Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Estimated Q4 economic growth rate cut to 2.4 pct.

WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. economy grew at a 2.4 percent annual rate last quarter, sharply less than first thought, in part because consumers didn’t spend as much as initially estimated.  Severe winter weather is expected to further slow the economy in the current quarter. But as temperatures warm, most economists think growth will rebound beginning in the spring.

Wisconsin Rapids Tribune: Stevens Point competing to land manufacturing plant

STEVENS POINT — City leaders are competing with two other Wisconsin communities to land a manufacturing center that could bring jobs to the region.  Stevens Point Mayor Andrew Halverson said Thursday that managers of the facility are interested in coming to the area, but he declined to identify the company or say what sector of industry it is involved in. He said the company is expected to make its decision by the end of the year.

Milwaukee Business Journal: Wisconsin Gov. Walker touts state manufacturing progress

With the state’s economy starting to churn a little faster, Wisconsin manufacturers are adding more jobs and that was cause for celebration, Gov. Scott Walker said Thursday at Manufacturing Matters, a conference put on by the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership.  Walker applauded Wisconsin’s manufacturers and pointed out how Wisconsin’s economy has improved as the state’s unemployment rate has dropped from 9.2 percent in 2010 to 6.2 percent now, the lowest it’s been since 2008.

Milwaukee Business Journal: Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year winners announced

Mercury Marine, Masters Gallery Foods Inc., Tailored Label Products Inc. and Badger Alloys Inc., were named 2013 Manufacturers of the Year in their respective categories by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce at a banquet Thursday night.  A total of nine companies earned awards from a pool of 34 nominees at the 26th annual Manufacturer of the Year Award program, which honors manufacturers that help to drive Wisconsin’s economy.

Agri-View: Farm survey provides information about Wisconsin farm employers and employees

Wisconsin agriculture is a $59.16 billion industry that supports 10 percent, or nearly 354,000, of the state’s workforce.  The more than 76,400 people employed directly by Wisconsin farms have varied backgrounds, skills, education and experience, and wages and benefits received according to a study conducted by UW-Extension Farm and Risk Management (FARM) Team.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Nursing shortage prompts campuses to seek more instructors

Predictions of a massive nursing shortage within 20 years are prompting four University of Wisconsin System nursing schools to crank up efforts to train more instructors so they can expand enrollments and cope with looming faculty retirements.  A new $3.2 million Nurses for Wisconsin initiative funded through a UW System incentive grant program — and divided among the four campuses — will offer fellowships and loan forgiveness to entice nurses to return to school, earn advanced degrees and become nursing instructors.

Wisconsin State Journal: As trades rebound, demand for apprentices grows

If Donald Trump hosted “Apprentice Wisconsin,” he’d have to change his catchphrase from “You’re fired” to “You’re hired.”  As the economy slowly pulls out of its funk, the dormant construction industry is starting to experience a revival. And as construction cranes sprout up in the skyline, the demand for skilled workers across the spectrum of construction trades also is ascending.

WTAQ: State officials – 28,600 new private sector jobs created

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – State officials said Friday that Wisconsin added about 28,600 new private sector jobs during the year ending last September 30th.  That’s the number to be included in the U.S. Labor Department’s next quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. The report won’t come out until March 19th — and until then, we won’t know how Wisconsin’s job growth compares to that of other states.

Wisconsin Rapids Tribune: Experts say Google investment good for central Wisconsin economy

The recent announcement of an Internet giant’s multimillion-dollar investment in a central Wisconsin technology provider bodes well for the region’s economy, one local expert said.  Google Capital’s $40 million investment in Wisconsin Rapids-based Renaissance Learning Inc. indicates that central Wisconsin has the necessary infrastructure to run the educational technology provider to the extent that it is able to attract the attention of the big-name firm, said Tom Walsh, north central regional economist for the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

WaPo: White House budget to boost spending by $56 billion, drop Boehner ‘grand bargain’

The White House budget to be released early next month will propose $56 billion in new spending on domestic and defense priorities and drop a proposal that was included in last year’s budget as a way to attract Republican support — a plan that would have included less generous payouts of Social Security benefits.  The budget would aim to reduce the emphasis on austerity that has been the preoccupation of American politics for the past four years and also highlights top Democratic priorities in a year when Democrats hope to save their majority in the Senate.