Centergy News
Updates from your regional economic development alliance
March, 2010- Vol 1, Issue 1
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The latest news from the Centergy Board
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Centergy is joining a statewide initiative to tie
Wisconsin's recent overall branding efforts into those of seven
regional economic development entities. The result of this
multi-region branding effort will be a broad based picture of the
state, represented by a "patchwork" state map identifying the major
regions and labeling their key industries. Further, each region's
brand story will be told through expanded presentations covering
industries, trends, opportunities, demographic and cultural aspects.
Centergy's
goal is to occupy a unique and marketable brand position. This newly
defined identity will be employed in two ongoing marketing efforts:
1. Within the context of the state's 7-region branding initiative.
2. In Centergy's own promotional efforts.
Our
brand will represent the region's true character, appeal to a range of
prospective businesses and potential newcomers and serve as a model for
future activities.
Should you wish to join Centergy's marketing committee, or get involved in any way, please contact the Centergy office.
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Meet the Centergy
Board of Directors
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Centergy is blessed to have a strong, diverse board of directors from both the public and private sectors. Meet them HERE. |
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Greetings!
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 About Centergy, Inc.
Centergy, Inc., is a nonprofit organization created to attract and retain thriving businesses and a high-quality workforce, to foster entrepreneurial activity, and to inspire continuous improvement in quality of life. Our region boasts a wide range of progressive, innovative industries. Most notable are medical sciences, advanced manufacturing, emerging sustainable and bio-based technologies, and innovation through new product development.
Through our monthly newsletters we will feature regional initiatives for the purposes of communicating the issues of our plan of action, and the desire for increased participation. We value creative thought, expression of opinions, and passion to the growth of our region.
We look forward to working with you in the advancement of our 2010 strategic plan of action.
Best regards,
Barb Fleisner
Barb Fleisner
Executive Director
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Centergy sponsors Central Wisconsin Days
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A team of business, educational and community leaders headed to Madison earlier this month for Central WI Days, an event in which we showcase our region to state leaders. The summary of our issues was as follows:
Sustainable Technologies and Biofuels
1. Support the broader definition of 'biorefinery' to allow for the
displacement of petroleum-based products in manufacturing processes.
2. The Rural Alternative Energy Education Center requires $2.8 million to complete the project. The 2010 Federal budget has designated $500,000 toward the methane digester portion of the project. Centergy is asking Governor Doyle and the WI State Legislature to support state matching funds for the designated Federal funds towards the methane digester.
3. Funding for three students (approximate cost $45,000 each) to assist with the Value - Supply Chain Assessment and Mapping coordinated through the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative. Potential for allocation of work-study or research dollars that already exist within the UW budget to be allocated to this project, or funding from the Office of Energy Independence to allow this project to move forward in a timely manner to capitalize on the current pressure to move more of our energy production to bioenergy.
Infrastructure
1. Completion of added lane capacity between Marshfield and Junction City by 2012.
2. Business Highway 51 Project: Centergy supports submittal of this project to the TPC for ranking and funding.
3. Highway 13 Reconstruction Project: Centergy supports TPC highway study funding for the Highway 13 Reconstruction Project (extension of Highway 13 Corridor Study from Marshfield to Prentice completed in 2009).
4. Highway 54 Arterial Project: Centergy supports environmental analysis funding for the Highway 54 Arterial Project.
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Centergy region alternative fuel project: Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology |
 The
Centergy region boasts a number of ongoing alternative fuel and energy
projects. Over the next few months we will update you on the happenings
of individual projects. This month, we are focusing in on the Wisconsin
Institute for Sustainable Technology's biorefinery research endeavor.
The
mission of the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology is to
provide the infrastructure necessary to accommodate the collaboration
of University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point researchers with private
sector organizations committed to the advancement of environmentally
and economically sustainable technology. A UWSP biorefinery research
project headed by Professors Eric Singsaas and Don Guay is the first
to have developed into a WIST project. Their research focuses on the
production of biofuels and bio-based products in a refinery process
that uses biocatalysts to break down waste from pulp mills. The
production of these biofuels and biopolymers has the potential of
lessening the country's dependence on foreign oil, not only for fuel,
but also in the form of petroleum-based chemicals used in the
manufacture of materials such as plastics, rubbers, adhesives and even
carbon fiber.
In 2008, the researchers received major grant
funding to explore their biorefinery concept. American Science &
Technology (AST), a Wausau-based private advanced technology firm, was
included as a subcontractor on that grant. Since then, AST and the WIST
researchers have collaborated their efforts, endeavoring to provide
Wisconsin pulp mills with a technology that can further process the
mill's waste pulp into useable products. The ultimate goal of the
project is to provide an industrial-scale biorefinery at each pulping
site in the State of Wisconsin.
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Centergy business plan contest results
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Centergy
established an inaugural Business Plan Contest with the goal of
encouraging the preparation of business plans for starting businesses
or enhancing newly created business ventures in Central Wisconsin.
Sheldon
Ferkey, chair of the Centergy contest, states "I was pleased with the
quality of the business plans received and encourage the entrepreneurs
to continue their plans and compete in the State competition. I am sure
the entrepreneurs who took the time to compete in Centergy's regional
competition found it a very valuable and professional experience,
bolstering their confidence and competence."
The
contest was organized in cooperation with the Heart of Wisconsin
Business Alliance, Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry,
Portage County Business Council, and Wausau Region Chamber. SCORE and
the Small Business Development Center were also involved as business
counselors.
Contest
corporate sponsors Wisconsin Public Service and Alliant Energy, and
legal and marketing sponsors Ruder Ware, Gannett, and Flapjack
Creative, awarded the top three business plans with a total of $10,000
in prizes.
First Place Winner: Jason Nieman, SS Trike
Second Place Winner: Hilary Bilbrey, Trademark U, Inc.
Third Place Winner: Christopher Benson, Blackheart Laser Etching LLC
While
this contest was only one event, many entrepreneurs were connected with
regional partners throughout the process to provide technical support.
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