UW-Whitewater to help businesses grow globally

Richard J. Leinenkugel

Dr. Richard J. Telfer

WHITEWATER — UW-Whitewater will play a bigger role in helping Wisconsin businesses grow and thrive in the global marketplace.

The university’s Global Business Resource Center and the state Department of Commerce Bureau of Export Development on Wednesday announced plans to collaborate in helping companies in southeastern Wisconsin expand their markets outside of the United States.

Secretary of Commerce Richard Leinenkugel said many businesses are interested in tapping into emerging markets abroad to weather the recession. He said the state and its partners must reach out to businesses to help them increase their exports.

“It takes time and a heck of a lot of learning,” he said. “We have to play a role in helping companies to reach that goal … We need to further our outreach, expand our services … to help businesses gain a share of a very fast-growing global marketplace.”

UW-Whitewater Chancellor Richard Telfer said the university has the resources to help local and regional businesses get connected with the international community. He said the university is poised to make an impact by working with the state.

“Why not Whitewater?” he said. “This is an area where we think we can make a difference. … This will translate into much-needed jobs and economic development in this area.”

The Global Business Resource Center and the Bureau of Economic Development already had been working together, but Telfer and Leinenkugel on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize the partnership.

The partnership is part of the Department of Commerce effort to train communities, colleges and universities and economic development organizations in the basics of exporting so they can help companies in their area succeed in the global marketplace.

“This is exactly what we should be doing …” Leinenkugel said. “Whenever I market the state, I talk about the great workforce we have, and I talk about the education system we have. … And now we’re really bringing those resources to businesses.

“This is a terrific win for Wisconsin,” he said.