Local business briefs News-Chronicle GREEN BAY Manufacturing award nominees listed Advance, the economic development arm of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, has announced nominees for the 2004 Manufacturing Awards of Distinction. They will compete in categories based on company size, years in business, e-commerce, and exporting. Nominees include Ahlstrom-Green Bay (formerly Green Bay Non-Wovens), Green Bay; Bay Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay; Eggers Industries Inc., Two Rivers; Hygenitec, Green Bay; The Integrated Manufacturing Academy/Preble High School, Green Bay; MCL Industries Inc., Pulaski; Northport Corporation of St. Cloud Inc., Gillett; Tufco Technologies Inc., Green Bay and WS Packaging Group Inc., Algoma. Winners will be announced at the awards banquet Nov. 11 at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay. Event keynote speaker will be Michael Nowak, chairman and CEO of Coating Excellence International. The cost is $45 per person or $350 for corporate tables of eight. Contact Lori Kohl at 496-2110 for reservations. LA CROSSE First Federal shareholders approve Associated takeover Shareholders of First Federal Capital Corp. of La Crosse overwhelmingly approved the company's sale to Associated Banc-Corp Wednesday. In a vote, 95 percent of the shares represented approved the transaction announced earlier this year. The combined company will have about 300 branch offices and 350 ATM locations in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. In announcing the move, Associated emphasized First Federal's success in nontraditional locations, such as supermarkets, an area where Associated has not placed an emphasis. The transaction is expected to close at the end of the month.