Pro-Active Engineering Awarded Training Grant

Congratulations to Pro-Active Engineering Inc. of Sun Prairie, who was awarded a $5,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce Business Employees Skills Training (BEST) program.

"The BEST program focuses on providing employees with training that will upgrade the skills of Wisconsin's workforce," Governor Doyle said. "These grants will help provide the training that will allow Wisconsin businesses to continue to move forward and to grow."

Governor Doyle made the announcements on April 22nd through a news release on the Wisconsin Department of Commerce website. The announcement was included in the April 23rd edition of Market Memos on the Capital Times Website.

Renk Seed Featured in Article on the Changing World of Agriculture (Capital Times)

John Oncken of the Capital Times has a great article in today's Business section on current changes in agriculture, and quotes Sun Prairie's own Jeff Renk of Renk Seeds...

Today most of the planted corn and soybeans is genetically modified to resist weeds or insects. Jeff Renk of Renk Seed Company in Sun Prairie says, "100 percent of the soybeans we sell are GMO as is 65 percent of the corn. The GMO seeds are all protected by patent law. However, non-GMO varieties are still available."

Click here for the Capital Times article "John Oncken: Ag World Changes, But Its Still About People."

City Approves Revised Target Plans (Sun Prairie Star Online)

Target is still building a store in Sun Prairie's Westside Neighborhood, and will still be the initial anchor for the Prairie Lakes Development. While the proposed store has been reduced to 134,000 s.f., Target has the option of expanding into the available area. The primary difference between the previously approved Super Target and the current Target store is that non-packaged perishables and fresh meats will not be offered. Other grocery items will still be available.

On Tuesday, April 22nd, the City Plan Commission approved the revision, and at Target's request the City Council held a special meeting that same evening to approve the project and allow Target the opportunity to get an earlier start on construction.

Additional information on the progress of this development will be posted as this project moves forward.

Click here for coverage of the meeting at Sun Prairie Star Online.

Chamber Promotes "Shop Local" Programs in Sun Prairie

The Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce offers three shop local programs year around for merchants and patrons to participate in!

The Keytag Program gives patrons year around discounts at local stores with a purchase of a keytag for $8 from the Chamber office ($4 for Chamber Member employees). Over 35 businesses/merchants participate in the program and give discounts such as 10% labor discount on painting services, 10% off a one-hour massage, or $2 off any family size pizza. Keytag purchasers are given an easy to use schedule of discounts along with their tag. Click here for more information on the Sun Prairie Chamber Keytag Program.

The Gift Certificate Program is a great idea for gift-giving. Accepted at 38 local businesses, patrons can redeem their gift certificates at a variety of businesses from the athletic club to grocery stores to floral shops. Certificates can be purchased at the Chamber Office. Click here for more information on the Sun Prairie Chamber Gift Certificate Program.

Online Coupons can be downloaded from your computer anytime, any day at your convenience to use at local merchants in Sun Prairie. The convenience of having the coupons on-line allows you to print and redeem when you want to. Click here for current Online Coupons posted on the Chamber website.

For more information on any of the above programs call the Chamber of Commerce at 608-837-4546 or visit the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce website at:

http://www.sunprairiechamber.com/

Fitch Rates Wisconsin Public Power Inc.'s Series 2008A Bonds 'A+' (Businesswire.com)

Fitch Ratings assigns a rating of 'A+' to Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (WPPI) $234.685 million power supply system revenue bonds, series 2008A. Fitch also affirms the 'A+' on WPPI's outstanding power supply revenue bonds.

The 'A+' rating reflects WPPI's experienced management team which has the support of its growing member and non-member base. While there is some concentration among the largest industrial customers of the members (with the four largest accounting for 16% of energy requirements), helping to offset this is that many of the large customers have entered into long-term purchase power contracts with WPPI and its members, and more important, WPPI's competitive advantage - rates that are lower than those charged by the locally serving investor-owned utilities. Financial operations have been solid and projections show targeted debt service coverage of 1.25 times (x) through 2017, in line with other 'A+' rated systems. Another positive attribute is WPPI's power resource mix, which is diverse with sufficient capacity into 2017. The terms of the various power purchase contracts provide WPPI further flexibility.

Click here to read the full article at Businesswire.com, or the synopsis on the Capital Times web version of Market Memos for April 18th.

UPDATED: According to the Wisconsin State Journal's Business Digest for May 1, 2008, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has upgraded its rating of Sun Prairie-based Wisconsin Public Power's outstanding parity debt to A+ from A and also assigned an A+ rating to the company's $235 million revenue bond issue. Fitch Ratings also has assigned an A+ rating to the revenue bonds while Moody's has rated them A1.

New Cost Cutters Opens in Sun Prairie's Westside Neighborhood (Capital Times)

New business growth in Sun Prairie makes it into the regional news once again. This time it was in the daily Capital Times "Market Memos."

Sun Prairie's westside neighborhood continues to add to its commercial growth with a new Cost Cutters Family Hair Salon opening at 310 S. Grand Ave. in Sun Prairie.

Click here to go to the Capital Times Market Memos for April 17th to read the original post.

Sun Prairie Farmers' Market Opens Sat. May 3rd

Want to buy fresh, locally grown farm products but don't want to fight the crowds at the Dane County Farmers Market? Don't forget about your very own Sun Prairie Farmers' Market, which starts up again on May 3rd, and runs every Saturday through October 25th. Select from offerings of fresh vegetables and fruits, meats, flowers, baked goods, jams and other products that are some the finest that South Central Wisconsin has to offer.

Go ahead and do a little shopping and dining while you're Downtown too!

Location: 300 E. Main St.at Church St. (Behind Municipal Building a.ka. City Hall Parking Lot)
Hours: 7 a.m.- Noon
Questions: Contact Earl Krueger at (920) 623-3425

(Source: Sun Prairie Business Improvement District)