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!

 

QBE Foundation Awards Grants to 14 Charities (JSOnline.com)

The QBE Foundation has awarded nearly $60,000 in grants to programs provided by 14 charitable organizations across the country.

Read the full article at: http://www.jsonline.com/business/pressrelease/national-press-releases/qbe-foundation-awards-grants-to-14-charities-202518591.html

Blogger's Note: Thanks to the QBE Foundation for their continuing support of our community.

Statz Farm to Host Farm Technology Days in 2015 (Various Sources)

Statz Brothers Farms selected as 2015 Dane County Farm Technology Days host (Wisconsin Farm Technology Days Press Release)
http://www.wifarmtechnologydays.com/pdf/Dane%20County%20FTD%20Hosts%20Release%20(1).pdf

2015 Farm Technology Days Announcement Video (1 of 2)
http://www.hngnews.com/multimedia/videos/youtube_a57bd5f4-74a2-11e2-8425-0019bb30f31a.html

2015 Farm Technology Days Announcement Video (2 of 2)
http://www.hngnews.com/multimedia/videos/news/youtube_ea19484a-74a2-11e2-a0eb-0019bb30f31a.html

Town of Sun Prairie farm to host 2015 Farm Technology Days (Madison.com)
http://host.madison.com/business/town-of-sun-prairie-farm-to-host-farm-technology-days/article_e875c1a6-747c-11e2-a6df-001a4bcf887a.html

Farm Technology Days 2015: Statz Brothers Farms selected as 2015 Dane County Farm Technology Days host (UW Extension - Cooperative Extension Dane County)
http://dane.uwex.edu/ag/farm-technology-days-2015/

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days: Media Information
http://www.wifarmtechnologydays.com/media_info.php

Blogger's Note: The City of Sun Prairie is looking forward to helping welcome this great event celebrating agriculture in Wisconsin to our community. Special thanks to the Statz Farm for being the host in 2015.

Sun Prairie's Jerry Bradley Re-Elected to Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors (WisBusiness.com)

Bill Bruins Re-elected President of Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

[Excerpt from Press Release] Jerry Bradley, a corn and soybean grower from Sun Prairie in Dane County was reelected to a three-year term representing District 2 (Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Rock and Sauk counties).

Link to Full Article: http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=255021

Blogger's Note: Special thanks to Jerry Bradley for his continued leadership for farmers in our region, as well as all of Wisconsin.

Results of First Business' Economic Survey of Dane County for 2011 Released (First Business)

Results of First Business' Economic Survey of Dane County for 2011 Released

Link to Downloadable Survey Results From First Business: http://www.firstbusiness.com/data/temp/DANE_Report_ver6.docx

Blogger's Note:  My take on this is that there are both opportunities and issues in our current local economy.  There will be media outlets that will present this as the glass is half-empty. I strongly suggest you read the actual survey results, and then decide for yourself what the outlook for 2012 is. Personally, I remain very optimistic about potential facility expansion and employment growth for several local Sun Prairie companies.

UPDATE: See what I mean about media outlets...

Survey finds local business optimism; Economy still not reaching pre-recession numbers (Sun Prairie Star)

Link to Full Article: http://www.sunprairiestaronline.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=50&ArticleID=9127&TM=58001.07

Survey: County business execs not optimistic about 2012 (Madison.com)

Link to Full Article: http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/survey-county-business-execs-not-optimistic-about/article_c53612f6-2066-11e1-843d-0019bb2963f4.html

Blogger's Note #2: Yes...both of these articles refer to the same survey and the same data.  Be mindful of the source whenever you're reading data like this.

Biz Beat: Income Matters in Livability Index (Madison.com)

Biz Beat: Income Matters in Livability Index

Link to Full Article: http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/biz-beat-income-matters-in-livability-index-whitefish-bay-no/article_6941a3d6-2122-11e1-b6a7-001871e3ce6c.html

Link to Full Report: http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/scott-thomas/2011/12/chicago-suburbs-sweep-midwestern.html

Blogger's Note: Interesting to see how the Dane County communities compare.  Sun Prairie fares well against Madison, but depending on the category, we still seems to be lagging other communities.  These figures appear to confirm that we would be well served by trying to develop more higher wage earning jobs here in Sun Prairie, as well as some higher end housing.  Of course, figuring out the best way to do that is the trick.

Dane County Executive Parisi: Creates new “Dane County Commission on Jobs and Prosperity” (WisBusiness.com)

Dane County Executive Parisi: Creates new “Dane County Commission on Jobs and Prosperity”

Link to Full Press Release: http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=254734

Blogger's Note: The idea is a good one.  I hope this ends up being an action-based, results-oriented effort.

Madison's [and Sun Prairie's] Economic Future Lies Along I-94, to Waukesha and Milwaukee (TheDailyPage.com)

Madison's Economic Future Lies Along I-94, to Waukesha and Milwaukee

Link to Full Article: http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=35100

Blogger's Note: I think that Sun Prairie needs to play a major role in expanding on this concept.  Sometimes even we forget that I-94 is less than 3 miles south on CTH N.  The east side of Madison and Dane County is where the most promise lies for future development in Dane County.  We can be a driving force to help make this a reality.

Local Small Businesses Hope You'll Skip Black Friday for Small Business Saturday (Madison.com)

Local Small Businesses Hope You'll Skip Black Friday for Small Business Saturday

Link to Full Article: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/local-small-businesses-hope-you-ll-skip-black-friday-for/article_de119310-1614-11e1-a3ae-001cc4c002e0.html

Blogger's Note: According to Dane County, 86% of businesses employ 10 or fewer people, so buying local is serious business.  Serious enough that Dane County is working on a preferred purchasing ordinance amendment to help local businesses compete for contracts.

Market Street Diner Partners With Home Health United for Local Meals on Wheels (Sun Prairie Star)

Market Street Diner Partners With Home Health United for Local Meals on Wheels

Link to Full Article: http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=50&ArticleID=8681&TM=79712.91

Blogger's Note: This will be good for Market Street Diner, Home Health United, and program participants.  Looking forward to seeing this partnership be successful!

Dane County Releases Report on Path to Regional Local Foods Hub (WisBusiness.com)

Dane County Releases Report on Path to Regional Local Foods Hub

Link to Full Press Release: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=249885 

Blogger's Note: This project could benefit the entire Madison region, and could be a great way to add value to the agricultural and food economy.  Maybe a good reuse of the Wisconsin Cheeseman building?

Industrial Property in Sun Prairie is One of the Madison Area's Best Values (City of Sun Prairie Office of Economic Development)

A quick look at 2010 land prices per square foot for the Greater Madison East/Dane County East market and Sun Prairie shows up near the top of the list in terms of competitive pricing in MG&E's 2010 Business Park Directory:

Stoughton Business Park - Stoughton ($0.59+ per s.f.)
Deerfield Business Park - Deerfield ($1.00 per s.f.)
Sun Prairie Business Park - Sun Prairie ($1.75-$3.00 per s.f.)*
Arboretum Office Park - Waunakee ($2.00-$4.00 per s.f.)
Waunakee Business Park - Waunakee ($2.50-$2.75 per s.f.)
Cottage Grove Commerce Park - Cottage Grove ($2.75-$6.00 per s.f.)
Broadway Industrial Area - Madison ($3.00-$6.00 per s.f.)
Cottage Grove Business Park - Cottage Grove ($3.00-$3.50 per s.f.)
North Towne Corporate Park - DeForest ($3.00-$4.00 per s.f.)
Center for Industry & Commerce - Madison ($3.00-$8.25 per s.f.)
Metro Tech/Metro Place - Madison ($3.50-$10.50 per s.f.)
BioAg Gateway - Madison ($4.00 per s.f.)
East Metro Business Park - T. Burke ($4.00 per s.f.)
Interstate Commerce Park - Madison ($4.00 per s.f.)
World Dairy Center - Madison ($5.00 per s.f.)
American Center - Madison ($5.95-$9.00 per s.f.)
Innovation Springs at Conservancy Place - DeForest ($6.50 per s.f.)

* - Pricing for City owned parcels has been lowered to $1.17 per s.f. for City-owned lots effective August 2011.

Sun Prairie's pricing becomes even more impressive when you consider the following:

• Sun Prairie's Business Park has fully improved lots with water, sewer, streets electricity and fiber optic telecommunications all readily available.
• TIF assistance and other financial assistance available for qualified projects.
• Swift, predictable development review process that is consistently completed in no more than seven weeks for most submittals.
  
• Immediate access to a six lane federal highway (U.S. 151), with fast, easy access to Interstates 39, 90, and 94 in minutes.
• Electrical rates that are 10-20% cheaper than investor owned utilities in the area, with excellent reliability.
  
• 15 minutes from the Dane County Regional Airport.
• Immediate access to the Wisconsin Southern Railroad.
  
• Access to a reliable, diverse workforce with skills ranging from agriculture, manufacturing, materials handling, research & analysis, transportation, and technology.
  
• Sun Prairie's Business Park is governed by a set of restrictive covenants that protect private investment.
• Permitted land uses include office, R&D, light manufacturing, warehousing, and flex space.
• Easy, fast access to Madison and all its amenities.
  

For more information on available City-owned property in the Sun Prairie Business Park, contact Neil Stechschulte at (608) 825-0894 or nstechschulte[at]cityofsunprairie.com.

For information on available privately owned lots in the Sun Prairie Business Park, contact John Pinger of Northland Real Estate at (608) 223-9330 or jpinger[at]nlandrealestate.com.

Source: 2010 Dane County Commercial Parks and Business Incubators prepared by Madison Gas & Electric. The 2011 Directory will be out in coming weeks.

Dane County Launches New Economic Development Website, a One-Stop Shop for Job Creators and Communities (Dane Co. Board of Supervisors Press Release)

The Dane County Economic Development Committee is pleased to unveil http://www.dane-econdev.org/, a long awaited resource for entrepreneurs, businesses, communities and organizations interested in business and economic development in Dane County!

"For the first time, there will be an easy and accessible means to connect with the resources, people and information that businesses and communities need to help start or expand a business, strengthen community capacity for economic development, and participate in the county’s rapidly growing and dynamic economy,” said Dane County Board Supervisor Patrick Miles, Chair, Dane County Economic Development Committee.

On the website, you will find information on financing, venture capital and loan programs as well as over 150 organizations, a listing of business development and networking resources and how to contact our economic development staff and partners. A comprehensive list of all Dane County cities, towns and villages, including websites and information for local economic development staff, is also included. And for communities that would like assistance in identifying and pursuing economic development opportunities, you will find many helpful resources.

Thinking about starting or expanding a business, re-locating your business, or would you like to find out more about workforce development training in our region, visit http://www.dane-econdev.org/. Dane County is Wisconsin’s fastest growing region and part of the global market place – with a rich agricultural and cultural heritage.

“We are committed to being a strong regional partner and resource, and look forward to our continued work supporting our communities, businesses, individuals and organizations to ensure we stay competitive, and build a dynamic and sustainable economy,” Miles said.

Stay tuned to the website, and check back in as we continue to develop and build this important new tool. For more information, please contact Dane County Economic Development Committee Chair, Patrick Miles, at miles@countyofdane.com, or Olivia Parry, Sr. Economic Development Specialist at parry@co.dane.wi.us, and be sure to visit us at http://www.dane.econ-dev.org/.

Our View: Join the party (Sun Prairie Star, Dane County)

Our View: Join the party - Dane County Celebrates its 175th Anniversary in 2011
http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=6723&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&S=1

The official Dane County 175th Anniversary website:
http://www.danecounty175.org/

Blogger's Note: Here's looking at a chance for Sun Prairie area businesses to help celebrate. What anniversary is your business celebrating this year? Any employees celebrating a milestone anniversary? e-mail me at nstechschulte[at]cityofsunprairie.com.

Dane County to Host Free Quarterly Seminars on Business Creation, Networking for Women and Minorities (Press Release)

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced today the county will host the first of a new series of seminars this month intended to help women and minorities interested in starting or improving their own businesses.

The business meetings are free and open to all women-owned and minority small businesses or individuals who are thinking about creating a business. They aim to help prospective small business owners network, learn business strategies, and share information and ideas. Developing entrepreneurs of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds is essential to continued job creation and economic growth in our county,” Falk said.

The first free, small business seminar, entitled “Growth Stages of Business,” will be held July 24, 2008 from 5:00 until 7:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel, 706 John Nolen Drive in Madison. The session is intended to help prospective or current business owners with expected gains and losses, potential roadblocks, as well as business growth cycles. “Growth Stages of Business” will be presented by Dr. Neil Lerner of the Small Business Development Center. “These sessions are a useful tool to help support and promote the entrepreneurial spirit in our diverse community,” Falk said. “Hopefully they will help make a lot of creative thoughts and big dreams a reality.”

Those interested in more information about the seminar should contact Colleen Clark Bernhardt in the Dane County Office of Equal Opportunity at 608-266-3022 or at: clark.colleen@co.dane.wi.us.

Beans-n-Cream Coffeehouse To Receive 2008 Dane County Small Business Award

Congratulations to Sun Prairie's own Beans-n-Cream Coffeehouse, who will be recognized at the upcoming 2008 Dane County Small Business Awards Breakfast.

The Dane County Small Business Awards (DCSBA) is now in its 26th year. The DCSBA celebrate small businesses and the contributions they make to our communities and economy. The 2008 awards breakfast will be held Friday, June 13 at the Sheraton Madison Hotel. These awards are primarily coordinated by the UW Small Business Development Center.

Click here for additional information or to register to attend.