FirstPathway Weblog

Robert W. Kraft Chairman/CEO of FirstPathway Partners was honored to moderate the 49th annual MMAC Wisconsin International Trade Conference on Tuesday May 7, 2013 at the Italian Conference Center. The conference is the largest of its kind in the state. During the China Session expert panelists presented and answered audience questions on a variety of topics.  Speakers included Craig Allen Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Lora Klenke VP of Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC), Gale Pence CEO of Global Precision Industries and Randy Baumgart CFO of Hatco Corp.

In conjunction with the Wisconsin International Trade Conference, FirstPathway Partners also attended The Wisconsin Governor’s Export Award Luncheon.

View our photo gallery.

Greenfield’s PaveDrain, a new tenant in the developing International Water Technology Accelerator,  has been named the most promising early-stage venture in the Imagine H2O Competition. The competition helps entrepreneurs and innovators develop ideas  into businesses that offer successful, sustainable water solutions. PaveDrain won the competition through the development of  specially designed mats used for paving large surfaces that allows storm water to seep back into the ground rather than create potential flooding problems.

To read the full JSOnline article, click here.

This week The Business Journal featured a photo slideshow update on the progress of The Milwaukee Marriott Downtown, a FirstPathway Partners financed project. The 205 room hotel is slated to open in July 2013.

The iconic $56 Million dollar, 10-story, 197,000 square foot hotel will feature a luxurious high-end restaurant, lobby bar, Starbucks, and a jeweler. Hotel amenities will include a fully equipped fitness center, a swimming pool, business center, concierge service, and gift shop.

 View the Article

Wednesday April 24, 2013- FirstPathway Partners COO, Dan Wycklendt and Vice President, Jennifer Globig attend South Africa’s 19 Years of Freedom & Democracy hosted by The Consul General of The Republic of South Africa, Consul General Vuyiswa Tuleo and Honorary Consul, Milwaukee 2nd District Alderman Joe Davis, Sr.

Alderman Davis serves as chair of the Sister Cities Committee, spearheading efforts to forge new international ties with cities across the globe. uMhlathuze, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa has been Milwaukee’s Sister City since 2008.

On April 18th, FirstPathway Partners Chairman Bob Kraft and Director of China Operations Dan Redford took part in Governor Scott Walker’s first official reception in Shanghai. Governor Walker led a delegation to honor the establishment of the Wisconsin China Center, which will serve as a strong, permanent representation for the state in China. FirstPathway was proud to sponsor the event, and was excited to be joined by our distinguished partners here in China. This was a historic moment for FirstPathway and for the state of Wisconsin, and certainly will lead to further business and goodwill between China, Wisconsin, and the United States.

To view the photo gallery, click here

Friday, April 12, 2013- FirstPathway Partners COO, Dan Wycklendt and Vice President, Jennifer Globig attend a luncheon honoring a delegation from the Ningbo, China at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce offices.  In attendance was Xu Mingfu of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government, Jiang Lu Vice-Director of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government Foreign Affairs office, Yuan Deyun Deputy Director of the CPPCC Ningbo Committee, Ren Wei of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government Foreign Affairs office, Guo Lu Hua Executive Member of the Ningbo People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Martha L. Brown Deputy Commissioner of the City of Milwaukee.

Milwaukee formally established a sister city relationship with the city of Ningbo, China on May 11, 2006, with the signing of an agreement by Mayor Tom Barrett and Ningbo Mayor Mao Guanglie.

Today, USCIS published a revised version of the Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative. The G-28 accompanies the principal applicant’s form I-526 and I-829. Attorneys and accredited representatives may begin using the revised form immediately. USCIS will not accept prior versions of the form after May 26, 2013.

The new form edition has 2D barcode technology to help USCIS collect information quickly and accurately. As the attorney or client completes the form electronically,
the barcode stores that information.

FirstPathway Partners’ petitioners should begin transitioning to the new form in anticipation of the May 26, 2013 cutoff.

View the NEW form

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article outlining some of the intricacies of the EB-5 program wherein Mr. Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners, emphasizes the importance of trust-building.

To read the full article, click here.

Startup water tech companies already committed to lease space in the developing International Water Technology Accelerator will now have a new partner in Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. The law firm will provide services to the innovators within the center in order to obtain patents and form corporations, among other needed services.

Thus far the seven-story Accelerator building is approximately 75% leased, including the following tenants:  University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Badger Meter Inc., A.O. Smith Corp., Veolia Water North America, The Milwaukee Water Council, Hanging Gardens, Alga Bionics, Greater Milwaukee Committee, Stormwater Solutions, Sloan Valve, Grundfos Pumps, Pave Drain and Xela Innovations.

To Read More in the Business Journal, Click Here.

To see Progress on the Project through the FPP Flickr Account, Click Here.

The FirstPathway Partners Investment Project, Downtown Marriott Milwaukee, was recently featured in the Milwaukee business news source, BizTimes. According to the article, with the opening of the new Milwaukee Marriott slated for this July, there will be the added attraction of nearly 10,000 square feet of new event space for the city. It is expected to be utilized not only by corporate events, but also weddings and other social events.

There will be a 5,500 square-foot East Side Ballroom to accommodate up to 360 guests, as well as three 1,000 square-foot meeting spaces, and two 700-square-foot meeting spaces. The space is highly flexible overall, with a contemporary feel, and the Ballroom has the capacity to be divided into three separate spaces through wall partitions.

However, size is not the main focus for the facility, service is. “We’re not focusing on being the largest event facility in the city, but certainly we want to be the one with the most genuine care and quality in service” said Jeff Hess, general manager of the hotel. The Marriott has been designed as a place where people meet and want to convene, and quality service is a key component of that. The new Marriott, a brand with an already established reputation of quality, has booked 11 meetings and events for this summer and continues to receive various other inquiries regarding availability for the event space.

To read more in the BizTimes Milwaukee, click here.