Madison, Wis., June 10, 2009—Dane County's high-tech companies added more than $500 million in revenue to the local economy in 2008 while adding approximately 1,000 jobs over the previous year. Since 2004, the area's total number of companies in the high-tech sector increased from 460 to 575. These findings, part of a recent survey conducted by Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), are found in the "2009 Greater Madison Wisconsin Area Directory of High-Tech Companies."

The directory lists more than 575 firms (466 high-tech businesses profiled in the directory) with reported combined revenues of more than $6.5 billion. During the last five years, the survey found high-tech employment has grown by approximately 4,000, or 15%, and the number of high-tech firms grew nearly 25% for the same period.

To order a hard copy or an Acrobat PDF version of the directory, go to http://www.mge.com/ecodev/business/htd.htm or send your request and $40 payment to:

Jim Mohrbacher
Economic Development
Madison Gas and Electric Co.
P.O. Box 1231
Madison, WI 53701-1231

For additional information, e-mail jmohrbacher@mge.com or call (608) 252-7116.

MGE generates and distributes electricity to 137,000 customers in Dane County, Wis., and purchases and distributes natural gas to 141,000 customers in seven south-central and western Wisconsin counties. MGE's parent company is MGE Energy (Nasdaq: MGEE). The company's roots in the Madison area date back more than 150 years.