Ideas

With the specter of a government shutdown and default of the national debt providing strong head winds, business confidence in future growth prospects turned downward for the fourth quarter, according to the latest Business Outlook Survey conducted by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC).

Led by GE and The Manufacturing Institute, the Get Skills to Work (GSTW) coalition announced a new partnership with ManpowerGroup, the Milwaukee-based global leader in contingent and permanent recruitment workforce solutions.

The Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) board of directors and administration are seeking approval from the Milwaukee Common Council to sell the district’s former Malcolm X Academy building for $2.1 million to 2760 Holdings, LLC.

BizTimes is accepting last-minute registrations from employers to attend the fifth annual Get Smarter Conference, which will focus on how companies can use apprenticeships, internships and mentorships to develop their future workforce and become more productive.

If Congress fails to raise the federal debt ceiling and defaults on the nation's debt, the U.S. economy would be at risk of recession and the stock market would be at risk of a severe downturn, according to most of the economic forecasters surveyed by BizTimes last week.

Sussex-based QuadMed LLC has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Novia CareClinics LLC of Indianapolis in a merger of two innovators in employer-sponsored health care management solutions and on-site primary care.

Bart Adams, partner at Sikich LLP (formerly Kolb + Co.), has been appointed chair of the Waukesha County Business Alliance's Policy Board. Brian Nemoir, president of Full Impact Communications, has been appointed vice chair, and Tom Fotsch, chief operating officer of EmbedTek has been appointed secretary.

Englewood, Colo.-based Liberty Interactive Corp. said that it would spin off its stakes in travel website TripAdvisor Inc. and New Berlin-based online retailer BuySeasons into a new publicly-traded company known as Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings.

A second panel has been added to the fifth annual BizTimes Get Smarter Conference. This panel will dig deeper into discussion about internships and apprenticeships.

Associated Banc-Corp announced it will consolidate eight branches in Wisconsin and Illinois.