April 15, 2020 Dear readers, We want to know how you’re doing! Please complete a brief online survey, the results of which we believe will be helpful to policymakers, news media and others as Wisconsin prepares for the economic aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Let me emphasis “brief” really means brief in this survey, with only 11 questions – counting demographics – and all questions answerable via radial buttons. It’s anonymous and asks for your thoughts on the timing of the economic recovery, what actions can help your organization, targeted workforce needs and more. We’ll publish the results when they’re tabulated. Our Business Plan Contestants could use your support We announced a crop of 28 finalists in the 2020 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest this week, and we’re looking forward to the competition entering the next phase. If you’re able to contribute services to the prize kitty – legal, accounting, consulting, office space, media and design, cash or something else a young company might want – please contact us. Email your ideas to:  tammy@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com and we’ll get back to you. Thanks for helping this exciting group of entrepreneurs advance their companies during a challenging time.

Stay tuned for announcements about virtual Tech Council webinars on COVID-19 issues of interest to our members and others.

Do you have news or best practices to contribute to a future edition of Tech Council Current?
Contact Laura@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com 

Sincerely,

Tom Still, president

Guest column: Navigating the picky P’s of the Payroll Protection Program

The federal Payroll Protection Program was supposedly taking first applications April 3 for small businesses and April 10 for independent contractors. I must admit I know of no one who got an application to a bank on April 3, but last week, people were filing applications, some have already received approvals, and I heard from someone today who got cash in their bank account. That means if you are eligible and haven't talked to your bank yet, you better send an email or call them – yeah, like right now.

So, are you eligible? Click here to read Tech Council member Odgen’s full column.

Madison’s Truax to get F-35A aircraft by 2023 as one of two sites

The U.S. Air Force announced Wednesday that it will send the new jets to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing and a unit based in Montgomery, Alabama, capping more than three years of study and deep community division over the planes, which come with the promise of jobs and new construction but also noise and pollution. Read the Wisconsin State Journal article and comments by Zach Brandon, president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce.

Aberdean Consulting is hosting several webinars to enhance the remote working environment safety:
Remote Office/Home Office Personal Security Discussion on Thursday, April 16
Microsoft Outlook Productivity Hacks on Tuesday, April 21 and Tuesday, May 5
Collaborate with Microsoft OneNote on Thursday, April 23 and Thursday, May 7

Reinhart Law is partnering with Wisconsin Family Business Center to host webinars designed to help family-owned businesses:
Planning & Portfolio Opportunities for Challenged Environments on Wednesday, April 22

Wisconsin Women Entrepreneurs is hosting a virtual lunch designed for networking and mentoring on Thursday, April 16.

Join UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies for their Earth Day Conference on Monday, April 20

DreamBank is hosting Sales During Social Distancing: Thriving in the New Normal with Ashley Quinto Powell on Thursday, April 23

Baker Tilly is offering a series of coronavirus-related business concerns (registration for all):
A briefing on coronavirus-related tax relief on Wednesday, April 22
Crisis, continuity and recovery: A real-time enterprise risk workshop on Wednesday, April 29

• WEDC Small Business 2020 Program: Assistance will be available to Wisconsin-based Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) List of All 23 CDFIs in Wisconsin to provide grants to their existing loan clients to help mitigate business-related cash flow issues in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. Approved CDFIs will make program grants (up to $20,000) available to for-profit businesses meeting the following: criteria: Current loan recipient in good standing as of 3/1/20 with the approved CDFI (or its collaborating CDFIs);20 or fewer PT/FT employees; Greater than $0 but less than $2 million in annual revenues; and, preference should be given to service and retail businesses
• Gov. Evers’ office has launched a statewide COVID-19 website that aggregates information and resources throughout state government, including: 
  COVID-19 Volunteer Program
  Religious Gatherings and Services
  DVA Assistance to Needy Veterans Program
• The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development produced this helpful Frequently Asked Questions document.
• WEDC has compiled a comprehensive overview of their resources along with state and federal resources to assist Wisconsin citizens aimed at maintaining the viability of the companies upon which our economy depends.
• Report any scams or price gouging to Wisconsin Department of Justice: If you suspect fraud or a scam, Attorney General Kaul suggests filing a complaint online at datcp.wi.gov.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) has guidance for businesses, and is offering low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for businesses and non-profits impacted by coronavirus
• Centers for Disease Control: Coronavirus latest updates
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services: COVID-19 Outbreaks in Wisconsin
• The FDIC has provided guidance to banking institutions and consumers affected by COVID-19 and encouraged financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers and customers in affected communities.
• The Department of Labor has issued guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements.
• NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers are providing services to small- and medium-sized manufacturers such as connecting businesses that are pivoting their production in response to the coronavirus to new supply chains, connecting firms with state resources, advising companies on new operational issues, and providing workforce support.
  
• COMPTIA offers eight cybersecurity tips for working remotely
• Wisconsin COVID-19 Startup Talent project to help those displaced from jobs and employers now hiring
• The Department of the Defense has established the Joint Acquisition Task Force (JATF) for COVID-19 to assess and rapidly respond to challenges presented by this pandemic. They are collecting information from both government and non-government personnel who are interested in getting involved. All resources and solutions are welcome from industry, academia, venture capital firms, individual contributors and more. Request information here.
• Wisconsin Hospital Association released a COVID-19 dynamic Situational Awareness Update
  

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