Located in Suamico, Wis., Freedom Energy specializes in the design and installation of wind and solar systems in the commercial, community and residential sectors. As an authorized Milbank PowerGen^TM dealer, Freedom Energy will develop and install renewable energy projects throughout the state of Wisconsin.

“We at Freedom Energy are extremely excited for the opportunity to partner with and have the support of a strong and forward-thinking company like Milbank,” said Eric Jansen, sales manager of Freedom Energy. “The PowerGen^TM product line allows us to offer the most efficient, reliable and safe equipment options in wind, solar and backup generation to our client base right here in northeast Wisconsin.

According to an assessment by the National Renewable Energy Lab, Wisconsin’s wind resource could provide more than four times the state’s current electricity needs.¹

“Freedom has extensive expertise in the installation of electrical projects and providing effective solutions to its customer base,” said Chris Buelow, general manager, Milbank’s PowerGen^TM. “We’re glad to welcome Freedom Energy to the PowerGen^TM team as we continue to expand and elevate our dealer network on a national level.”

About Milbank | emPOWERing the future
Milbank builds solutions that move power for the residential, commercial, industrial, utility and transportation sectors. Milbank combines more than 85 years of expertise in electrical distribution with a commitment to develop and globally implement sustainable, integrated power solutions. Milbank’s portfolio includes electric metering systems, PowerGen™ wind and solar solutions, EVSE, standby and portable power. A third-generation, family-owned business, Milbank Manufacturing Company is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo. For more information, please visit www.milbankmfg.com or www.milbankpowergen.com.

About Freedom Energy, LLC
Freedom Energy, LLC specializes in the sales of renewable energy products with more than 10 years  of experience in eco-friendly outdoor wood stoves and indoor pellet stoves. Freedom Energy, LLC will be celebrating 1 year of business in wind and solar in February of 2012. They  are located in Suamico, Wis. For more information, please visit www.breaktheneed.com.

¹http://www.awea.org/learnabout/publications/upload/Wisconsin.pdf™

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Dec. 5, 2011) – Milbank PowerGen™, the renewable energy division of Milbank Manufacturing Company, is pleased to announce the addition of Atwood Electric to its growing network of authorized dealers.

Located in Sigourney, Iowa, Atwood Electric is a full-service electrical contracting firm that operates in the agricultural, industrial, commercial and residential sectors. As an authorized Milbank PowerGen™ dealer, Atwood Electric will develop and install renewable energy projects throughout the state of Iowa.

“We’re excited to provide our customers with the opportunity to offset their energy consumption and control their future power costs,” said Duane Atwood, owner and founder of Atwood Electric. “Iowa is located in an excellent region for wind and other renewable power sources.”

Wind power accounted for almost 20 percent of the state’s electricity generation in the first quarter of 2011.¹

“Atwood Electric has extensive expertise in the installation of electrical projects and providing effective solutions to its customer base,” said Chris Buelow, general manager of Milbank’s PowerGen™ division. “We’re glad to welcome Atwood to the PowerGen™ team as we continue to expand and elevate our dealer network on a national level.”

About Milbank | emPOWERing the future
Milbank builds solutions that move power for the residential, commercial, industrial, utility and transportation sectors. Milbank combines more than 85 years of expertise in electrical distribution with a commitment to develop and globally implement sustainable, integrated power solutions. Milbank’s portfolio includes electric metering systems, PowerGen™ wind and solar solutions, EVSE, standby and portable power. A third-generation, family-owned business, Milbank Manufacturing Company is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo. For more information, please visit www.milbankmfg.com or www.milbankpowergen.com.

About Atwood Electric
Atwood Electric is a full-service electrical contractor that specializes in electrical, renewable energy and signage installations in the agricultural, industrial, commercial and residential sectors. A family-owned business with more than 30 years of expertise, Atwood Electric is located in Sigourney, Iowa. For more information, please visit www.atwoodelectric.com.

###

¹http://www.awea.org/learnabout/publications/factsheets/upload/Iowa.pdf

Atwood Electric Release

It appears Irene will take a more typical path into the Carolinas, perhaps as a major hurricane this weekend, rather than plow into Florida as a minimal system late this week.

Given the setup in the atmosphere as well as where hurricanes have traveled from similar starting points, negotiating the Antilles, Irene may take a path similar to Hurricane Bertha in 1996.

Are you ready for Hurricane Irene? Get prepared with the Milbank OneSERT program.

People in the eastern part of the Carolinas, especially the coastal areas and barrier islands should begin making preparations for a possible hurricane landfall that brings 100-mph winds or greater, storm surge flooding, torrential rainfall and possible tornadoes.

People in these areas should be prepared to evacuate, in case the order is given.

As we often see with a hurricane moving along this sort of path, the worst conditions will be near, north and east of the center of circulation.

Storms moving in this manner along the East Coast of the United States tend to become lop-sided with dry air sweeping in west and southwest of the center promoting sunny skies.

This sort of setup could deprive some areas of the interior South of needed rainfall.

That being said, there can still be areas of damaging winds 100 miles west of the center with rough surf-related issues along the eastern Florida and Georgia coasts.

A track of this nature is likely to down trees and power lines and can damage buildings, port structures and small craft.

According to Hurricane Expert, Dan Kottlowski, “Since Irene is moving away from the Greater Antilles over warm open waters, the storm is likely to intensify and become a major (Category 3) hurricane.”

There are other ramifications as the storm is not likely to stop in the Carolinas. It is very possible strong tropical storm or even hurricane conditions will continue to spread up the Atlantic Seaboard.

If the fast forward motion of the storm continues, it could spread damage, including that of downed trees, power lines and coastal flooding issues, into the mid-Atlantic late this weekend and into southern and eastern New England by early next week.

There is a possibility the center of Irene may try to parallel the Carolina coast at the last minute.

Trader Joe’s is one of the economic development wins Kansas City officials are touting, saying it brought a $1 million investment and 60 jobs. The popular grocery chain’s Kansas City store opened earlier this month.

Kansas City has 10 new projects in different stages, which economic development officials hope will spur optimism about the local economy.

The leadership of the Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City touted the combined investment, valued at more than $37 million, as the largest number of simultaneous projects in the agency’s nearly 25-year existence.

In all, the 10 projects mean 1,125 new jobs and 160 retained jobs in the city, EDC officials said.

Several projects previously were announced, including Applebee’s Services Inc. and Trader Joe’s moving into Kansas City, Blount International Inc. building a new facility near Kansas City International Airport and Milbank ManufacturingCo. expanding its Kansas City plant. Trader Joe’s opened earlier this month.

Economic development officials said the overall investment and sheer number of new projects signal that Kansas City is open for business.

“These are exciting times for our city,” Mayor Sly James said in a written statement. “There is an abundance of energy and growth — you can feel it. The EDC is a resource and advocate for businesses to tap. The mission is to help cut through red tape and provide an invaluable service to our community. The impact of these 10 projects are measurable in both dollars and jobs created and retained.”

The rally comes just after an EDC management shake-up that included CEO Jeff Kaczmarek resigning.

Interim CEO John Crawford told the Kansas City Business Journal that the EDC is gaining momentum with new leadership and a new city administration.

“With a new mayor and council, they are providing a new injection of energy and enthusiasm,” he said. “I think you have an opportunity to attract the attention of the business community for Kansas City as a place to do business.”

The 10 projects were announced at a Friday morning EDC meeting, attended by James, at the Gem Theater, 1615 E. 18th St.

Here is the EDC’s list of the projects, their addresses, investment amounts, and new or retained jobs expected:

• Applebee’s Services Inc., 8140 Ward Parkway, $1.5 million, 378

• Trader Joe’s, 8600 Ward Parkway, $1 million, 60

• NASB (North American Savings Bank) Mortgage and Lending, 903 E. 104th St., $6 million, 270

• Blount International Inc., 5331 Municipal Drive, $17 million, 164

• Marks Nelson Vohland Campbell Radetic LLC, 1310 E. 104th St., $2.69 million, 82

• Milbank Manufacturing Co., 4801 Deramus Ave., $2.75 million, 57

• Star Financial, 601 E. 63rd St., $1.4 million, 100-plus

• Vianney Industries Inc., dba Midland Metal Manufacturing, 3122 Gillham Road, $2.6 million, 89

• Superior Metal Treating, 2540 Indiana Ave., $1 million, 49

• AMDG Enterprises Inc., dba Midland Metal, 2016 E. 19th St., $1.1 million, 36 (Vianney and AMDG formerly were related companies.)

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration followed the EDC announcement Friday afternoon with details on economic development incentives for two of the projects.

The state authorized $5.7 million in Quality Jobs program tax credits during a five-year period for the NASB relocation. The Quality Jobs program provides economic incentives for companies that create a minimum number of jobs that meet certain wage, hour and benefits criteria.

AMDG, a plumbing parts distributor, will receive $66,004 in Enhanced Enterprise Zone program tax credits over five years for its new facility. EEZs are designated by local governments and certified by the Missouri Department of Economic Development based on demographics, potential job creation and effect on a specific industry cluster.

By Kevin Collison, The Kansas City Star

Kansas City’s gain was Johnson County’s loss in a string of business announcements today that reinforced the increasingly fierce economic development border war within the metropolitan area.

Several companies will be relocating to Kansas City, the largest of which is the mortgage lending operation of North American Savings Bank; members of the Kansas City Economic Development Corp. board were told.

North American will be relocating 204 jobs from its current quarters in Overland Park to 903 E. 104th St. in Kansas City, and the firm plans to add another 58 jobs over the next five years.

“We’re excited to be moving back to Kansas City, we’ve been in Johnson County the last six years,” said Bruce Thielen, senior vice president of North American Savings.

North American will received $5.8 million in incentives from Missouri, and about $111,000 from Kansas City to relocate. Its total investment is estimated at $6 million.

Mayor Sly James attended the EDC board meeting and said the announcements indicated a new attitude at City Hall about business development and retention.

“The last few weeks have been eventful,” he said, referring to a management shake-up at the EDC, “but I believe they represent a significant change in course in making the EDC a lean, mean, job-making machine.”

James also said he’d met with Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback to discuss ending the incentive-driven struggle that’s been moving companies a few miles across the state line.

“It’s safe to say we didn’t meet eye-to-eye,” he said. “We’ve had wins and we intend to compete in a targeted way to meet the job needs of our city.”

North American Savings was one of three employers whose shift to Kansas City from Johnson County was announced at the regular EDC board meeting.

Marks Nelson Vohland Campbell Radetic LLC, an accounting firm currently at 7701 College Blvd., is shifting its 82-employee operation to 1310 E. 104th St. in Kansas City and plans to hire another 18 people by 2013.

“After an exhaustive search on both sides of the state line we were able to target space that we could design to suit our needs for future growth,” said Mark Radetic, a managing partner.

Marks Nelson will receive $954,000 in tax incentives from Missouri and a 50 percent property tax abatement over 10 years from the city as its incentive package. The firm is investing $2.7 million.

The third company, the relocation of Applebee’s International and an affiliated firm along with 380 employees was announced in late May. The firm is relocating from Lenexa to 8140 Ward Parkway.

Applebee’s will be receiving an incentive package valued at $12.6 million as part of its relocation deal.

Other new projects announced:

■ The expansion of Star Financial, a financial service firm now at 7431 Broadway, into new quarters at one of the former Cleveland Chiropractic buildings at 601 E. 63rd St. The firm plans to hire more than 100 people over the next five years. It will receive $230,000 in tax credits from Missouri.

■ Milbank Manufacturing plans to expand into the wind turbine manufacturing market and create 57 new jobs over the next five years. The new investment is $2.75 million and it will receive $200,000 in assistance from Missouri.

The firm currently has operations at 4801 Deramus and 5601 Gardner and is a leading manufacturer of electrical meter sockets.

■ Superior Metal Treating, 2540 Indiana, plans to add 14 employees within five years and building a 15,800 square-foot addition. It currently has 35 workers.

Several other previously publicized business deals also were discussed: the Trader Joe’s opening, an expansion of Vianney Industries, doing business as Midland Metal, a family-owned plumbing fitting business, and the expansion of Portland-based Blount International into a new distribution center being built at Kansas City International Airport.

Milbank COO Eric Krichbaum and Mayor Sly James at the July Kansas City EDC Board Meeting.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/29/3044858/kc-lands-two-more-johnson-county.html?story_link=email_msg#ixzz1TWGouec4

According to a news release posted on Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s website, Milbank Manufacturing has made a $2.7 million commitment in the area of renewable energy. Milbank will be, “adding new products lines in the renewable arena, including wind, solar, hydro, generators and power management, while hiring 57 new employees for the new product lines as well as sales and management positions. Milbank also plans to purchase new equipment and machinery during its expansion.”

Milbank Manufacturing plans to invest $2.7 million to set up new production lines for renewable energy products.

The 83-year-old Kansas City-based manufacturer is widely recognized as a leading provider of the electric metering sockets seen on nearly every home and business.

But Milbank now is adding product lines in the renewable energy arena, primarily to help integrate power sources such as wind, solar, water, generators and power management. It plans to hire 57 new employees, including for the product lines, plus sales and management positions. Milbank also will purchase new equipment and machinery.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon toured the plant on Tuesday afternoon.

“The new investment and significant job creation by this innovative, homegrown Missouri company is excellent news for the Kansas City economy,” Nixon said in a release. “We will continue to fight every single day for every single job to keep our economy moving. Adding 57 solid, high-paying jobs to the local economy and manufacturing sector is a significant step forward.”

A release did not disclose the average salary of the jobs.

Milbank received a $207,000 economic incentive package from Missouri to help with the expansion. The company can redeem the incentives during the next five years, provided it meets job-creation deadlines and other requirements.

James reports about banking, financial services, manufacturing and sports business.

Milbank Manufacturing, which makes electrical products for the utility, contractor and industrial markets, will expand its operations and create 57 jobs. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is to be at its Kansas City plant at 4801 Deramus Ave. at 2 p.m. today to announce the expansion, which will include a substantial capital investment.

Click here to read the full article. (See page 12.)

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