Economy

In November, 12 of 22 available indicators pointed upward.

Sixteen of 23 indicators showed gains in MMAC report.

The number of monthly economic indicators posting gains in September in the latest MMAC economic report dipped to 13 out of 23, down from 14 in August.

Real gross domestic product in the U.S. rose 1.5 percent during the third quarter of the year, according to a report today from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Most Waukesha County businesses that participated in the Waukesha County Business Survey say they plan to expand during the next three years by hiring new employees or by expanding their physical facility.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. awarded more than $245 million in bonds, grants, investor credits, loans and tax credits in the 2015 fiscal year.

Gus Ramirez embarked on one of the most ambitious projects of his philanthropic career earlier this year when he pledged to make a $60 million investment in improving education in Milwaukee with the development of a new K-12 school on the city's south side.

Concerned about the future workforce of his company, Waukesha-based HUSCO International Inc., and fed up with the performance of Milwaukee Public Schools, Ramirez made a bold proposal to play a more direct role in improving education in Milwaukee.

His proposed school, Augustine Prep, has garnered as much criticism from public school advocates, teachers' unions and charter school competitors as it has support from those who understand his vision. Much of the criticism stems from competition among schools to draw students and, with them, public funds.

“I believe this is something God wants to happen and He's given me enough nudges, opened up enough doors, created enough options for us to be successful that I think He's had a hand in this process,” said Ramirez, who serves as executive chairman of HUSCO. “If I didn't feel that, we wouldn't be doing it.”