This month's edition of StatelineBusiness features Sara Investment Real Estate, based out of Middleton, Wis.

Sara Investment Real Estate has nine major properties in Janesville and dozens of other sites in Dane County as well as in Oshkosh, Appleton, Green Bay, Platteville, Eau Claire, Watertown, Wis. and beyond.

In the Stateline Area, Sara Investment Real Estate is buying old, vacant buildings and filling them up with entrepreneurs constantly. Locals say company President Eric Schwartz is becoming a powerful force in Janesville and has his eyes set on projects in Beloit.

One of Schwartz's notable projects in Janesville was the rehabilitation of a property at 1260 Milton Avenue -- the old Woodman's grocery store. The green mammoth building was blighted for years until Schwartz helped to renovate it in 2006 and fill it with tenants.

This edition also features the good news on Interstate Bakeries Corporation, a Fortune 500 company. The largest wholesale bread and cake distributor in the United States has opened a 20,000-square-foot distribution facility in Roscoe.

Dave Forshay, the owner of the building and president of Forshay Development, has worked hard to get the new tenant in. ClimbTech, a ladder manufacturer, left the space in December due to manufacturing competition from China.

Knowing ClimbTech was on its way out, Forshay had to act fast. He spent six months in negotiations with IBC and worked 45 days straight to get the building ready.

There's also some good news in South Beloit. David Try and Johanna Koslofski of Valley-Realtors, have teamed up to offer Sauk Ridge Condominiums on Sauk Ridge Drive off of Liston Avenue. They are marketing them to seniors who have lived in the community all their lives and are ready for a maintenance free lifestyle.

In Beloit, preparations are being made for the new organic grocery store to debut downtown. Rich Horbaczewski and Jackie Gennett, owners of Grass Is Greener Gardens in Monroe, will be opening an organic grocery store in the former Woolworth's Building at 328 State St., this spring.

We hope you enjoy this edition of StatelineBusiness!