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Wisconsin Internet News Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Robert Rosati
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February 1st, 2012 by Robert RosatiRacine Great Lakes Mitten Campaign drive yields 185 pairs of mittens and gloves
January 31st, 2012 by Robert RosatiArea residents generously donated 185 pairs of mittens and gloves plus dozens of caps and scarves to the Great Lakes Mitten Campaign held at the Real Racine Visitor Center.
Winter wear received in the drive, held from December 15 through January 15, went to two local charities. They are: the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization (HALO), providing emergency food, clothing and shelter to homeless individuals and families in Racine County, and a winter clothing giveaway at the Revival Thrift Store operated by the Divine Circle Church, a ministry serving local people in need.
“We are very proud of how people responded,” says Dave Blank, Real Racine CEO.
“It was wonderful to see those beautiful, warm mittens coming in day after day.”
Statewide, more than 2,300 pairs of mittens and gloves were collected for charity during the one-month drive at visitor centers and chamber of commerce offices.
The Great Lakes Mitten Campaign came out of a friendly rivalry between Wisconsin and Michigan late last year. Michigan tourism officials objected when Travel Wisconsin used the image of a Wisconsin-shaped mitten in its winter advertising materials. The Michigan representatives claimed that their state better represents a mitten shape than Wisconsin.
Travel offices in both states turned the controversy attention into the mitten drive for people in need.
Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release issued by Real Racine.
Potawatomi Business Development Corporation Unveils Plans
January 30th, 2012 by Robert RosatiThe Potawatomi Business Development Corporation (PBDC), the economic diversification arm of the Forest County Potawatomi, recentyunveiled plans for a new 45,000 square-feet, multi-tenant wholesale data center known as Data Holdings, LLC. The two-story center is part of the Forest County Potawatomi’s (FCP) effort to redevelop its 11-acre Concordia Trust Property site at the intersection of 33rd and State Streets in Milwaukee. PBDC expects to start construction on the $36 million data center this April with tenant occupancy targeted for the 2nd Quarter, 2013.
“As part of PBDC’s mission to diversify the tribes’ portfolio beyond gaming, we believe building and operating a data center is an attractive opportunity that will serve a growing and unmet need in the southeastern Wisconsin business community,” said Pepi Randolph, CEO of the Potawatomi Business Development Corporation. “Currently, there is not a data center in the area that has the level and scale of technology that we plan to provide. Our data center would be part of an intelligent approach to addressing the region’s IT needs that will help keep Milwaukee relevant, progressive, and attractive from an IT perspective. From an economic development standpoint, high-end infrastructure means high-end work and jobs. That’s good for everyone.”
Data Centers are specially constructed buildings with abundant amounts of electrical power and Internet bandwidth staffed by information technology (IT) specialists. They are classified from Tiers I through IV, with IV being the most stringent. Existing data centers in the Milwaukee area are small colocation facilities with little to no wholesale space available.
The Data Holdings facility will be a wholesale, Tier III enhanced, carrier neutral data center. The center’s office space and dedicated data suites will offer tenants a cost-effective, flexible, secure and highly reliable IT facility for primary data center and secondary disaster recovery data center needs. Data Holdings will also support the technology infrastructure for the FCP’s Milwaukee-area business and tribal government operations.
The PBDC has engaged TMI, one of the nation’s most experienced data center services companies, to design the Data Holdings center. Greenfire Management Services, a PBDC-subsidiary, will lead the construction, and NewAge Data Center Solutions, a TMI affiliate, will manage marketing, sales and operations.
PBDC conducted three separate feasibility studies to identify the market need and scope of available opportunity for a data center. The studies found the Concordia Trust Property site as an ideal location because of access to diverse power sources and multiple fiber carriers, each which provides the necessary redundancy and back up data center customers require. Additionally, the location poses no threats and vicinity risks that have the potential to disrupt power or connectivity, and as such jeopardize data access and integrity.
Dan McGrath, founder of TMI and co-founder/CEO of NewAge Data Solutions, has more than 30 years experience in the data center industry. He sees market possibilities beyond the Milwaukee area for Data Holdings.
“Our proximity to Illinois will make this data center attractive to Chicago and Northern Illinois businesses. Data Holdings’ comparative prices for power will also provide these companies with a top of the line wholesale data center alternative in Milwaukee at a fraction of the cost,” he said.
The demand for data centers has created one of the few growth areas in real estate nationally. According to various feasibility studies, demand for data center capacity in 2010 significantly exceeded supply. Numerous reports forecast continued growth as internet traffic and cloud-based computing adoption continue to increase. Revenue for data center providers in North America will reach $8.1 billion this year, up from $5.7 billion in 2009 according to industry watcher Tier1 Research.
PBDC plans to pursue US Green Building Council LEED certification for the data center which will incorporate the latest in energy-efficient technologies and utilities. Randolph said both construction and operation of the facility will create local job opportunities and enhance the region’s overall IT infrastructure and reputation.
Tribal leadership, PBDC and Data Holdings will further discuss the data center at an Open House, Thursday, February 9, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Tribal Room at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino 1721 West Canal Street, Milwaukee.
Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release issued by the Potawatomi Business Development Corporation.
Jim Sensenbrenner Calls on White House to Release Findings of DOE Audit
January 30th, 2012 by Robert RosatiThis morning Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner called on the White House to release the recommendations from the 60 day internal audit of the DOE loan guarantee portfolio and reemphasized the need for an independent review of all loan guarantees.
Last week marked the end of a White House- sponsored 60 day review of DOE renewable energy loan guarantees, but the Administration has been clear the scope of the audit will be narrow.
“Three DOE-backed companies have filed for bankruptcy, but the White House has made clear the audit won’t look at specific decisions made when awarding loans. I doubt we will learn anything as long as the Administration not only chooses the auditor, but also sets a narrow scope for the audit,” Sensenbrenner said.
“I will be contacting the White House to request they make public the full report of findings and recommendations from the 60 day internal audit. It is important to understand what happened with Solyndra, but recent events show Congressional oversight should not stop there. My bill requires a thorough, independent analysis of all DOE loan guarantees and makes needed reforms to the process to ensure any future loans make sense.”
Congressman Sensenbrenner introduced H.R. 3331, the Federal Accounting of Renewable Energy Act, which will require an assessment of past DOE loan guarantees, as well as an independent review of future loan guarantees. Text of H.R. 3331, the FARE Act here.
Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner’s official website.
Congressman Sensenbrenner Statement on Report by Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future
January 29th, 2012 by Robert RosatiCongressman Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Vice Chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology released this statement on a recent report by the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future.
“The Blue Ribbon Commission Report confirms what we already knew, that we need a strategy to safely store nuclear waste, but the President’s decision to suspend Yucca Mountain as a political favor has set us back years from accomplishing this goal. The President called for an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy in his State of the Union address on Tuesday. Today’s report reminds us that the Administration’s record has been to put politics before advancing serious solutions.”
Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner’ official website.
Sensenbrenner Bill Passes House Judiciary Committee with Bipartisan Support
January 29th, 2012 by Robert RosatiRecently Congressman Sensenbrenner’s legislation, H.R. 1433 the Private Property Rights Protection Act passed the House Judiciary Committee with broad bipartisan support by a vote of 23-5.
“Protecting private property rights has strong support on both sides of the aisle. The U.S. Supreme Court wrongly decided to broaden states’ eminent domain power to allow governments to seize private property for economic development. Expanded eminent domain is an abject offense on Americans’ basic freedom, and Congress must restore the basic constitutional protections of private property.”
“All Americans should be able to trust that they have freedom from blatant governmental overreach. The federal government should not be able to utilize eminent domain to force private-to-private transfer of property.”
Information on H.R. 1433:
In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court held in, Kelo v. City of New London that private property could be “condemned” for the sole purpose of implementing a local government’s redevelopment plan, thereby allowing property to be turned over to private developers in a private-to-private transfer.
Kelo sparked outrage across the country by allowing an unprecedented government overreach. Congressman Sensenbrenner introduced legislation in the 109th Congress, which passed the House overwhelmingly with a vote a 376-38.
H.R. 1433 prohibits the federal government from exercising its eminent domain power for economic development by prohibiting federal economic development funds for two years from being used by state and local government for the same purpose.
Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner’ official website.
Governor Walker Statement on the Assembly Passage of Bill Streamlining Mining Regulations
January 28th, 2012 by Robert RosatiScott Walker applauded members of the Assembly for passing AB 426, which updates Wisconsin’s mining regulations by creating new laws specific to ferrous (iron) mining. The process created by the bill would expedite the approval of a mining application, while maintaining environmental and natural resource protections. The passage of this bill follows an extensive public review period.
“In order to justify risking millions of dollars in capital investments, job creators deserve to have certainty in our state’s permitting process and to know that our regulations are science-based and predictable,” Gov. Walker said. “At the same time, we can put in place a process that allows us to maintain our high standards for clean air, clean water, and clean land. I commend Chairperson Mary Williams (R-Medford) and the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economy, and Small Business for travelling to Northern Wisconsin twice to receive input from the citizens who will be most affected by the proposed taconite mine in Iron and Ashland Counties. I applaud the Assembly Republicans on the passage of this bill and their steadfast focus on the creation of jobs in Wisconsin. I urge the Senate to take this bill up quickly in order to continue job growth in Wisconsin.”
The Assembly action came one day after the Governor encouraged lawmakers to act on mining legislation in his 2012 State of the State speech, citing a mine project proposal in northwestern Wisconsin that would create at least 700 jobs at the mine and has the potential to create thousands more across the state.
Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on the official website of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’.
Governor Walker Announces 2012 Trailblazer Awards for Women in Business
January 27th, 2012 by Robert RosatiGovernor Scott Walker, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and the Wisconsin Women’s Council are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2012 Governor’s Trailblazer Awards for Women in Business, recognizing women pioneers in the business community.
“Private sector businesses are key to our state’s job creation strategies,” said Governor Scott Walker. “We are fortunate to have many women who have started a business and now employ their fellow Wisconsinites. I hope that these Trailblazers can serve as role models to other women who are considering opening a business and creating jobs.”
The fourteen 2012 Trailblazer award recipients represent seven counties and a wide range of industries–including non-traditional industries for women. These businesses have sustained families and anchored communities. Our 2012 Trailblazers bring leadership and lasting economic benefits to communities across our state, providing jobs and promoting innovation.
“Women business owners and entrepreneurs are a driving force in moving our state’s economy forward, ” said Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. “We are grateful for their contributions to job growth in Wisconsin.”
Trailblazer Awards are given to businesses statewide to recognize the legacy of women’s business ownership in Wisconsin. Categories including family-owned businesses that are currently majority woman-owned and have been in operation for three generations or more, and businesses with sole or majority ownership by a woman, or series of women, for 25 years or more.
Since the award was established in 2007, Governor’s Trailblazer Awards have been given to 44 Wisconsin woman-owned businesses across 22 counties.
“The value of these winners is not just in the past accomplishments we celebrate today- it is also in the women their trailblazing example will inform and inspire in the future to follow their own entrepreneurial passions and dreams,” said Mary Jo Baas, Chair, Wisconsin Women’s Council.
Woman-owned businesses were nominated for Trailblazer Awards through an open nomination process, including nominations from business and professional associations, elected officials, friends, colleagues and employees.
Recipients of the 2012 Trailblazer Awards are:
Brown County
Ed Gersek Inc.
Lorraine Gersek
Diane M. Bisick, President
Green Bay • 1963
Dane County
Awards Mall/Total Awards
& Promotions, Inc.
Donna Gray, CEO & President
Madison • 1977
Drake & Company Staffing Specialists
Kelly Starr-King, CEO
Madison • 1978
Lindsay, Stone & Briggs, Inc.
Marsha Lindsay, CEO
Madison • 1978
Milwaukee County
Heartland Information Research, Inc.
Kate Hill, President
Wauwatosa • Special Recognition
Kujawa Enterprises, Inc.
Sally Kujawa, President
Oak, Creek • 1964
MJ Care, Inc.
Mary E. Van Lare, P.T., CEO
Milwaukee • 1977
Zoe Engineering
Daphne E. Wilson, P.E., President
Milwaukee • Special Recognition
Racine County
2100 Lathrop, Inc. (dba McDonalds)
Dorothy A. Metz, President
Racine • 1957
Badger Trailer & Equipment Corp.
Karin Lee-Fournier, CEO & President
Jean A. Lee, Owner & Vice President
Franksville • 1920
Insider News Wisconsin
Yolanda James, Owner & Publisher
Racine • Special Recognition
St. Croix County
J&L Steel & Electrical Services
Lou Anne Berg, CEO
Hudson • 1977
Waukesha County
James Imaging Systems
Lola A. Tegeder, CEO
Brookfield • 1977
Winnebago County
Directions Marketing
Kristine R. Sexton, President
Neenah • 1955
Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s official website.