The Milwaukee region, still reeling from the news that Miller/Coors will likely look elsewhere for a location of its new headquarters, received another blow today when the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) announced this morning it will move its office from Greendale to Arlington, Texas.
The USBC plans to partner with the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) to eventually form a $14 million international bowling campus with equipment for testing and training.  
The BPAA board unanimously decided to endorse the proposed purchase of land and a building for the project and the integration at its meeting this past January.
The decision to move to Texas came, despite efforts by the Milwaukee 7 and other local officials who offered incentives to keep the organization in Wisconsin.
"This is a great day for bowling," said USBC president Jeff Boje. "Both cities made excellent presentations and either would have been good locations for USBC, The board decided Arlington would be the best location should the USBC receive approval of investment from the Texas Enterprise Fund." 
The BPAA has pledged to pay for half of the complex, and if the USBC receives approval from the Texas Enterprise Fund, the move will take place later this year.
According to BPAA president Joe Schumacker, the integration can take place without the loss of identity or control for either organization. "Bowling has changed dramatically over the past 25 years. It is imperative the organizations embrace change so they can continue to professionally support their individual constituencies," he said.
Another reason for the board's decision to move was ease of travel. The central location of the facility in Arlington's entertainment and sports district, ( the new facility will be located three blocks from the Texas Rangers ballpark and about six blocks from the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium), and the location near one of the world's largest airports in Dallas/Fort Worth will make travel to the campus easier, bowling officials said.
The move means the loss of 230 jobs and more than $12 million in payroll for the Milwaukee area.
The decision prompted state Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) to criticize Wisconsin as a place to do business.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of other companies that cannot stay afloat in Wisconsin's current anti-business climate. The governor and the Senate Democrats should be adopting Republican proposals to make Wisconsin better for business. Instead, they have chosen to do nothing," Kanavas said. "The bills put forward by the Democrats this session focus on tax increases on businesses and giveaway programs with no track record of success. Their strategy for economic development seems to be taxing and spending our way out of a flat economy. Their plan ignores the reality that businesses are begging for relief while they pack their bags."
However, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker provided a different perspective on the USBC's decision: "Unfortunately, it seems clear that the United States Bowling Congress was set on partnering with the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America in Texas long before this announcement. I don't know that there was anything more that anyone from the Milwaukee area could offer to counter those plans."
The decision to move the Bowling Congress out of the Milwaukee area to Texas was criticized by Sports Illustrated columnist Frank Deford.

Local economic activity started 2008 on a weak note, as only five of 20 available monthly indicators tracked by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) pointed upward in January.
January's five improvements are down from the nine of 20 positive indicators posted in December.
"The local economy has slowed significantly in recent months with modest year-over-year job losses posted in each of the past three months," said Bret Mayborne, economic research director for the MMAC. "While these declines have been shallow to date, continuing job decreases would certainly be a strong sign of an economy in recession."
Notable indicators in the MMAC report included:

• Non-farm employment in the metro area averaged 841,500 in January, down 0.2 percent from one year-ago levels. January's decline marks the third consecutive monthly year-over-year decrease in jobs for the metro area.
• Three of 10 major industry sectors registered January job gains (vs. one year ago), while five posted declines. The largest percentage increase was posted in the educational & health service sector (up 1.8 percent over year-ago levels). Conversely, a 1.6-percent job decline was posted in both the manufacturing and trade, transportation & utilities sectors,  the largest decreases registered.
• On the positive side, both new car registrations for the metro area and passenger activity at Mitchell International Airport posted solid and continuing gains over year-ago levels.
• The number of unemployed averaged 41,600 for the month, up 2 percent from one year ago, while new unemployment compensation claims rose 3.5 percent (vs. one year ago), to 8,869.
• January's seasonally unadjusted jobless rate of 5.3 percent ranked higher than the 5.1 percent rate posted one year ago.
• Existing home sales in the metro area fell against year-ago levels for the 19th consecutive month, down 27.7 percent in January (to 549). Mortgages recorded in Milwaukee County numbered 3,957, a 35.6-percent decrease from one year ago and the 15th consecutive month of year-over-year decline.
• The value of signed construction contracts, as reported by F.W. Dodge for December, was $94.6 million, up 13.4 percent from December 2006.
• The Milwaukee area consumer price index reached 195.571 for the second half of
  2007, a 2.7-percent increase from the second half of 2006.

Funds are being raised in Sheboygan to open the first Wisconsin bank that is being built to serve the deaf. Read more in the new edition of the BizTimes Money Weekly bulletin.

The Milwaukee County Board's Parks, Energy & Environment Committee voted 6-0 this morning to approve a $550,000 gift from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation to restore and improve the lighting system at the Mitchell Park Domes.
"I thank the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and, in particular, benefactors Michael Cudahy, Chris Abele and an anonymous donor, for this generous gift," said Supervisor Lynne De Bruin, chair of the committee. "This gift will enable Milwaukee County to bring the Domes into the 21st Century."
The lighting project, to be completed by the end of the summer, will upgrade the lighting system with programmable light emitting diode (LED) technology, with longer life and better energy efficiency. Due to the improvements, the Domes will be closed from June 22 through late September.
"Local governments like Milwaukee County face many challenges these days," Abele said. "The donor involvement in this project allows Milwaukee County to have a larger impact than it would on its own. I thank the other donors, the county board and parks director Sue Black for making this happen."
"We're excited about enhancing the domes and preserving this jewel for future generations," said Sandy Folaron, director of the Domes. "This project will bring new life to the Domes and improve this asset for visitors to enjoy and residents to be proud of."
The full county board will consider the gift on Thursday, March 20, at 9:30 a.m. in room 200 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that Milwaukee will be one of 11 cities selected to participate in the Emerging 200 initiative, a jobs and growth stimulation effort targeting promising inner-city small businesses.
The other cities are Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Memphis, Atlanta, Chicago, Albuquerque, New Orleans, Des Moines and Oakland.
An SBA spokesman said Milwaukee was chosen because of its need for inner city business growth.
The SBA initiative will focus on small, poised-for-growth inner-city companies with potential for job creation.
Research shows that small firms with fewer than 20 employees created 80 percent of the net new jobs in the economy from 1990 to 2003, and also that small businesses in inner cities added nearly three times the number of new jobs than larger companies between 1995 and 2002.
"This innovative initiative is designed to accelerate the growth of companies that are poised for sustained expansion," said SBA Administrator Steve Preston. "With the selection of these 11 cities, the Emerging 200 initiative will begin to prepare 200 high potential companies for their next phase of growth. It will attract and tap the power of these local entrepreneurs to transform their communities, grow wealth and increase the tax base in a real and lasting way."
The Emerging 200 initiative will have its official unveiling in each of the pilot cities at a series of local launch events to be scheduled in late March and early April.
The SBA Emerging 200 initiative will enable entrepreneurs from the 200 companies to participate in an intensive and comprehensive curriculum focused on developing winning, local strategies and attracting capital to fuel growth. Participants also will have the opportunity to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with banks and the private equity community.

The Sleep Wellness Institute, the state's largest sleep disorders diagnosis and treatment center, will now offer an inexpensive sleep apnea screening tool for use in the home.
The SleepStrip costs $25 and allows people who suspect that they may have sleep apnea, a potentially lethal disorder, an easier way to screen themselves for indications of the disease.
According to Sleep Wellness Institute president Mark Stoiber, the new tool is the first step for people who may be reluctant to undergo full testing initially.
"Sleep apnea can only be diagnosed by a sleep study, and unattended ambulatory studies are considered somewhat less reliable, as shown by Medicare's recent decision not to provide coverage for them," Stoiber said. "But for those people who are concerned that they might have sleep apnea and are reluctant to be evaluated, the SleepStrips offer them a way to screen themselves, in effect, and then contribute to a determination with a sleep center if a full sleep study is necessary."
Stoiber said the strip will allow some people to allay their fears by screening out those people who have no apnea present.
Manufactured by Sleep Sense, a division of Scientific Laboratory Products, the strips are worn under the nose overnight. They contain sensors that track breathing and monitor apnea events. Events are displayed in a one digit number from 0 to 3 that the patient reports to the Sleep Wellness Institute in West Allis. The reading, combined with information about the patient's sleep and health history, can be used to make a determination of whether additional testing is necessary.
Stoiber said approximately 16 million Americans are believed to have undiagnosed sleep
The Sleep Wellness Institute also launched this week a web site for the Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research and Eduation Foundation at www.reggiewhitesleepdisordersfoundation.org.

Milwaukee Alderman Terry Witkowski has scheduled a meeting on Friday, March 14, with business and elected officials to discuss the development of businesses in the area surrounding General Mitchell International Airport.
Witkowski said the meeting will focus on how the airport could be Wisconsin's largest asset for economic development, how it has been put to use, how it compares to other airports around the country, and why it is not surrounded by more companies wanting to locate there.
The meeting will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Milwaukee Room on the upper level of the terminal at Mitchell International.
Witkowski hopes that the outcome of the meeting will be the formation of a group that seeks a study of development around other airports in the nation and establishes a foundation to seek that development here.
"I believe that this area has the potential to foster greater economic development and create new jobs and help the economy. I am excited to share ideas with stakeholders and members of neighboring communities to help bring more economic development activity to this area," Witkowski said.
The alderman has invited mayors and planners from Cudahy, Franklin, Greenfield, Milwaukee, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee and St. Francis, as well as county supervisors, state and federal representatives and senators representing those areas.
Chamber of commerce officials from the suburban areas and Milwaukee have been invited, as well as representatives from the Milwaukee 7, the Milwaukee Development Authority and the governor's office.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Urban Initiatives and Research is assisting in the development project.

Thomson, a Paris, France-based company, through its Technicolor Digital Cinema business, announced today it will install digital cinema projection systems with Marcus Theatres at the Cinema At The Renaissance 13-plex in Sturtevant.
The Technicolor projection systems will deliver sharp images and pure uncompressed digital sound to moviegoers, and will enable a new range of programming opportunities, such as live concerts, sporting events and 3-D films. Additionally, the systems will be fully integrated with the current digital advertising system, allowing for seamless pre-show presentation in 2K resolution.
Marcus Theatres, a division of The Marcus Corp. of Milwaukee, is the seventh-largest motion picture exhibitor in the United States and operates 595 screens at 49 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, North Dakota and Iowa.
"Marcus Theatres has been an industry leader for over 70 years," said Curt Behlmer, executive vice president of Technicolor Theatrical Services and chief executive officer of Technicolor Digital Cinema. "We look forward to working with them in their ongoing pursuit of providing their customers with the highest quality motion picture presentation available."

Marshall & Ilsley Corp. announced today it will conduct its annual meeting of shareholders on Tuesday, April 22, at 10 a.m. at the Pabst Theater in downtown Milwaukee.
Marshall & Ilsley is the Milwaukee-based parent company of M&I Bank. The corporation's 2008 proxy statement and 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders are available online at www.micorp.com.

Wangard Properties LLC announced plans Monday to build an eight-story, downtown office tower just south of 875 E. Wisconsin Ave.
The tower will be constructed atop an existing parking structure and provide 155,000 square feet of new Class A Downtown office space, complement 875 East and offer that building's current tenants room to expand, said Stewart Wangard, chairman of the Milwaukee company.
"875 East Wisconsin is currently 100-percent leased to some of Milwaukee's best companies, some
of whom are eyeing growth in the not too distant future," Wangard said. "Building a new tower
compatible to 875 East is the best way to plan for growth opportunities, as well as meet the needs for other businesses for state-of-the-art office space downtown. There are several potential tenants for the new building, and talks we've had with key prospects are ongoing and productive."
Wangard said the new building's proposed location at the east end of Wisconsin Avenue is generating
increased interest in the new building.
"Continued growth in the Third Ward, the impending completion of the Marquette Interchange
and Michigan Avenue's emergence as a gateway to the lakefront have given added excitement to this
project," he said.
The architectural style of the new tower will be compatible to 875 East, Wangard said. In addition,
connectors between the two properties will be constructed on multiple floors.
Other members of the development team for the project include Eppstein Uhen Architects; general contractor C.G. Schmidt; engineering firms Arnold & Sheridan Inc. and Ring and DuChateau.

Two legislators are pushing to make a 2014 deadline to end the 0.1-percent Miller Park stadium sales tax a reality instead of an estimate. State Rep. Robin Vos (R-Caledonia) and state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) have introduced a bill to create a sunset date for the tax, which is collected in Racine, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties. However, the stadium district says the tax may need to last longer than expected because of declining sales tax revenues. Read more in SBT's daily roundup of headlines from newspapers across the state at www.biztimes.com.

In today's Milwaukee Biz Blog, Jon Rauser makes the point that the Healthy Wisconsin is riddled with flaws, while Jack Lohman makes the counterpoint that the proposal's time has come.

The Dow Jones Industrials Average shot up by more than 200 points this morning on the news that the Federal Reserve Bank will join with the central banks of other nations Tuesday to extend its temporary lending program to provide more liquidity to global financial markets.
The Fed said it will increase the funds it will make available and broadeni the collateral it will accept beyond the highest-rated mortgages. The Fed plans to lend up to $200 billion of Treasury securities for 28 days to primary dealers in the bond market.
The new securities lending facility will accept as collateral many kinds of mortgage-backed securities, including federal agency debt, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac residential-mortgage-backed securities, and AAA-rated private-label residential mortgage-backed securities. The auctions will be held weekly for 28 days.
Local stocks also spiked with the news after several days of downturns. The largest local gainers this morning were Bucyrus International Inc. (up $5.05 to $104.83), Joy Global Inc. (up $3.32 to $67.15) and Manpower Inc. (up $1.81 to $54.98). The largest local decliners this morning were Strattec Security Corp. (down 40 cents to $39.00 and Middleton Doll co. (down 12 cents to 38 cents).
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.