MadREP Report: September 14, 2016
BRE Blitz: Volunteers visit 100+ businesses on Northside 
 
Volunteers visit retail business on Northside
Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) initiatives are foundational to MadREP's efforts to grow the Madison Region's economic competitiveness. Our BRE goals include fostering relationships and communication with employers, addressing company needs, assisting with growth opportunities, and identifying potential businesses to recruit that would support existing businesses. 

 

MadREP partners with many entities on BRE initiatives, most recently by supporting the implementation of Business Walks. This program, developed by Blueprint Events LLC, involves a coordinated one-day outreach to community businesses by volunteers who ask and report on 3-4 key BRE questions.

MadREP president Paul Jadin
With suppo rt from MadREP and funding from the City of Madison and MG&E, Blueprint Events hosted its first l ocal Business Walk in the City of Madison's Northside neighborhood last week. A timely initiative with the impending closure of the Oscar Mayer plant, 40-50 local business and civic leaders volunteered to visit over 140 businesses during this half-day blitz of Northside businesses to ask the following questions:
  • How is business?
  • What do you like about doing business on the Northside?
  • What can be done to improve business on the Northside?
  • Will your business be affected by the closing of Oscar Mayer? If so, how?

Paul Jadin, president of MadREP, emphasized the importance of BRE visits to the volunteers in their orientation training, explaining that the valuable feedback gained from these surveys will help local leaders get the pulse of how businesses are doing, build stronger relationships, and help foster a more prosperous business climate.

For more information on MadREP's BRE initiatives, contact VP of Talent & Education Gene Dalhoff. 

REGIONAL NEWS
Company Profile:
Accuray builds on TomoTherapy's talents in Madison

When a homegrown Madison tech company is acquired, it's always hard to predict whether local operations and jobs will survive. In the case of TomoTherapy, though, not only has production continued here, it has grown. Accuray's manufacturing center in Madison now assembles both TomoTherapy's own machines and Accuray's systems. During the last quarter, TomoTherapy snagged its largest single order since the companies joined. Of the company's 1,000 total employees, about 290 work in Madison -- that makes it bigger than Accuray's site in Sunnyvale California. Accuray senior vice president Andy Kirkpatrick said Madison has talented manufacturing workers, labor costs are lower, and there are efficiencies in building products, though they operate differently, that are both designed to deliver radiation to cancer tumors.
 
 
On the Move:
AkitaBox moves into emerging tech hub

Maker of facility management software, AkitaBox, has moved into a new building in downtown Madison that is becoming a hub for the city's technology companies. There are 13 tenants in the building, which is being called "316" after its address on West Washington Avenue. Four of 316's tenants are graduates of the gener8tor startup training program. "Clearly the good work gener8tor is doing is bearing fruit here in Madison," said Mike Slavish, president of Hovde Properties, which acquired the building in 2014 and has spent about $30M on the purchase and renovations. "Working in the same building as local companies with national brands such as EatStreet, Understory, and Catalyze creates a positive tech environment that will only help our growing team at AkitaBox," said CEO Todd Hoffmaster.

Read more.

Community Highlight:
Stoughton nabs key piece of property for riverfront development plans

City of Stoughton officials are closing in on a piece of property that will play an integral role in the city's long-held plans for redeveloping land along the Yahara River. City Council President Tim Swadley said the parcel has the potential for a variety of developments -- from housing to commercial space to a riverwalk area. The nearly 6-acre property has been vacant since September 2014, with the closing of MillFab/Holley Mouldings, a lumber processing company. The city's Redevelopment Authority (RDA) has been eyeing the property since the business closed, as the site is part of a swath of 16 acres the city has planned for riverfront development. "We've got a desolate and wasted riverfront that has wonderful opportunity for redevelopment," said RDA chairman Peter Sveum. "I don't believe there's ever been a project like this in Stoughton."

Capital Connection:
WEDC launches entrepreneurship
grant program

Weeks after the release of a report that ranked Wisconsin, for the second year in a row, dead last in startup activity among all 50 states, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. has launched a pilot program aimed at improving the state's entrepreneurial environment. The Entrepreneurship Support program will provide grants between $10K and $100K for activities such as the promotion of entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial education, mentorship and training, and business development and financial services. "We believe this program will result in creative approaches to helping entrepreneurs," said deputy secretary and COO of WEDC Tricia Braun. "Some of the best new ideas originate from local organizations because they are the ones who truly understand the unique needs of their communities."
 

Business Expansion:
Dollar General launches hiring for Janesville facility

Dollar General is opening its hiring doors wide for w orkers who will fill the floor of the 1 million square-foot distribution center the company is slated to open later this fall on Janesville's south side. The company announced this week that it is hosting a recruitment and career fair this weekend. Dollar General eventually plans to hire 550 people who would work in distribution and labor roles at the warehouse nearing completion at Highway 11 and County G. The Tennessee-based retail company considers the new Janesville facility a major Midwest distribution hub designed to fuel hundreds of the company's retail stores. "We believe our employees are our greatest strength and look forward to welcoming 550 people to the Dollar General family," said senior human resources manager Brooke Simmons. 

Read more.   

Startup Scene:
StartingBlock raises $3 million, hits donation goal

StartingBlock, the proposed entrepreneurial hub planned for Madison's Near East Side, has raised the $3M it needs to move forward. Envisioned by a group of entrepreneurs and community leaders in 2012, the final plan for StartingBlock will make it part of "The Spark," an eight-story building that will be built on the 800 block of East Washington Avenue. American Family is investing in the project by providing StartingBlock with 50,000 square-feet of space on the lower floors of the building, and the City of Madison has allocated $1.5M for the project. StartingBlock will provide office and co-working space, educational programs, and community events. Groundbreaking could be held by the year's end, and construction will take 13 months to complete. "When the public and private sectors work together, we can accomplish amazing things, and this effort on StartingBlock is an example," said Mayor Paul Soglin.
 
EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Waunakee Innovation Center Open House
September 19, 7:15-8:15am
Waunakee High School

The Waunakee Innovation Center is hosting an open house to update business and community partners on its construction progress. A brief tour of the Innovation Center will be offered along with a chance to network. View the event flyer.
Pokemon Go or No?
September 27, 11:30am-1:30pm
Sheraton Hotel Madison

The upcoming Wisconsin Innovation Network luncheon will focus on the pros and (occasional) cons of online games and learning. Presenters include Dan White, co-founder of Filament Games and founding member of Games + Learning + Society. Learn more.

Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce 64th Annual Dinner
September 28, 4:30-8:30pm
Monona Terrace, Madison

Madison's largest networking event with over 1,000 business professionals will feature Lands' End CEO Federica Marchionni and Trek Bicycle Corp President John Burke. Register online.
Turn out for Transportation
September 29, 7pm
Each of the state's 72 counties

City, county, town and village officials, plus members of the business community and the public, will have the opportunity for their voices to be heard regarding critical projects in each region and the need for the state to find a sustainable solution for transportation funding. Learn more.
Invitation to Apply or Nominate: Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium
Deadline: September 30

Apply to pitch your company to the most active investors in the Midwest at the annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium to be held November 16-17 at Madison's Monona Terrace. Find out more.
WEDA Fall Conference 2016
October 4-6
The Lismore Hotel, Eau Claire

Join the Wisconsin Economic Development Association for its fall conference, which includes a focus on Making Your Community a Destination for Business and Talent. View the agenda and register online.
THANKS TO OUR INVESTORS
Thank you to all our investors
who support our region's economic future through their generous financial contributions.
 
MADISON REGION ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
www.madisonregion.org   |  info@madisonregion.org  |  608.571.0420

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