Northeast Wisconsin

Corporate Report Wisconsin, Nov 2006

DENMARK

SaIm Partners LLC, a private-label sausage manufacturer, got a $1 million Community Development Block Grant-Economic Development loan from the Department of Commerce for help with a $13 million expansion project in this Brown County community near Green Bay. The company opened in March 2005 and recently acquired a building formerly occupied by flexible-packaging maker Milprint. SaIm Partners expects to add 100 employees to its current workforce of 58.

DODGE AND FOND DU LAC COUNTIES

Two proposed wind power projects to generate electricity that had been delayed over concerns about the rotating turbines disrupting military radar were cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration. Butler Ridge is a 37-turbine project in Dodge County and the Forward Wind Energy Center is a 133-turbine development located near Horicon Marsh and still faces a lawsuit by a group opposed to its location next to a national wildlife refuge.

FOND DU LAC

Mechanical contractor J.F. Ahern Co. announced plans for expansion of its current facility by 58,000 square feet. The new threestory addition will support space for 165 additional employees and construction is expected to be completed by spring 2007.

"Developments" is a monthly roundup of significant economic development news in Wisconsin. We track government actions, new capital, expansions, layoffs, and other activities that affect the competitive infrastructure of the Wisconsin economy or the well-being of citizens and businesses. Each month we focus on one quadrant of the state while also keeping an eye on the other quadrants. Submit development items to crweditor@wistrails.com.

FOX VALLEY

Eight area companies have formed a new trade group called Converting Influence to help promote converting manufacturers and associated businesses. The charter members have businesses in Appleton, Green Bay, Iron River, Kaukauna, and Nekoosa, and provide finishing work on products such as disposable wipes, coated papers, and paper towels and napkins.

KAUKAUNA

The city plans to sell two plots of land to two companies that are moving to the area. Rockford, 111.-based liebovich Brothers is a distributor of ferrous and nonferrous metals. Albany International, based in Appleton, manufactures conveyor belts used primarily in the paper industry. The two companies are expected to create a combined 300 jobs.

LITTLE CHUTE

Alferi Sauces and Seasonings, which produces sauces for pizza, announced it will close its facility here in late December, eliminating 36 positions. In June, the company permanently laid off 21 workers, citing the need to remain competitive.

MENASHSA

At press time, Banta Corp. (Sept. CRW) had not responded to the latest unsolicited acquisition proposal from Cenveo Inc., a similarly sized printer based in Connecticut, but had rejected two earlier offers. Banta did announce plans to close two facilities, sell one, and consolidate three Fox Valley book fulfillment facilities. The moves will eliminate more than 500 jobs, about 6% of its workforce including 72 local jobs. Banta estimated the closings will generate annual cost savings of $27 million in 2007, and $35 million in 2008. It also announced an agreement to acquire a book and commercial printing company in China, and will open a new supply-chain management facility in Shenzhen, China, by the end of the year.

RIPON

The city reached a tentative agreement to purchase 58 acres adjacent to an industrial park located here. The 129-acre park was established in the early 1970s, and this acquisition represents its largest expansion since then. Cost of the new land is $696,000.

VALDERS

A $97,500 grant from the state's Biobased Industry Opportunity program will help Quality Roasting Inc. more than double its output of soybean oil, which is used as an ingredient in bio-diesel fuel. The company hopes to produce nearly 2 million gallons per year, and also increase its soybean meal production from 30,000 tons to 60,000 tons annually. It is investing $1.25 million in the current expansion project.

STATEWIDE DEVELOPMENTS

SOUTHEAST

MILWAUKEE: Redevelopment progress was reported in the downtown Park East area, made vacant by the tearing down of the Park East Freeway spur. The County Board voted to sell a county-owned site to Ruvin Development Inc. and Gatehouse Capital Corp. for a $104 million proposal that includes a luxury hotel, condominiums, offices and retail space.

On another lot, a proposed $70 million development called Park East Square that also includes a hotel plus apartments and retail got approved by a County Board committee, and Chicago-based RSC & Associates has an option to purchase the land until Dec. 31.

Park East also includes some old industrial sites, and the city's Redevelopment Authority approved a $1.1 million loan to help with environmental cleanup for the North End project by the Mandel Group that will demolish tannery buildings on eight acres along the Milwaukee River and create condos, apartments and retail space.

Mayor Tom Barrett signed a contract with Midwest Fiber Networks to begin installation of a citywide wireless Internet network in Milwaukee at no cost to the city. The Wi-Fi buildout is expected to take 18 months with a test area around Marquette University ready in January. The negotiations had taken eight months.