Ideas

The Water Council has launched a $5 million seed capital fund that will increase access to capital for early stage water technology companies, according to the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

In 1989, the CEO of my global employer allowed me to work from home rather than demand I move halfway across the US to be near corporate headquarters. Two technologies made his decision possible: Overnight delivery and an early fax machine. I was the first distributed worker other than our sales and product service representatives.

A national group of economic forecasters is raising its outlook for the U.S. economy for the next two years.

BizTimes Media is accepting nominations for its annual Bravo! Entrepreneur and I.Q. (Innovation Quotient) Awards.

Milwaukee-based Tower Machining, a manufacturer of precision, close-tolerance machined parts and components, has appointed Scott Pease to general manager. Since Peace joined Tower Machining at its inception in early 2014, the company has seen rapid sales growth, doubled its customer base, and added three vertical mills and two turning centers.

Amazon is now hiring for more than a thousand full-time positions at its 1.1 million-square-foot fulfillment center currently under construction in Kenosha.

Muskego-based Inpro Corp. recently announced the acquisition of Hinkel Inc. Based in Monroe, N.C., Hinkel is a manufacturer of window shades and treatments, cubicle curtains, privacy systems, and decorative and specialty products. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Milwaukee-based Jason Industries Inc. has acquired the manufacturing assets and customer list of Cleveland-based industrial brush manufacturer Herold Partco Manufacturing Inc.

Franklin-based Meltric Corp., a manufacturer of electrical plugs and receptacles for industrial users, recently moved to a new 90,000-square-foot building at 4765 W. Oakwood Park Drive.

East Troy-based industrial oven manufacturer Wisconsin Oven Corp. has been acquired by White Deer, Penn.-based Thermal Product Solutions.