Industrial parks, West Bend downtown mix new and renewed development

According to Hartford Area Development Corp. (HADC) Executive Director Werner Wolpert, expansions in the Dodge Industrial Park lead the development news in that area.
In the Dodge Industrial Park, Hartford’s major corporate citizen, Quad/Graphics, is adding 217,000 square feet to its existing facility, bringing the firm’s total facilities in the park to 1.3 million square feet. The expansion is expected to result in the hiring of an additional 180 employees.
Another Dodge park tenant, Signicast, is adding on to the tune of 21,315 square feet for additional office space, 74,364 square feet for a machine shop and an additional production facility of 77,618 square feet.
In the Hartford and Western industrial parks, according to Wolpert, three other companies are expanding their facilities. Menasha Corp. is adding a 9,000-square-foot warehouse, Triton Corp. has added 10,000 square feet and Fire Line Creations has increased its facility by 30,000 square feet.
The HADC markets space in the Dodge park, and has recently closed eight land sales totaling 90 acres. Several of the sales will be associated with expansions of existing local industries, including Helgesen Industries, Automating Peripherals and Kendall Shoemake.
Companies HADC has brought into the park include USPL Auto Accessories of Colgate, and Advance Bag, Inc., which has relocated from nearby Jackson. The Advance Bag facility is expected to open this month and will initially employ 12 people. USPL manufactures spoilers and wings for late-model cars.

Jackson leverages TIFs
In Jackson, the fruits of years of disciplined TIF development are heavy on the vine. TIF development is responsible, according to village administrator Del Beaver, for an increase in the village’s statement of assessments from $50.5 million to $210 million between 1990 and 2000.
"We have just added a new part to TID No. 3, as the original TID No. 3 has been built out," Beaver said. "There are still about 20 acres available on the northeast corner of highways 60 and 45 that we expect activity will soon proceed on. Tilly Lake Business Park, part of TID No. 3 has been approved for build-out for low-impact retail and light industrial uses.
"Approximately 130 acres are still available in the Jackson Northwest Business Park. We have constructed a retention basin for the remaining undeveloped parcels. Quincy Container will have a certificate of occupancy this year. Universal Strap, Superior Stainless, Quincy Container and a multi-tenant building are all slated for construction in 2001. The construction firm Design to Construct – which worked on many of these buildings – will start construction on its own headquarters in Jackson Northwest in 2001."
In the more intermediate future, there are tentative plans for developing the southern end of the former Northland Cranberry property, Beaver said.

Germantown activity
According to village planner/zoning administrator Jason Gallo, the Village of Germantown is seeing less commercial development than in previous years, but industrial development activity is going strong. Commercial projects include a potential Home Depot location on Appleton Avenue and Highway Q and a 160,000-square-foot Menard’s location approved for Appleton Avenue and County Line Road.
Building activity has been brisk in the Germantown Industrial Park and Germantown Business Park, according to Gallo. In the industrial park, D&G Transportation has completed a 23,000-square-foot addition to its facility. Construction Concepts of Wisconsin is new to the development with a 12,040-square-foot building. Also new are Custom Pack Products at 25,000 square feet, Atwater-General Corp. at 22,620 square feet and Basic Metals at 43,000 square feet. Gallo added that there are still a few lots open in the industrial park.
In the Germantown Business Park, in an M1-zoned development with higher standards for construction and landscaping than the industrial development, Precision Woodwork is the newcomer, with a 41,300-square-foot project.

West Bend TIF-heavy
"We have eight active TIFs," Betty Pearson of the West Bend Chamber of Commerce said. "Some of them are just about done, others are just starting."
According to Pearson, the two most active are the West End Corporate Center, owned by Jim Schloemer of Continental Properties, and Wingate Creek Business Center, brokered by Ziegler-Bence.
The West End development has currently almost filled its commercial development allotment, according to Pearson, and will begin the light industrial and office development components of the project.
The city’s downtown is also part of a TIF district.
"The downtown is supposed to be a vital center for recreation and culture, as well as business activity," Pearson said. "We are currently working with consultants HNTB on plans for redeveloping the downtown."
Redevelopment opportunity is being driven by the removal of railroad tracks from the downtown area, making room for a trail, and by industrial properties being vacated by the appliance manufacturer, West Bend Company.

Downtown Racine, western villages sharing in business development

Development patterns in the eastern portion of Racine County are affected by a sewer moratorium while the City of Racine and its neighbors hammer out an agreement on cost sharing for a wastewater treatment plant expansion.
Negotiations between the city and the Town of Mount Pleasant have hit an impasse, extending a hold on new connections to the metropolitan sanitary sewer system, which is currently at capacity. The deal would also encompass the Town of Caledonia and the Village of Sturtevant.
Despite that fly in the ointment, commercial and industrial development activity has been relatively brisk in the eastern portion of the county and is accelerating in the more rural setting west of I-94.
"Racine’s downtown is seeing significant growth with the new Johnson Bank Building and a new M&I banking center. We continue to work on projects where we expect to see continuous growth as a result of the involvement of Racine Downtown along with our own organization," said Gordie Kacala of Racine County Economic Development Corp. (RCEDC).
Growth in the retail and service sectors have been strong, Kacala said. "As you make your way west of highways 31 and 20 near the Kohl’s and Jewel-Osco, you see a lot of outlot development around the Regency Mall."
The sewer moratorium would have minimal impact on retail and office development, as they are not major dischargers of wastewater.
"I don’t think it’s going to affect retail service development," he said. "We will see a long-term effect on industry because there is the need to develop new industrial parklands."
Moratorium not immediate problem
Although the debate over the wastewater treatment plant expansion has been going on for more than four years, Kacala said the immediate prognosis is not all that bad.
"For the next five years, we can continue to have an adequate supply of sewered lots within the city of Racine," Kacala said. "Outside of a four- to five-year timeframe, however, we will not. In context with the fact that we are seeing a national economic slowdown that will affect manufacturing, I don’t know what kind of manufacturing growth we will see in the next year regardless of a sewer moratorium."
Activity in The Renaissance, a 400-acre business park in Sturtevant, has been slowed as issues regarding a potential power plant in the development were addressed. Park tenant Golden Book’s option on additional property expired recently as well, opening up that land for additional industries.
The Washington Avenue Business Park has seen a recent sale of 30 acres, leaving two 20-acre sites remaining.
The sewer moratorium is also affecting on the Caledonia Business Park. The park is owned by Majestic North Development, Inc., a joint entity of Nielsen Building Systems and Ray Leffler of Newport Realty.
"We do have recent sales of 2.5 acres and pending sales of 16.5 acres, leaving us with about 15 available acres with sewer," Bruce Nielsen of Nielson Building said. "Until the moratorium is resolved, we’re in trouble. We have all kinds of acreage available, up to 430 acres, assuming we get sewer to it. We currently have Unico, Midland Container, Badger Electronics, AW Company, Mamco and Toledo Scale, which is leaving in March, Pavetech, Quick Cable, Rite Engineering and Drewco. The development is aimed at machine shops, warehouses, light manufacturing – anything that fits into M2 zoning."
Leffler said the Caledonia park is a good choice for smaller businesses as "our protective covenants are much looser than The Renaissance and Lakeview."
As the moratorium is resolved, the potential size of park extends from Dunklow Road to 4 Mile Road. "Obviously, we won’t be purchasing any more until the sewer moratorium is over with," Nielsen said. "We do have real access to 50 acres we don’t own, but don’t have sewer to it. We also have 14 acres in the Nordic Business Park at 6 Mile Road and Highway 31. It’s zoned M2 like the Caledonia Park."
Heading west
Further west, Poclain Hydraulics recently bought the building vacated by Greene Manufacturing in the Town of Yorkville’s Grandview Business Park.
In Union Grove, development activity is being focused on a newly formed TIF district on the northwest side of town. Formation of the new TIF was fast-tracked. "It usually takes five to six months to put a TIF into place," Bursek said. "We did it in 59 days."
A key concern was that proposed revisions to the rules governing TIFs would not allow the village to include recently annexed land from the Town of Yorkville in the TIF district.
The TIF encompasses a 33-acre annex to the village’s existing industrial park, along with blighted areas, in an attempt to put them back to their best use. Blighted areas include a former Stokely canning facility site. The sauerkraut factory burned down in 1987 and, according to Bursek, the site presents mild environmental concerns.
"The TIF funding, along with a brownfields development grant, should make development more attractive," Bursek said, adding that location would be a primary selling point for land in the TIF.
"Location is No. 1," Bursek said. "Union Grove is ideally located relatively close to I-94, and is centrally located between the Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine and Chicago markets."
Protective covenants would be loose enough to attract smaller companies, including the construction, warehousing and electrical supply businesses Bursek feels are ideal for the sites.
"In the industrial park annex, covenants are fairly restrictive, and cover outdoor storage and landscaping, masonry facing the street. Covenants are less stringent for the Stokely property," Bursek said.
Companies interested in locating in the TIF include Coleman Tool & Manufacturing, a short-run machining company with locations in Bristol, Somers and Kenosha. The company would build a $3.2 million facility and employ 120, according to Bursek. A yet unnamed company has expressed interest in 20 acres west of the Stokely property, and Bursek said that should they come on board, they would provide 200-500 jobs within five years.
Burlington redeveloping riverfront
The big development news in Burlington is obviously the riverfront redevelopment project. The project will ease traffic stoppages at the city’s rail crossings and create a recreational corridor along the river.
"Burlington has nearly completed the acquisition phase of the downtown redevelopment project," Kacala said. "We also expect to see a lot going on with the downtown and Highway 36 corridor."
"The riverfront project will have a tremendous positive benefit on our downtown businesses," City of Burlington administrator David Torgler said. "The project includes a four-lane railroad overpass, a new riverfront park, a bike/pedestrian path, downtown parking improvements, a pedestrian link to the new Burlington Area High School, a new 188-unit apartment building, and aesthetic improvements to our downtown. The railroad overpass will allow for traffic to move expeditiously through our downtown. With so much of the traffic in our city merely passing through, the overpass will eliminate the need to wait for a train. By allowing for an easier path through our city for the commuter traffic, our downtown streets will be more accessible to the consumers looking to get to one of our downtown businesses.
"The upgraded amenities will provide people working in or visiting our downtown with a new place to go. We intend to promote the use of this space for the enjoyment of our residents, businesses and visitors. The new bike path will link up with the existing bike path leading east along Highway 36 to Waterford, eventually linking directly to that village, and will hopefully one day link the city to Elkhorn."
The redevelopment push is coming at a real cost to the city, according to Torgler.
"The city continues to update its infrastructure to meet the growing area demands for service," Torgler said. "This year we improved more then $1.4 million dollars worth of roads, and we adopted a five-year street improvement program to ensure that we are able to keep up with our streets. We are also replacing thousands of linear feet of water and sanitary sewer lines along our riverfront project area. Many of our trunk lines run through this area and were in need of upsizing and updating.
"The city also has formed an economic development committee to work with the RCEDC, the Workforce Development program, Polacheck, and local businesses to address service needs, growing businesses’ needs and new business needs. We intend to be pro-active and work with our local businesses to create an environment that is business-friendly, while at the same time maintaining our ‘rural’ characteristics that make the city of Burlington attractive to residents."
According to Jenny Trick, senior economic development manager with the RCEDC, planned commercial uses for some riverfront properties cannot yet be announced, including a site vacated by Highlighter Graphics.
"The proposed use of the Hi-Liter building has not been confirmed," Trick said. "There is a commercial development proposed at that site. A lot of the parcels along the riverfront have been identified as redevelopment opportunities. When you have redevelopment in a certain area of the community, there is a trickle-down effect. Real estate developers see that there are great things going on down the street and think, ‘Maybe I should improve my property as well.’"
Another property that will see redevelopment activity is located at the intersection of Dodge and State streets, according to Trick.
"The property at Dodge and State street was acquired by the city to accommodate a railway underpass. The underpass option was rejected. We sent out a request for proposals and have been directed to pursue one of the proposals for an office-type structure."
Waterford gears up for Runzheimer
The biggest development push in the village of Waterford is the result of Runzheimer International’s consolidation of its Rochester and Burlington offices with existing facilities in Waterford. Runzheimer will be located on the northeast portion of Waterford in a 70-acre TIF district north of Highway 164 – the Waterford Centre.
Runzheimer will be selling property adjacent to new facility for 50% commercial and 50% light industrial development. The area will be set up with fiber optic capabilities. "Businesses that rely heavily on the Internet might want to locate in this park," Waterford village administrator Diane Schliecher said.
Runzheimer will occupy seven acres. Rex Runzheimer, the company’s president and CEO, is one of the partners in the park.
Schliecher said Runzheimer chose to consolidate in Waterford for a number of reasons.
"They wanted to control their environment," she said. "I don’t think they wanted a Culver’s in front of them. Even though I think they had their heart in working with Burlington, Waterford won because of location. Many of Runzhiemer’s newer employees are driving in from Waukesha and Milwaukee."
Torgler is philosophical about the loss of Runzheimer.
"As regards Runzheimer International, we are obviously disappointed about their decision to move their facilities to Waterford," Torgler said. "Runzheimer is a high-quality business and employer. However, as an area employer, our residents who are employed by them will still be within a short drive of their new facilities. We wish them nothing but the best of luck."
In the meantime, Waterford is gearing up for increased development in the area of the new Runzheimer site.
"From what I understand, they’re going to immediately develop south of (Runzheimer)," Schliecher said. "Runzheimer doesn’t abut Highway 164, so there is the potential for commercial development along the highway. It’s a planned development – we can work with users based on intended use, parking, setbacks and structure. We will still be restrictive on architecture and landscaping, but we can be more flexible than straightforward commercial industrial zoning."
Development of other portions of the village are also imminent, according to Schiecher.
"I think it will happen because of our visibility to the market," she said. "There is still some land available between the TIF area and McDonald’s. The land is fully improved with water and sewer. There is also some commercial on Highway 36 ready for development. One lot is owned by Jay Henrics from Peter Schwabe, Inc., out of Big Bend. The other is owned by Dave Allessee of Waterford. Both have land up and down Highway 36, and also south of East Main Street and west of 36 just north of the Burger King on Highway 36. They will build to suit or sell the land. This property does not have water and sewer yet, but they can be provided if needed."
Commercial activity has been brisk, according to Schiecher. She cites the addition of a new fully automatic laundry center on Highway 36 near McDonald’s, with additional retail spots open next door.
"In that same complex, Merry Maids will be opening, as well as an investment firm," Schliecher said.
Waterford’s downtown has been very solid, according to Schliecher.
"We had a beauty shop in business for 15 years move out of the downtown recently. It was just replaced by another beauty shop," she said. "We have minimal vacancies downtown – and are seeing a trend toward more owner-occupants."
Additional development potential is present on the west side of the village.
"We have some commercial property west of the village – owned by Matt Schulte with MSC of Waterford," Schliecher said. "The intersection at highways 20 and 83 needs work before this can be developed, but we expect this to be resolved in the next few months. The Department of Transportation wants extra turn lanes, and once the signal and lanes are in, it will be fantastic. The light should be done this fall. In the future, this will be the next nice area for small businesses like convenience stores. Currently there is only one gas station west of the river."

Rogers Memorial Hospital has named Harold Harsch, M.D., as medical director of the Medical College of Wisconsin’s psychiatric services at RMH-Milwaukee.
Tracy Bain has joined Frank F. Haack & Associates in Wauwatosa as manager of markets and operations in its property and casualty business. Her most recent work in commercial lines of insurance was with Muirfield Underwriters and Crum & Forster in Brookfield.
Sara Stanton has been named vice president of Seroka Healthcare Marketing, the new division of Seroka Public Relations in Waukesha. Stanton has been in the health-care industry for more than 20 years and has held such management positions as senior vice president of an area hospital and director of operations for a health-care-related organization. She holds a bachelor’s degree in medical records administration from Illinois State University at Normal-Bloomington, and a graduate degree in health services from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. Stanton is also a graduate of the Keller Graduate School of Management in Milwaukee.
Don Bobo has been promoted to the position of president and chief executive officer of Jefferson Wells International, a Milwaukee-based provider of professional services to firms throughout North America. He was formerly president and chief operating officer of the firm. Bobo joined the firm in January 1998 as executive vice president, chief operating officer and a member of the board of directors, and was promoted to president in late 1999. Under Bobo’s leadership, the firm’s annual sales have grown from $8 million to more than $160 million.
“Don has done a great job building and leading our sales and operations organization and has proven his capabilities to take over executive responsibility for the entire firm,” said Michael Harris, chairman and founder of Jefferson Wells. Prior to joining Jefferson Wells, Bobo served as president of MetSource, a $60 million benefits administration subsidiary of MetLife. From 1992 through 1996, Bobo was senior vice president and general manager of Kelly Services, where he led an $800 million division. Previously, he held domestic and international general management and human resource positions with John Labatt, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical and Armstrong Worldwide.
The firm also named Rob Wilson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, as a member of its board of directors. Wilson joined the firm as EVP and CFO in early 2000. The firm, which previously operated under the name “AuditForce,” has 1,600 employees and 24 offices.
Bryant and Stratton College has announced the following changes. Jim Palmer has been appointed director of admissions. He is responsible for the enrollment of new students and all marketing activities for the college. His past experience includes stints at Bader Rutter & Associates, plus Waddell & Reed Financial Services. Brian Sporleder has recently been named dean of instruction. He had recently served as director of Career Services since joining the organization in 1997. Kathy Bornheimer has also joined the college as director of Career Services. Bornheimer has more than 15 years experience in employment consulting in the private sector.

Demand strong for East Troy project; Elkhorn sees land availability tighten

Andy Bruce of MLG Commercial said the company is involved in a multi-use business park in East Troy at I-43 and Highway 219.
"The park encompasses 240 acres in two phases," Bruce said. "There are 160 acres involved in the first phase, with about 80 acres combined business park land and commercial land. The second phase will be 80 acres, and will follow in a few years.
"We’ve already closed two sales in the park. Modern Fence, a manufacturer and distributor of fencing and decorative fencing moved from another community. There is also a multi-tenant building built by CDI Construction. The users for this building have not yet been announced – but they will be light industrial."
The space in the first phase should go fast, according to Bruce.
"We’ve got interest in the park from a number of other light industrial and professional companies," he said. "We also have 40 acres of commercially developable land in that park. We have sites that would be appropriate for fast food and hotel."
Work has already begun in the park, as roads and utilities have been extended to the site, and Bruce said some of the commercial properties will be developed in the very near term.
George Martin, a consultant to the Elkhorn Development Corp., said that while things are slowing in the city’s industrial park, commercial development is picking up on Highway 67 on the city’s north side.
"We are running out of land – the supply of land is diminishing," Martin said. "We’re taking a good hard look at how we’re going to develop the balance of the vacant property. We’ve been pretty strong in use of TIF funds as incentives for business to come in. We will still use that, but may use different logic on how the funds should be used. We’ll be looking for professional skill level jobs and develop a little more commercial on Highway 67."
Covenants tightening
The industrial park, which started with 262 acres, has 77.7 acres remaining. The protective covenants in place are loose enough to allow metal buildings given brick construction facing the street, but enforcement has been lax in past years.
"Our covenants are pretty darn tight regarding the type of building, the amount of brick and landscaping," Martin said. "They could be tightened further. Short of redoing all the covenants, we’re going to be enforcing the covenants much more tightly than in the past. Buildings constructed in the last three years have met covenant requirements. In the past, we might have overlooked some of the details."
Martin said the development organization is creating a committee to target specific industries.
"We know the parameters under which we want to approach businesses," he said. "We know what we want for our commercial sector, and that would be professional offices. We can develop commercially along Highway 67 to a depth of two lots in."
Martin said he also expects new development along Highway 11 on the east side of town.
Tourism king
in Lake Geneva
In Lake Geneva, development activity is leaning hard in the direction of the tourism industry that drives the local economy. According to George Hennerly of the Lake Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce, the tourism industry has a measurable, beneficial effect on the community.
"Lake Geneva and Walworth County generate $275 million in retail sales annually," Hennerly said. "One fourth of our workforce is employed in the service industry.
"Approximately 40% of our total assessed value is attributable to tourism. Tourism has a minimal impact on infrastructure and schools, and all of the amenities available to our visitors are available to us on a yearlong basis. Tourism is the third leg on our Wisconsin – and particularly Walworth County – economy stool, along with manufacturing and agriculture. They’re all important."
Major Lake Geneva activity includes a Home Depot at Highway 50 on the east side of town. The new store should be ready to open this summer, according to Hennerly. Many other developments are directly related to the tourism economy.
Mill Creek, a hotel development of 100 units, will soon open next to the downtown, one block from the lake, Hennerly said.
In the nearby Town of Lyons, Geneva Crossings, a large condo hotel with 220 units, is under construction, and should be ready for visitors in the fall of 2001.
At the Grand Geneva resort at Highways 50 and I-43, construction is under way on additional time-share units and a 200-unit condo-resort with an indoor waterpark recreation area.
At the juncture of highways 120 and 12, Hennerly said a previous strip mall has been redeveloped and is "now quite quickly filling it up. Aurora Health Care consolidated a number of operations in part of the strip mall. The potential expansion may include a grocery store and a number of other retailers."
The existing retail hub at Highway 50 and I-43 are also seeing growth.

The Sheboygan accounting firms of VanDerJact Williamson, LLP, and Martin C. Stepzinski CPA, S.C., have merged with Clifton Gunderson. Clifton Gunderson’s offices serving eastern Wisconsin comprise what will become known as its Eastern Wisconsin Client Service Center, formerly known as the Fox Valley Client Service Center. It is based at 100 Park Plaza in Oshkosh. Its offices now include Oshkosh, Green Bay, Sheboygan, Plymouth and Port Washington. The firm now has 17 offices in Wisconsin. The former VanDerJact Williamson firm was founded in 1959. Gary Williamson has joined Clifton Gunderson as a member. In total, 21 persons from VanDerJact Williamson have joined Clifton Gunderson. The Martin C. Stepzinski firm was founded in 1983. Four professionals and staff from the firm have joined Clifton Gunderson, with Stepzinski becoming a member. They will be moving their practice to 708 Erie Ave. to join with former VanDerJact Williamson staff at that location.
Rocore Industries of Franklin has acquired the manufacturing assets of Modine Aftermarket Holdings’ Dallas-based radiator core manufacturing operation. The new facility will be operated as Rocore Southwest. Rocore Southwest will continue to offer the radiator core products currently made at the Dallas location as well as its OEM-configured construction, truck and industrial cores as manufactured at its Franklin plant. Modine Aftermarket Holdings will operate its Dallas-based distribution from a new location in Dallas. Modine will distribute the Rocore radiator core product line to radiator shops in the Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana markets.
The T.E. Brennan Co. of Milwaukee has acquired the Glendale-based risk management and property and casualty consulting firm of Brock McQuide Consultants. The firm’s staff has joined T.E. Brennan on Milwaukee’s East Side, and the Glendale office has been closed. Mark McQuide has become a Brennan consultant.
Libby Wick and Mark Metcalf have purchased Kelley’s on Donges Bay Road in Mequon. They have renovated the facility and renamed it Libby Montana Bar & Grill. The restaurant will feature a variety of regional American foods. The original bar is being restored. The small banquet room, the new room, will be geared toward families and children, with toys and books and nature videos on the television. The Volleydome will also be updated, and will continue to be available for volleyball leagues. Wick, a Milwaukee native, had managed Major Goolsby’s and the Stackner Cabaret. Upon marrying Metcalf, a New York actor, she moved to Manhattan and worked for the Ark Restaurant Corp. The couple relocated to Los Angeles in 1994, and she became the general manager for the food and beverage operations of the production lot of Universal Studios. Metcalf, a St. Louis native, has appeared in Animal House and Oscar, and has made appearances on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as the maestro on Seinfeld. He also produced the feature film Chilly Scenes of Winter. They returned to the Midwest to raise their son Julius. The restaurant’s chef, Ryan Whitman, is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University in South Carolina and has worked at Club Forest and Spago in Chicago. Most recently, he was at North Shore Bistro in Fox Point and The Knick downtown.
Amato Automotive Group of Milwaukee has acquired Nodell Cadillac-Oldsmobile at 5200 N. Port Washington Rd., Glendale. The dealership is now known as Amato Cadillac-Oldsmobile. The organization also operates John Amato Ford in Mukwonago and John Amato Oldsmobile-Mazda in Milwaukee.

The following loan guarantees have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration during November.
Affiliated Medical Resources, N168 W21700 Main St., #343, Jackson 53037, $20,000, Grafton State Bank.
America’s Bakery, 2202 E. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha 53186, $1,090,000, Allied Capital SBLC Corp.
Autumn Winds of Oakland, Airport Road, Jefferson 53523, $179,000, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp.
Bhupinder S. Bopairai, 105 E. Hilltop Trail, Fort Atkinson 53538, $318,000, Associated Bank South Central.
Canine Campus, 38322 Delafield Rd., Oconomowoc 53066, $291,000, First Bank of Oconomowoc.
Cardinal Ridge Supper Club, W9298 U.S. Hwy. 18, Cambridge 53523, $260,000, Cambridge State Bank.
HMR Welding, 795 Armstrong Rd., Campbellsport 53010, $15,000, Hometown Bancorp.
Carri-Jo, 1300 Capitol Dr., Ste. C, Pewaukee 53072, $95,000, Waukesha State Bank.
Come Learn With Me, 7712 W. National Ave., West Allis 53214, $53,900, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank.
Elite Engines, 922 Carney Ct., West Bend 53095, $269,000, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp.
James F. Dusenberry, OD, 117 W. Lake St., Lake Mills 53551, $140,000, The Greenwoods State Bank.
Just a Dollar, 6131 W. Lincoln Creek Dr., Milwaukee 53218, $72,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank.
Libby Montana, 5616 W. Donges Bay Rd., Mequon 53092, $900,000, Heller First Capital Corp.
Merlin’s Muffler, 5235 S. 27th St., Milwaukee 53215, $170,000, Newcourt Small Business Lending Corp.
One Stop West Allis Food Store, 5909 W. Lincoln Ave., West Allis 53219, $418,500, Wells Fargo Bank.
Panektek, 44 Zellar Court, Ste. A, Fond du Lac 54935, $100,000, Associated Bank Lakeshore.
Potter’s Optical, 555 Bayview Rd., Mukwonago 53149, $62,000, Citizens Bank of Mukwonago.
Premier Fitness, 2133 Eastern Ave., Plymouth 53073, $145,340, Community Bank & Trust.
Pro Motorsports of Fond du Lac, 727 Northwest Way, Fond du Lac 54937, $1 million, Associated Bank Lakeshore.
Quizno’s Bluemound, 19030 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield 53005, $150,000, Community Bank & Trust;
Robert J. and Beverly R. Gross, 1725 S. Johnson Rd., New Berlin 53146, $147,000, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp.
Statewide Fencing, 8310 Industrial Dr., Caledonia 53401, $180,000, Stearns Bank.
Took Craft, 1213 N. 11th St., Sheboygan 53081, $130,500, Community Bank & Trust.
Woodworks Manufacturing, 605 Devils Ln., Walworth 53184, $20,000 and $127,300, Bank One.
State loans
Two minority-owned businesses in Milwaukee have received loans from the Minority Business Development Fund through the state Department of Commerce.
The following summarizes the successful proposals:
Square One, Inc., $30,000 loan – This business will operate as a Cousins Submarine Shop. It will be the first Cousins shop in Wisconsin to be owned by African-Americans. The shop will be located on a high-traffic area of Fond du Lac Avenue near established businesses. The business will use its loan for working capital. The project will create ten jobs and leverage $254,000 in additional investment.
Transfernet USA/Mex, Inc., $22,900 loan – This company provides wire transfer transactions for individuals and businesses to financial institutions primarily in Mexico. It is expanding and modernizing is headquarters, including its computer system. The company will use its loan for equipment and related expenses. The project will create 23 jobs and leverage $75,200 in additional investment.
The Minority Business Development Fund can provide loans for business start-ups, expansions, and acquisitions and grants for feasibility studies and business plans. For further information about minority business development programs, contact Oscar Herrera, the Department of Commerce at 608-266-8380.
Leases
Irgens Development Partners of Wauwatosa has leased office space in Wood Lake III to Newark Electronics. Wood Lake III, developed by Irgens Development Partners, has more than 71,000 square feet of space and is located in the Milwaukee County Research Park in Wauwatosa. Newark Electronics will be leasing 4,100 square feet of space. Wood Lake III is the fourth building completed by Irgens in the Research Park; its fifth building is under construction. Newark Electronics is the largest small-order, high-service distributor of electronic components in North America, stocking more than 150,000 electronic parts from hundreds of manufacturers. Newark Electronics is part of Premier Farnell, which is quoted on the New York and London stock exchanges and is a global distributor of electronic and industrial components.
The Meyer Company has leased the 14,640-square-foot industrial building located at 918 Schoenhaar Dr., West Bend, from Shane Ventures, LLC. David Buckley, a broker with the James T. Barry Co., Milwaukee, brokered the transaction. The tenant intends to use the building for its expanding business while Buckley markets its former 5,600-square-foot industrial building for sale. The landlord plans to lease the remaining 17,500 square feet.
G&G Enterprises of Wisconsin, Inc., has leased the 12,000-square-foot industrial building at 904 Schoenhaar Dr. in West Bend from Shane Ventures. The James T. Barry Co.’s Buckley also brokered this deal. The tenant intends to establish a larger facility in West Bend for its Handi Care Transportation and Community Connections taxi-type service. The James T. Barry Co. is selling the three-building complex, that is now net-leased, for $1,060,000.
National Bond & Trust Co. has leased 1,100 square feet of space in Park Plaza, 15850 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield, according to Towne Realty of Milwaukee. The company, established in 1976, assists other firms in developing payroll deduction programs for employees to purchase U.S. Savings Bonds. It has offices around the country.
Towne Realty also announced that MC2 has leased 2,300 square feet of space in the 633 Building at 633 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee. The company is a mobile workforce communications consulting firm. It also offers Nextel and Nextel Partners wireless communications services.
Ameritech Advanced Data Services of Wisconsin, Inc., has leased 2,534 square feet of space at 9622 S. Franklin Dr. in Franklin, according to NAI MLG Commercial of Brookfield. NAI MLG’s John Henderson represented the lessor, Rudolph Raab of Raab/MLGD. David Ames of Equis Corp. represented Ameritech Advanced Data Services of Wisconsin. NAI MLG Commercial has also announced that Save-A-Lot food store has leased 16,000 square feet of space in the Mill Road Shopping Center at 76th Street at Mill Road in Milwaukee. NAI MLG’s Denis Severinsen represented Jerry’s Enterprises of Edina, Minn., d/b/a Save-A-Lot.
Jesse Arndt, d/b/a The Sign Shop, has leased 3,750 square feet of space at 702 Rose Dr. in Hartland from Real Estate Specialists, according to leasing brokers John Czarnecki and Daniel Genzel of Wangard Partners, Wauwatosa. Wangard also announced that Engel & Engel have leased 2,227 square feet of space at 740 Pilgrim Parkway in Elm Grove. James D. and Patricia A. Williams were the lessors while Daniel Jessup of Wangard Partners was the leasing broker.
American Cable & Harness has leased 9,600 square feet of space at 16255-16351 W. Lincoln Ave. in New Berlin from The Guardian Life Insurance Co. Marc E. Schmidt and Matt Quest of Wangard Partners were the leasing brokers.

The following loan guarantees have been approved through the Milwaukee office of the U.S. Small Business Administration during February:
All Metal, 102 North St., Sharon 53585, $56,500;
A’Loire Salon, 730 E. Washington St., Slinger 53086, $30,000, First Bank of Oconomowoc;
Artword Advertising, Inc., 933 N. Mayfair Rd., Wauwatosa 53226, $100,000, Ridgestone Bank;
Culver’s of Muskego, $150,000, Firstar Bank Wisconsin;
Culver’s of Hales Corners, 6101A. S. 108th St., Hales Corners 53130, $400,000, Firstar Bank Wisconsin;
Damage Control & Restoration, 3303 W. National Ave., Milwaukee 53215, $80,700, Layton State Bank;
Diacar Products Co., 6814 S. 112th St., Franklin 53132, $70,000, Firstar Bank Milwaukee;
Doucette Donegan & Russell Insurance, 159 W. Garland St., Jefferson 53549, $137,000, Jefferson County Bank;
Imme Transport, Inc., 7132 Peterson Ct., Waterford 53185, $300,000, Bank One Wisconsin;
Interstate Cryogenics, Inc., 3502 66th St., Kenosha 53142, $72,500, State Bank of St. Cloud;
Marshall’s Gas-N-Goods, Inc., 209 Madison Ave., Cascade 53011, $375,000, Firstar Bank Wisconsin;
Nelson Transfer, Inc., 7769 105th Ave., Kenosha 53142, $100,000, M&I Bank of Racine;
Novels Country Inn, 229 E. Main St., Eagle 53156, $170,000, Waukesha State Bank;
Tinder Box, 479 Main St., Saukville 53080, $268,900, Grafton State Bank;
Whitewater Subway, 1185 W. Main St., Whitewater 53190, $182,250, The First Citizens State Bank of Whitewater.
April 1998 Small Business Times, Milwaukee