CAPITOL REPORT
Wisconsin Law Hampering Clean Energy
“Unfinished Business: What the Midwest Needs to Do to Lead in the Clean Energy Economy,” a report by the National Wildlife Foundation, gives the Midwest mediocre grades as a region for its progress toward building a clean energy economy. Unfortunately, Wisconsin now may be slowing the region’s efforts, according to the state’s largest environmental advocacy group.
 
The report gives the region an A- for building codes; a B and B- for energy efficiency and renewable energy, respectively; a C+ for low carbon fuel policies; and Ds for greenhouse gas reduction and transit options.
 
“The Midwest has the resources to become a global leader in the clean energy economy, and the roadmap provides us with a common sense path toward that goal,” says Keith Reopelle, senior policy director at Clean Wisconsin. “As a whole, the Midwest is making modest progress. Unfortunately, Wisconsin seems to be moving in the wrong direction.”

While Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana have passed legislation setting statewide energy efficiency standards, Wisconsin has failed to do so. Leaders in the Joint Finance Committee have also indicated they will try to backtrack on progress the Public Service Commission made in 2010 for increased energy efficiency funding. Recent legislation has made it more difficult to construct clean, renewable wind farms in Wisconsin. The governor has also rejected federal funds to construct a high-speed rail line in the state. In addition, Gov. Scott Walker’s budget eliminates grants and loans for renewable energy manufacturers in the state, and eliminates a requirement to use farm-based biofuels over imported petroleum in the state’s own fleet of vehicles. 

Dairy and Livestock Act
Gov. Scott Walker signed Act 15: the Dairy and Livestock Farm Investment Tax Credit, which allows taxpayers to claim a nonrefundable income and franchise tax credit equal to 10 percent of the amounts paid for dairy or livestock farm modernization and expansion for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003, and before January 1, 2017.

Senate Passes Voter ID Bill
The state Senate has given final legislative approval to a bill that would require Wisconsin voters to show photo identification at the polls, setting the plan up for Gov. Scott Walker’s signature.

Commerce Department Appointees Named
Gov. Scott Walker has introduced three of his appointees to the new Commerce Department Board. The corporation’s board consists of 13 members, including the governor, six of his appointees and six appointees chosen by state Assembly and Senate leadership. Walker introduced: Dan Ariens, president of Brillion-based Ariens Company; Donald J. Weber, founder and chief executive of La Crosse-based Logistics Health Inc.; and Lisa Mauer, president and owner of Milwaukee-based Tool Service Corporation.

Picture the Fun
The Wisconsin Department of Tourism launched its new summer marketing campaign in various markets across the Midwest around the creative platform of “fun.” The $3.15 million “Picture the Fun” campaign will run in markets across Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa, and feature TV spots, radio spots, print and digital ads, out-of-home marketing efforts, public relations, social media executions and advertising with the Chicago Transit Authority. Free Travel Wisconsin iPhone and Android apps are also available for download to help travelers find local attractions, lodging, dining and recreation throughout the state.

STATEWIDE
Wisconsin Receives Low ETR Ranking
A new report by Ernst & Young and the Council on State Taxation ranks Wisconsin fourth in the nation in terms of lowest effective tax rate (ETR) on new capital investment, at 4.5 percent. Only Maine, Oregon and Ohio had a lower ETR, which is a key indicator of competitiveness for new jobs and investment. Wisconsin also ranked fourth in competitiveness, when the ETR was weighted by the number of jobs created rather than the amount of capital invested, at 5.7 percent. 
 
Organic Funding Available
Wisconsin farmers transitioning to organic as well as established organic producers could apply for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative funding to assist in organic efforts. The USDA announced another $50 million in funding for the EQIP Organic Initiative, which provides a 75 percent share of the cost of implementing organic conservation measures to those who qualify — 90 percent for beginning, limited-resource and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Wisconsin Ranks 15th in Clean Energy Leadership Index
Clean Edge’s second annual U.S. Clean Energy Leadership Index, which ranked more than 70 different indicators in technology, policy and capital, ranked Wisconsin 15th among all 50 states.

Fair Housing Awards
Fair Housing Awards were presented during the 2011 statewide fair housing conference of the Wisconsin Fair Housing Network. An Individual Volunteer Fair Housing Award was presented to Eric Kodner from La Pointe and Erich Schwenker from Whitefish Bay. The Fair Housing Individual Professional Award was presented to Brian Peters, Housing Policy Advocate, from IndependenceFirst. A Partnership Fair Housing Award was presented to Legal Action of Wisconsin. A Special Recognition Award was also presented to Dan Stotmeister, IndependenceFirst and Harvard University, for their work on the City of Milwaukee Chronic Nuisance ordinance.

Top Downtown Revitalizations
The Wisconsin Department of Commerce recognized the best downtown revitalization projects of 2010 at the 21st Annual Wisconsin Main Street Awards. The 2010 award recipients are as follows:
Best Business Citizen Award
• Gareth Steiner, Vernon Memorial Healthcare, Viroqua
• William Whitford, Darlington
Best Creative Fund Raising Effort
• Whitewater Gone Wild Safari
Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization
• TID #5 Façade and Upper Floor Housing Grant, City of Beloit and Downtown Beloit Association
Best Downtown Image Campaign/Event 
• River District Retour, Wausau
Best Downtown Retail Event 
• Reindeer Run, Platteville
Best Downtown Special Event 
• Eagle River Area Festival of Flavors
Best Business Development Program/Project
• Think Whitewater Buy Local, Downtown Whitewater Economic Restructuring Committee
Best New Downtown Business 
• Optimo Farm Market Restaurant and Café, Viroqua
 • Heavy Pedal Bicycles, Manitowoc
Best Façade Rehabilitation Over $7,500
• Fat Bruce’s Expansion in Ripon
Best Upper Story Rehabilitation Project
• House of Homebrew
Best Design Committee Project 
• Steam Heritage Mural/Fest of Algoma
Best New Building Project 
• YMCA of Fond du Lac
Best Public Improvement
 • John Rose Canoe/Kayak Launch, City of Beloit
Best Adaptive Reuse Projects 
• Hendricks Center for the Arts, Beloit College
• Kavarna Coffeehouse, Green Bay
Best Historic Restoration Project 
• Bagels and More of Beloit
Best Interior Renovation Project 
• Tribeca Gallery Café and Books, Watertown
• Dockside Deli, Port Washington
Sustainability Award 
• The Innovation Center, City of Whitewater and UW-Whitewater


Economy on the Upswing
The Wisconsin economy added 9,100 jobs in March, marking the first time there have been three consecutive months of significant job gains in the 40 months since the beginning of the Great Recession, reports the Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS). Wisconsin still has a net 126,900 fewer jobs than in December 2007, before the recession started, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics while the unemployment rate remains at 7.4 percent, 1.8 percentage points lower than one year ago.

SOUTHEAST
BUSINESS BRIEFS
State Firm Hired for Move
C.H. Coakley entered a $3+ million contract to move multiple agencies currently occupying the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling, Minnesota. The contract will take a full year to execute and require more than 160 employees to move over 422,000 square feet of office equipment and records.

Coal Plant to Undergo Natural Gas Conversion
We Energies announced plans to take initial steps toward converting the Valley Power Plant to natural gas from coal. The Valley Power Plant currently lacks modern pollution controls and fails to meet pollution and health standards set in the Clean Air Act. A timeline for the conversion has not been set.

Towne Investments Gets New Name
Towne Investments is renamed Zilber Property Group to better reflect the company’s heritage and expansion of its commercial real estate business activities.
 
Employment Law Blog
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. launches the blog, All in a Day’s Work - Insights on Labor & Employment Law, from Godfrey & Kahn’s Labor, Employment & Immigration Practice Group. The blog, www.godfreykahnlawblogs.com, will cover topics like discrimination and harassment, FMLA, wages and more.

Lake Lawn Resort Sold
Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan was sold for $9.5 million to an investor group led by Lake Geneva area resident Jim Drescher. Drescher said he expects the golf course and the Delavan Lake marina to be open Friday, May 27, for Memorial Day weekend. The 281-room hotel should open within 30 days, he said.

Generac Enhances Generators
Generac Power Systems Inc. has improved the Customer Connection Interface (CCI) in its industrial generators. The improvements include enhancements that make its industrial generators more customizable and easier to install. 

Bed Bug Services Set
Batzner Services has established Batzner Bed Bug Services Inc., a separate company devoted to an exclusive bed bug control service called the No Bed Bug Zone.
 
Murphy Adds Division
Murphy Associates, Your Marketing Department, launches a division focused on personal branding. Judi Murphy, senior vice president and co-founder, will head the division. 

Opus to Build Weyco Expansion
The Milwaukee office of Opus Development Corporation will construct a 52,000 square-foot mezzanine to expand Weyco Group Inc.’s Glendale headquarters. The project for the shoe manufacturer will be complete by July.

Onion River Restoration
Michels Corporation has partnered with the Lakeshore Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Wisconsin DNR to aid restoration efforts along the Onion River in Sheboygan County. Michels will assist in preparing five to six sites along the river for the installation of lunker structures. 

NORTHEAST
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Cool Choices for Sustainability
In partnership with Cool Choices, Miron Construction launches iChoose, a sustainability game focused on helping employees explore and integrate sustainable practices into their lives.

SOUTHWEST
BUSINESS BRIEFS
UW Health Construction Proposed
UW Health is considering building a clinic and a hospital with a focus on orthopedics on Madison’s far east side, with construction to start next year. The plan on 42 acres at the American Center business park will ease crowding at UW Hospital and allow its small patient rooms to be enlarged. A master plan calls for the new hospital to have 50 to 80 beds. Specific planning will begin on the project and details will be determined over the coming months.

Copps Enhances Consumer Web site
Copps Food Center launches an enhanced consumer Web site to help customers better plan shopping trips. The site’s digital planning tools allow shoppers to sort through weekly sales items, meal solutions, coupons and specials and make a shopping list tailored to their likes, preferences and budget.

Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award Winners Announced
Family businesses were honored in the eighth annual Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award banquet. The award program was sponsored by Smith & Gesteland, Associated Bank, and DeWitt Ross & Stevens.

Grand awards were presented in three size categories: Large (100+ employees), Medium (50-99), and Small (under 50).
Grand Awards went to:
Large:
• C. G. Schmidt, Milwaukee 
Medium:
• Hellenbrand Inc., Waunakee 
Small:
• Botham Vineyards, Barneveld
Special Awards:
“Community Star”: Hunzinger Construction Company, Brookfield
“Setting the Gold Standard”: Standard Process Inc., Palmyra
“The Show Must Go On”: The Fireside Dinner Theatre, Fort Atkinson
“Hometown Hero”: Rockweiler Insulation Inc., Verona

Findorff Adds Five Project Managers
Findorff adds five Project Managers to its Madison and Milwaukee offices. Zak Koga was promoted from project engineer to project manager.  Clark Solowicz  and Nate Yahn will work as project managers in the Madison office while Scott Drees and Rob Bergmann join the Milwaukee office as project managers.

Beloit Named Opportunity Zone
Beloit joins Janesville and Kenosha as development opportunity zones. This distinction allows qualifying businesses that make capital investments and/or create or retain jobs to qualify for state income tax credits of up to $5 million over five years, with an option for another five years and $5 million. Beloit’s previous designation as a development opportunity zone expired in September.

NORTHWEST
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Partnership Puts Registration Online
Skyward Inc. has partnered with SRC Solutions to integrate SRC Solutions’ Registration Gateway software and Skyward’s Student Management Suite, which will enable parents to complete their student’s school registration online.

State Medals in International Mustard Competition
Silver Spring Beer ‘n Brat Horseradish Mustard and Silver Spring Organic Deli Mustard with Horseradish took home medals at the World-Wide National Mustard Competition in Madison. Beer’n Brat won gold. Organic Deli Mustard took silver. The Eau-Claire based Silver Spring Foods was also awarded a bronze for Kelchner’s Hot Horseradish Mustard. A total of 347 mustards were judged from nine countries.

Dunkin’ Donuts to Add Six Stores
Dunkin’ Donuts entered into a multi-unit store development agreement with Travel Mart Inc. for six new restaurants in Wausau. The first restaurant will open in 2012 and the remaining five units will be developed by 2016.

Made in Wisconsin
Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
The history of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle began in Milwaukee 
in 1903 when Bill Harley and Arthur Walter Davidson developed a one-cylinder motorcycle. This motorcycle was initially built for racing and was powered by a one-cylinder gasoline combustion engine. Visitors can tour the Harley-Davidson factory in Menomonee Falls and the Harley-Davidson Museum to learn more about the 
company’s history, culture and vehicles.