Technology and Innovation
Seeing the future: Industry 4.0 moves into closer view for New North manufacturers
INSIGHT PUBLICATIONS Like the steam engine, assembly line and computer before it, the fourth industrial revolution is poised to forever change manufacturing. Accelerated by factors ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and labor shortages to rapidly increasing affordability of technology and ubiquitous connectivity, Industry 4.0 today is a topic on minds and lips everywhere — including the New North region. “We went through this tough period for all industries, but there’s a lot of optimism and engagement with Industry 4.0 coming out of it,” says Jamie Lynch, associate professor of sociology and director of the Strategic Resource Institute at St. Norbert College, who led the NEW Manufacturing Alliance’s recently released 2021 Industry 4.0 Needs, Skills & Talent Survey... Read More 1> Economic Development Feature
Shared success: Foreign direct investment benefits overseas companies, local communities
INSIGHT PUBLICATIONS
“They really put their roots in deeper into this community with that investment,” says M-B Companies CEO Doug Blada...
Economic Development Feature
Georgia-Pacific mill closing; what that means for employees
WLUK GREEN BAY -- A Georgia-Pacific mill in Green Bay is closing, affecting more than a hundred employees. The Mill on Day Street in Green Bay will be shutting down over the next 18 months. The decision impacts around 190 employees.
Jeff Sachse, the director of UW-Oshkosh’s Center for Customized Research and Services, knows a lot about the paper industry. He’s been working with the Wisconsin Paper Council for over a year now, developing a strategic framework.
“The future of the industry is really going to, at least within the near term, probably look the same as what it does today,” Sachse said. “Now, that being said, there’s a lot of innovative practice that’s happening; a lot of innovation in the packaging space."
Promoting the Regional Brand
ThedaCare's new fund helps raise money for Ukrainian refugees
WLUK
NEENAH -- ThedaCare is making a difference for Ukrainian refugees. The health care provider created a special Ukrainian Medical and Humanitarian Care Fund.
All of the funds raised will be given to International Medical Corps (IMC), a global, non-profit, humanitarian aid organization that provides emergency medical services and health care training and development programs to those affected by disaster, disease or conflict. ..Read More 4>
Encourage Educational Attainment
Amcor invests in middle school STEM outreach
INSIGHT PUBLICATIONS Northeast Wisconsin Technical College’s Electro-Mechanical Mobile Lab will be blazing new trails this spring thanks to a partnership with Amcor Cares, the community enrichment arm of Amcor — a global packaging manufacturer with 13 locations in the Fox Valley. NWTC Associate Dean Jill Thiede says the $68,000 grant will allow the college to start taking its popular, hands-on mobile learning lab to regional middle schools, as manufacturers like Amcor see increased value in reaching and inspiring future engineers and technicians at a young age. In the past, the trailer has visited high schools and older audiences, but visiting middle schools will be a new and highly beneficial touch point when it comes to inspiring interest in attending NWTC, in manufacturing careers, and in STEM generally....
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Expansion and Business Development in the New North
De Pere's Mulva Cultural Center holds topping off ceremony
WLUK
DE PERE -- The construction of a new cultural center in De Pere has hit a milestone.The Mulva Cultural Center held a topping off ceremony Thursday.
The last beam was signed by those working on the project and put into place by a 120-foot tower crane.
Construction on the $95 million, 75,000 square-foot Mulva Cultural Center began in August of 2021. The center, located at the corner of N. Broadway and Lewis Street, slated to open in the summer of 2023...Read More 6> Elevate Sustainability as an Economic Driver
Beyond the bin: E-cycling plays critical environmental role
INSIGHT PUBLICATIONS
In an era of supply chain woes, businesses in Northeast Wisconsin are turning to a sustainable solution that delivers benefits on many levels: electronics recycling, or e-cycling.
While we’re accustomed to sorting out paper, plastic, cardboard, bottles and cans, we also know our unwanted and unusable electronics are things we shouldn’t just throw in the trash. But what do we do with them?...
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Economic Development Feature
Compounding complications: Inflation heats up, adding to challenges manufacturers are facing
INSIGHT PUBLICATIONS
For Matt Jacobson, president of Manitowoc-based Heiden, Inc., a lot is going well with the business: Sales increased 30% from 2020 to 2021, and demand for the manufacturer’s products is soaring. Amid that success, though, inflation is becoming an increasing concern and exacerbating the long-standing challenges of supply chain and workforce.
“What’s crazy is it’s sort of mixed in with supply chain disruption and labor shortage. If you throw all those together, it’s really chaotic,” he says....
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Attract, Develop and Retain Diverse Talent
Partner Up! Grant Program to benefit local business, child care
NBC 26
GREEN BAY — As we face rising costs and limited availability, a new statewide initiative is connecting local businesses with child care programs to help employees find affordable child care.
The Partner Up! Grant Program is providing $10 million to support relationships between local businesses and regulated child care providers. It's an effort through the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families designed to help business employees find and pay for child care..
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New North Region Stepping Up to the COVID-19 Challenge
Fox Valley COVID-19 relief fund closing after two years and $1.78 million raised
WLUK
APPLETON -- A Fox Valley organization is marking its two-year anniversary of making a difference during the pandemic.
The Fox Valley COVID-19 Community Response Fund says it distributed $1.78 million in grants to 118 non-profit organizations since its inception.
Those grants provided immediate basic needs relief, short-term response and longer-term recovery in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca, and the Neenah-Menasha areas of Winnebago counties during the COVID-19 public health emergency and economic crisis...
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Promoting the Regional Brand
Bassett Mechanical wins prestigious 2021 MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Award
BASSETT MECHANICAL
KAUKAUNA – Bassett Mechanical is proud to receive the 2021 Mechanical Contractors Association of America & CNA Insurance Safety Excellence Award.
This prestigious award is presented to the top five mechanical contracting companies in North America, based on the number of hours worked. The award recognizes innovative safety initiatives, programs, and performance. Applicants describe their programs in detail including how they achieved safety excellence and why they deserve the award. Applications are carefully evaluated for evidence of strong safety leadership, an advanced safety culture, effective leading indicators of safety performance, and innovative initiatives that help the company achieve an exceptionally high degree of safety excellence. Bassett Mechanical achieved the Safety Excellence Award in the 450,001 – 1,000,000 hours-worked category...
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