Social Media Breakfast Madison Takes Over Sun Prairie's Wisconsin Distrubutors (Sun Prairie Star)

 

Social Media Breakfast Madison, an association of Madison area social media professionals (and wannabes like me) took over Wisconsin Distributors, 900 Progress Way, on May 15.  They heard encouraging words from Michael Bussmann, New Belgium Brewery’s self-proclaimed “Social Networking Nerd” -- the one behind the @NewBelgium twitter handle and New Belgium’s Facebook page.

Click here to read the full article in the Sun Prairie Star: http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/opinion/columns/article_185b4676-c3b4-11e2-921f-001a4bcf6878.html

Blogger's Note: Sun Prairie's own Tony Rodriquez is one of the key organizers of what I think is one of the best networking events around.  Stop in sometime and you'll see a lot of other Sun Prairie faces too.  Special thanks to Wisconsin Distributors for hosting the event, and for helping bring Mr. Bussman from New Belgium out to Sun Prairie.

Gener8tor Business Accelerator Seeks Summer 2013 Applications (Gener8tor.com)

Gener8tor is now accepting applications for the Summer 2013 Milwaukee program, which will be held for 12 weeks in Milwaukee’s famous Historic Third Ward, starting on May 31st, 2013. The early application deadline (encouraged) is April 14th, and the final deadline is May 5th.  The program is focused on technology startups: web, software, Internet, SaaS and hardware companies. Entry into our competitive program includes perks like capital investment, mentorship, office space, a great group of people and support staff. We run two programs per year alternating between our offices in Milwaukee and Madison, WI. 

The Madison program will be hosting their Winter 2013 Launch day on April 4th.  Contact Joe Kirgues at joe@gener8tor.com or by phone at 414-512-8880 for more information--including dates for the next Madison session.

Visit Gener8tor on the web for more information: http://www.gener8tor.com/.

Blogger's Note:  This would be a great opportunity for a techonolgy startup, and we'd love to have you get your start in Sun Prairie!

Startup Weekend: What it Takes to be an Entrepreneur (Madison Startup Weekend 2013)

Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world in 2011.

All Startup Weekend events follow the same basic model: anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then it’s a 54 hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.

Whether entrepreneurs found companies, find a cofounder, meet someone new, or learn a skill far outside their usual 9-to-5, everyone is guaranteed to leave the event better prepared to navigate the chaotic but fun world of startups. If you want to put yourself in the shoes of an entrepreneur, register now for the best weekend of your life!

Event Information:

Madison Startup Weekend 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013 at 6:00 PM - Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 9:00 PM (CDT)
Madison College West Campus
302 S Gammon Rd Madison, WI 53717
Cost: $99

To Register, Click here: Startup Weekend Madison

Click here for a full agenda and more information on Madison's Startup Weekend: http://madison.startupweekend.org/

Blogger's Note: Anybody from Sun Prairie interested in attending? 

Royle Printing Provides Printing Sponsorship for UW's Curb Magazine (UW-Madison News)

Curb Magazine Examines the Unexpected Side of Wisconsin

Link to Full Article: http://www.news.wisc.edu/20182

Link to Curb Magazine: http://curbonline.com/

Link to Royle Printing: http://www.royle.com/

Blogger's Note: Just one of many examples of how our local economy is linked to UW-Madison.

Sun Prairie's New Construction Referenced in Cap Times Editorial (Madison.com)

Madison360: Madison's Anti-Developer Stereotype is a Tired Myth (Editorial)

Link to Full Article:  http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/madison_360/madison-madison-s-anti-developer-stereotype-is-a-tired-myth/article_f2f73aae-2f3d-11e1-8aef-001871e3ce6c.html

Blogger's Note: I just wanted to reference the numbers cited in this article, namely that Sun Prairie has had the most new construction between 2005 and 2010 outside of Verona (EPIC).  As far as the opinion expressed in the rest of this editorial, I would simply recommend following the Advance Now study currently in progress as well as the Dane County Business Survey--both of which I have referenced in previous posts of this blog.

Omaha, Madison MSA's Set Pace With Lowest Jobless Rates for Previous Decade (BizJournals.com)

Omaha, Madison MSA's Set Pace With Lowest Jobless Rates

Link to Full Article: http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2011/12/22/omaha-madison-set-pace-with-lowest.html  

Blogger's Note: Something we should all be thankful for, and it reminds us how fortunate we are in our local economy.  But we can't afford to be satisfied and just say that this is good enough.  There are plenty of opportunities to try to make things better to make the Greater Madison area an even greater place to do business.

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.

Stechschulte to Participate in Government 2.0 Panel at Oct. 19th Social Media Breakfast (City of Sun Prairie Office of Economic Development)

Stechschulte to Participate in Government 2.0 Panel at Oct. 19th Social Media Breakfast 

City of Sun Prairie Economic Development Director Neil Stechschulte will be participating in a panel on use of social media in the public sector on the October 19th.  The event will be held at the Goodman Community Center at 149 Waubesa Street in Madison at 7:30 a.m.    Other panelists include Kathy Marks from TMA Peritus, Jennifer Smith from the Wisconsin Broadband Initiative, Andrew Nussbaum from the Tourism Bureau of Columbia and Juneau Counties, and Councilman Scott Resnick from the City of Madison. Panelists will discuss how they are using social media in the governmental spaces they work in, as well as the challenges they face attempting to use social media.

For registration information, watch the Social Media Breakfast Madison Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SocialMediaBreakfastMadison, or contact Wendy Soucie at wsoucie@wendysoucie.com or 608-225-1985 with any questions.

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.

Sun Prairie Cited in U.S. Jobs Growth Article (Madison.com)

Biz Beat: Milwaukee 2nd in U.S. for job growth; Madison 76th

Link to Full Article: http://host.madison.com/business/biz_beat/article_1e6c7f02-7295-11e0-a845-001cc4c03286.html

Blogger's Note: Thanks to Noel Radomski for acknowledging Sun Prairie's efforts at promoting positive growth and quality of life here. And congratulations to the Milwaukee region for a great review. Just another reason why Sun Prairie needs to increase its ties to some of the companies and developers from the biggest city in Wisconsin.

Sun Prairie Makes its Mark on Social Media Breakfast Madison (Sumbitted by Neil Stechschulte)

Actually, its Social Media Breakfast Madison, and yes I may have taken some artistic license with the logo. In any case, Sun Prairie was well represented at today's Social Media Breakfast (Madison), where 150 people signed up to hear Eric Gohs from Land's End talk about their social media strategy. If you're on Twitter, search for the hashtag #smbmadison for highlights of Eric's presentation.

The Sun Prairie connection was present in several ways. Tony Rodriguez (@madcityads on Twitter) works for Suttle Straus, is a Sun Prairie resident, and he is one of the key organizers of this monthly networking group that meets to discuss how social media is effectively used by businesses. Ellie Humphrey (@E_Humphrey on Twitter) is a marketing professional for Broadcast Interactive Media, and she also helps out with the organization SMB meetings.

At least two Sun Prairie businesses were there as well, Cupcakes-a-go-go (@cupcakes_a_gogo on Twitter) and Golden Days Bakery

(http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Golden-Days-Company-LLC/77294142831).

Even better, freelance journalist Julie Henning (@RoadTripsFreeMe on Twitter) will be working on an article for the Sun Prairie Star that talks about the Social Media Breakfast series.

UPDATE: (Follow up article in the Sun Prairie Star)

Tweeting: Now for the birds and area businesses online
http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=129&ArticleID=6870

Famous Footwear Announcement Has No Impact on Sun Prairie Distribution Center (Sun Prairie Star Online)

Brown Shoe Company spoke with both the City of Sun Prairie and the Sun Prairie Star and confirmed that their integration of their Madison office operations into their St. Louis headquarters will not affect Sun Prairie's Famous Footwear Distribution Center.

Famous Footwear President Joe Wood spoke with Chris Mertes at the Star earlier this afternoon. In addition to not being included in the intergration of offices, Wood indicated that there was opportunity for growth at the Sun Prairie facility.

Channel3000.com had initially reported that this announcement could affect the Sun Prairie facility. Once informed of this, Brown Shoe immediately contacted WISC-TV and directed them to post a correction.

Special thanks to Chris Mertes and the Star for making sure they had current and accurate information prior to running their story, and for their communication with the City during the confusion caused by the initial Channel3000.com story.

Click here for the full article on the Sun Prairie Star's new website.