Source: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

As of July 1, Wisconsin farmers facing increased stress and other challenges can access additional free and confidential counseling resources by contacting the Farm Center at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). As part of a new pilot program, the Farm Center can now connect callers to a 24/7 Farmer Wellness Hotline. The hotline can be reached at 1-888-901-2558.

Licensed mental health professionals contracted by the department will provide immediate, in-the-moment care. In addition to the 24/7 hotline, long-term options are available:

**Callers can schedule ongoing tele-health counseling sessions from a contracted licensed counselor based in Wisconsin, with referrals made through the 24/7 hotline or through the Wisconsin Farm Center (1-800-942-2474);
**Persons who prefer an in-person session can request to meet with a local provider through the Farm Center’s longstanding Counseling Voucher Program.

“The 24/7 Farmer Counseling Hotline is available around the clock as a welcoming ear for farmers who need to talk through a challenging time in their life,” said Farm Center Director Jayne Krull. “We hope that this initial pilot program will help us better understand whether a 24/7 hotline and tele-counseling are viable tools for our farmers with mental health needs.”

This pilot program is made possible by funding that was provided in Governor Tony Evers’ 2019-2021 biennial budget and approved by the state legislature. The 24/7 hotline and telecounseling services are two of several initiatives developed by the Farm Center in response to increased challenges faced by the agricultural industry.

In June, the Farm Center launched ‘Rural Realities,” a podcast offering advice to farmers and farm service providers about managing stress and anxiety. To listen to the podcast, visit FarmCenter.wi.gov. Later this month, the Farm Center will begin hosting QPR trainings (Question-Persuade-Refer) for people who work closely with farmers, so they can learn how to identify the warning signs of a suicide crisis and direct the person to appropriate resources.

Since the mid-1980s, the Farm Center, part of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), has provided a variety of farmer services including financial and business consultation, farm succession planning, conflict mediation, and consultation related to production opportunities and challenges. For more information, contact FarmCenter@wisconsin.gov.

The Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC) is offering a matching grant of up to $100,000 to provide additional assistance to companies in the process of completing a project in the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

This is the 16th round of SBIR Advance funding dedicated by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) since SBIR Advance began in 2014. “SBIR Advance has supported 105 awards since 2014. More than 40 percent of Phase I awardees have gone on to win a Phase II SBIR/STTR award, resulting in more than $33 million in additional grants to Wisconsin innovators and more than 270 jobs in FY19 alone,” said Dr. Todd Strother, CTC Senior Technology Consultant and SBIR Advance Program Manager. “This cycle, we’ve had 10 Phase II companies participate in our programing to further their success toward commercialization. These companies have developed investor pitches, conducted market research and presented to investors to gain practice in moving toward obtaining private investment. Getting in front of investors and getting this direct feedback from them is a critically valuable activity for our client companies.”

Deadlines are quickly approaching:
• 9 a.m. July 31, 2020: Brief intent to apply due, link found at http://wisconsinctc.org/sbir-advance
• Noon Aug. 13, 2020: Full application due, link found at http://wisconsinctc.org/sbir-advance
To be eligible, companies must have an SBIR/STTR project in either Phase I or Phase II of funding. All companies must have a significant presence in Wisconsin to be considered for the grant. Funds can be used for business and market development, customer validation, intellectual property work or other areas needed to speed product commercialization.

Applicants should note these important dates:
• Sept. 2, 2020: Companies chosen for funding will be notified by this time.
• Late September 2020: Phase I match awardees must be prepared to start the Lean Startup Program. The course runs through mid-December 2020, and is administered by the CTC. It teaches companies how to incorporate their technologies into a validated business model and defines the best possible target markets.

For more details on the SBIR Advance program and current eligibility requirements, contact Todd Strother at todd.strother@business.wisconsin.edu.

SBIR Advance is part of a Start-Seed-Scale (S3) initiative WEDC is pursuing with the help of the UW System and other business leaders throughout the state to remove barriers to high-tech commercialization. Under the S3 umbrella, WEDC and its economic development partners are implementing financial and operational assistance programs designed specifically to address Wisconsin’s business startup and seed-funding challenges. One such initiative — also a collaborative effort between WEDC and the UW System — is the Ideadvance Seed Fund, also managed by the CTC. Selected SBIR Advance participants undergo Lean Startup training to assist with their SBIR Phase II applications.

Source: Madison365

On the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth — the day the last enslaved people in the United States were declared free — five local nonprofit organizations are launching a joint effort to raise $155,000.

The Black Enterprise Fund will benefit Madison365, Maydm, The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC), Urban League of Greater Madison (ULGM) and the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County (BGCDC). Funds will be divided equally among the five organizations.

“This fund will empower the Black community of Madison and Dane County through these five dynamic, successful, enterprise-building, Black-led nonprofit organizations,” said Henry Sanders, CEO and publisher of Madison365, the nonprofit news outlet serving Wisconsin’s communities of color. “These organizations serve youth, entrepreneurs, job-seekers, young professionals, and the community at large. We’re proud to partner with these organizations and support their work for the long term.”

“The Black Enterprise Fund will help Boys & Girls Clubs place 150 teenagers in paid virtual internships at more than 40 different businesses and local non profits,” said BGCDC CEO Michael Johnson. “We are confident local donors will help us place resources in the pockets of our young people as they learn practical work experience during this pandemic. We believe this internship program is now the largest organized youth internship in Wisconsin at the moment and we are excited about putting young people to work.”

“Maydm envisions a world where all students know that a career and a future in STEM is possible for them, where all students are equipped with the skills to elevate their quality of life and can pursue their dreams as entrepreneurs, developers, engineers, or professors,” said Maydm founder Winnie Karanja. “The support we receive from donations provides us the opportunity to introduce more students of color to educational programming and opportunities in STEM, supporting them in their brilliance and helping them to see a possible future in STEM. The support of our community partners is essential as we work to close the equity gap in education and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work with other community partners to invest in students of color who live in our community.”

“The Black Enterprise Fund is needed more than ever; the coronavirus has interrupted Black families and business in a wide variety of ways,” said ULGM CEO Ruben Anthony. “During these challenging times, families need sustainable waged jobs for economic stability, food, and shelter. The Urban League of Greater Madison launched the COVID-19 Workforce Relief and Recovery Initiative to connect families and businesses. Our children have had an extended educational gap that threatens to widen the Black and White disparity gap. We need to be able to provide educational options this summer, such as science and technology programs that will keep them engaged intellectual and prepare them for the upcoming school year. To realize the American Dream, all citizens need affordable home ownership options; it is essential for families. The Black homeownership rate nationally is 44% and in Wisconsin it is 23%, the third worst in the nation. It is even worse in the Greater Madison Area. This year the Urban League launched phase 2 of its affordable home ownership program. I hope that you will help us continue this work; I am looking forward to your support.”

“The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce has been committed to building better businesses to build a better Madison,” said MBCC president Camille Carter. “In executing our mission, we are motivated to work collectively with our community partners, Madison365 and the Boys and Girls Club, to generate the necessary funds that will help our organizations sustain and uplift our businesses, families and youth. The time is now to leverage our resources and change Wisconsin’s trajectory of being ranked last of all 50 states in racial equality! We must do better and we can do better together, working towards common objectives and mutual benefits. Our chamber is ready to be a continued catalyst for positive change and economic progression. We are focused on improving our in technical programming and administrative assistance services to provide intensive support to small development and expansion.”

Funds are being collected through a GoFundMe campaign. All donations are tax-deductible.

The Wisconsin Historical Society is excited to announce that Baum Revision is the recipient of the 2020 Historic Restoration Award for their role in the preservation of the Garver Feed Mill in Madison, WI.

“I extend my congratulations to Baum Revision, and all the firms and individuals who made the rehabilitation of the Garver Feed Mill possible,” said Christian Overland, Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “The Restoration Award recognizes the effort to bring new life to the former Feed Mill. With its focus on food and health, the restored and repurposed building will continue as an important surviving link between Madison and its regional agricultural heritage.”

In 2017, Baum Development begin the rehabilitation of Garver Feed Mill. After being vacant for 19 years this building was in poor condition; entire roof sections were missing, structure was deteriorated and wall masonry was in dire straits. With the help of the historic preservation tax credits, this restoration project was completed in 2019. Staff from the Wisconsin Historical Society assisted the design team to assure the project met the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. Today, the Garver Feed Mill is home to eleven small businesses including Sitka Salmon, Ledger Coffee Roasters, and Ian’s Pizza.

The Garver Feed Mill was constructed in 1906 as the U.S. Sugar Co. The building was remodeled in 1929 as the Garver Feed and Supply Co. From 1997-2018, the building sat vacant and was subject to water infiltration and vandalism. For four years, Baum Revision participated in dozens of public
meetings and negotiations with the City of Madison. In the summer of 2019, the Garver Feed Mill reopened as a beautifully rehabilitated food production facility and community space where 11 local businesses thrive.

Each year, the Wisconsin Historical Society’s governing Board of Curators recognizes individuals and organizations for meritorious work in areas relating to the Society’s mission. The Board of Curators is made up of thirty-seven elected and appointed members from across the state.

For information on award criteria, nominations and deadlines please visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.

• $22.2 million in income loss
• $6.4 million in inventory loss
• $13.7 million in lost wages and productivity
• $37.8 million in other economic losses
• 2,648 lost positions