Capital Region Business Journal

Bikes, Capital Region Business Journal, Charitable Giving, Cycling, Examiner.com, Madison, Magazines, Outdoor Recreation, philanthropy / 29.06.2011

There are 350 shinny new bicycles spinning around Madison. Renowned for its bike friendly culture and amenities Wisconsin’s capital city has introduced a new program to allow residents and visitors to share short rides around town on easily accessible two-wheeled transports. Called B-Cycle the initiative aims to provide a carbon-neutral alternative to an overloaded traffic grid. And at a price tag of $2 million local manufacturer Trek Bicycle is picking up the tab charging taxpayers only $1 per year. Modeled after its program launched last year in Denver, Trek is bringing B-Cycle to Madison in order to demonstrate the viability of bike-sharing as mode of urban public transportation. Trek president John Burke said the new system, which launched in May, is also a way for his family business to give back to the community.
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Capital Region Business Journal, Charitable Giving, Environmental Journalism, Gardening, Madison, Magazines, philanthropy, Sustainable Living / 22.06.2011

Teachers, students and parents gathered to celebrate the destruction of a school. Defunct for many years the building that once housed Badger Rock Middle School was finally demolished in late March to make way for a new vision of secondary education. A modern construct will stand its place to offer lessons in growing vegetables, healthy nutrition and living in a sustainable community.
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Capital Region Business Journal, Charitable Giving, Madison, Magazines / 09.05.2011

Taking classes a few days a week Hiroko Williams is learning to speak English. While her husband, a United States citizen, prepares to enter a graduate program in international relations next fall, this native of Japan receives free language education through a local non-profit called the Literacy Network. Though trained as a nurse Williams said she must first master the basic skills of communication.
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Capital Region Business Journal, Charitable Giving, Magazines, Skiing / 15.03.2011

Winter in Wisconsin is a wonderful time for outdoor recreation. Despite the cold weather and waist deep snow thousands turn out each year to engage in sports that range from downhill and cross-country skiing, to snowboarding and cyclo-cross bike riding. With so many snow sports to pick from winter is for everyone. And thanks to local attorney Donald Becker, even people with disabilities can experience cold weather fun. Having financed the creation and mass production of an adaptive snow vehicle called a sit-ski, Becker is making it possible for those unable to walk to glide over frozen terrain.
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Capital Region Business Journal, Charitable Giving, Madison, Magazines, philanthropy, Sustainable Living / 15.02.2011

Home improvement projects and discount building supplies make for strong communities at the Habitat For Humanity ReStore. Stocked exclusively with donated new and used household materials this retail establishment on Madison’s Eastside helps low-income wage earners work their way to homeownership while keeping tons of construction waste out of area landfills. The first of its kind in Wisconsin the ReStore at 208 Cottage Grove Road is now one of 19 locations in the state that take in unwanted supplies for home renovation. Staffed by volunteers the business with 750 storefronts nationwide offers those eligible for a home construction grant to invest their time and energy working to provide affordable supplies to Madison do-it-yourselfers on a budget.
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Capital Region Business Journal, Charitable Giving, Madison, Magazines / 11.01.2011

[caption id="attachment_4509" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Rick Terrien of the Iowa County Economic Development Corporation"][/caption] A new local food processing business creates much-needed jobs for adults with disabilities. And while helping to serve people in need a model of horizontal supply management is emerging to also make opportunities for culinary entrepreneurs and area growers. Operated by the Hodan Center, a non-profit adult rehabilitation center in Mineral Point, the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen provides a safe working environment and skills training to craft commercial grocery items from the produce of farmers throughout the Capital Region.
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