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Momentum News
A publication by Momentum West
August 2016
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| Contact Us |
Applied Technology Center
2322 Alpine Rd. Suite 7
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: 715-874-4673
Fax: 715-874-4683
E-mail:
info@momentumwest.org
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| Executive Directors Corner |
Hard to believe school is almost back in session and in some cases already is. Where has the summer gone?
Our summer work with CREC on the regional talent initiative continues to move forward. At a special workforce strategy session in early September, CREC (the Center for Regional Competitiveness) will be rolling out their findings based on the feedback from the over 100 folks they met with in the region over the past month, as well as numerous follow-up calls they are in the process of making.
This initial Project Steering Committee working session, which will also include additional representatives from education, workforce development, chambers of commerce, regional planning, our talent attraction committee, etc., will provide an opportunity for regional leaders to review the quantitative and qualitative findings from the consulting team's research, and to prioritize areas of focus for guiding the development of the draft Strategy Plan. The consulting team will utilize a framing document that organizes the key information collected into critical challenges, goals, actions, barriers to success, metrics, and resource requirements. Following this initial strategy session, the consulting team will develop, disseminate, and present a draft Strategy Plan during a follow-up 4-5 hour working session to review, revise, and revamp the plan, as appropriate.
Momentum West is looking at developing a dashboard for inclusion on the website. The dashboard will include data such as the regions general economic performance, talent development, key industrial performance figures, and quality of life data. The hope is to provide more substantive data for both business and industry looking at our region, as well as talent evaluating our region.
As mentioned last month, we have launched a calendar on the Momentum West website for posting of area EDC's events as well as Momentum West events. EDC's will be able to self-post upcoming meetings, events, panel presentations, etc.
Please read the committee updates below for more information!
Take care everyone!
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| Seeking Committee Volunteers |
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Momentum West is a committee driven organization that is always looking for new volunteers that want to contribute and get involved. We have a wide range of active committees that work in their own ways to improve and develop the Momentum West region. If you are interested in learning more about our committees, or know that you would like to join any of them, please see the list below and reach out to the committee chair for more information. Also check out the following section of this newsletter for the latest news on all of the Momentum West Committees.
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Committee Name
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Committee Chair(s)
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Chair Email
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Events/Tradeshow Outreach Committee
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Seth Hudson
Dan Ostermann
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seth.hudson@cedarcorp.com
daniel.ostermann@bmo.com
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Northern WI International Trade Association
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Blake Fry
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blake@hudsonwi.org
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Fundraising Committee
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Dan Draxler
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djdraxler@bremer.com
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Marketing Committee
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Vicki Hoehn
Maureen Carlson
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VickiH@rcu.org
mcarlson@hoeftbuilders.com
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Regional Talent Attraction Committee
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Steve Jahn
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steve@momentumwest.org
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Committee Updates
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Economic Development Committee:
The next meeting will be in October and most likely deal with Momentum Wests strategic direction for 2017. The group met in August and received an update from the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition.
Tradeshow/Outreach Committee:
The committee is in the process of planning small group trips to targeted developers, brokers, site selectors, etc. into the Twin Cities. We'll be inviting the regions EDC's to participate if desired.
I have joined the MAEDC board as one of two representatives from Wisconsin and have accepted. Mid America EDC is an excellent resource for making contact with site selectors and advancing regional economic development programs.
We are also continuing planning for another visit from members of the Site Selectors Guild for next June. The focus this time will be rural property and Gold Shovel verified sites.
NWITA (Northern Wisconsin International Trade Association):
Data has been formulated on the businesses involved in foreign trade in our region. There are nearly 300 at present. Plan to work with the state, other export resources/experts and develop a series of informational and educational forums to begin soon.
Marketing Committee:
The committee is focusing on bringing the newsletter up to date. The plan is to offer an abbreviated format with links to additional information, calendars, committee updates, etc.
Talent Attraction Committee:
This committee is reconvening, with an invitation to members of the Regional Talent Initiative Steering committee, to continue the work laid out by CREC. In addition to delve into an internship idea that will help smaller and mid-sized business and industry determine the need, training requirements and funding for an internship program. Hopefully we can increase the number of internships within the region and keep more graduates in our region.
With the importance of attracting and retaining talent in the region, please let me know if you are interested in assisting with the launch of the regional initiative or serving on the committee.
Fundraising Committee:
If you are a present investor, thank you for your support of regional economic development. If you are not a current investor, please consider an investment in Momentum West as the continuing work of the organization is important to the economic growth of the region. The impact we can make in the region goes beyond the items mentioned in this and the previous newsletters, but without investments from businesses and industries within the area we are limited to what impact we can make. An investment in Momentum West is an investment in the overall economy of our region, whether it be time or financially, and we appreciate your support.
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The City of Chippewa Falls has been awarded a $215,770 grant to assist in the redevelopment of the downtown riverfront area that includes a two-story historic building built in 1883 by the Chippewa Lumber and Boom Co. The blighted building will be restored and the historic nature of the building preserved by bringing the electrical and plumbing up to code and performing flood mitigation efforts needed to allow the upscale Duncan Creek Wine Bar and Grille relocate and expand operations at a new location.
Nominations open for Second Annual Wisconsin Job Honor Awards
Initiative aims to employ disadvantaged jobseekers by celebrating "A New Kind of Hero"
MADISON, WI - The Wisconsin Job Honor Awards is accepting nominations for its second annual awards event, to be conducted December 15, 2016 in Madison. The Awards celebrate Wisconsinites who have overcome significant barriers to employment and the employers who hire them.
Previous honorees have overcome physical and mental disabilities, criminal convictions, limited English proficiency and long-term unemployment in their struggle for employment.
"Our society celebrates lottery winners, movie stars and professional athletes," notes founder Kyle Horn. "We rarely hear inspiring stories of individuals whose lives are transformed through the hard work and perseverance that leads to meaningful employment. It's time for a new kind of hero."
Hosted by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) during their Future Wisconsin Economic Summit in Madison, the Second Annual Wisconsin Job Honor Awards will be presented on December 15, 2016 at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center.
"Wisconsin employers continue to seek new solutions to our labor shortage," notes Kurt R. Bauer, President/CEO of WMC, citing a recent survey in which 70% of responding employers report difficulty finding qualified employees. "The Wisconsin Job Honor Awards helps engage our state's untapped workforce by shining a spotlight on success stories."
Top employee honorees will bring home $500 each, and winners in both the employee and employer categories will receive engraved crystal awards. Biographical videos will be presented for all honorees. "Expect some deeply moving personal stories," says Horn.
About the Wisconsin Job Honor Awards:
The Wisconsin Job Honor Awards celebrates Wisconsinites who have overcome significant barriers to employment, and the employers who hire them. WJHA's mission is to rekindle hope and energize the work ethic across Wisconsin, through the celebration of a new kind of hero.
www.JobHonor.org
Lead sponsor of the Awards is Manpower Group, world leader in innovative workforce solutions.
About Manpower Group
Manpower Group® (NYSE: MAN) is the world's workforce expert, creating innovative workforce solutions for more than 65 years. As workforce experts, we connect more than 600,000 people to meaningful work across a wide range of skills and industries every day. Through our Manpower Group family of brands - Manpower®, Experis®, Right Management ® and ManpowerGroup® Solutions - we help more than 400,000 clients in 80 countries and territories address their critical talent needs, providing
comprehensive solutions to resource manage and develop talent. In 2015, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the fifth consecutive year and one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup makes powering the world of work humanly possible:
www.manpowergroup.com
About WMC
Founded in 1911, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) is the state's chamber of commerce and largest business trade association representing more than 3,700 employers of every size and from every sector of the economy. The WMC Foundation is an integral part of WMC and is dedicated to building a better future for Wisconsin by providing business and economics education, workforce development initiatives, local chambers of commerce support, safety training programs and sharing business best practices.
www.wmc.org
Contact:
Kyle Horn, Founder & Director
America's Job Honor Awards
mobile: (515) 231-6039
email: kyle.horn@jobhonor.org
website: www.JobHonor.org
Twitter: @jobhonor
School of Engineering unanimously approved by Board of Regents
 Madison, Wis. - The effort by University of Wisconsin-Stout to meet employers' engineering needs in Wisconsin received a significant boost Thursday, Aug. 18, when the UW System Board of Regents unanimously approved creating a School of Engineering.
"We really appreciate the Regents and UW System partnering with us in promoting engineering education in western Wisconsin," Chancellor Bob Meyer said. "This School of Engineering will be a key piece in advancing engineering educational opportunities, not only at UW-Stout but at UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls as well."
The school will be part of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management. No additional funding was requested.
University officials told the Board of Regents that the school would help coordinate UW-Stout's existing engineering programs and help develop additional programs. The school also would help the university raise private funds to assist engineering education at UW-Stout, officials said.
"The establishment of the School of Engineering will enhance our efforts to attract qualified students to our programs by allowing us to highlight the majors associated with the school," said Patrick Guilfoile, provost and vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs.
The school also "will allow us to more effectively coordinate program offerings," Guilfoile said.
The school will include undergraduate programs in computer engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, plastics engineering and any engineering programs that might be added in the future.
More than 500 students are enrolled in the programs.
UW-Stout also offers engineering technology.
Meyer told the Regents' Education Committee that the new school will help "leverage the resources" already present to aid in fundraising and other efforts.
Regent Margaret Farrow complimented UW-Stout for establishing the school, saying it will "shine a spotlight" on the need for more engineers in Wisconsin's workforce.
UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls have formed the Northwest Wisconsin Engineering Consortium to support additional engineering programs to meet employer needs.
Introducing WorkAmery.org-Amery's newest online jobs platform
More than 900 Amery residents commute to jobs out of town every day. That's according to an Industrial Park study conducted by the Amery Economic Development Corportation (AEDC). If that drive is to Minneapolis, a person spends roughly 650 hours or 27 days per year on the road-almost a month of every year. Not to mention the roughly $3,254 in gas.
Imagine what you could do with that time and money?
A sub-committee of the AEDC, comprised of young working professionals, has been hard at work to try and keep some of those 900 people here in town, and at the same time help Amery businesses who continue to struggle to find employees.
"Our premise is to bring awareness to local manufacturers and the job opportunities they have," says AEDC Executive Director, Paul Shafer. "At the same we also wanted to get people thinking about the commuting process, and what it actually costs to commute. To do that we went ahead and developed our own website,
WorkAmery.org."
The new website, now live, is billed as a joint effort between Amery employers, the City of Amery, Amery Economic Development Corporation and the Amery Community Club. The site is modeled after a similar successful program in River Falls.
WorkAmery.org is a one-stop-shop for Amery's largest employers. There are nine listed currently, including: Amery Hospital and Clinic, Dynatronix, Raveling Companies, McDonald's, Dick's Fresh Market, SMC ltd., Cardinal Glass, UniSource Assembly, and GDSI.
Listed companies must be a member of the AEDC, which is offering free listings to members for 2016. Members will pay a minimal fee for the listings in 2017.
Shafer hopes to drive more 'traffic' to these companies' sites, and ultimately create a win/win for employers and employees alike.
Shafer says advertising the new website is underway, including exploring options for signs and banners throughout town.
"The focus is on commuters and anyone passing through the community," Shafer adds.
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For the latest Momentum West news, visit us on
facebook!
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Momentum West Investment
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Thanks to all who invested in Momentum West! Together we will continue to create a sustainable and innovative economy for our region's citizens.
New Investor
West Wisconsin Telcom
Business and Industry
24/7 Telcom
Agstar
Associated Bank
AT&T
Badgerland Printing
Baldwin Area Medical Center
Banbury Place
Bauman Associates, LTD
Bauer Built
BMO Harris Bank
Bremer Bank
Cedar Corp
Charter Bank
Citizens Bank - Hudson
Core Products
Dairyland Power Cooperative
Derrick Construction
Durand Builders
Eckberg Lammers
Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery
Fairmount Santrol
First American Bank*
First National Bank
First National Community Bank
Great Northern Corp*
Haselwander*
Hoeft Builders
Landmark Company
Manpower
Market and Johnson
Mayo Clinic Health System
Merchants Bank Eau Claire
Northwestern Bank
OEM Fabricators
RDC National
Reality Works
Royal Credit Union
Ruder Ware
Sacred Heart Hospital
Schaeffer Manufacturing
Security Financial Bank
Spectrum Industries
Uline, Inc.
Valley Cartage*
Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci
WestConsin Credit Union
West Wisconsin Telcom
Wipfli, Ulrich, Bertelson, LLP
Wisconsin Business Development
Xcel Energy
Regional EDC
Chippewa County EDC
Dunn County EDC
Eau Claire Area EDC
Polk County EDC
Rusk County EDC
County
Barron County
Eau Claire County
St. Croix County
Municipal
Ladysmith Community Industrial Development
West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Education
Chippewa Valley Technical College
UW- Eau Claire
UW- River Falls
UW- Stout
WITC
Reciprocal
Amery Area Economic Development Corporation
Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce
Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce
Menomonie Chamber of Commerce
*denotes pledge for investment
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Gold Shovel Ready Sites
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The Gold Shovel Ready Site database for developers on www.MomentumWest.org allows you to quickly and easily find sites in our 10-county region of Western Wisconsin that have:
- Identified property owners and clearly states sales price
- Zoning in place or planned
- Maps showing public and private utilities and capacities
- Information showing transportation networks
- Identified any known site restrictions that may hinder development (Geological, environmental, easements, etc.)
- Area statistics and demographic data
The sites listed below are currently verified as Gold Shovel Ready:
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| Upcoming Events |
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Export Strategy Opportunities available throughout the year
2016 Export Opportunities in Canada
Toronto, Canada - For specialty and natural products
September 7-8, 2016 - Ontario
Early registration is $400 through May 4, 2016
Registration deadline: June 15, 2016
For more information on 2016 Export Opportunities in Canada, contact Lisa Stout:
Tel: 608-224-5126
*If you would like your upcoming event to be included in the Momentum West newsletter, please send information to
steve@momentumwest.org prior to the 15th of each month
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| About Momentum West |
Momentum West is a Regional Economic Development Organization that serves 10 counties: Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, and St. Croix. Our mission is to develop partnerships and leverage resources in West Wisconsin to market the region and grow the economy.
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