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Winners revealed for Real Estate Awards

The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee on Friday announced the recipients of the 2012 Real Estate Awards and here is a photo slide show of our local winner.

Any server room is going to get hot. But the new Jack Russell Memorial Library in Hartford is pulling that waste heat over water coils to help warm the rest of the building, rather than dumping expensive air conditioning into the room.

That is one reason among many why the library’s utility bills have held steady since moving into the new facility, which is more than twice the size of the old one.

“The whole building was designed to work together as a machine,” said lead architect Mike Bahr of Plunkett Raysich Architects in Milwaukee. “It’s amazing what you can do when you reframe the way you solve a problem.”

Placement of windows and eaves helps to “grab heat from the south side of the building and move it to the north side.” In addition to heating, the radiant floor system also is used to cool the building, which Bahr said may be a first in Wisconsin.

Installing 52,000 linear feet of floor tubing and enormous basement water tanks was a challenge, said Dan Wargolet, project manager for general contractor J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc. The project was a learning experience, he said, but if the energy savings continue, “I would expect to see a lot more of this construction in the future.”

In addition to being a showcase for new conservation techniques, the library provides another anchor for downtown Hartford. Built near the city’s mill pond, the materials and angles evoke mills of the kind that used to line the Rubicon River.

“We designed a place that people would want to spend time in,” said library director Michael Gelhausen. “It’s the community’s living room.”

A downtown library fit the city’s overall plan, said city manager Gary Koppelberger. Having all government offices within a few blocks “keeps business downtown and keeps a lot of activity downtown,” he said, and encourages residential development.

Although the library has a new building, it does not have an expanded budget. The board hopes for more funding in the future; for now, volunteers provide the equivalent of three full-time workers, Gelhausen said, and the library has invested in an automated system to sort returned books. Circulation has risen 40 percent since the building opened in November.

Even in the Internet era, a public library is a necessity, Gelhausen said, noting it offers access to information at no charge to the public, which no electronic device can match, and usage rises in a poor economy.

“A library is an investment in the entire community,” he said.

The library’s move from the third floor of City Hall ends a 30-year quest for a permanent home. A fundraising drive provided $2.3 million of the total $10.2 million cost, and exceeded its goal during the worst of the recession.

The city contributed $5 million, using a 20-year bond issue.

“Citizens came forward and filled the gap,” Koppelberger said. “There were more donations than I ever could have expected in this economy. That’s Hartford, though.”

- David Lewellen

HADC Board of Directors

The Hartford Area Development Corporation Annual Meeting was held on April 17, 2012 and the Board of Directors was confirmed (pictured left to right):

* Brian Priestaf - CDM Tool & Manufacturing

* King Coles II - PolyFirst Packaging

* Patrice Hoeschele – HADC CEO

* Matt Schwechel - First Bank Financial Centre

* Gary Wendorff - Hartford Finishing

* Al Laufer - Laufer Trucking

* Raymond Jaroch - Evald Moulding

* Tom Hostad - Broan-NuTone LLC

* Kenneth Braun - Hartford Savings Bank

* Tony Priesgen - Triton Trailers

Two appointed liaison Board members:

* Gary Koppelberger (City Administrator) - City of Hartford

* Joe Dautermann (Mayor) - City of Hartford

- Tom Hostad (President)

- Tony Priesgen (Vice President)

- Brian Priestaf (Secretary)

- Kenneth Braun (Treasurer)

To see what has all been happening with the HADC and economic development in the Hartford area, please read our Annual Report.

http://crwmag.com/issue/february-2012/article/milwaukee-free-trade-zone-is-expanding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

API Healthcare, the leading healthcare-focused workforce management technology provider, today announced it has acquired Concerro, a provider of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) staffing and scheduling systems for healthcare. The acquisition enables API Healthcare to significantly increase its ability to deliver workforce management solutions across the entire healthcare community, including critical access hospitals, home health, retail clinics and long-term care facilities.

The combination of API Healthcare’s robust, integrated workforce management solutions with the accessibility of Concerro’s SaaS solutions will provide more options for healthcare organizations across the entire continuum of care. This will enable the healthcare industry, from large health systems to small retail clinics, to achieve positive outcomes by managing labor costs while remaining focused on improving patient care.

“Concerro’s products and client base are the perfect complement to API Healthcare’s existing solutions and markets,” said J.P. Fingado, president and chief executive officer, API Healthcare. “Working together we will reinforce our mutual commitment to innovation and dedication to the healthcare industry. This strategic move allows us to leverage a larger number of talented, diverse and clinically-based staff to deliver the high quality of service that separates API Healthcare from our competitors.”

“We are committed to improving quality and performance for our more than 1,300 health system client installations through broad workforce technology,” said Patrick Pomroy, vice president of corporate development, API Healthcare. “The team at Concerro has done a great job of creating solutions that help fulfill these same goals for their client base. With the synergies created by this acquisition, all types of healthcare organizations will have access to innovative technology designed specifically to meet their unique workforce management needs.”

Concerro is a leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company that helps health systems effectively manage their workforce and mission critical communications with online scheduling, open shift management, patient acuity and emergency

preparedness solutions. The company combines strategic guidance and services with their full suite of clinical solutions including RES-Q, ShiftSelect and CommandAware. Concerro has won numerous awards and recognition, including being named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 for four consecutive years, and receiving Red Herring’s 100 most promising private technology ventures in North America and Best of SaaS Showplace (BoSS) awards. The Company is based in San Diego, CA.

API Healthcare headquarters will remain in Hartford, WI and the San Diego office will be a key business center for the corporation.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as financial advisor to API Healthcare.

About API Healthcare

API Healthcare (www.apihealthcare.com) is the largest healthcare-specific vendor focused on workforce management solutions for the healthcare industry. Driven by the mission to elevate quality and performance across the healthcare community through innovative workforce solutions, API Healthcare has been dedicated to the healthcare industry for 30 years. The company’s staffing and scheduling, patient classification, human resources, payroll, time and attendance, business analytics, and staffing agency solutions are used by more than 1,600 hospitals and staffing agencies. Founded in 1982, API Healthcare has been rated by KLAS in the Top 20 Best in KLAS Awards Report (www.KLASresearch.com) as the top time and attendance provider system for the last ten years (2002-2011).

As a result of the State of Wisconsin budget cuts for highway aids the City of Hartford has been working on a program to reduce the cost of street lighting in the City of Hartford. Currently the City spends approximately $418,000.00 annually on street lighting costs. The City is trying to reduce that amount by approximately $104,000.00. As of December 29, 2011 the street lighting reductions have resulted in an annual cost savings of approximately $52,000.00. Many additional street lights will be reviewed over the next few months.

During the past twelve months, street lights have been adjusted or eliminated on the following streets:
Bell Avenue, Briarwood Lane, Broadmoore Drive, Cedar Street, Colony Court, Constitution Avenue, East Avenue, East Monroe Avenue, Ewing Avenue, Fifth Street, First Street, Fourth Street, Grant Street, Harrison Street, Hilldale Drive, Honeysuckle Road, Imperial Court, Independence Avenue, Innovation Way, Jefferson Avenue, Lone Oak Lane, Maple Avenue, McKinley Avenue, Monarch Court, Morgan Drive, Mount Vernon Drive, Mueller Road, North Grand Avenue, North Pike Lake Drive, North Rural Street, North Wacker Drive, North Wilson Avenue, Ridge View Drive, Second Street, Sell Drive, South Rural Street, South Wilson Avenue, Steel Craft Drive, Tamarack Avenue & Circle, Third Street, West Lincoln Avenue, West Loos Street, West Monroe Avenue, West Rogers Street, West Washington Avenue, Willow Lane, Drumlin Drive, Heartlake Circle, Simon Drive, Grand Avenue, and Scenic Pointe Court, W. Sumner Street, E. Sumner Street, N. Johnson Street, Union Street, High Street, Sixth Street, E. Wisconsin Street, E. State Street, Riverbend Drive, Dovetail Drive, Shyanne Drive, Skypark Drive, Bluebird Lane, Dakota Drive, Seneca Street, Huron Way, Chippewa Drive, Durango Drive, Tahoe Lane, West State Street, Boyd Lane, North Johnson Street, White Eagle Court, Goldbug Court, Bradfield Court, Mill Street,Gateway Avenue, Stonecrop Drive, Airport Drive, Park Avenue and West Rossman Street.

During the next few months many additional street lights will be removed or adjusted in order to meet the City’s goal of $104,000.00 reduction in cost. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated throughout this budget cutting measure.

CITY OF HARTFORD ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT (262) 673-8260

This is their second location in Hartford, needed due to significant business development and continued economic growth.  The first facility is conveniently just around the bend at 2261 Innovation Way.

They now have an additional 43,384 sq ft and room for future expansion as required.

On behalf of the Hartford Area Development Corporation’s Board of Directors, we are very proud to have PolyFirst Packaging as part of our local membership success stories!

Please send congratulations to King Coles, Andy Garni, Steve Randazzo and their entire team.

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2011/09/27/cre-guide-community-spotlight-hartford.html?page=2

CRE Guide: Community Spotlight – Hartford

After cutting costs and streamlining operations during the recession, Hartford’s industrial businesses were ready to expand in 2011, local officials say.

“Gangbusters,” is how Patrice Hoeschele, chief executive officer of Hartford Area Development Corp., describes industrial development activity this year in the Washington County community.

Among the largest projects is a 90,000-square-foot addition under construction for Signicast Investment Castings in the Dodge Industrial Park. Company officials said the addition to its existing 500,000-square-foot facility should be complete in late spring or early summer when construction of another 100,000-square-foot addition will begin.

Cost of both additions is estimated at $50 million.

The company did look at other locations for growth, but “we’ve been very successful here, and we think that recipe can continue with personnel, the community, etc.” said Todd McDonald, vice president of sales for Signicast. The work ethic and availability of labor in Hartford along with synergy with the company’s existing facility were factors in the decision, he said.

Menasha Packaging Co. this summer completed a 60,000-square-foot addition to its existing 209,000-square-foot building in a $4.2 million expansion.

The city attracted four new businesses that moved into existing buildings over the last year. They are: Teslic Express Inc., TNT Stack Equipment, Accelerated Repair & Manufacturing and USA Hydraulics.

Hartford Finishing recently expanded by acquiring the former Mantz Automation building at 1023 State St.

Mantz Automation added 25,000 square feet to its building at 1630 Innovation Way in the Dodge Industrial Park.

The city’s existing industrial buildings are almost completely full, but the development group has about 100 acres of industrial land available for development in the Dodge Industrial Park, Hoeschele said.

Hartford industries didn’t escape the recession and responded with cost cutting and streamlining in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, many local businesses reported having the highest profits ever, she said.

Many responded to that growth this year by expanding facilities, hiring more employees or investing in new equipment.

While industrial development booms, Hartford also has attracted new retail development.

Construction is complete on The Shoppes at Hartford, a 24,000-square-foot multi-tenant building on Liberty Avenue west of the Wal-Mart store. The center can be expanded by about 5,000 square feet.

The center is completely leased, with tenants Dollar Tree, Maurices, Hibbett Sports, Great Clips, World Finance, Cash Store and GameStop.

Todd Waller of Madison, who developed the project with Steve Doran, said the expansion of the retail center will move forward when another tenant is secured.

Other new retailers in Hartford include AutoZone, which opened a 6,500-square-foot store on Highway 60 and Sell Drive on the city’s east side in late August. Stores for Advance Auto Parts and Sherwin-Williams also are under construction on Highway 60.

“I don’t think we had the commercial boom that maybe some other communities had, not being on the freeway,” said Justin Drew, the city’s director of planning and zoning. But “I think our population has increased to the point that retailers are showing greater interest.”

HARTFORD – The final hurdle to Signicast’s ambitious expansion plans has been cleared.

The Hartford Common Council on Tuesday night approved a developer’s agreement with the investment castings company that is an anchor tenant in the Dodge Industrial Park.

That approval was the final step in a process that began last spring and included utility work and the creation of a tax incremental financing district.

The TID-7 is structured a little different than others in that the city and the company will each receive a percentage of the incremental fi-nancing amount rather than a set dollar amount. The city will receive 20 percent of the incremental tax revenue to help cover expenses. The TID will run for 20 years. Alder-man Dennis Hegy pointed out the TID wouldn’t close early, because there is no set dollar amount.

City Planner Justin Drew said the percentage-based TIDs are becoming more common. With the percentage basis, there is more incentive for the city and Signicast to have the company reach its ambitious goals of doubling its plant size to almost a million square feet and building five new production modules.

Mayor Joe Dautermann said given the scope and magnitude of the project, the council should receive accolades. He also praised the work of Drew, Hartford Area Development Corporation Executive Director Patrice Hoeschele, City Admin-istrator Gary Koppelberger and City Attorney Karen Christianson in bringing the project together.

Signicast expects to have the first two of the five new production modules completed within a year.

The council approved annexation petitions for the project on June 14, rezoning petitions on July 26 and the site plan for module #6, the first of the new construction, on Aug. 8. The expansion will take place over approximately 51 acres in Dodge and Washington counties, directly north of the existing plant.

By LARRY HANSON

Daily News Staff

http://activepaper.olivesoftware.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=WBDN/2011/09/15/3/Img/Ar0030201.png

The most recent economic development is occurring at 1023 State Street.  Hartford Finishing purchased the 21,470 sq ft building previously owned by business neighbors Robert and Denise Mantz.  Drive by and you’ll notice that the Wendorf Team is adding new loading docks in preparation for product storage for a key customer and plans on utilizing the facility for additional assembly in the future.

Mantz Automation is currently expanding their headquarters in the Dodge Industrial Park by 25,000 sq ft.

1. Planning for services they can provide for the larger and smaller businesses and approximate pricing.

2. Guidelines on where the line is between fiber services and non-fiber services.

3. Options for delivery of redundant services.

4. Plan for expansion as demands increase and additional farmland is converted to industrial/business land. This should include vision to ensure infrastructure is coordinated with other entities (i.e. City, WPPI, WE…).

5. Basic description of coverage area for WI and beyond. Some businesses have multiple locations outside of the Hartford / Milwaukee area that they may need connectivity.

Results / Benefits to Hartford Businesses:

1. Initially we had pretty much one broadband option in the Industrial Parks – AT&T. Because of our task force, we now have multiplied our selection choices by FOUR in securing these additional quality broadband vendors:

· Charter Business

· Paetec

· Netwurx

2. Significant, faster, more reliable bandwidth.

3. Scalable and redundant solution options.

4. Serious pricing advantages.

5. Variety of broadband platforms and a menu of combinations: Fiber Optic, Wireless, Copper, Microwave