MILWAUKEE – Today, US Senator Kohl announced that he had directed $250,000 in federal funds to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to help establish a research and business mentoring facility to promote the area's freshwater and water-related industry, part of the school's Great Lakes WATER Institute. The funds for the project were approved by the Senate as part of the FY10 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. Senator Kohl, a member of the Appropriations committee, identified the project as a priority for funding.

"The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee is working to build a bridge between academia and the workforce. This program will generate jobs and establish business planning support, business mentorship and workforce development in an effort to promote freshwater industry throughout the state," Kohl said.

The facility, when completed, would enable the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to work in partnership with the more than 100 freshwater-related businesses and generate new, well-paying jobs for area residents. The project will foster the rapid development of new and spin-off, self-sustaining businesses related to water. The facility will be located in proximity of the University of Wisconsin's Great Lakes WATER Institute. Support services to be provided by the proposed facility would include:  

Business Mentorship – developing a network of experienced managers to coach early-stage businesses and connect these companies to external funding sources;

Workforce Development – specific programs would be established in cooperation with other groups such as MATC for workforce development to recruit and train the workforce;

Venture Funding Support – helping these early stage businesses access various sources of funding such as angel and venture funding and Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants;

Startup Internships – employing graduate and undergraduate students from UWM and the community to gain real-world business experience;

Intellectual Property Management – the UWM Research Foundation will provide core management of UWM intellectual property as well as offering broader support to early stage companies;

and Business Planning Support – support for early stage businesses in establishing a business plan of operations.

The funding measure was passed by the Senate, and now goes to the President for final approval.

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