State manufacturers preparing for recovery can tap grant funds

State grant funds are now available to help Wisconsin manufacturers improve performance, stimulate growth and respond to new challenges as the economy recovers from the recession.

“Unfortunately it won’t be back to business as usual for Wisconsin manufacturers,” says Mike Klonsinski, executive director of the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. “The changes that were occurring before the recession - high volatility, spikes in demand and hyper-competition - are accelerating in the post-recession economy. To win new customers and market share in this global environment, manufacturers must have the best possible systems and processes in place to be highly innovative, lean and agile."

The Next Generation Manufacturing grants, authorized by the Department of Commerce, are targeted to small and midsize manufacturers with less than 500 employees. Grants of $5,000 to $6,500 pay up to 50 percent of project costs for services delivered by WMEP. The remaining project costs are paid by the company. Eligible projects areas include lean transformation and business growth and the implementation of Eureka! Winning Ways, a system that rapidly generates and tests new product ideas.

Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis; and  interested manufacturers should contact Lee Swindall of WMEP at (608) 807-8548 or swindall@wmep.org.

New advocates for high-speed rail access in Wisconsin

With significant stimulus funding earmarked for the further development of passenger rail in the region, two localized coalitions are working toward developing passenger rail as part of a regional economic development strategy.

The La Crosse-based Empire Builder High Speed Rail Coalition seeks the development of a new high-speed “western” rail system from the Twin Cities via La Crosse, Winona and Red Wing, Minn., to Chicago. This route would follow Amtrak’s existing Empire Builder route, building on existing track currently in place.

The Eau-Claire based West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition is seeking the development of a high-speed rail line that would run from the Twin Cities through the Chippewa Valley and south to Chicago.

MOVERS

>> Laura Ingalls, SPHR has joined Career Momentum Inc. as senior consultant. Laura is serving clients in both the Madison area and through a new satellite office in Brookfield.

>> Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. has hired Paul J. Eberle as chief executive.

>> Randy Olver is the new CEO at Fitchburg-based Emdat.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

SUAMICO: Festival Foods has announced that it will open a new grocery store in the fall of 2010 in Suamico. Festival Foods is a family-owned company with 13 stores, and it employs more than 3,600 full and part-time associates. Festival Foods currently has stores in Green Bay (2), De Pere, Appleton (2), Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Marshfield, Eau Claire, Holmen, Onalaska and La Crosse.

GREEN BAY: Toyota Material Handling U.S.A. Inc. has selected Conger Toyotalift to offer the company’s line-up of Aichi aerial work platforms to the U.S. market. Aichi’s product line, including scissor lifts, crawler and wheeled-boom lifts, is designed specifically to meet a wide range of indoor and outdoor needs. Conger Toyotalift was selected based on its excellent servicing of the industrial equipment industry, providing customers with top support in sales and rentals. Conger Toyotalift also operates locations in Wausau and Neenah.

NEENAH: Miron Construction Co. Inc. was recently awarded four 2009 Build Wisconsin Awards, presented by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Wisconsin. Miron received the following awards: “Design Build — New Construction” category for Best Advantage Credit Union located in Brillion and “Municipal Utility/Underground — New Construction” category for the new air traffic control tower at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. Miron was also recognized in the “Municipal Utility/Underground — Renovation” category for work at the Wild Rose Fish Hatchery Phase One, and in the “Heavy/Industrial/Warehouse Construction —New Construction” category for the Tetra Tech Fox River Sediment Processing Facility in Green Bay.