Earlier today, we wrote about the new R&D pilot plant being constructed within the existing CATI building to produce a healthy milk product without cholesterol called Benelact.
Well, as Paul Harvey might have said, here's the rest of the story... the way this project touches area high schoolers, collegians and even Girl Scouts.
The project is loaded with academic linkages -- opportunities for students throughout the area to learn, work and participate in the creation of this new product. Alliance Enterprises, the company creating this start-up, sees its $1.5 million project both as an exciting new business, and as a way "to work in our values and give back to the community," said Brandon Malacara, Alliance's dairy division marketing director.
And so, Alliance is working with Therese Fellner, Gateway Technical College's director of business development -- she's the on-site manager for the business incubator that's part of CATI -- to find ways to provide both professional employment and student employment as part of the project. And boy, have they come up with a bunch of opportunities across a wide spectrum! For example:
Burlington High School has an R&D chemistry class that creates personal care products. Fellner already has spoken with Burlington's superintendent and principal to find ways to get their students working in the plant, getting experience with R&D and perhaps getting school credit at the same time.
Burlington is a good match in another way: Alliance -- which is minority-owned by Edward Salinas -- can be a role model for the district's Hispanic students. "The superintendent sees this as an opportunity to get his Hispanic student population excited about science and math, get some experience and get some of those kids to start altering their course selection," Dr. Fellner said.
Gateway Technical College has a culinary arts program, and the aim is to get students involved in nutrition to work on R&D and marketing -- with both internships and jobs.
Carthage and Parkside have chemistry departments that may be a source of chemistry assistants as well as a chemist with gas chromatography and sample preparation experience.
Even Girl Scouts may be involved as this patent given to CATI by Kraft is developed for market. Fellner has applied for a grant through the General Mills Foundation's Champions for Healthy Kids project. They fund organizations with innovative programs that help youth develop good nutrition and fitness habits. "We're working with the Girl Scouts of Southeast Wisconsin, Gateway and Parkside in proposing that girls 11-14 deliver a program that will focus on nutrition and health and this innovative technology. Alliance would be able to come in and provide experience and products, menu planning and taste tests."
Fellner also said the Humana Foundation is interested in funding organizations that promote new technology and tools that lead to a healthier community. Alliance and Gateway will work with the Culinary Arts Department on the Racine campus to help them understand and use this new, lower-cholesterol product.
Matthew Wagner, CATI executive director, is looking forward to an expansion of programs for students in the natural sciences catalyzed by the Alliance project. "This is a chance to teach them about business and entrepreneurship, to create mentorships and project-based learning. So very many educational institutions are playing a role in this."
"We're all thrilled to have Alliance here," Fellner said. "This is an environment that facilitates this kind of networking.
Jan 11, 2008
Pilot plant at CATI ... here's the rest of the story
Pilot plant for dairy product being built at CATI
A 4,000 sq. ft. pilot plant for the research and development of a new, healthy dairy ingredient based on patented technology licensed from CATI is under construction in Sturtevant.
The Center for Advanced Technology & Innovation (CATI) announced that Alliance Enterprises of SE Wisconsin will use the plant, located in the CATI center, for initial production of Benelact, according to Brandon Malacara, Alliance's dairy marketing director.
“We are excited to be located in the CATI Center. Technological innovation and the economic growth of Wisconsin are as important to us as they are to them,” Malacara said. Alliance's existing facility,on Four Mile Road, is, according to the company's website, "a single-source assembly, custom contract packaging, warehousing, distribution and fulfillment facility." Benelact is the centerpiece of a new division.
CATI licensed the proprietary process now known as Benelact to Alliance Enterprises four years ago. The all-natural process extracts cholesterol from milk to create a healthy milk ingredient without altering the taste, texture, or properties of the milk. Matt Wagner, CATI executive director, said the technology was originally developed by Kraft Foods and donated to CATI.
The Benelact process removes up to 80 per cent of cholesterol and saturated fat from milk, resulting in a healthier product that can function as milk in a variety of food products. It will be marketed to dairy and bakery markets as an ingredient providing "healthy consumer options while still retaining the taste, texture and consistency that consumers desire,” Malacara said.
The project represents an estimated $1.5 million investment, Wagner said.
Nov 1, 2007
Burlington attracts concrete products maker, 90 jobs
A Milwaukee manufacturer of concrete products used in highway construction will build a 100,000 sq. ft. plant in Burlington, employing 90-95 workers.
RexCon LLC manufactures portable and stationary concrete plants, concrete paving products and provides parts and machining services. Among its products is a portable concrete batch plant that produces up to 200 cubic yards an hour.
The new facility, expected to open in late 2008, will be built in the City of Burlington's Manufacturing and Office Park.
RexCon manufactures all of its products and performs installation and field support services. The company, founded in 1919 as part of Rex Chainbelt, currently occupies a 140,000 sq. ft. leased facility, on the northwest side of Milwaukee near Good Hope Road. The company's search for a new site included areas throughout southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
RexCon President Jake Jacob said, "Burlington is a community that is continuing to grow ... providing RexCon with the workforce to help run our facility. The quality of life in Burlington, as well as its location in the Chicago-Milwaukee Corridor, attracts the quality workforce tht RexCon will need to compete in an international economy."
Jacob credited Burlington Mayor Claude Lois, the Racine County Economic Development Corporation and others for helping to locate appropriate sites and meeting the company's needs in a timely manner. Final completion of the project's details awaits a decision by state officials on financial assistance.
Oct 29, 2007
Of secrets, perception and the catbird seat
These are good times for Gordy Kacala, executive director of RCEDC.
He has secrets to keep.
After almost three decades working to enhance the economic development of Racine County, Kacala is busy bringing together developers, communities and landowners – all (hopefully!) to provide tax base, jobs and services for county residents.
How many secrets is Kacala holding close right now? More than 1.5 million of them -- if each square foot of soon-to-be-announced construction is counted as a secret.
Kacala really wants to take me into his confidence; he gives hints, lets me guess wrong once or twice, helps me narrow it down. Then, when I finally come up with the right company behind an upcoming project, he swears me to secrecy, alas.
In the past month, three large projects have been announced: a 380,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Sturtevant, and two warehouses totalling 420,000 sq. ft. in Mount Pleasant.
These, encompassing 126 acres, are just the tip of the iceberg. There are approximately 900 acres of business-industrial potential just in the narrow corridor between Highways 11 and 20, and I-94 and Hwy. V.
The 900-acre figure is significant in light of a 2005 SEWRPC study which examined all developable land in existing industrial/business parks in Racine County. The study concluded that less than 500 available acres met seven key criteria (streets, sewers, buildable, etc.) in the entire county.
Expect a major announcement from that other end of the county soon. (Hint: “Burlington is our hottest community.”)
Which still leaves more than 1 million square-feet of development in Kacala's pipeline.
“I'm surprised by the size; they're huge,” Kacala says. “We're back to large facilities. Companies are centralizing their regional focus.”
But why should we care about warehouses when it's really manufacturing jobs we want and need?
Kacala lets me know, in no uncertain terms. (He tells me the same question was asked by a certain reporter I consider dumber than a rock. I am mortified.)
“Warehouse-distribution centers are good for three reasons: They bring tax base; given our location they're an understandable use; and, finally, because of changes in manufacturing and out-sourcing, this is the way business is done today.”
Get the warehouse, and it “solidifies” a company's presence. “Warehousing and manufacturing go together,” he says.
Furthermore, “If people see things happening, it will change perceptions,” he says. “We've got to change the minds of people who live here first.”
There's another, less-benign reason why we should be glad developers are building distribution warehouses here: Our existing labor force isn't ready for manufacturing jobs.
Yes, the city of Racine has an 8.6% unemployment rate (the rest of the county is about half that). But Kacala cites the 2000 Census, which showed that 42% of males age 18-24 don't have a high school education. A sobering statistic.
That was six years ago; Kacala estimates the figure might hold true today for 18-28-year-olds, or 18-30's. Two local companies, he says, “bought robots because they can't find trained people.”
“We're competing with China,” he says.
Pointing to the small amount of newly available industrial land within the city, the former Jacobsen-Textron site, Kacala says: “It's not the availability of land that's the problem, it's the labor force.” He's had to deliver that unhappy message to a number of inner-city organizations seeking jobs for their constituents. Education is the key.
The development is coming; if we don't improve our own labor force, Kacala says, more than a million workers live in the I-94 corridor, from Lake County to Milwaukee; “relatively good commuting distance.”
Development will provide a range of jobs. Yes, warehouse jobs are at the lower end, but it's all we can now fill.
“If we get the businesses here, and unemployment is still 10%, then we've (failed) big-time.”
Today, “every location within a softball throw of Milwaukee is developed.”
Kacala says he receives one or two development inquiries a week, and 10-15% of those turn out to become projects we have a shot at. “Fifty-two a year; if you get 10 of those, that's pretty substantial.”
For now, Racine County is in the catbird seat.
