Sun Prairie Announces 4th Annual Real Estate & Development Tour for Nov. 8th, 2012 (City of Sun Prairie)

Please join us for Sun Prairie's 4th Annual Real Estate & Development Tour on Thursday Nov. 8th from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.   We will depart City Hall (300 E. Main St.) for a 90 minute bus tour of local development opportunities throughout the City, including several brief stops at some high priority properties and projects.  This year we will feature:

• A building tour of New Perspective Senior Living’s new 150 unit project in Downtown Sun Prairie
• A sneak peek at the new Costco store on Sun Prairie’s Westside
• A building tour of the 400,000 s.f. former Famous Footwear building
• Several announcements regarding upcoming RFP’s and incentives for development sites in the City.

You are also invited to join us for a catered networking hour from 4:00-5:30 p.m. at the end of the tour.  Our own Buck & Honey’s, voted “Best Restaurant” in the Best of Sun Prairie awards, will be serving:

Appetizer Buffet

Stuffed Mushrooms
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Smoked Salmon
Tomato Basil Bruschetta
Hummus Plate with Vegetables & Pita Bread
Chicken Skewers with a Peanut Sauce
Steak Bite Sandwiches

Assorted Dessert Table

Fudge Brownies
Flavored Cheesecakes
Cannolis

Area Realtors, builders, bankers and developers are strongly encouraged to bring along any prospects or clients they think might be interested in opportunities in Sun Prairie. 

There is no charge to attend but seating is limited and we are anticipating a full bus, so please RSVP right away to Neil Stechschulte at the phone number or email identified below by no later than Nov. 6th.    Please contact me with any questions.

Neil Stechschulte

Economic & Community Development Director
City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin USA
(608) 825-0894
nstechschulte@cityofsunprairie.com
@stechschulte
www.cityofsunprairie.com

Don't Call it a Comeback...Sun Prairie Still Has a Lot Going On (City of Sun Prairie)

A lot has happened since the first of the year, and even though I haven't been on here in a while there has been a lot going on in Sun Prairie.  Here are some of the economic development news stories so far in 2012...
 
Aug. 25th - New owner serves classic fare, atmosphere at Prairie Diner (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Aug. 20th - Continental Mapping Provides Survey and Mapping Services for Remediation of EPA Superfund Site (Directions Magazine)
 
Aug. 20th - Longevity in Business: Jacobson Bros. Meats & Deli an 80-year family tradition (Madison.com)

Aug. 18th - New Coffee Shop OK'd (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Aug. 17th - Kobussen named Contractor of the Year by trade publication (Sun Prairie Star)

Aug. 17th - New business aims to get Sun Prairie dancing (Sun Prairie Star)

Aug. 16th - New Woodman's store opens ahead of schedule in Sun Prairie (Madison.com)

Aug. 21st - Chamber Thanks Corn Fest Volunteers (Sun Prairie Star)

Aug. 13th - USW Members at Veyance Technologies Ratify New Four-Year Contract (PR Newswire)
 
Aug. 10th - Fisher-Barton unit expanding in Sun Prairie (Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee)
 
Aug. 10th - City sets Heritage Week festivities (Sun Prairie Star)

Aug. 10th - Slice of Sun Prairie Preview (Video from WISC-TV)

Aug. 3rd - City lists Heritage Days activities, events to mark city's 175th (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Aug. 12th - City of Sun Prairie Announces Revamped Website (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jul. 31st - Pizza Ranch plans approved by council (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jul. 16th - New traffic signals operational July 20 (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jul. 16th - Advance Auto Parts opens on July 20 (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jul. 16th - Sun Prairie teacher attends C-SPAN conference (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jul. 3rd  - Tuesday market sprouts on Main (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 28th - Flags of Freedom competition turns 40 (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 27th - Chamber Hosts Business Park Networking Event, Revenue Secretary Chandler (Video from Chris Mertes: Segment 1 of 4, Segment 2 of 4, Segment 3 of 4 and Segment 4 of 4)

Jun. 21st - Governor proclaims June 19 as Sun Prairie Day (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 21st - Concrete work at night authorized at Costco site (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 20th - Two Sun Prairie companies receive Dane County Small Business awards (Sun Prairie Star)

Jun. 19th - City Council Approves Amendment to TIF 7 (City of Sun Prairie)

Jun. 19th - Sun Prairie Student Among State Wisconsin YES Youth Business Plan Finalists (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 15th - B's Jewelers, Divya Salon relocate and expand (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 14th - Downtown Block Party offers fun for the whole family (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 13th - Sun Prairie High School student attending Business World (Sun Prairie Star)

Jun. 11th - Council Approves Prairie Lakes Plan for New Commercial Buildings (Sun Prairie Star)

Jun. 10th - Panda Garden Named Top 100 by Chinese Restaurant News (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 9th - Local food hub gaining interest (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 8th - Dane County Dairy Breakfast Set for June 9th (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 7th - Sun Prairie Youth Earn Volunteer Scholarships from Summit Credit Union (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jun. 1st - Sun Prairie Business & Education Partnership Seeks Business Partners (Sun Prairie Star)
 
May 30th - Sun Prairie Frontier Employees Donate to Ronald McDonald House (Sun Prairie Star)
 
May 24th - Sun Prairie's 2012 Leadership Class Graduates (Sun Prairie Star)
 
May 22nd - City markets retail sites at ICSC Convention in Las Vegas (Sun Prairie Star)
 
May 19th - New business provides sport enjoyment for kids (Sun Prairie Star)
 
May 17th - City of Sun Prairie gets $42,000 grant for bike trail connection (Sun Prairie Star)

May 13th - Mayor Pledges to Support Regional Economic Development Initiative (Sun Prairie Star)
 
May 11th - AWEA's Jeff Anthony to speak at Wind Power Happy Hour May 21st (Sun Prairie Star)
 
May 8th - Staff attends Presentation from Briggs & Stratton CEO Todd Teske (City of Sun Prairie)
 
May 6th - Region needs to act now on economic growth (Madison.com)
 
May 5th - City Approves Wal-Mart Development Agreement (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Apr. 29th - Sun Prairie UPS Store nears 15th anniversary (Sun Prairie Star)

Apr. 27th - Last Famous Footwear Employees Are Let Go (City of Sun Prairie)
 
Apr. 26th - Time to live up to the Region's potential (Madison.com)
 
Apr. 25th - Goals for Regional growth outlined (Madison.com)
 
Apr. 21st - Council Approves Prairie Athletic Club Pool Expansion (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Apr. 19th - Sun Prairie Utilities Hosts Chamber Luncheon (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Apr. 19th - Record Number of Sun Prairie DECA Students Compete at International Event (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Apr. 17th - Members of the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants read to Sun Prairie students (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Apr. 13th - All new Sir Hobo's Restaurant open for business (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Apr. 12th - Delta Airlines Expands Service at Dane County Regional Airport (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Apr. 12th - Staff attends "Economic Development & Public Power" Seminar at WPPI Energy (City of Sun Prairie)
 
Apr. 9th - Sun Prairie's Deka Systems certified for WEDC Qualified New Business Venture Tax Credit (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Apr. 7th - Council Approves Costco Development Pact (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Apr. 6th - Prairie Flowers & Gifts Moves to New Downtown Location (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Apr. 4th - Department of Workforce Development Hold Job Fair for Famous Footwear employees (City of Sun Prairie)

Apr. 1st - Ben's Auto celebrates 60 years in business (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Mar. 30th - Denver flight added by United at Dane County Regional Airport (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Mar. 29th - Sun Prairie Culinary Students Place 3rd in ProStart Competition (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Mar. 29th - Wind Power Happy Hour Returns Apr. 4th (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Mar. 29th - Staff Presents at ICSC Wisconsin Idea Exchange (City of Sun Prairie)
 
Mar. 26th - Frontier Airlines Expands Madison to D.C. Service at Dane County Regional Airport (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Mar. 24th - Xplosion softball tournament may be coming to Sun Prairie (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Mar. 21st - City Staff Meets With Wisconsin Wind Works Alliance Advisory Team (City of Sun Prairie)
 
Mar. 1st - District outlines work readiness programs at chamber luncheon (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Feb. 27th - Harms Insurance Group grows into new space at Liberty Square (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Feb. 23rd - New Perspective Groundbreaking Ceremony (City of Sun Prairie)
 
Feb. 16th - Downtown Business Improvement District Hold Annual Meeting (Video by Chris Mertes: Presentation Video 1 of 3, Presentation Video 2 of 3, and Presentation Video 3 of 3)
 
Feb. 3rd - Wisconsin State Superintendent Tony Evers to Visit Sun Prairie High School (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Feb. 2nd - Groundhog Day Prognostication Coverage (Sun Prairie Star) and  Video from Chris Mertes
 
Jan. 26th - Planning for the City's 175th Anniversary Gets Underway (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jan. 24th - City Issues RFP for St. Mary's/TIF 9 Outlots (City of Sun Prairie)
 
Jan. 18th - Sun Prairie office space a prize in State Business Plan Contest (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jan. 18th - QBE gives $75,000 to United Way of Dane County (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jan. 15th - Local business donates to 23 food pantries across Wisconsin (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jan. 14th - THRIVE Study Identifies Key Regional Growth Sectors (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jan. 12th - Sun Prairie DECA Clubs Host District Competition (Sun Prairie Star) and the 2012 Chapter Recruitment Video
 
Jan. 12th - New space helps Kicks Unlimited expand programs (Sun Prairie Star)
 
Jan. 1st - City Departments Reorganize Into Economic & Community Development (City of Sun Prairie)

*************
Blogger's Note:  I'm sure I missed some things, so I will be adding and editing for a while I'm sure.  Let me know if I missed anything.  In any case, its been a pretty busy year and good things are happening.   I'll try to keep up with posts a bit better for the rest of 2012.

Sun Prairie's Inform Product Development on 2012 Inc. 5000 Fastes Growing Companies (Madison.com)

InForm Product Development, located in Sun Prairie's Business Park, is one of 12 south-central Wisconsin companies are on the 2012 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing U.S. companies.  The rankings are based on percent revenue growth from 2008 through 2011.

The following statement was posted on InForm's website:

"It is a great honor to be one of America’s fastest growing privately held companies and a testament to all of the hard work, dedication and thirst for innovation that our employees bring on a daily basis. We would also like to thank all of our loyal clients who continue to utilize InForm as an extension of their team, and we look forward to growing and expanding those relationships in the years to come. For those who have not had the opportunity to experience what our design and engineering teams can bring to your product development program, please get in contact with us as we would love to show you what has lead us to become one of America’s fastest growing companies." 

Read the article here: http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/list-of-fastest-growing-firms-includes-from-south-central-wisconsin/article_77a4f468-ee2d-11e1-b3f3-0019bb2963f4.html

See more detail on InForm's ranking on Inc.'s website here: http://www.inc.com/inc5000/profile/inform-product-development

Visit Inform at their website at: http://www.in-form.com/

Project 365: Back in the Saddle (City of Sun Prairie Economic and Community Development Department)

After a month off of the ol' laptop, its time to get caught up and get rolling again.  I probably won't get posts up every single day, but we'll be shooting for at least weekly.  Here is a recap of notable City and business news from January.

• As of January 1, several City departments were reorganized into the Economic and Community Development Department.  This new department includes the former Economic Development Department, the Recreation portion of the former Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, the Sun Prairie Media Center, and the Sun Prairie Historical Museum.  This new Department also now provides staffing assistance to the Sun Prairie Business Improvement District (BID), the Sun Prairie Transit Commission, and the Ad Hoc Committee on Sun Prairie's 175th Anniversary.  The primary area of focus right now is hiring a new Recreation & Aquatics Manager, who should be on board by the end of February. (City of Sun Prairie)
• The City of Sun Prairie issued a request for proposals for the acquisition and development of the three City-owned parcels adjacent to the St. Mary's Emergency Center.  Proposals are due on February 14th.  For more information, contact Neil Stechschulte at nstechschulte[at]cityofsunprairie.com or (608) 825-0894. (City of Sun Prairie)
• Sun Prairie Utilities Donates to Sun Prairie Food Pantry (The Star) - 1/6/12
• Wal-Mart Requests Delay for New Store (The Star) - 1/8/12 (Blogger's Note: This was requested  by Wal-Mart to allow them to complete some engineering analysis.)
• Wisconsin Cheese Origninals Offers Cheesemaking Scholarship (The Star) - 1/8/12
• St. Albert's Hosts Winter Farmers Market (The Star) 1/6/12
• DATCPs Jeff Swenson Presents on Wisconsin Pork Production (The Star) - 1/9/12
• Two SPHS Students Featured in WPT's Jazz at Birch Creek (The Star) - 1/9/12
• Harms Insurance Group's Kathy Schmitz Wins GHC's Better Together Award (The Star) - 1/9/12
• New Space Helps Kicks Unlimited Expand Programs (The Star) - 1/12/12
• Copps Stores Among Kettle Leaders (The Star) - 1/12/12
• School Task Force to Study Demand for New Elementary School (The Star) - 1/12/12
• Sun Prairie Student Marketing Association to Host District Competition (The Star) - 1/12/12
• THRIVE Study Identifies Key Growth Sectors (The Star) - 1/14/12
• Hallman Lindsay Paints Donates to Local Food Pantries (The Star) - 1/15/12
• Business & Education Partnership Seeks Volunteers for Career Night (The Star) - 1/16/12
• Best of Sun Prairie 2012: Event Photos (The Star) - 1/16/12
• Grocery Business Awakens in Area (Madison.com) - 1/16/12
• QBE Gives $75,000 to United Way (The Star) - 1/18/12 (Blogger's Note: WOW!)
• Bret LaBuwi of Sun Prairie's First Choice Insurance Solutions Gets GHC's Producer of the Year Award (The Star) - 1/18/12
• 20 Area Students Named Outstanding Young People by Urban League of Greater Madison (The Star) - 1/19/12
• Sun Prairie Chapter of Business Network International Sponsors Book Drive (The Star) - 1/18/12
• State Farm Celebrates Move With Open House (The Star) - 1/19/12
• SPHS Student Place High in DECA Competition (The Star) - 1/18/12
• Sun Prairie Office Space Available to Business Plan Contest Winners (The Star) - 1/18/12
• Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Speaks at Annual Chamber Meeting (The Star) - 1/19/12
• Landmark Services Cooperative Awards $13,000 in Local Scholarships (The Star) - 1/19/12
• Sun Prairie Students and Parents Prepare for Planning Terrace Town (The Star VIDEO) - 1/26/12
• City 175th Anniversary Planning Begins (The Star) - 1/26/12
• Economists Predict Moderate Growth for 2012 (The Star) - 1/27/12
• Service a Success for Moy, Borchert, Erbs & Associates (The Star) - 1/28/12
• Frontier to Host Social Media Webinar Feb. 8th (The Star) - 1/27/12
• Chamber Hosts Health Care Seminar Feb. 9th (The Star) - 1/30/12
• Van Engel Joins Burkart-Heisdorf (The Star) - 1/29/12
• Best of Sun Prairie Winners (The Star) - 1/30/12

Blogger's Note: Watch for a February recap later this week.

Project 365: Final Stats (City of Sun Prairie Office of Econoimc Development)

City of Sun Prairie Economic Development Director and his Editor-in-Chief celebrate the 365th consecutive day posting business and economic development news that impacted Sun Prairie. (Photo by Laura Stechschulte)  

Project 365: Final Stats (January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011)

10,250 Unique Visitors
15,927 Visits
25,560 Pageviews
104 Highest Daily Visits
63.8% New Visitors
36.2% Returning Visitors
1 minute, 17 seconds - Average Time on the Site

Cities of Origin of Visits - Top Ten: Madison, Sun Prairie, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York, Cottage Grove, Eden Prairie, St. Louis, Rochester, Minneapolis

Country of Origin of Visits - Top Ten: United States, India, Canada, United Kingdom, Philippines, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Australia and France.

Topics of Interest - Top Ten:
Thermo Fisher Acquires TREK Diagnostic
Wisconsin Cheeseman Closing
Sun Prairie's Project 365 Overview
Monopoly Board for Sun Prairie
Marcus Theatres Update
Frontier Communications Expands
Downtown Sun Prairie's Ladies Night Out
Sun Prairie's Blues Fest
Woodman's Project Update
Roundy's Foundation Raises Funds for Food Pantry

Keywords/Phrases for Search Based Traffic - Top Ten:
Sun Prairie ED News
Sun Prairie Economic Development
Marcus Theatres Sun Prairie
Thermo Fisher
Wisconsin Cheeseman Auction
Sun Prairie 365
Woodman's Sun Prairie
Costco Sun Prairie
Sun Prairie Blues Fest 2011
Blank Monopoly Board

Source of Visits:
47.8% is Search Traffic
25.5 is Referral Traffic
20.6% is Direct Traffic
6.1% is from Campaigns

Blogger's Note: Thanks to everyone to visited, contributed, followed or submitted news for Project 365.  Yes...I plan on continuing to post stories in 2012, but it won't be every single day.  Looking forward to more positive stories to post in the coming year.