Viva Las Vegas! I just returned last Thursday night from Vegas and I had some interesting experiences. Now, I know "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" but in my case, I am more than glad to share my experiences. Jan Alf, the director of our eastern regional office, and I attended the fall CoreNet Global Summit. CoreNet Global is an association made up of corporate executives from larger firms that make business location decisions.

For example, the senior vice president of real estate for 3M or GM would be a member. The association also has members that are independent site selection consultants that firms use to help them make location decisions, as well as real estate brokers, large architectural, engineering and construction firms. CoreNet Global members work on billions of dollars worth of business expansion projects worldwide every year and countries, states and regions aggressively pursue these investments.

Forward Wisconsin has attended CoreNet Global Summits (and the Summits of its predecessor group) for over 15 years. Forward's objective is to develop relationships with CoreNet Global members so that when their company or a client company is considering the Midwest for an expansion project, they consider Wisconsin for that investment. We also use the Summits as an opportunity to gain insight from the members on what they look for from a state when making a business location decision.

While at the Summit, Jan and I found out about a few potential expansion projects that Wisconsin could be on the short list for, obtained valuable feedback on our web site and gained some valuable new relationships.

Forty-one face-to-face meetings with Twin Cities area CEOs, held over a two-day time period last month, have generated over 20 strong business expansion prospects for Wisconsin. According to Forward Wisconsin's Dennis Blang, the coordinator of this year's Minnesota Marketing Mission, the interest shown by Twin Cities area CEOs in expanding to Wisconsin is higher than in previous years. Minnesota has a higher cost of doing business than Wisconsin and it remains a top target for Forward Wisconsin business attraction efforts.

Blang led a Forward Wisconsin marketing team, that consisted of twelve economic development professionals from western, northern and northeastern Wisconsin, to the Twin Cities on October 11-13 that made the forty-one scheduled appointments. Seven more CEOs, that were unavailable during the timeframe of the trip itself, still want to meet with Forward Wisconsin over the next few weeks.

While the majority of business executives stated an interest in growing their operations in western Wisconsin, two companies are considering the Green Bay area and two the Milwaukee area for expansion. Forward Wisconsin will continue to work with local economic development officials and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce to follow-up with the business prospects. Forward Wisconsin has worked on attracting over 100 business expansion projects from Minnesota over its 21 year history.

Want to join the Forward Wisconsin marketing team to bring business and investment to the State of Wisconsin? If you answered "yes", we want to let you know about several 2006 opportunities to partner with us to promote the state. Anyone with an interest in economic development is welcome to participate. For more information on these events, email Jan Alf or call her at 262.691.7873.

Biotechnology. April will bring more than showers when over 100 Wisconsin representatives travel to McCormick Place in Chicago for BIO 2006 - the world's largest biotechnology convention. Forward Wisconsin and its partners are planning a major presence including an exhibit pavilion, video presentations, CEO reception, and other events. BIO 2006 will take place April 9-12.

Site Selector Outreach. The latter part of April brings a trip to Philadelphia when Forward Wisconsin attends the spring CoreNet Global Summit. CoreNet Global is the premier association for business location decision-makers from the corporate and consulting world. Forward’s participation typically includes an exhibit booth, one- on-one meetings with site selection consultants, attendance of educational sessions, and a networking presence at social functions. The Summit takes place April 23-26.

CEO Meetings. Spring will be in the air and the Forward Wisconsin team will be in the Windy City come May for the annual Chicago Marketing Mission. The program will include an evening strategy session, followed by two full days of scheduled appointments with Chicago area CEOs that have expressed an interest in expanding their businesses to Wisconsin. A specific Mission date will be announced soon.

Plastics. It's June and you should be starting to see a definite pattern here. Yes, it's back to Chicago for the third time in '06. On June 19-23, Forward Wisconsin will be exhibiting at the National Plastics Expo 2006 at McCormick Place. The show will be the largest trade event dedicated solely to the plastics industry held in 2006.

Forest Products. Ah, nothing like visiting Atlanta during the hottest part of summer. Yet, it's more than worth the sacrifice to help us promote our forest products industry to potential prospects at the International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair 2006. Forward Wisconsin will be exhibiting at this show - one of the world's largest trade shows for the furniture manufacturing, architectural woodwork, custom and general woodworking industries. The event takes place August 23-26.

Forward Wisconsin is pleased to announce that Harley-Davidson has joined our growing list of financial investors. While Harley- Davidson has partnered with Forward Wisconsin for several years on specific marketing projects, this is the first time the company has committed an ongoing financial investment in our organization.

In the past, Harley-Davidson has partnered with Forward Wisconsin at tradeshows across North America with the donation of Harley-Davidson gear for our raffles. In addition, the company has provided use of a motorcyle for our exhibit area that would attract hundreds of visitors for a "photo-op" - complete with full motorcycle attire. In fact, Governor Doyle, and the past two governors before him, have been photographed at our tradeshow exhibits on Harleys. We very much appreciate Harley- Davidson's support.