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REGIONAL ROUNDUP "This geographic expansion of the Advance Microloan program provides an additional tool for the local economic development organizations located in each of these counties. —Fred Monique, vice president of Advance, the economic development division of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce " Microloan Program also received $500,000 in funding from the SBA. The program, which was previously known as the Advance Brown County Microloan Program, is now available in Brown, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Oconto, Kewaunee, Door, Florence, Forest, Marinette and Menominee counties. "This geographic expansion of the Advance Microloan program provides an additional tool for the local economic development organizations located in each of these counties," says Fred Monique, vice president of Advance, the economic development division of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. "This will help these organizations in assisting entrepreneurial and start-up businesses that are beginning their operations or expanding their scope of business." program has issued loans of $520,000 to 12 businesses in the Brown County area. Since its inception, the microloan Area colleges team up to win $1.1 million federal grant Lawrence University in Appleton, Ripon College and St. Norbert College in De Pere have collaborated to win a five-year, $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education's TRIO program to support the schools' Ronald E. McNair post-baccalaureate achievement program. The grant will support the McNair Achievement Program, which focuses on prepping first-generation, low- income and racially underrepresented students for graduate school and the completion of doctorate degrees, from next fall through the spring of 2018. "The McNair program helps level Cruising up the charts Local investors help fund hot country hit By Sharon Verbeten chart. But even more impressive than its meteoric rise (and certified platinum status) is the fact that a group of Green Bay area investors helped make it happen. It's an unorthodox business model, but one that the backers – and the music industry – are finding is nothing short of amazing. "Nashville has been watching this model, T " says Arketype president Jim Rivett, one of the principals in Nurture Capital, which has about 40 investors. "Everybody is kind of finding new ways of finding artists. " Initially, the concept was proposed by singer/songwriter Sam Brooker, a Green Bay native and president of Artist Revolution. He connected the investors with Nashville-based Jesse Rice, who co-wrote the hit. In late 2009, each of the investors in Nurture Capital pledged $4,000 a share 14 | INSIGHT • November 2012 he catchy, upbeat song "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line recently hit No. 3 on Billboard's hot country songs over three years to support and invest in the songwriting and music publishing venture. About $180,000 was initially raised, and Rice was contracted to write at least 12 songs a year. Nurture Capital would own the rights to the songs and share in the royalties. "Everybody is blown away by the concept," says Brooker. "We're definitely carving out our own thing." The song is the first major hit for Rice, who co-wrote the song with one of the members of Florida Georgia Line. According to Brooker, the song sold more than 100,000 downloads before the band even signed with a major record label. They are now represented by Big Machine, which also records country stars Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw. Nurture Capital is thrilled by the success of the song, as well as that of Brooker and Rice. "It's about believing in somebody and their dream," says Rivett. "It is an investment, but it's very unique. Songwriter/musician and Green Bay native Sam Brooker, left, helped the Nurture Capital group hook up with Nashville songwriter Jesse Rice to pen the country hit "Cruise. are members of the investors' group, (from left) Brooker's mother Judy Brooker, Arketype owner Jim Rivett and business consultant Ed Thompson. " Also pictured We don't know what's ahead," adds investor and former Green Bay executive/ consultant Ed Thompson, "but that's part of the wonderment. " www.youtube.com and search "Cruise Florida Georgia Line. To watch the "Cruise" video, go to " www.insightonbusiness .com the playing field for students from less privileged backgrounds by providing exposure to, experience with, and support for graduate school, Nancy Wall, associate professor of biology and Lawrence's campus coordinator for the program. "I think this is incredibly important because these students bring important and valuable perspectives that would not occur to students from more privileged backgrounds to the table. " says " Work begins on health technology center Fox Valley Technical College has started construction on its 60,000- plus square-foot Health Simulation & Technology Center on its Appleton campus. The project is the first new construction that was approved as SHARON VERBETEN