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w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m J u l y 2 0 15 • I NSIGH T | 13 While it could be years before the technology becomes widely available and cost-effective — current chip manufacturing is incredibly cheap — it could offer a new market for Wisconsin's forestry industry to develop. "We always need to be looking for value-added opportunities," says Wendy Gehlhoff, director of the Florence County Economic Development Corp. "We have the primary green lumber, but we need to pursue secondary markets wherever we can find them." e majority of a computer chip is support material, with the computer part of the chip taking up just a few micrometers of the entire structure. » WEST CENTRAL Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, Marquette, Green Lake Counties Cookie plant leaves It appears Rippin' Good cookies are leaving the community that inspired its name. ConAgra recently announced plans to close down part of its cookie making operations in Ripon, including the REGIONAL ROUNDUP "We always need to be looking for value-added opportunities. We have the primary green lumber, but we need to pursue secondary markets wherever we can find them." – Wendy Gehlhoff, director of the Florence County Economic Development Corp. Rippin' Good Cookie Outlet Store. Cookies have been a part of the Ripon identity since the 1930s, and the move is expected to result in 300 layoffs by the end of the year. ConAgra, which acquired the cookie plant in 2013, says the decision was based on improving the operations of its entire network of production facilities. e company says declining demand and overall operating costs drove the decision. e affected plant is the company's west plant, which makes so-baked and enrobed cookies. e company's other Ripon-based plant, the east plant manufacturing wafer cookies, will remain open. » THE LAKESHORE Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan Counties Brown is the new green You've probably heard the cliché "one man's trash is another man's treasure." Well, in Manitowoc County they are taking that a bit to the extreme with a consortium studying how to convert dairy farm manure — dubbed "brown gold" — into other useful products. Using a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Biomass Research and Development Initiative, researchers from the University of Wisconsin and several Wisconsin-based companies have launched the consortium's first project, Accelerated Renewable Energy, at Maple Leaf Dairy in Manitowoc County, which has a herd of 5,000 cows. Large dairies can produce as much as 25 tons of manure each day, providing plenty of research material for the group to work with. Some of the potential products being researched include biogas, fertilizer, bioplastics, animal bedding and starter material for ethanol fermentation. e group will also be testing new separation and anaerobic digestor technology. "is is a great example of a multidisciplinary public-private partnership happening right here," says Troy Runge, an assistant professor with the Wisconsin Energy Institute at UW-Madison. Send business news updates and photos to edit@insightonbusiness.com. ······················································································································································································································· CUSTOMER APPRECIATION CELEBRATION 19 95 $ w/ two year agreement Offer valid day of event or while supplies last. No rain checks. For a complete list of events, visit www.cellcom.com/celebrate. A line set up fee and early termination fee may apply. If applicable, the early termination fees may be reduced proportionately to the remaining months of the term of the agreement. Universal Service Fund (USF) and regulatory and other recovery fees charged on all service lines. An E911 fee or Police & Fire Protection Fee is charged on all service lines. Taxes, fees and surcharges vary and are subject to change without notice. See retail location or www.cellcom.com/fees for details. Promotion offer subject to change. Samsung Galaxy S5: Activation at time of service, 2-year service agreement and credit approval required. New line activation and qualified upgrade required. Prices do not include taxes, fees or other charges. Available on Share Plans with a 300MB data package or higher. 30 Day Guarantee: If within 30 days you are not completely satisfied with Cellcom's wireless service, pay for the services you have used and return the equipment in acceptable condition. Other restrictions apply. See store for details. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Trademarks and tradenames are the property of their respective owners. Built For You TM For a complete list of events, visit www.cellcom.com/celebrate STUFF THE BUS Bring a school supply donation to Stuff the Bus and receive a 15% discount on select speakers, screen protectors, & cables. All donations stay in your local community. CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES COMPLIMENTARY FOOD & BEVERAGES!