Portage County Connects

Wisconsin Awarded $100,000 Grant

Supporting programs for innovative, technology-driven small businesses under SBA’s Federal and State Technology (FAST) partnership program, the U.S. Small Business Administration has granted a $100,000 award to the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network program at the University of Wisconsin-Extension. The FAST Program… Read More »

Sustainable Business Impacts in Wisconsin — Present Accomplishments, Future Goals

The recession has caused a lot of businesses to take a good, long look at how they do business. As they do so, sustainability initiatives will play a critical role. Tim Eggert, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council,… Read More »

Sustainable Education — Wisconsin’s Strengths and Weaknesses

The 2009 Wisconsin Sustainable Business Report, sponsored by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource’s Green Tier program provides a variety of sustainability baselines for Wisconsin provides an interesting — sustainable — look at Wisconsin’s education system.… Read More »

Foreign Subsidies Hurt U.S. Paper Industry

So says a new report, “No Paper Tiger,” issued by the Economic Policy Institute. Further, notes author Usha Haley, “Since 2000, China has increased paper production three-fold to assume a leading role in the global paper industry” which adversely affects… Read More »

Think Wisconsin Needs Bold Action to Spur Venture Capitalism?

So does the non-profit, non-partisan Wisconsin Technology Council. In their newly released white paper, “Looking to the future: A case for bold action” the Council provides a long list of bold measures they’d like to see to spur economic development… Read More »

Wisconsin Takes Steps to Improve Agribusiness, Nutrition and Rural Development

According to Senator Herb Kohl, the Agriculture Appropriations bill “spends less money than last year” yet has been crafted to “stretch limited federal resources to expand rural economic development, invest in agricultural research, ensure a safe food supply and improve… Read More »

Wisconsin Workforce Development Critical to Economic Recovery

In 2000, Wisconsin was home to 611,000 manufacturing jobs. Today, that number is closer to 422,000 — and most of those manufacturing jobs are not expected to return. According to a recent white paper by the Wisconsin Technology Council, “Looking to… Read More »

New Job Training Grant Helps Workers and Employers

Governor Jim Doyle has made nearly $2.3 million in federal funding available in order to help displaced Wisconsin workers find new jobs and improve their skills. The On-the-Job Training National Emergency Grants (OJTNEG) – awarded by the U.S. Department of… Read More »

Stevens Point – An Eco-municipality since 2008

Then take a good look at Stevens Point — an eco-municipality since 2008. Just what is an eco-municipality you ask? One devoted to sustainable development that can meet present needs without threatening the needs of future generations.

Yes, we’re looking… Read More »

Attracting Gen. Y’ers

Are you green? If so, you may have an edge in attracting Gen Y workers. 

According to a recent study completed by Johnson Controls, when Gen Y’ers are reviewing potential employers, being green is key. Ninety-six percent said they’re looking… Read More »

State Building Commission approves $75 million for UW-Stevens Point science facility

The State Building Commission approved a $75 million request Thursday to construct a new science center at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The governor’s capital budget for 2013-2015 recommended the $75 million to construct a new chemistry and biology education… Read More »

Delta Dental Invests in Biotechnologies That May Change Oral Health

Someday we may be able to prevent cavities by simply rinsing our mouth with a solution that kills the bacteria that cause cavities — and if that happens, we’ll have Delta Dental and Dr. Wenyuan Shi, Chairman of Oral Biology… Read More »

Where the Roads Meet — Commercial Crossroads Opportunities

Location. Location. Location. It’s often touted as critical to the success of a business. And Dan Mahoney, Village of Plover Administrator, would agree. According to Mahoney, the location of the Portage County Business Park and Crossroads Commons retail area is… Read More »

Investing in Technologies that Improve Health & Wellness

When most people think of Delta Dental, they think “dental plans.” And, indeed, Delta Dental provides employers around the nation with dental plans and assistance in administering their programs and reporting systems — in essence, helping employers improve efficiencies that… Read More »

The Suites@201 Reserve earns LEED gold certification

One of the greenest buildings in Central Wisconsin has earned high marks for sustainable construction from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The Suites@201 residence hall at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point was awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental… Read More »

MSTC’s New Stevens Point Campus to Generate Revenue for Local Businesses and Career Opportunities for Residents

Higher education is on the move — literally. In the midst of its Centennial Celebration, Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Stevens Point Campus — to be located in the former Centerpoint Mall. When completed,… Read More »

The economic strengths of a diverse agricultural community — Portage County.

Okray Family Farms, Inc. has been around since 1905 when Joseph Okray started a trading company on the Public Square in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Like many families in the early twentieth century, Joseph did a small amount of farming to… Read More »

Bringing Advanced Metals Manufacturing Back to the U.S. — and Portage County

According to Dave Worth, President/CEO of the Worth Company, imported goods have long presented a challenge to American manufacturers in all industries. What varies, notes Worth, is the country producing the majority of imported goods to the U.S. “In the… Read More »

UW-Stevens Point in top ten of Midwestern public universities

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is again ranked as one of the best public universities in the Midwest according to the U.S. News and World Report.

The magazine’s 2013 rankings place UW-Stevens Point tenth in the top tier of Midwestern… Read More »

2011 Portage County Arts & Culture Non-Profit Organizations Economic Impact

The below information was voluntarily provided to the Arts Alliance of Portage County by participating Portage County non-profit organizations. This information is compiled annually to quantify the economic value of arts & culture programming in Portage County.

Annual Organizational Budgets:… Read More »