Monday, February 19, 2018
Focus on Calumet
A periodic update on economic development opportunities in Calumet County and the region for businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities
Economic Development Focused Legislation
As the Wisconsin legislature wraps up its 2017 session, several bills are being debated that will impact regulations and funding for economic development projects. The most noteworthy are summarized here.
Wetland Regulatory Reform
Last week the Wisconsin Assembly passed wetland regulatory reform legislation ( AB 547 /SB 600) on a mostly party-line vote. Before passing the bill, lawmakers amended the legislation, which made significant changes to the original proposal. The initial version of the bill had eliminated DNR permitting requirements for artificial wetlands and isolated, non-federal wetlands. It also exempted artificial wetlands from mitigation requirements. The comprehensive amendment to the legislation, which would still meet the goal of streamlining the wetland permitting process for some developers, would do the following:

State Permitting Exemptions:
  • Exempts from state permitting requirements any discharge into a non-federal wetland in an urban area if the discharge: 1) Does not impact more than one acre of wetland per parcel; and 2) Does not impact a rare, high-quality wetland.
  • Exempts from state permitting requirements any discharge into a non-federal wetland that occurs outside an urban area if the discharge: 1) Does not impact more than three acres of wetland per parcel; 2) Does not impact a rare, high-quality wetland; and 3) The project is for an agricultural purpose.
  • Exempts artificial wetlands from the state permitting process.
Mitigation Requirements:
  • For projects in an urban area that are exempt from state permitting requirements, mitigation is NOT required unless more than 10,000 square feet of wetland is impacted.
  • For projects outside an urban area that are exempt from state permitting requirements, mitigation is NOT required unless more than 1.5 acres of wetland is impacted.
  • Mitigation in NOT required for artificial wetlands.
Other:
  • DNR wetland identifications and confirmations for non-federal wetlands remain in effect for 15 years.
  • Prohibits local governments from enacting an ordinance that would affect the wetland permitting exemptions and mitigation requirements created by the bill.
The Senate is expected to take up and pass the legislation as amended this week.
 (Source: WEDA)
THINK-MAKE-HAPPEN Funding Bill to Receive Vote
Legislation that would provide $6.8 million for WEDC’s Think-Make-Happen marketing platform – designed to retain top talent and encourage young professionals to move to Wisconsin – will be considered by the full Wisconsin Assembly this week.

The bill ( AB 811 /SB 679) would provide the funding necessary to build off the current Think-Make-Happen platform, expanding its reach and focusing on key populations that are more likely to relocate to Wisconsin, including millennials from neighboring states, Wisconsin alumni, and veterans separating from the military.

The legislation would also require greater collaboration and resource sharing among state agencies, which should result in a more consistent and effective message that is needed to help attract skilled employees to Wisconsin. The bill is expected to pass the Assembly before it’s sent to the Senate for further consideration later in February or early March.  (Source: WEDA)
Collaborative Economic Development
Driving the Future: A Strategy for Fostering Collaborative Economic Development along the Interstate-41 Corridor is a strategic report that’s part of an intentional effort to build a more resilient and diversified manufacturing base in the five-county I-41 Corridor that includes Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties. The strategy report will be released on February 21 at a workshop hosted by East Central WI Regional Planning Commission; the next newsletter will include a link to the online report. It provides an evaluation of the region’s economic development strengths and challenges, informed by quantitative analysis, qualitative input from across the five-county corridor, and examples of national best practices. It offers a set of unifying principles that reflect how regional stakeholders define economic development for the corridor. It provides a set of goals, strategies, and actions designed to promote economic diversification and collaboration through the enrichment of the region’s talent base, infrastructure, and economic development networks. The regional strategy is not the responsibility of one organization to implement. It is a strategy for the entire I-41 Corridor and will require many engaged and committed partners for it to be successful.

The report was developed by TIP Strategies consulting team, Austin, TX, working closely with the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC), the I-41 Corridor Advisory Committee (which included Calumet County), and dozens of regional stakeholders to identify the most promising opportunities to foster collaborative economic development in the I-41 Corridor. 
Fox Cities Economic Outlook Survey Results
The Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce held its annual presentation of Economic Survey Outlook results on February 14 before an audience of approximately 600 Fox Cities business and organization representatives. Overall, survey respondents experienced positive sales in 2017, and are very bullish on the economic outlook for 2018. Survey responses came from 217 firms in the Fox Cities including those in Calumet County. Respondents work in sectors including manufacturing, trade, service, financial, insurance, and real estate. According to the survey results, most respondents experienced gross sales and profits in 2017 that were ahead of 2016 figures. Employment expectations for 2018 are slightly ahead of 2017, with many respondents indicating they would hire more people if they were available. Notably, nearly 10% of respondents indicate they anticipate salary increases of greater than 6% in 2018. Over 90% of respondents say that living in the Fox Cities is better or much better than last year, and nearly 80% indicate that doing business in the Fox Cities is better than 2017.  
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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