Spring tech kickoff draws hundreds (Madison.com)

[The following are excerpts from the online article that appeared in Madison.com on March 28, 2014.]

Around 250 techies, entrepreneurs and their supporters partook of pizza and beverages, and shared news of their latest ventures Wednesday night at Madison’s Spring Tech Kickoff and Capital Entrepreneurs Open Social.  It was the largest event yet for Capital Entrepreneurs, founded in 2009 as a resource for budding business starters

While the new generation of tech entrepreneurs is commonly seen as recent college grads in their 20s, and while many of these startups in Madison have come from alums of electronic medical records giant Epic Systems Corp. in Verona, not all fit that mold.

One example is 32auctions, a website for conducting online silent auctions. 32auctions was created in April 2009 by Steve Klodd, 39, of Madison, and Curt Pederson, 44, of Sun Prairie, then info tech employees of American Family Insurance who became friends working on a project together.  In five years, the website has hosted more than 13,000 silent auctions worldwide, Klodd said, for a wide variety of causes, from fundraisers to help people with health emergencies to Fortune 500 companies trying to raise money for United Way.

Klodd and Pederson are still the only employees, available to answer clients’ questions, no matter where or when. “For us, it brings great satisfaction to know that the thing we’re doing every day is helping people,” Klodd said.

Read the full article at Madison.com at: http://host.madison.com/business/technology/biotech/tech-and-biotech-spring-tech-kickoff-draws-hundreds/article_2e91fb7b-e596-5992-a7c6-a48158de00b7.html

Blogger's Note: A great example of entrepreneurship from Sun Prairie.  Congratulations Curt and Steve on a great article and a great business idea!

ITS Compliance Receives $5.75 Million in Growth Equity Investment (ITS Compliance Press Release)

SUN PRAIRIE, WI - March 17, 2014 – ITS Compliance Inc., an outsourced provider of compliance, safety, and asset management services for truck fleets, today announced it received an aggregate investment of $5.75 million from Argentum and First Analysis, leading private equity growth investors. The investment will support ITS’s continued growth by enabling the company to broaden its services offerings, enhance its software platform, and expand its infrastructure.

 

ITS’s technology-enabled solutions, including fuel tax reporting, safety services, and asset management, help private fleets, for-hire carriers, and third-party logistics companies comply with federal, state, and local regulations, reduce costs, and mitigate risks. Since 1983, ITS has delivered compliance services to hundreds of fleets across numerous industries.

 

“We are very pleased to partner with Argentum and First Analysis and welcome their involvement with ITS, given their expertise, contacts, and investing experience in the logistics and transportation services space and with technology-enabled service companies,” said Jim Matras, ITS’s founder and CEO. “This transaction will enable us to strengthen our capabilities and invest in infrastructure, which will allow us to better serve our existing customers and pursue exciting new growth opportunities.”

 

Dixie Burbank, ITS’s Chief Operating Officer, added, “This capital will enable us to deliver new features  and modules to our clients and enable us to continue to increase the ROI our clients realize from using our services.”

 

Blogger's Note: Glad to have this growing company located in Downtown Sun Prairie!

Bank of Sun Prairie Hosts SCORE Team for Small Business Assistance Nov. 22nd (Press Release)

Bank of Sun Prairie, in partnership with the City of Sun Prairie, will host a free forum for current and future small business owners on November 22.

The seminar is designed to help small business owners understand how to get a business off the ground or grow their current small business.

A panel of volunteers from SCORE will answer questions on various topics including accounting, taxes, business plans, sales management, human resources and much more.
SCORE is a Madison nonprofit made up of more than 40 business professionals who volunteer to counsel others on how to kick start their business or how to expand their current small business.

The Madison area is among the best cities in America to launch a new business. In 2009, CNNMoney ranked Madison as #20 in the nation in its list of the best mid-size metro areas for small business startups.

When: Friday, November 22, 2013
Where: Sun Prairie Public Library
            1350 Linnerud Drive
            Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Time:   9 to 11 a.m.

Participants can RSVP to Paul Sukenik, Bank of Sun Prairie, at 608-837-4511 or paul.sukenik@bankofsunprairie.com to ensure sufficient space and refreshments are available.

Colony Brands Leases 427,000 SF of Warehouse Space in Sun Prairie (CoStar.com)

Colony Brands, one of the world’s largest catalog companies previously known as The Swiss Colony, signed a 10-year lease for all 427,000 square feet of warehouse/distribution space at 1615 Commerce Dr. in Sun Prairie, WI.  The lease commences in June 2014.

Blogger's Note: Congratulations to Colony Brands and STAG Industrial on this deal.  Sun Prairie has a long history with this industry and type of employer and welcomes this investment.  Getting one of the largest available spaces in the State of Wisconsin leased here is a great testimony to our local economy. Its also a reminder to the commercial and industrial real estate community that companies who rely on logistics need to consider Sun Prairie as a place for their business.

Cabela's Announces Sun Prairie Location (City of Sun Prairie Press Release)

Cabela’s has publicly announced their intention to build an 86,000 s.f. retail facility in the Prairie Lakes Development, located at the northeast corner of U.S. 151 and Grand Ave.  The store will open in Spring of 2015, and will employ approximately 200 employees.   Official plans have not been submitted, but the City anticipates this occurring in the next couple of months to ensure approvals in time to allow the store to break ground in the Spring of 2014.

Mayor John Murray released the following statement.  “We’re very excited that Cabela’s has announced a new store in Sun Prairie.   This national retailer makes Sun Prairie and Prairie Lakes even more of a destination for shoppers, but especially for sportsman and outdoor enthusiasts. We look forward to welcoming hunters, fisherman, and boaters from South Central Wisconsin as well as those who come to enjoy all that the outdoors in Wisconsin has to offer.”

Council President Mary Polenske also released a statement, saying “Our congratulations to both Cabela’s and Prairie Lakes on this announcement.  The City Council looks forward to this investment in our community, to continuing our partnership with the developer, and to working with Cabela’s to get their plans approved as fast as possible. ”

Neil Stechschulte, Director of Economic Development for the City of Sun Prairie stated “The fact that Cabela’s recognizes the quality of this site and wants to build a store in Sun Prairie sends a clear message to the national retail community that this one of the most desirable locations in the State of Wisconsin.  They will be a great user in a great development.  I want to acknowledge all the hard work that Prairie Lakes Development continues to put forward in attracting quality shopping opportunities to Sun Prairie, as well as the continued support of the Mayor and City Council for new projects in this area.”

From the Cabela’s Press Release:

Construction is scheduled to begin next year and Cabela’s anticipates a spring 2015 opening for the 86,000-square-foot store. It will be Cabela’s fourth store in Wisconsin, joining Prairie du Chien, Richfield and Green Bay. Also, the company operates a distribution center in Prairie du Chien.

The store will be located in the Prairie Lakes Shopping Center at Highway 151 and Grand Avenue. Prairie Development Ltd. is managing the development, which also includes Target, Costco and Woodman’s Market.

Cabela’s expects the store to employ approximately 200 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. Most will come from Sun Prairie and the surrounding area.

The building will be built in Cabela’s next-generation layout, designed to surround customers in an outdoor-like experience with museum-quality wildlife displays. In addition to thousands of quality outdoor products, the store will include a large mountain replica, a Gun Library, Bargain Cave, Indoor Archery Range, Deli and Fudge Shop.

“Wisconsin has proven to be a Cabela’s kind of place,” Millner said. “We have a history of success in our Prairie du Chien, Richfield and Green Bay locations and we couldn’t be more excited to bring a store to Sun Prairie.”

Currently, Cabela’s operates 48 stores across North America with plans to open an additional 19 over the next two years.

The full Cabela's press release is available at: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131024005436/en/Cabela%E2%80%99s%C2%AE-Announces-Plans-Stores

Questions can be directed to:

Neil Stechschulte

Director of Economic Development
City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin USA
Email: nstechschulte@cityofsunprairie.com
Phone: (608) 825-1107
Web: http://www.cityofsunprairie.com/economic-development

STAG Industrial, Inc. Signs New Lease For 427,000 Square Feet In Wisconsin (MarketWatch.com)

STAG Industrial, Inc., a company focused on the acquisition, ownership, and management of single-tenant industrial properties throughout the United States, announced it has signed a 427,000 square foot lease of a warehouse and distribution property located in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.  This building was previously occupied by Famous Footwear until 2011.  The new tenant has not been disclosed at this time, but has been described as a "major domestic catalog merchandising company" and the lease has a term of over ten years.

Blogger's Note: From our conversations with both brokers in this deal, I am confident that this user will be a great fit for the community.  We are looking forward having the one of the largest warehousing spaces in Wisconsin occupied again.   Its a great reminder to national companies and site selectors how great a location Sun Prairie is for distribution facilities.

Sun Prairie Walmart to hire 85 employees for new location (Channel3000.com)

The Walmart in Sun Prairie will be hiring approximately 85 employees to work at the new Walmart location that is expected to open this winter, according to a release.  Applications will be accepted at a kiosk inside the existing location at 1905 McCoy Road from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays, according to the release. Applications will also be accepted online.  The majority of new employees will begin work in December to help prepare the store for its grand re-opening.

Read the full article at: http://sunprairie.channel3000.com/news/business/217582-sun-prairie-walmart-hire-85-employees-new-location

Paul Jadin: Madison region well positioned to lead state’s economic recovery (madison.com)

Paul Jadin makes a good case as to how and why the Madison area will play a key role in the development of the State economy moving forward.

Read the full article at: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/column/guest/paul-jadin-madison-region-well-positioned-to-lead-state-s/article_faea5016-764c-5420-a408-b45354ee5859.html

Blogger's Note: High growth industries, supported by manufacturing, a competive workforce, and an opportunity in growing our exports.  Sounds like a very good case for making our mark on Wisconsin's economic future.

Sun Prairie Utilities Launches New Website (Sun Prairie Utilities)

 

Take a look at the new updated website for Sun Prairie Utilities at:

http://www.sunprairieutilities.com/index.cfm/home/

Blogger's Note: Some great new features with news and account access for utility customers. 

Hunden Strategic Partners Completes Hotel Demand & Feasibility Study (City of Sun Prairie)

Hunden Strategic Partners has completed their Hotel Demand and Feasibility Study for the City of Sun Prairie.   The study evaluates several sites for a potential hotel development, and recommends a strongly branded 120-room select-service hotel, including approximately 6,900 square feet of function space.

Click here to read the full press release, and to download the executive summary of the report.

Blogger's Note: A new hotel of this caliber would be a welcome addition to the City of Sun Prairie's Westside Neighborhood.

City of Sun Prairie Represented at In Business Extreme Networking Event (IBMadison.com)

(Photo from In Business Magazine)

 

More than 350 people attended In Business magazine's 12th annual Extreme Networking Event on Sept. 10 at the Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing. The annual reception honors the area's most influential business and community leaders.

Blogger's Note: It was a great event to get caught up with several Madison area business partners, but was also to great opportunity to recognize the men and women of our National Guard and the impact they have our community both in terms of protecting our security and being an active part of our local economy.  Thanks to In Business for the invitation.

Sun Prairie Companies Among Dane County's Largest Employers for 2013 (In Business Madison)





Just a quick note to acknowledge those Sun Prairie employers who made the Largest 100 Employers of Dane County list for 2013 and their contributions to our local and regional economy.  The following employers are headquartered in Sun Prairie, or maintain a primary location here:

 

#13 - QBE North America (www.qbena.com)

#55 - Frontier Communications (www.frontier.com)

#64 - Kobussen Trailways Buses (www.kobussen.com)

#98 - Royle Printing (www.royle.com)

 

The following companies have multiple locations throughout Dane County, inlcuding Sun Prairie:

 

#2 - UW Hospital & Clinics (www.uwhealth.org)

#3 - American Family Insurance (www.amfam.com)

#4 - Dean Health System (www.deancare.com)

#11 - St. Mary's Hospital (www.stmarysmadison.com)

#36 - Madison Kipp Corporation (www.madison-kipp.com)

#45 - UW Credit Union (www.uwcu.org)

#51 - Summit Credit Union (www.summitcreditunion.com)

#65 - Associated Bank (www.associatedbank.com)

 

Pick up a copy of the September 2013 issue of In Business Madison for the full listing, or check them out online at www.ibmadison.com.

 

Blogger's Note: Thanks to all these great employers for being a part of Sun Prairie!

 

Matrix Product Development to Pitch "Dash 7" Technology at 7th Annual Resource Rendezvous (Wisconsin Technology Council)

 

Matrix Product Development is one of seventeen companies from the Upper Midwest to have been selected to present science and technology-based products and research during the seventh annual “Resource Rendezvous.”

Matrix Product Development was selected by conference organizers to present during the “Quad Pitch” presentation segment.  This Sun Prairie company is developing technology, Dash 7, that allows battery-operated tags to talk directly to other battery-operated tags in a low-power fashion by using ad-hoc time synchronization. This would result in more efficient and secure operations for hazardous material tracking and sensor networks.

The conference helps companies learn how to increase their chances of receiving federal grants or research agreements with defense contractors. Produced by the Wisconsin Security Research Consortium and the Wisconsin Technology Council, the event will be held 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Union Ballroom on the UW-Milwaukee campus.

For more information on this event, go to: http://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/events/community/?ID=1608

For more information on Matrix Product Development, vist them online at: http://www.matrixpd.com/

Blogger's Note: Good luck to Ron Pulvermacher and the Matrix Product Development team on their pitch to the Resource Rendezvous conference this week!

CTI Paper USA Launches New Cast-Coated Printing Paper Line (MarketWatch.com)



CTI Paper USA today launched a new and comprehensive Kromekote(R) Collection of super-premium cast-coated printing papers to commercial printers and graphic designers in the U.S. and Canada.  Kromekote is long respected for its ability to deliver extraordinary print. The brand launch comes as many marketers today are expanding their investment in strategic, high-impact print.

"Kromekote is specified by printers and designers who require a highly differentiated, premium look and feel on their most important print projects," explains John Kelly, president of CTI Paper USA.  Kromekote is ideal for attention-grabbing print promotions, direct mail, brochures, book covers, business cards, presentation folders, invitations, greeting cards, retail packaging, labels and more.

CTI Paper USA, one of the largest suppliers of premium specialty printing papers in North America, modernized and refreshed the ultra-glossy printing papers line following its acquisition of the Kromekote brand earlier this year.

Privately held CTI Paper USA is headquartered in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and has regional sales offices in metro Los Angeles, Chicago and Providence, RI.  CTI Paper USA is one of North America's largest suppliers of specialty premium printing papers. Its diverse, innovative collection of branded papers and matching envelopes is specified by commercial printers, graphic designers and marketers. Products are available from authorized paper merchants in the U.S. and Canada and online at www.thepapermill.com.

Read the full article at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kromekoter-print-industry-legend-newly-modernized-and-now-available-across-north-america-2013-09-09

Blogger's Note: In case you run into anyone who says "Print is dead," they obviously don't work in the field of marketing. CTI Paper USA continues to innovate, and is a great example of Sun Prairie's printing cluster.

Photo of the Day: Starbucks Coffee Ribbon Cutting in Sun Prairie's Westside Neighborhood (City of Sun Prairie)

Sun Prairie Alderwoman Andrea Gage joined Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce President Sue Olson and Chamber Ambassador Mike Urben at the official ribbon cutting of the new Starbucks Coffee shop at the corner of Prairie Lakes Drive and Grand Avenue in Sun Prairie's Westside Neighborhood.

Blogger's Note: Westside Neighborhood employers in the region can rejoice, as their employees can now get their coffee faster with this new drive thru.  QBE employees, stop in and say hello!

Sun Prairie Utilities Conducting Survey on Potential Fiber to the Home Project

Sun Prairie Utilities is conducting a survey of its customers to help evaluate the need and demand for broadband services over a fiber optic network.  Sun Prairie residents and businesses are strongly encouraged to take a few minutes to complete this survey to help shape the direction that is set for this potential investment in our community.  Sun Prairie Utilities customers will be receiving a invitation to participate in their next three bills directing them to the online address of the survey.  Customers that have provided an email address to Sun Prairie Utilities will also receive an email with a link to the survey page.

To learn more, and to take the survey go to: http://www.sunprairiefiber.com/

Questions?  Please contact the Sun Prairie Utilities office at (608) 837-5500.

City Approves Expansion of TID #9 (City of Sun Prairie)

On August 20th, the City of Sun Prairie City Council approved a project plan amendment that included a boundary expansion for Tax Increment Finance District #9 in Sun Prairie's Westside Neighborhood.   On August 28th, the Joint Review Board also approved the amdended District.  This mixed-use district was estblished in 2007 to help with land acquisition and infrastructure costs associated with the establishment of the St. Mary's Emergency Center.  The City retains three lots for sale in the original TIF District, but has not been able to come to an agreement with any prospective buyers to date.   The amended proejct plan allows the City to potentially participate in the attraction of significant users to the new area through direct incentives and to cover costs of additional new infrastructure.  It also injects a new revenue stream into the District to allow for the payment of current debt owned on the improvements already done with the former District boundary. This is critical, as the District has been decreasing in value since its creation. 

City Director of Economic Development Neil Stechschulte said "We are confident that this expansion of TID #9 positions the City to attract some special and unique businesses to our Westside Neighborhood Area.  We look forward to working with the developer to get some major projects approved and in the ground as soon as we can."

The District still needs to be certified by the Wisconsin Department to Revenue.  Additional questions can be sent to Neil Stechschulte at (608) 825-1107 or nstechschulte@cityofsunprairie.com.

Paul Jadin Talks Regional Cooperation (Sun Prairie Star)

(Photo by Jake Kurtz)

Previously known as Thrive, the Madison Region Economic Partnership (or MadREP) today works to foster a strong economic climate for Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock and Sauk counties.

Read the full article at: http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/regional/article_be48ad3e-1563-11e3-a826-0019bb30f31a.html

Blogger's Note: There is a lot of work to be done, but under Paul's leadership there is a new focus on getting real projects done and a strong desire for real results in terms of new jobs and new investment. 

Thermal Spray Technologies Teams Up With UW to Improve Jet Engines (Sun Prairie Star)

Collaborating with researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison), Thermal Spray Technologies (TST) has played a key role in the development of innovative thermal spray coatings to improve heat protection and fuel efficiency in the next generation of jet turbine engines.

The team’s experimental results were published in the August issue of the Journal of Thermal Spray Technologies (JTST) in an article titled “Application of Plasma Spraying as a Precursor in the Synthesis of Oxidation Resistant Coatings.”

Turbine blades in aircraft engines are subjected to extremely high temperatures. Thermal spray coatings are used to combat these high temperatures and to protect the underlying turbine blade.

 

Read the full article: http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/business/article_6c5259f2-1564-11e3-b8fe-0019bb30f31a.html

 

Blogger's Note: TST and UW have a great history of working together, and are a great example of how much economic potential there is in commercializing research out of UW.  On Wisconsin!

SSM Health Care, Dean Health Systems Finalize Merger (Sun Prairie Star)

SSM Health Care, one of the nation’s largest Catholic health systems, and Dean Health Systems, a large multi-specialty physician group and health plan, have finalized a deal to merge Dean and its subsidiaries, including Dean Health Plan, into SSM Health Care. The merger became effective on Sept. 1 after all necessary regulatory approvals were received.

Read the full article at: http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/business/article_d9e119dc-14aa-11e3-986e-0019bb30f31a.html

Blogger's Note: Now that this merger is complete, the City hopes to re-engage SSM Heath Care about the future development of the planned health care campus around the St. Mary's Emergency Center in Sun Prairie.