Monday, March 5, 2018
Focus on Calumet
A periodic update on economic development opportunities in Calumet County and the region for businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities.
Wisconsin Awesomeness
John Koskinen is the Chief Economist for the WI Department of Revenue and has served in that position under numerous Administrations for many years. His expert economic analysis has positioned him as an authority on Wisconsin’s economy. According to John’s analysis , Wisconsin’s economy is the most competitive it has been in 18 years . Thanks to the wonders of technology, many of Koskinen’s presentations are summarized in short videos available on the WI Department of Revenue’s website. Click on the image to the right to view the first video; subsequent videos are available from this link on DOR’s website.

In other good news about Wisconsin, the 2018 U.S. News and World Report 2018 Best States rankings shows the Badger State ranked 11 th best state in the U.S., up from its ranking of 16 th last year. Iowa was rated the best state. Wisconsin ranked 3 rd among all U.S. states (behind North Dakota and Minnesota) in the new category of “quality of life” which includes air quality, pollution, voter participation, social support, and more.  
Let's Make Manufacturing Cool Again!
The February 6 issue of Industry Week included an article that addresses the need to do more to promote manufacturing as an exciting and rewarding career for salaried and hourly positions. It lays out a 14-point series of short- and long-term strategies to counter beliefs that many people, especially millennials, may have about manufacturing. Certainly there are many local manufacturers, the State of Wisconsin, and organizations such as NEWMA (the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance: http://newmfgalliance.org/ ) that are working to solve this problem. Despite these efforts, many local manufacturing jobs remain open. 

The article suggests there are at least two primary reasons for these unfilled positions: 1) applicants don't have the skills necessary to do the jobs; and 2) potential applicants have a lack of interest in manufacturing largely due to old and outdated paradigms such as factories are unsafe, dirty work places; shift work; and a "manufacturing isn't cool" image.   Find Suggested Short/Long Term Solutions here.
FOXCONN News
The State of Wisconsin has created a newsletter designed to provide updates on Foxconn happenings. The Wisconn Valley News is published every other week and designed to keep interested individuals up to date on Foxconn construction plans, infrastructure improvements, traffic pattern updates, and more. Local elected officials, suppliers, contractors, and members of the public are encouraged to turn to the Wisconn Valley News for the latest project status, road updates, next steps, and interesting facts. When appropriate, special bulletins will also be distributed to ensure the most timely information possible.  Click here to subscribe .
Also, https://www.wisconnvalleycenter.com/ was confirmed as Foxconn's official website for the Wisconn Valley Innovation Center. In February, the innovation center was announced to be a part of the development and opening of their Wisconsin headquarters at the former Northwestern Mutual building in Milwaukee, also called the 611 Building. 
I-41 Corridor Economic Development Strategy Released
On February 22, 2018, East Central WI Regional Planning Commission sponsored a workshop called " Driving the Future: A Strategy for Fostering Collaborative Economic Development along the Interstate-41 Corridor " which provided a forum for updating elected officials, economic development practitioners, and the general public about a new strategy for attracting talent, growing industry, and collaborating across borders in the context of the I-41 Corridor. Funded by a grant from the Department of Defense-Office of Economic Adjustment (DoD-OEA), this effort was specifically developed for Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties to compile a "must do" list for improving and maintaining our regional competitiveness.

The Commission, with assistance from TIP Strategies, is pleased to publicly release a report which was produced through feedback gained from the I-41 Corridor Strategy Advisory Committee, roundtable discussions with various industry sectors, and one-on-one interviews with elected officials and regional business leaders.   "Driving the Future: A Strategy for Fostering Collaborative Economic Development along the Interstate-41 Corridor" contains specific recommendations on the tasks necessary to achieve better connected and aligned regional economic development efforts along the I-41 Corridor. The report and other information from the workshop can be found on the ECWRPC Webpage .

If you have any questions about the regional economic development effort, please contact Sarah Van Buren .
2018 Calumet County Visitors Guide
This official county tourism guide is produced by Calumet County Tourism, in partnership with Zander Press, Inc. of Brillion. This quality colored guide highlights the county's tourism assets, features beautiful photographs, and includes a calendar of events. Click on the image to view an online version of the guide. For more information about tourism opportunities in Calumet County, go to www.travelcalumet.com . 
Free Business Counseling Offered
The third Tuesday of practically any month one can find a counselor with the Green Bay Small Business Development Center meeting at the Calumet County Courthouse with entrepreneurs and existing business owners. Each month, free individual business counseling sessions are held to help answer questions and put businesses and entrepreneurs in a better position to make the best decisions for themselves and their businesses. To schedule an appointment with the business counselor, contact Mary Kohrell using the information provided below. The next sessions will be held on March 20.
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