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!

Downtown Sun Prairie Artful Wine Walk Set for May 16th (Sun Prairie Business Improvement District)

Blogger's Note:  I swear it will be warmer weather on May 16th, so plan on stopping Downtown and have some fun.

New senior living facility Lighthouse to welcome 1st residents (Wisconsin State Journal)

(Photo by Dennis Punzel, Wisconsin State Journal) 

The Lighthouse of Sun Prairie facility — the sixth in Wisconsin for New Perspective Senior Living — is the largest yet, with 144 units and 152 beds to accommodate seniors looking for a range of living arrangements from independent living to assisted living to memory care.

Click  here to read the full article in the Wisconsin State Journal: http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/new-senior-living-facility-lighthouse-to-welcome-st-residents/article_4da1f2b2-98c1-11e2-86b5-001a4bcf887a.html

For more information on the Lighthouse of Sun Prairie, visit them online at: http://npseniorliving.com/sunprairie.php

Blogger's Note: The City is very excited to have New Perspective be open for business.  Special thanks to New Perspective for their investment, as well as their partnership in getting this project to happen.  They are a welcome addition to Downtown Sun Prairie.

Sun Prairie BID Board Schedules March 7 Annual Meeting (Sun Prairie Star)



The Sun Prairie Business Improvement District (BID) annual meeting will take place this year on March 7 beginning at 6 p.m. at The Lighthouse senior living center in downtown Sun Prairie.

Source: http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/business/article_952b3ee6-7aa2-11e2-8fb5-0019bb30f31a.html

Blogger's Note: A great chance for Downtown businesses and property owners to network.

Bank of Sun Prairie Celebrates Milestone Employee Anniversaries (Sun Prairie Star)

 

Sebranek celebrates 30 years at Bank of Sun Prairie (Sun Prairie Star)
http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/business/article_de2a1d28-80fc-11e2-a5ec-0019bb30f31a.html

Sukenik celebrates 10 years at Bank of Sun Prairie (Sun Prairie Star)
http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/business/article_7862f3b8-7605-11e2-98b5-0019bb30f31a.html

Blogger's Note:  Congratulations to both of these guys.  It's a pleasure to work with both of them in my job as Economic Devleopment Director.

New Perspective Senior Living Releases Updated Project Fact Sheet (New Perspective Senior Living)

Fact Sheet - Lighthouse of Sun Prairie

What: Lighthouse of Sun Prairie is senior living community being developed by New Perspective Senior Living. When completed in the Winter of 2013, it will offer 152 independent, assisted and memory care apartments. Construction has begun and a groundbreaking ceremony will be held in late January or early February.

The 152 units include studio, one- and two-bedroom units within 60 independent living units, 48 assisted living units and 44 memory care units.

Location --222 S Bristol Street Sun Prairie, WI 53590: The 185,000-square-foot community will be located on five acres at the intersections of Linnerud Drive and South Bristol St., downtown Sun Prairie.

Amenities: The Lighthouse of Sun Prairie’s amenities include a restaurant style dining room, salon, library, computer room, fitness area, rehabilitation pool, bar, bistro, community rooms, private family dining spaces and a number of outdoor patio spaces.

Employment: Initially, it is expected to employ about 40 persons and ultimately approximately 80 persons when fully leased. In addition, the construction project will include 75 full time construction workers for the duration of the project.

About: New Perspective Senior Living

New Perspective Senior Living and its affiliates operate and develop senior living communities throughout the Midwest.  The company was founded in 1998 on the belief that all seniors deserve attentive, personalized, respectful care that enables them to live with purpose and age with dignity.  Its mission is “To put the residents first in everything we do.”  New Perspective is based in Edina, MN, and has five sites in Minnesota: Barnum, Cloquet, Columbia Heights, Mahtomedi and Waconia; five in Wisconsin: Brookfield, Brown Deer, Mequon, Superior and West Bend; Pella, Iowa, and Silvis, Illinois. For more information on New Perspective Senior Living call, 952-746-3630 or visit www.NPSeniorLiving.com.

Blogger's Note: Earth is being moved on the site (see photo above)!  The unseasonably warm weather has allowed for a late season start to project this year.  In addition, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation awarded the City $350,000 to help offset environmental remediation costs for redeveloping this site.   Watch for the official groundbreaking sometime after the New Year.

Sun Prairie Receives $350,000 Brownfield Grant for Senior Living Project (Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation)

PRESS RELEASE - Governor Scott Walker today announced the City of Sun Prairie will receive a $350,000 Brownfield Grant award from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to assist with preparing a five-acre site for the construction of the New Perspective Senior Living complex. The senior living complex is projected to create up to 11 full-time equivalent positions within the first year of operation and will feature 144 units.

The award will reimburse the city for remediation of soil and groundwater contamination from two previously removed underground storage tanks

“The completion of this important redevelopment will advance the revitalization of an area highlighted in the City’s Downtown Master Plan and should attract significant investment in the community,” said Governor Scott Walker.

“The City of Sun Prairie is grateful to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for their support of the redevelopment of one of our key remaining downtown sites in Sun Prairie.  We are also thankful for the both the investment and the jobs that New Perspective Senior Living will bring to our community, and look forward to this development being a positive impact on our downtown,” said Sun Prairie Mayor John Murray.

Media Contacts:

Tom Thieding, WEDC Communications Manager
608-267-9661 Tom.Thieding@wedc.org

Shauna Breneman, WEDC Communications Specialist
608-267-5187 Shauna.Breneman@wedc.org

Neil Stechschulte, Economic Development Director
City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
6-8-825-0894 nstechschulte@cityofsunprairie.com

Source: http://wedc.org/sun-prairie-brownfield

Blogger's Note: If you haven't been by the site on South Bristol St., they started their site preparation this past week.  Thanks to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for their support of this project.  We're excited to have New Perspective Senior Living building on this site near our downtown.  There will actually be 70 health care jobs created with this facility, bringing with it good benefits and a substantial payroll.  It will provide a full continuum of care from independent living to 24/7 memory care.  The project should be open in late 2012.

Our View: Shop Locally (Sun Prairie Star)

Some participants in the Business Improvement District's Ladies Night Out going out of their way to shop locally at Prairie Flowers & Gifts in Sun Prairie. (Photo by Neil Stechschulte)

Our View: Shop Locally

Link to Full Editorial: http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=9034

Blogger's Note: Shoppers who go out of their way to balance their spending with targeted purchases locally help keep our local economy moving in the right direction.  Sounds like all the shoppers from the Downtown Business Improvement District's annual Ladies Night Out did their part last night!

Remember to Shop Small, Shop Local This Holiday Season (City of Sun Prairie Office of Economic Development)

While there will be a lot of folks braving the national retail chains for Black Friday and even more burning up bandwidth while they shop online, don't forget to shop at your local, small retailers too.  Here are a few great resources on the advantages and reasons to shop close to home:

Small Business Saturday - November 26th

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday

Website:  http://www.smallbusinesssaturday.com/

Dane County Buy Local

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/danebuylocal

Website: http://www.danebuylocal.com/

The 3/50 Project

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/The350Project

Website: http://www.the350project.net/home.html

Downtown Sun Prairie

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/180231094567/

Website: http://www.downtownsunprairie.com/

Downtown Sun Prairie Hosts Ladies Night Out December 1st (Sun Prairie Business Improvement District)

Ladies, get ready for Downtown Sun Prairie's Ladies Night Out!  With over 25 downtown businesses participating, you'll be sure to have a great time.  Gather your best girl friends on Thursday evening, December 1st, starting at 5 pm and hit the town shopping, eating, drinking, and more!

Downtown businesses want to pamper you while they show you what they're all about....and it's all free!  Each business will offer goodies for the evening including food, beverages and lots of giveaways, coupons and prizes for the drawing.  There will be a drawing the next day.  A checklist of businesses will be provided and ladies must visit at least 10 businesses and have a punch card validated.  Preregistration is not necessary.  Start at Prairie Flowers & Gifts or at Beans 'n Cream Coffeehouse to receive your goodie bag.

Watch for additional information in the coming weeks on Downtown Sun Prairie's Facebook Page.

Click here for more information on Downtown Sun Prairie and the Business Improvement District.

Last Sun Prairie Farmers' Market of the Season Sat. Oct. 29th (TheDailyPage.com)

Madison eats agenda: Science of wine, Doc du Jour, trick-or-treat

The Sun Prairie Farmers' Market, in its 25th year of operation, concludes for the 2011 growing season in the Sun Prairie municipal building parking lot. 300 Main St., 7 a.m.-noon. Call 837-5213 for more info.

Link to Full Article: http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=35018 

Blogger's Note: Always nice to get a little recognition from the Isthmus.

The Sun Prairie Business Improvement District Invites You Downtown Sun Prairie for the Fall Festival Sat. Oct. 22nd (Sun Prairie Business Improvement District)

Saturday Oct. 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. is the annual Fall Festival and it's going to be a fun-filled day in Downtown Sun Prairie. This is a family event with something for everyone to participate in. Look at all the fun Downtown has planned for you:

• Pumpkin Crafts and Games at the Cross House (ends at 2:00 pm)
• Make a Dog Toy at CH Pet Gifts
• Make a Halloween Card or Bookmark and get a treat at the Historical Library and Museum
• Try Your Luck at the Fish Pond game at Forever Your's Jewelry
• Guess The Number of buttons in a bowl and win a prize at J.J. Stitches
• It's Bloody Mary Time at Eddie's Alehouse. $3.75 for a Bloody Mary and free chips and salsa.
• Chili Cookoff. Sample chili and help name a champ at Cannery Wine and Spirits.
• Create a Halloween Necklace or color a spooky stand-up monster at Beans n' Cream
• Win a Prize at the Pumpkin Toss Game at Snap! Fitness
• Sample Carl's Cakes all day inside the Market Street Diner
• Free Cookie and Food Specials at Glass Nickel Pizza
• $1 Bud Light Tabs, $1 Blackberry Shots at Skis Saloon
• Guess the Amount of Candy Corn in a jar and win a gift certificate. Bloody Mary Buffet for the adults and Hot Chocolate for the kids at Cannery Grill.
• Purchase any Pizza and have your kids top your pizza at Day One Pizza
• Guess the Weight of the Giant Pumpkin and win a prize at Prairie Flowers and Gifts
• It's a Zoo! Stop in for your balloon animal at Fusion Dance Academy
• Free Horse Drawn Wagon Rides around Downtown
• Special Fall treats made by the Dane County Ponies & Paws 4-H Club at the Cannery Square Plaza
• Delicious pulled pork, Irish stew and other freshly cooked goodies from the Market Street Diner at the Cannery Square Plaza
• Decorate a delicious cupcake for a sweet treat and support the Bristol Blazers 4-H Club at the Cannery Square Plaza
• Order Special Avon Holiday Gift Baskets at the Cannery Square Plaza
• 5th Annual Downtown Sun Prairie Pie Baking Contest at the Market Street Diner
• Frontier Communications will have a computer set up to send e-mails to loved ones overseas
• Be sure to take a look at all the scarecrows along Main Street as you walk the street!

Blogger's Note: Imagine my disappointment when I learned the Pie Baking Contest was a tasting event, and not a pie eating contest. 

Continental Mapping Gets U.S. Air Force Contract (Sun Prairie Star)

Continental Mapping Gets U.S. Air Force Contract

Link to Full Contract: http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=52&ArticleID=8672

Blogger's Note: Another great business story for Wisconsin's growing economic relationship with the armed forces.

US Gran Prix of Cyclocross Kicks Off at Planet Bike Cup (CyclingNews.com)

U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross Kicks Off at Planet Bike Cup

Link to Full Article: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/us-gran-prix-of-cyclo-cross-kicks-off-at-planet-bike-cup-2 

Blogger's Note: Come on out and see some of the cycling world's best riders this weekend at Angell Park in Downtown Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.  After all, you can't watch the Badgers and Packers ALL weekend...

2nd Annual Prairie Music Festival Scheduled for September 24th (Channel3000.com)

2nd Annual Prairie Music Festival Scheduled in September

Link to Full Article: http://sunprairie.channel3000.com/photo-gallery/arts-culture/58172-2nd-annual-prairie-music-festival-scheduled-september

Click here for more information on the Prairie Music Festival.

Click here for more information on Prairie Music Academy.

Blogger's Note: The 2nd Annual Prairie Music Festival is a community concert series to raise money for music scholarship programs with Prairie Music Academy.

Downtown Sun Prairie Art Fest - Sat. Sept. 10th (Sun Prairie Tourism Commission)

The Downtown Sun Prairie Art Fest is Saturday Sept. 10th from 10:00 am - 4:00 p.m. on the 100 & 200 Blocks on E. Main Street. Over 30 artists will set up on Main Street to sell their creations in the shadows of Downtown Sun Prairie's historic buildings. In addition to the fine art presented for purchase there will be a variety of entertainment throughout the day, food and beverages offered by local restaurants and a special area where kids can create their own art! The Sun Prairie Historical Library and Museum will feature a special exhibit during the Art Fest.

Sun Prairie Blues Fest - Saturday Sept. 10th at Angell Park, Sun Prairie, WI (Sun Prairie Lions Club)

Sun Prairie Blues Fest - Saturday Sept. 10th 

Angell Park, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

The Sun Prairie Blues Fest Announces the 2011 Lineup - The Playground of Sound, Alex Wilson, Jim Schwall, Barrel House Chuck and Steve Freund, The Jimmys, Ken Saydak and blues legend W.C. Clark.

Sun Prairie Blues Fest tickets are now on sale at the Blues Fest web site, www.spbluesfest.com. Save $5 by purchasing your tickets in advance. We have a covered venue so no need to worry about rain, we'll hold the event rain or shine!

402 East Main Development Set for Plan Commission Review on September 13 (Sun Prairie Star)

402 East Main Development Set for Plan Commission Review on September 13

Link to Full Article: http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=52&ArticleID=8324

Blogger's Note: This would be a great project for Downtown.

Overview of Current Development Projects (City of Sun Prairie Office of Economic Development)

Despite the roller coaster ride our State and national economy have been on, here in Sun Prairie we have a considerable amount of new economic activity going on. The following projects are underway or are being planned in Sun Prairie:

- New Perspective Senior Housing: 150 Units on S. Bristol St. recommended for approval by Plan Commission; scheduled to break ground in Fall 2011 and be open in 2012.

- McDonald's (East): Currently under construction; scheduled to open in Fall 2011.

- 402 E. Main St. Redevelopment: 25 residential units and 2 commercial spaces being considered. Scheduled for initial submittal in Aug. 2011, with groundbreaking later in Fall 2011 and opening in Spring 2012 (assuming Council approval).

- Main Street Shopping Center: Under new ownership; undertaking roof repairs, mudjacking of sidewalks, and proposing a upgrade to the building facade yet in 2011.

- Westside Neighborhood Area: Construction of Woodman's 224,000 s.f. store is underway. This site will also have seven developable outlots immediately north of the store. They will be open in Fall of 2012. In addition, there are at least two potential major projects being considered that will hopefully be announced yet in 2011.

- Iron Gate Apartments: The first of two 60-unit apartment buildings is under construction near Copp's West. This project is anticipated to be completed and open by Fall 2011.

- Sun Prairie Business Park: 2-3 prospects are evaluating potential acquisition of lots for possible construction of new facilities in 2012.

Blogger's Note: 2011 and 2012 could end up being good years for us if all these projects stay on track. Sun Prairie is apparently still a good investment.

ReefWerks Helps Locals Explore Their Passion for Fish (Sun Prairie Star)

Jonathan Hirsch, owner of ReefWerks, shows off a photo of a 125-gallon
coral and fish tank he designed for a customer. (Photo by Tim Neuenschwander).

ReefWerks Helps Locals Explore Their Passion for Fish

Link to Full Article: http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=52&ArticleID=8125

Click here for more information on ReefWerks.

Blogger's Note: A great addition to Downtown, and another startup. Welcome to Sun Prairie.