Portage County Connects

July Employment Numbers Released

The Department of Workforce Development has released their “July Local Job, Employment Numbers” for metro areas and counties across the state. Secretary Baumback is quoted stating, “the local preliminary data for July show the impact of the national economic slowdown… Read More »

Gender Gap to Innovation

My daughter loves asparagus. No, she isn’t the healthiest eater in the world—she is a scientist. A few weeks back my son and daughter were playing with a chemistry set ‘Santa’ brought them for Christmas and they were conducting ‘experiments’.… Read More »

Results from WI RN Survey Shows Future Demand

On the heels of Governor Doyle’s announcement of over $11 million in WI health care workforce funding, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Devleopment and Wisconsin Center for Nursing recently announced the results from the state’s Registered Nurses Survey.

According to… Read More »

Tapping into Resources and Developing Markets

Take a quick look around your place of business; really look at your customers for a moment. Is anybody using a social media outlet such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or Foursquare? You don’t think so? Don’t be so sure.

So… 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 »

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 »

Stevens Point to Help Build Sustainable Garden and Food Center

What better way to build a sustainable garden and food center than to reuse and improve a set of existing structures? That’s exactly what is happening in Stevens Point. A recent article in Central Wisconsin Business reported that the Stevens… Read More »

The Arts Mean Business in Portage County

There are several $3M industries located in Portage County, Wisconsin. Although the arts and culture sector may not be the first that comes to your mind, the arts mean business. In 2009 the Arts Alliance of Portage County in partnership… Read More »

A Message from Chuck…

The following is an excerpt from Chuck Nason’s presentation on “The Pressures from Without” at the November 17 Power Breakfast (shared with his permission). Mr. Nason is Chairman of the Board for Worzalla Publishing Company.

This is not a… Read More »

Oh the places you can go (sustainably)…with isoprene.

Never heard of isoprene? Most of us haven’t and yet it’s an organic compound that plays a major role in our lives. Isoprene is a colorless, odorless gas found naturally in our breath and the environment — it is emitted… Read More »

Assistance Available for Communities Working on Comprehensive Community Plans

In 2000, the State of Wisconsin passed a law requiring every municipality (town, village, city and county) to have a long-range “comprehensive plan” in place. As part of the planning, communities review where they are, what housing, transportation, economic development,… Read More »

A New Way of Connecting with One Another in Portage County — Bike and Pedestrian Paths

It all began with occupants of the Portage County Business Park expressing interest in getting connected — literally — with bike and pedestrian paths. Notes Jeff Schuler, Portage County Planning and Zoning Director, “People came to us looking for better… Read More »

County Wide Farm Preservation Planning Benefits Business Development Planning

During the next 18 months, Portage County will be working on its county-wide farmland preservation plan. Basically, Wisconsin requires all counties to have a plan in place that discusses how agriculture works in their communities and to present means of… Read More »

Blenker Expands Business to Serve Larger Region

Since opening in 1974, Blenker Cos. has changed and grown to meet the demands of customers in the construction industry.

Originally a remodeling business, over time the family-owned and operated company added construction, manufacturing, contractiong and trucking.

But when a… Read More »

Marten Machining — Wisconsin Technical Public Education System Is Our Lifeline

Networking in 1984. Take yourself back to 1984. The Internet was in its infancy. Cell phones were bulky and for “the few.” From a 2011 perspective, it’s difficult to imagine how you could start a small business in Stevens Point,… Read More »

From Soda Fountain to Airport Runways — UWSP Student-Led Research Project gets FRESH

Visit a dining hall on the campus of the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (UWSP) and your meal and beverage will be served in an environmentally friendly clear PLA bioplastic container derived from plant materials. You can thank the… Read More »