In a merger that will combine two Manitowoc manufacturers, Tower Tech Holdings Inc. (TWRT) has agreed to acquire RBA Inc.
Founded in 1985 by Raymond Brickner, the current chief executive officer of Tower Tech, RBA machines and fabricates components for infrastructure-related industries, including components for mining and wind turbine erection cranes.
RBA and Tower Tech are both located on the same 46-acre peninsula in Manitowoc. The peninsula is adjacent to a deep water shipping channel with access to Lake Michigan and is accessible to both rail and truck.
"The acquisition of RBA expands the range of fabricated products manufactured by Tower Tech for the projected energy-related infrastructure buildout in North America," said Steve Huntington, chief financial officer of Tower Tech. "The equipment manufactured by RBA utilizes similar labor capabilities as our wind tower business, which will enhance the efficiency of our combined operations. We also plan to increase RBA's exposure to the wind turbine industry by the expansion of its wind-related product line. We welcome RBA's employees to the Tower Tech team. They will be invaluable in helping us achieve our goal of becoming the premier manufacturer of components for the wind and energy industries. We will continue the pursuit of this goal through additional acquisitions and internal growth through new and existing partnerships with our customers, which include most of the world's leading wind turbine manufacturers."
Under the terms of the agreement, RBA shareholders will receive $5 million in cash as consideration for all of the outstanding shares of RBA. Tower Tech will use internal funds to finance the acquisition. The companies expect the acquisition to close by the fourth quarter of 2007.
Tower Tech also recently signed an agreement to acquire Brad Foote Gear Works Inc., a Cicero, Illinois-based manufacturer of gearing systems for the wind turbine, oil and gas and energy-related industries.

Metavante Corp., the banking and payments technology subsidiary of Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley Corp., today announced an expansion of its compliance offering through a Web site for bankers.
The new site provides regulatory compliance guidance and is available to subscribers to the Metavante Regulatory Services premium membership.
The Web site is an extension of the Metavante Regulatory Services manual on banking laws and regulations. Written for bankers, the manual is available in print and now online at www.metavanteregulatoryservices.com. Key site features of the new Web site include: links to the latest regulatory mandates and industry hot topics; compliance resources; a calendar of upcoming regulatory services and bank industry events; a reference library of frequently asked questions; and enhanced search capabilities.
An independent survey recently conducted by Leede Research Group on behalf of Metavante indicated that the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and USA Patriot Act are the most challenging compliance issues facing the nation's community and regional banks.
"Regulation persists for financial institutions," said Gary Bakker, vice president and general manager, Metavante Risk and Compliance Solutions. "We see this pain point and significant pressure to continually improve risk and compliance practices. By fashioning a new Web site, we are responding with a broad online package of resources to assist in addressing these challenges."

While touring Olympic venues in Beijing over the weekend, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle met with Yi Jianlian, the Milwaukee Bucks 2007 first round draft pick from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
"We can't wait to welcome Yi to Wisconsin," Doyle said. "Millions around the world will tune in to see Yi, learn about Milwaukee, and see what Wisconsin is all about.  Wisconsin already has a tremendous relationship with China that is only growing stronger.  From the 2008 Olympic Games to the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, Wisconsin companies are manufacturing the quality products China needs to fuel its growth."
The Milwaukee Bucks drafted Yi Jianlian this summer with the sixth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. A 6-11, 238-ound power forward, Yi has played professionally for the Guangdong Tigers of the CBA.
During his trade mission to China, Doyle has highlighted opportunities for Wisconsin companies at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. Doyle visited the Capital Gym and the National Training Center in Beijing, key Olympic venues that have been built using equipment, supplies and products provided by Wisconsin companies.
Robbins Sport Surfaces of Whitelake provided the maple flooring for the Capital Gym in Beijing, as well as a 26,000 square-foot portable basketball court for the Nanjing Sports Centre, both serving as Olympic training centers.
Aecer Flooring of Peshtigo supplied and installed the 29,000 square-foot wood floor for the National Training Center in Beijing, the exclusive training location for the Chinese national team. Aecer is also installing the flooring for the Olympic badminton courts.  The company is one of the largest producers of wood Performance Sports Floors in the United States.
Manitowoc Company is the largest crane manufacturer in China.  The company's Grove Cranes are playing a crucial role in construction projects for the 2008 Games.
Oshkosh Truck Corp. is providing six emergency response vehicles for the Beijing Capital International Airport in preparation for the 2008 Games.
For a full report on opportunities in China for Wisconsin businesses visit, www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=11926.

Seventeen years ago, a Michigan high school art teacher looking for a creative way for his class to raise funds for a local food drive came up with the idea for a community meal where guests would be served in ceramic bowls handcrafted by his students. Guests would receive a simple meal of soup and bread and keep their bowls as a reminder that "someone's bowl is always empty."
Several years later, Jean Wells, a potter, and Amy Dodge, an event organizer and marketing director, decided to try an Empty Bowls fundraiser in Milwaukee.
Today, Milwaukee Empty Bowls is the largest event of its kind in the United States.  Now in its ninth year, the fundraiser has collected more than $220,000 for area food pantries and hunger programs.
"The support from the Milwaukee community has been overwhelming," said Dodge, who is president of the Milwaukee project. "Every year, we see people who have been with us since the beginning - and there are always new faces. It's a wonderful way for friends and families to get together and help the hungry in our community."
This year's event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at MATC-South, 6665 S. Howell Ave., in Oak Creek. Guests at the event will have their choice of more than 2,000 ceramic bowls handcrafted and donated by local artists, teachers and students.  Soups prepared by 50 local chefs will be served, as well as freshly baked bread and other refreshments. Empty Bowls requests a minimum donation of $20 per bowl ($10 for bowls made by young artists).
Proceeds from the event will go to food pantries and soup kitchens in the area, including the Agape Community Center, the Bay View Community Center, Friedens Community Ministries, Hope House, Interchange and the Milwaukee Rescue Mission.
Additional information is available at http://milwaukeeemptybowls.org/.

Proposed restrictions on lakefront developments near Hayward are stirring debates about another "Wilderness Lakes' designation. Read more in SBT's daily roundup of headlines from newspapers across the state at www.biztimes.com.

Online registrations are being accepted to attend the fifth annual Small Business Times Commercial Real Estate & Development Conference.
The theme for this year's conference is "Back to the City." The conference will explore how people and businesses are returning to urban life after a decades-long exodus.
The conference and breakfast will take place on Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Italian Community Center in downtown Milwaukee.
A panel of national experts will examine the impact of the rebirth of urban life and discuss how cities can continue to prosper. The panelists will include:

• Jill Bensley, the founder and president of J.B. Research Co. of Ojai, Calif. Bensley is a consultant who provides research and analysis for commercial real estate projects such as arts, entertainment, cultural, retail, residential, industrial, office, hotel, restaurant and recreational developments across the nation.
• Afshin Ghazi, the founder and president of The Ghazi Company, a Charlotte, N.C.-based commercial real estate development company. The Ghazi Company is doing several high-profile, cutting-edge development projects throughout North Carolina, including the EpiCentre Complex in downtown Charlotte. The company is expanding to other markets, including Milwaukee, where the firm plans to build a $120 million mixed-use development with 200 condos, a 175-room boutique hotel and 100,000 square feet of entertainment, restaurant and retail space on a two-acre city-owned parking lot at the southwest corner of North Fourth Street and Wisconsin Avenue.
• Tony Smith, practice leader at S. B. Friedman & Company, a specialized real estate and development advisory firm based in Chicago. The company has assisted developers, corporations, nonprofits, universities, health care institutions, economic development organizations, transit agencies, lending institutions and government agencies with development planning, finance and strategy. The firm has worked with clients throughout the country, with an emphasis on the Midwest. Earlier this year, Smith and the Friedman team completed a strategic analysis of downtown projects for the Milwaukee Department of City Development.
• Brian Vandewalle, founder and president of VandeWalle & Associates, a Madison consulting company that has opened an office in Milwaukee. Vandewalle has been a leading strategic urban planner, economic development advisor and development consultant to the Upper Midwest's communities and developers for more than 30 years. His particular areas of expertise lie in urban planning, urban redevelopment, and urban design. His visions of sustainable, market-driven urban design are found in the master plans of cities throughout the region. 

The conference will be emceed by Professor Mark Eppli, Ph.D., chair of the Robert B. Bell Real Estate Program at Marquette. Opening remarks will be provided by Richard "Rocky" Marcoux, commissioner of the Milwaukee Department of City Development, and Sandi Anderson, president of the CARW.
The annual conference is intended to provide insight for people and companies with interests in the commercial real estate industry. More than 400 people, including Realtors, developers, brokers, architects, contractors, subcontractors, environmental experts, engineers, financial experts, municipal planners, attorneys and others, attended last year's conference.
The conference also will include the presentation of the Robert B. Bell Best Public Partner Award to a local government official who has been an advocate for commercial real estate development.
Online registration is available at http://www.biztimes.com/biztimes/CREfaxForm.pdf. For more information, contact Sarah Wilson of Small Business Times at (414) 277-8181, ext. 129, or at sarah.wilson@biztimes.com.
 

Meet one small-business owner who has had enough of skyrocketing employee health costs and wants to support the Healthy Wisconsin reform plan in today's Milwaukee Biz Blog.

The BizTimes Stock Index gained 1.22 points to close at 178.32 Friday, but the stock market was spooked today by former Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Alan Greenspan's new book, in which he acknowledged his failure to take action to prevent the current housing bubble. Greenspan, who describes himself as a "lifelong Libertarian Republican," also is criticizing President George W. Bush and the Republicans in Congress who "swapped principle for power" and failed to be fiscally responsible. "They deserved to lose," Greenspan wrote. Read more in a preview of the book in The Wall Street Journal.
Local stocks followed the broader market downward this morning. The largest local decliners this morning were Johnson Controls Inc. (down $1.13 to $110.09) and Manpower Inc. (down $1.08 to $62.30). The largest local advancers this morning were Badger Meter Inc. (up 43 cents to $31.68) and Rockwell Automation Inc. (up 40 cents to $68.88). The BizTimes Stock Index was created by Small Business Times and is monitored by North Shore Bank. The index, which measures the stock values of publicly held companies based in southeastern Wisconsin, is updated daily and can be viewed at www.biztimes.com.