January 9

Gracie's Doggie Delights

Gracie's Doggie Delights is operated by Gracie Jagler, daughter of my colleague Rep. John Jagler. Gracie is an enterprising young woman with Down Syndrome who loves dogs. She owns three rescue miniature schnauzers, and loves to give them treats which is why she started a business out of it. This business has also taught her valuable business skills as she is in charge of the packaging and labeling of all products. Gracie's Doggie Delights offers three types of treats: beef liver delights, chicken heart delights, and turkey heart delights.

Income Tax Assistance

Income tax returns are due on April 18th this year, and you may be seeking assistance with filing your state and federal tax returns. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is a cooperative effort by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Wisconsin. Volunteers trained by the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) prepare basic income tax returns for free. Most VITA sites also offer free electronic filing.
VITA income tax assistance is available for:
• Low-to-moderate income individuals (generally income of $53,000 or less)
• Individuals with disabilities
• Non-English speaking taxpayers
• Military personnel
• Elderly individuals
• Individuals who qualify for the homestead credit or the earned income credit
DOR sponsors five sites and there are dozens of other sites throughout the state. You can search for a VITA site near you and see the hours of operation. Many sites require an appointment and you should contact the site directly to schedule an appointment.
More information about the VITA program is available here.

Wisconsin YES! Student Business Plan

Wisconsin Youth Entrepreneurs in Science, a statewide youth business plan contest modeled after the Governor’s Business Plan Contest, is open for online entries from Wisconsin middle- and high-school students through 5 p.m. April 4, 2016.
Public, private and home-schooled students across Wisconsin are eligible to turn their science- and tech-related ideas into business plans and compete for cash and prizes. The contest begins with a 250-word summary submitted through www.WisconsinYES.com. Entries that advance to Phase 2 of the competition will expand their idea into a 1,000-word executive summary. Throughout the process, students get feedback from professionals across Wisconsin who will serve as judges.
As a tool for educators, Wisconsin YES! fosters interest in science and tech education, and encourages students to be independent, creative thinkers capable of problem solving.
“Leveraging technology, thinking creatively and working as a team are all important characteristics for today’s entrepreneurs,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “Entrepreneurial skills are vital to the long-term success of Wisconsin’s youth, as well as the state’s innovation economy.”
To get started, students create a simple account at www.WisconsinYES.com. All entries are submitted through the website. Students use their account to gain access to judges’ comments and feedback. Templates and sample entries for both phases are available on the website, along with other entrepreneurial resources.

Timeline:
Phase 1: Idea Abstract
Phase 1 entries due by: April 4, 2016
Entries should be roughly 250 words (or no more than 2,000 characters – including spaces).
Phase 2: Executive Summary
Phase 2 timeline: April 18, 2016 – May 9, 2016
Entries that advance to Phase 2 of the competition will submit a 1,000-word executive summary.
The end of each phase is followed by about one week of judging. At the end of the judging period, all contestants will be able to log in and view the judges’ comments.

Students are able to work in teams or as individuals and will be judged based upon their grade level, with the oldest team member determining the team category. Students or teams may enter multiple ideas.
Place finishers in each category – 9th grade and under, 10th grade, 11th grade and 12th grade – are eligible for cash and prizes. The grand prize winner will present his or her winning idea at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference, June 8 in Madison.

The contest is produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council, with major sponsorship provided by IBM and Intrepid Charitable Partners. Supporters of the contest include: Wisconsin Technical College System, Department of Financial Institutions, Department of Public Instruction, the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, Make a Difference Wisconsin, Project Lead the Way Wisconsin, STEM Forward, Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers and Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials.
The Wisconsin Technology Council is the independent, non-profit and non-partisan science and technology adviser to the Governor and the Legislature. It serves as a catalyst for tech-based economic development in Wisconsin through programs such as the Wisconsin Angel Network, the Governor’s Business Plan Contest and the Wisconsin Innovation Network.

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