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May 18, 2020
Dear readers:
Every sector of the Wisconsin economy has felt the sting of the COVID-19 crisis, from tourism to farming, and from tech to Main Street. In many cases, a relatively small amount of assistance can help businesses over the hump. That’s the theory behind the “We’re All In” initiative announced Monday by Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Read the release in our news section to learn more about this program, which will provide grants of up to $2,500 to qualifying small businesses.
Also, a reminder to check out our latest news release below on the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference and our six “virtual” panel discussions. Our experts will talk about the latest trends in investing, building sales, cybersecurity threats while working at home, the rise of “on-shoring” and things COVID-19 taught that may change the business landscape for quite some time.
You may register here for the conference.
Make sure to check out our newsroom below for fast-changing information about Wisconsin’s reopening process.
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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
Have a great week,
Tom Still, president
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GUEST COLUMN: Telemedicine can improve rural health care, during COVID-19 and later
The COVID-19 pandemic has humbled our healthcare systems and alarmed the world. While taking lives and threatening whole communities, the pandemic is testing our abilities to work together and the true capacity of government, the private sector, disaster response and healthcare systems.
Telemedicine, a specialized area of telehealth, can serve as a beacon of teamwork and capacity building. Telemedicine improves access to care, infection control, and the economics of care by placing physicians and specialists in each setting they are needed virtually. Beam Healthcare leaders created a COVID-19 Response Superblog for rural hospitals that contains details about the technical, clinical, and regulatory requirements of developing telemedicine responses.
Click here to read Lightfoot’s full column.
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The BPC class of 2020: Finalist profiles
The Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest began in late January and will culminate June 4 during the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference. Some contest finalists were profiled by senior and graduate students in a UW-Madison Department of Life Sciences Communication capstone class. Visit WisBusiness.com, our “Student Stories” and our BPC website to see more stories about these young companies. Today’s feature story is about “Plumb Pharmaceuticals.”
Extended release opioid treatment is aim of Plumb Pharmaceuticals
By Emma Olstad
To the construction industry, the term “plumb” means the material is straight and true. Being straight and true brings a whole new meaning to Plumb Pharmaceuticals and its extended release solution for people trying to kick opioids.
Plumb Pharmaceuticals is a Madison-based company founded in 2016 by Timothy Heath and Lisa Krugner-Higby. Plumb Pharmaceuticals has created a drug-delivery technology for extended-release medications, specifically to help the fight against opioid addiction.
Click here to read the full story.
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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 she’ll get back to you. Thanks for helping this exciting group of entrepreneurs advance their companies during a challenging time.
Watch for the "Diligent Dozen" presentation videos coming soon!
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Gov. Evers announces $75 million “We're All In” Grant Program and Initiative to spur Wisconsin's economic recovery, promote safe business practices
WMTV: Dane Co. rolls out $10 million plan to help renters during pandemic
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The University of Wisconsin and other public universities are on the front lines of the battle against coronavirus
USA Today: Aftershock: If coronavirus swells in a second wave later this year, will the nation be ready?
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Community arts programs need support to survive cancellations
Wisconsin State Journal: Wisconsin again a hotbed of partisan politics amid COVID-19 pandemic
Politico: Is the coronavirus killing off cash?
BizTimes Milwaukee: Northwestern Mutual launches venture studio
The Journal Times: Rising meat prices slamming Midwest business, consumers
TIME: Welcome to the first global economic depression of our lifetimes
60 Minutes: Fed Chair Jerome Powell's interview on economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic
Milwaukee Business Journal: SBA releases instructions to calculate PPP loan forgiveness
Isthmus: Safer At Home is still in place in Dane County but bars are open in neighboring Sauk
Yahoo Finance: U.S. cities best positioned to bounce back from coronavirus [Madison, WI]
MSU College of Engineering: Alum Kevin Conroy ’88 gives virtual commencement speech
The Washington Post: Apple and Google are building a virus-tracking system. Health officials say it will be practically useless.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Scientists still trying to understand baffling, unpredictable coronavirus
Wisconsin State Journal: With Wisconsin's COVID-19 rules relaxing, what activities are safe? Here's a FAQ
Forbes: Student loan forgiveness and another round of stimulus checks - Here’s what you need to know about the HEROES Act
LinkedIn: Deepak Chopra: Building mental, emotional and spiritual strength during the pandemic
Isthmus: Madison College meeting the challenges of COVID-19
TIME: Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine shows promise, generating positive immune responses in an early study
The Journal Times: When will national parks reopen? Grand Canyon and others have phased plans
Inc.: Architects and designers are rethinking the workspace for the age of coronavirus
Urban Milwaukee: As COVID-19 testing expands, racial disparities persist
TIME: WHO pledges evaluation into agency's response to the coronavirus outbreak
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- 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.
- COVID-19 Volunteer Program
- Prioritizing Children’s Mental Health
- Religious Gatherings and Services
- DVA Assistance to Needy Veterans Program
- Call 1-800-WIS-VETS for Veterans Benefits Information
- Relief and recovery resources for your business: Reopen guidelines
- Gov. Evers Announces Badger Bounce Back Plan
- Helping minority-owned micro-businesses weather the storm: Ethnic Minority Emergency Grant
- The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development produced this helpful Frequently Asked Questions document.
- The Wisconsin Department of Revenue offers these information sources:
- Business Development and Government Relations (BDGR)
- COVID-19 Information and Announcements
- 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, Pending congressional and presidential approval, the SBA may offer another round of low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and Paycheck Protection Program loans 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.
- “Wisconsin COVID-19 Startup Talent” is a new 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 releases a COVID-19 dynamic Situational Awareness Update
- View an interactive map of public wi-fi “hot spots” in Wisconsin
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