potential for workforce disruption in Wisconsin, with some in state government more optimistic than others.  Yesterday’s WisBusiness-WisPolitics-State Affairs luncheon event was held in UW-Milwaukee’s Connected Systems Institute, which helps advance industrial technology applications with Microsoft’s help for manufac… Please

Wauwatosa startup RoddyMedical plans to roll out its medical line management device at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus in the near future.  Founder and CEO Lindsey Roddy shared an update on the business during the Wisconsin Technology Council’s recent Early Stage Symposium in Madison. She said the company has made substantial

The Wisconsin Grocers Association has confirmed grocers across the state are accepting FoodShare after state agencies called on retailers to keep taking the benefits amid legal turmoil over the program.  The departments of Health Services and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection yesterday issued a release warning businesses in the FoodShare

Republican lawmakers are circulating a bill to create an income tax credit that would help offset the costs of in vitro fertilization in Wisconsin.  Sen. Howard Marklein of Spring Green and Rep. Jessie Rodriguez of Oak Creek last week sent the co-sponsorship memo to other lawmakers, seeking support for establishing

Maggie Brickerman, the new president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, has laid out her vision for the organization’s future, which includes driving more investment deals in the state.  Speaking yesterday at the group’s Early Stage Symposium in Madison during her third day on the job, Brickerman discussed how her past

Milwaukee’s local labor market is showing signs of “beginning to cool down,” an economist with Marquette University says.   Nicholas Jolly, an associate professor of economics at the Milwaukee university, co-authored a report released yesterday detailing economic trends for the region and state.  The Economic Scorecard for Southeastern Wisconsin shows unemployment

Legislation being circulated by Dem lawmakers would create a $5 million annual tax credit program for early-career farmers, helping to offset the cost of acquiring land and other farming assets.  Sen. Mark Spreitzer of Beloit and Rep. Jenna Jacobson of Oregon recently sent a co-sponsorship memo to other lawmakers on

GOP lawmakers are seeking to create a new tax break for nuclear fusion projects in Wisconsin, with a goal of making the state an “epicenter” for the technology’s development.  Sen. Dan Feyen of Fond du Lac, as well as Reps. Benjamin Franklin of De Pere and David Steffen of Howard,

Madison-based Realta Fusion could build its first energy-producing fusion plant within 10 years, though the path ahead has some challenges.  Robb Hughes, head of external affairs for the UW-Madison nuclear energy spinoff company, discussed this timeline during this week’s Wisconsin Energy Institute panel. He said the cost for energy produced

An expert says executive pressure to deploy AI is a problem for industry as the technology is increasingly seen as essential for competitiveness.  Sahab Aslam, founder of Vectorify Labs and the AI sector lead at the Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of New York, was a featured speaker during yesterday’s