COVID-19

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, 18 other statewide business associations and 33 local chambers of commerce sent a letter to Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday asking for his administration to create a plan that allows the state’s economy to restart on April 24, when the governor’s “safer at home” order is set to expire.

The federal government's CARES Act will be a shot in the arm for many small businesses across the country, but the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package may not be enough to save independent restaurants from one of the darkest times the industry has ever faced.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $5.8 million to community health centers in southeastern Wisconsin to support their COVID-19 response. 

Milwaukee-area companies and organizations have given back in various ways to help in the fight against COVID-19:

The Wauwatosa-based Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment has awarded nearly $4.8 million in grants to 17 projects that are working to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus across Wisconsin.

Any other week, the 104,776 initial unemployment claims filed in Wisconsin last week would have been a record number.

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has begun developing an alternative care facility on the Wisconsin State Fair Park grounds in West Allis to care for COVID-19 patients, Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday. 

Wisconsin Bank & Trust and its sister banks are processing $1.5 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans under their holding company Heartland Financial USA, Inc.

Racine-based SC Johnson has again upped its financial commitment to fight the coronavirus pandemic, from $5 million to $10 million, the company announced Thursday. 

Dr. Dave Lal didn’t immediately recognize his fatigue and body aches as anything unusual. The pediatric oncologist at Children’s Wisconsin had been clocking in 16- to 18-hour days while on call at the hospital for a week.