Chamber E-Newsletter - September 2018

Chamber Newsletter - September 2018

Volume 23 - Issue 9

Chamber Chat with Amanda

Jackson County is the perfect spot to enjoy the beauty of the fall colors. While it’s hard to beat walking, the colors can also be enjoyed by the road. Here are four suggestions for routes from Black River Falls that will show some of the great color locations.

Route 1 – Rustic Road: Take a drive on a state-designated Rustic Road. Jackson County’s North Settlement Road stretches from County Rd. O north to WIS 54. This road travels through hardwood stands, pine tree plantations and grassland intermixed with flowages. It goes past the Pigeon Creek Campground and Dike 17 Wildlife Area, a 3,100-acre property located within the Black River State Forest. (Directions: Exit I-94 at Millston to Hwy. O. Take North Settlement Road north to Hwy. 54. Follow 54 back to Black River Falls. About 40 miles round trip.)

Route 2 – A View From the Top: Saddle Mound at 1,400 feet is the highest point in Jackson County and rises several hundred feet above the woods, a sandstone outlier from what was once a great inland lake. A great view from the top. Come back along Old Hwy. 54 and County K. (Directions: Take Hwy. 54 east. Exit at Saddle Mound Road and pull off to park. Take Pray Road north to Old Hwy. 54 and head west to Hwy. K. Take Hwy. K south back to Hwy. 54 back to Black River Falls. About 44 miles round trip.)

Route 3 – Ridgetop & Farmland: The western part of Jackson County has the classic coulees and ridges that are part of the Driftless Region. It is a mosaic of cropland and mixed hardwoods in between ridges that rise up to 1,300 feet. This route takes you through the farms and rolling hills. (Directions: Take Hwy. 54 west for about 7 miles to Hwy. X. Turn right on X and go about 7 miles to Disco. Turn left on Hwy. C Go about 3 miles to Franklin Road. Turn right and follow Franklin Road for about 3 miles to Hwy. N. Turn right on N and go to Taylor (detour on West Blair Road to River Road to Hwy. 95, turn right). Take Hwy. 95 to Hixton and to Alma Center. Turn right on Hwy. F and follow F to Hwy. A just outside of Black River Falls. Turn left. About 54 miles round trip.)

Route 4 – River Beauty: The combination of the Black River and colorful trees can’t be missed. This route takes you down highway and back roads that will give you plenty of water and woods. (Directions: Take Hwy. 54 west for about 9 miles to Sunnyvale Road. Go 1 mile to River Road. Turn right and follow River Road to Tower Road in Melrose. Back on Hwy. 54, turn left and follow Hwy. 54 to North Bend. Take Hwy. V to Hwy. D to Hwy. H back to Hwy. 54 and Black River Falls. About 50 miles round trip.)

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the Chamber. Together we build business, create community and promote tourism.

Sincerely,

Amanda Gunn

Executive Director

Black River Area Chamber of Commerce

www.blackrivercountry.net

Chamber News

Menu Guides

The 2018 Black River Area Menu Guides are now available! If you would like some for your business or lodging facility, stop in our office and pick them up or give us a call and we can deliver them to you!

Events to Share

Please send us information on any upcoming events your business or organization is hosting. We will get them posted to the calendar on our website and in the printed calendar we distribute at our office. We also share many different events on our Facebook page!

Click here to visit our calendar of events

Brochures, Rack Cards and Business Cards

Make sure to drop off a supply of your brochures, rack cards and business cards at the Chamber office. Help us help your business by passing along information to both our out-of-town visitors and to local residents who come to the Chamber. If you can't make it to the office, give us a call and we will gladly pick them up at your business!

Ribbon Cuttings

Regal

Photo Courtesy of JoDee Brooke/Banner Journal

Realizing the need to be as efficient as possible and decreasing non value-added time to the cost of production, Regal recently completed work on its "Pick-to-Light" routing system. The system reduces the time required in organizing the components of each monitor prior to it going to production. A ribbon cutting recognizing the completion of the system was held September 7th. Pictured f ront row from left: Amanda Gunn, Kathy Kopp, Melissa Nortman, Ginger Heath, Sandra Castillo and Marsha Christensen. Back row from left: Dean Smith, Al Viste, Patti Krahenbuhl and Aaron Jensen.

JC Financial Partners

Photo courtesy of JoDee Brooke/Banner Journal

The Black River Area Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon Cutting at JC Financial Partners on September 12 during Business After 5 to celebrate their new location at 503 N Water Street in Black River Falls. Those who attended were - front row from left; Chamber Director Amanda Gunn, April Breheim, Judy Hawley, Chamber Office Manager Kathy Kopp, Chamber Board Member Dave Meyer, Chamber Office Assistant Samantha Windsor. Back row from left; Chamber Ambassador Joe Williams, Chamber Board Member Scott Johnson, Chamber Ambassador Cathy Link, Ray Ransom, John Drace, Duane Johnson, Rob Hawley and Kelly Prochaska.

Member Business Briefs

Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls Opens Long Awaited Porte Cochere and Veteran’s Memorial Garden

Another phase of the Ho-Chunk Nation’s “Project Forward” at Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls has been completed. On Friday, August 24, 2018 a ribbon cutting ceremony took place for their Thunderbird inspired Porte Cochere and Veteran’s Memorial Garden.

Porte Cochere is a French word for coach gate, used to protect people from the weather elements. Theirs is unique in its physical size and appealing structure. The conical feature has lights inside that are beamed upward through blue acrylic, and downward to an organic sand based rock garden. The surrounding secondary walls of the Porte Cochere have multiple lights directed toward their panels that create a multi-colored effect in the evening.

The Veteran’s Memorial Garden is an offset from the Porte Cochere on the south east hotel side of the facility. It was designed as a peaceful, and respectable area with five illuminated flags and a plaque giving tribute to some of the Ho-Chunk Nation’s fallen service members. Benches, trees and shrubs have also been added to give serenity to the area.

Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls has undergone major renovations and expansion over nearly two years, with ground breaking on September 23, 2016. Completed phases include: gaming floor expansion with 200 additional slots (including a non-smoking section, and high-limits room), brand new hotel and lobby, renovated buffet and bistro, and now the Porte Cochere and Veteran’s Memorial Garden. The Bingo Hall is nearing completion of their renovation, and ATV parking with a wash bay coming in 2019.

Porte Cochere ribbon cutting. Pictured left to right, Harry Corken of Hill International, Ho-Chunk Nation President Wilfrid Cleveland, and HCG BRF Executive Manager Greg Garvin.

Veteran’s Memorial Garden. Pictured: Members of the Blackhawk Legion Post, Harry Corken of Hill International, HCG BRF Executive Manager Greg Gavin, Ho-Chunk Nation President Wilfrid Cleveland, and HCG BRF Maintenance Manager Danny Dowling Sr.

BRF School District Looking to Increase Internship and Apprenticeship Opportunities

The School District of Black River Falls would like to increase internship and apprenticeship opportunities for students in our area. Career Coordinator Ryan Johnson can meet face-to-face with employers, help coordinate and support interns and apprentices in local businesses and assist with finding and developing training opportunities for student workers. If your business would be interested in having student interns/apprentices, contact Tom Chambers at 715-284-4324 ext 2001 or by email at Tom.Chambers@brf.org or Ryan Johnson at 715-284-4324 ext 6511 or by email at ryan.johnson@brf.org.

Dean's Security LLC Under New Ownership

Dean and Sonya Pennel are excited to announce the sale of Dean’s Security LLC. to Josh Wiegand. Josh has been an employee of Dean’s Security since 2013 and has more than tripled the business in the last three years. “The timing was just right to make this move and give Josh and his team full control over the direction of the business,” commented former own Dean Pennel. Dean’s Security will remain under the Dean’s Security name for the time being with the eventual goal to rebrand the company in the near future.

Dean’s Satellite Inc. will still continue to operate under the ownership of Dean and Sonya Pennel locally in the Sparta area serving the entire Midwest.

Dean’s Security plans to remain the leader in the area in surveillance and security systems for both home and commercial as well as continue to grow into automation. For more information on Dean’s Security please contact Josh at 608-633-7968.

Co-op Credit Union Names New Vice President

Co-op Credit Union recently named a new vice president to its leadership team. Cassie Perenchio has taken on the role as the credit union’s vice president of marketing. She will lead and continue to handle all aspects of the credit union’s marketing and communication initiatives.

Perenchio joined CCU’s staff in fall 2016 as marketing specialist. Eric Chrisinger, CCU’s president and CEO, said Perenchio will be an asset in her new position.

“I am excited and pleased Cassie is taking on this role, as she is passionate about serving our members and our communities,” Chrisinger said. “Her skills will be valuable as we plan for the future and the growth of our credit union.”

Perenchio worked as a reporter and news editor for the Jackson County Chronicle and River Valley Media Group before joining Co-op Credit Union’s staff, bringing knowledge of communication, media and the area’s local communities to her position.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity and that’s because of CCU’s mission of service,” she said. “The credit union tirelessly works to serve the best interests of both our members and our communities, and I’m honored to continue to help tell that story.”

In the community, Perenchio serves on the board of the Friends of the Black River Falls Public Library group where she assists with communication and social media efforts.

This year marks Regal’s 30th anniversary

Story and photos courtesy of JoDee Brooke/Banner Journal

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Regal coming to the Black River Falls area. Originally built in 1988 as Leeson, the company was acquired by Regal Beloit in 2000. Today, Regal’s Black River Falls plant is one of its 60 global plants.

Regal began operating as a winding facility. It underwent expansions in 1994, 1998 and again in 2003. Regal manufactures electric motors. These days, an average of 1,450 motors leave the Black River Falls’ Regal facility, along with 50 to 75 sub-fractional motors, every day. It was back in the 90s, Regal shipped its millionth motor.

Regal has worked consistently to establish greater efficiency and technology advancement to improve profitability. Regal has incorporated robotics into its production, freeing up employees to do value-added jobs. It just recently completed installation of its “Pick-to-Light” system that allows improved efficiency in compiling the components that go into building each of Regal’s motors.

As a member of the Regal’s Continuous Improvement team, Ginger Heath explained it is that team that works with plant employees to keep the facility looking good. “It’s inviting,” shared Heath. “We pride ourselves on having a clean and welcoming facility. We consistently work on safety and sustainability issues. All areas of the plant share their ideas.”

Today, Regal employs 230 people at its Black River Falls plant. Of the original 15 employees three are still working at the plant.

In recognition of its 30th anniversary, employees enjoyed a number of special events, including dress-up for Hawaiian Day, 80s Day and Hero Day. A company picnic was also planned.

“We have also been working with ideas on how we can attract and retain employees,” shared Heath. “We recently remodeled our break room. We built a weight room where employees can come on their breaks to work out. We have our employees complete a survey, asking them, ‘Do you enjoy working here?’ Our score is improving.”

On the wall of Regal’s break-room is the inscription, “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

Regal in Black River Falls is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The company is a global manufacturer of motors and employs roughly 230 people at the BRF plant, working two shifts each day.

Regal's Al Viste provides Chamber office manager Kathy Kopp the opportunity to experience Regal's Virtual Reality training, which provides new employees the opportunity to learn parts recognition and build confidence before they get to the production floor.

Black River Falls Coldwell Banker team named among Wisconsin’s tops

A Black River Falls, Wisconsin, based real estate team from Coldwell Banker River Valley Realtors has been recognized among Real Trends top teams in Wisconsin, as ranked by transaction sides. The Barb Simonis Team ranked #36 on the list with 133 transactions.

Real Trends is a tracking and analysis company for the residential real estate industry. It works in conjunction with the Wall Street Journal to identify the country’s largest and most successful agents and firms ranked by transactions and volume.

Simonis has been recognized previously by Real Trends for being among the top 1,000 of nearly 1 million Realtors in the U.S. And earlier this year, Coldwell Banker River Valley Realtors was recognized as a 2018 Up-and-Comer firm by Real Trends for closing 1,233 residential real estate transactions in 2017, placing it among the industry’s elite. Additionally, Coldwell Banker ranked first in the country for sales volume.

“Barb’s team has built their business by building relationships and delivering results,” said Ryan Olson, vice president and managing broker of Coldwell Banker River Valley, Realtors. “One of the reasons their team and all of our agents find such success is because they don’t view their jobs as transactional, but as trusted advisors providing a valuable service to real people.”

Coldwell Banker River Valley, Realtors, is a full-service residential and commercial real estate firm with offices in La Crosse, Black River Falls, Onalaska and Tomah, Wisconsin, and in Winona and Rochester, Minnesota. For career information, visit www.cbrvcareers.com . Coldwell Banker River Valley, Realtors, can be found online at www.cbrivervalley.com and www.facebook.com/cbrivervalley .

New Members

North Country Christmas Greens

Black River Falls, WI 54615

715-284-2000

northcountrycg@gmail.com

North Country Christmas Greens supplies fresh greenery for the Christmas season; traditional wreaths, garland, centerpieces and specialty wreaths. North Country Christmas Greens has been in business for over 25 years. Located in Black River Falls, WI. Our customers consist of various organizations including school music and Athletic Departments, churches, scout troops and sports organizations. These organizations sell out Christmas greens in order to raise funds for their various expenses and endeavors. Any organization, club or group seeking a profitable fundraiser will absolutely benefit from out program. We also provide Cemeteries with wreaths and greens and Municipalities Holiday greenery with which to decorate their community.

Business After 5

Thank you to JC Financial Partners for hosting the September Business After 5 event that took place on Wednesday, September 12th. A ribbon cutting was also held during the event. Guests were treated to delicious food catered by Black River Memorial Hospital's Food Service Department and beverages from Sand Creek Brewery and Ripp Distributing. We had a great turnout and everyone had a wonderful time!

April Breheim and Judy Hawley holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers they received for their event.

Rachel Risberg and Ray Ransom were door prizes winners at the event. Rachel won a beautiful Mum and Ray won a coffee basket. Congratulations!

Join us for our next Business After 5 event at Brambleberry Winery on Wednesday, October 10th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

7 Rivers Alliance Updates

WISE Plan Aims to Overcome Workforce Challenges

The 7 Rivers Alliance region, which includes 14 counties in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, faces major workforce challenges.

The alliance’s Workforce Innovation for a Strong Economy Plan, a 10-year workforce development plan launched last November, is aimed at overcoming workforce challenges by helping ensure there will be enough workers.

According to the WISE Plan, an estimated 15,321 net new jobs are expected to be created in the 7 Rivers Region during the next 10 years, but because of out-migration and retirements, the region is expected to lose a net of 228 workers during the 10-year period.

According to the plan, the region needs to attract and retain 1,500 to 2,000 more workers each year during the next decade to keep up with employer demand.

"The plan is the result of a nearly yearlong effort to understand and address the workforce preparation, retention and recruitment challenges in the region," said Chris Hardie, who became the alliance’s CEO last September. The alliance is an economic development membership organization.

WISE strategies focus on three major areas — talent preparation, talent recruitment and talent retention.

Listed under each of those three areas is a series of goals. And listed under each goal are strategies for meeting that goal as well as prospective “champions” such as particular businesses, associations and educational institutions that can work with others in “action groups” to implement those strategies. The plan identifies short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies.

Some examples of talent preparation strategies in the plan include programs and activities that build stronger connections between students and businesses, and inform and educate guidance and career counselors and others influencing adults about opportunities that exist in the region.

Some talent recruitment strategies in the plan include marketing the region to well-defined targets, sharing stories and messages of success and inclusion, and ensuring that new families are welcomed and supported when they arrive.

Some talent retention strategies outlined in the plan include sharing best practices with employers in the region, and analyzing the region’s child-care needs as well as identifying and supporting public policy changes that would address child-care availability and affordability issues.

The need for additional child care and affordable housing, and transportation issues, are three of the major challenges identified in the study, Hardie noted.

For example, Hardie said, “We’re seeing people who are working part time or who are having to drop out of the workforce because they can’t find providers to take care of their kids. And that becomes a recruitment challenge for us as well. Because if you’re a business looking to hire a worker, one of the first questions the worker has if they have kids is, ‘What’s the day care situation?’”

Some of the many other challenges mentioned in the WISE Plan include an aging workforce, misperceptions about the region’s employment opportunities, a mismatch of skills between what is being produced by the region’s post-secondary institutions and the needs of local employers, a lack of diversity within the region, and local wages that are well below national averages.

Implementing the plan requires lots of involvement by individuals and organizations.

“In order for this plan to be successful, we have to have a number of people, organizations and companies helping to carry them through,” Hardie said. “This is a 7 Rivers Alliance plan, but it’s too big for us to be able to do it” without a lot of help.

“A lot of the (action) groups have been formed,” Hardie said of the groups that will drive the strategies outlined in the plan. “Some have met and some have not. A lot of it depends on whether it involves the short-term or the medium-term or the long-term” strategies.

Hardie said he is convening a meeting of all of the plan’s “champions” for mid-September. “To say OK, it’s been a year, where are we? What do we need to adjust? Are there some strategies that we need to change the timing for?”

Updates on the plan’s implementation and progress will be given at the alliance’s annual State of the Region meetings. The next one will be on Nov. 14.

Last year, the 7 Rivers Alliance Foundation was created and received its 501©(3) certification from the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, charitable organization. The foundation will be able to apply for grants to help pay for implementing strategies outlined in the plan, Hardie said.

Inspire Program

The Inspire 7 Rivers initiative links education and industry to help students and job seekers achieve their goals and address communities' workforce development needs. The Inspire 7 Rivers platform is a safe way for students to connect with potential employers and career coaches. Inspire 7 Rivers is launched in school districts within Black River Falls, Holmen, Tomah, Hillsboro and Blair-Taylor, and over the next three years the program will expand to include school districts throughout the entire 7 Rivers Region.

The Inspire program is now up to 93 employers and 67 coaches that collaborate with over 1,000 active students.

Our determination to increase employers involved with the program has not slowed down. Our team continues to communicate about the benefits of the program to local organizations. If you or any employer is interested in learning more please email Jeff at jeff@7riversalliance.org or click on the picture below.

Save the Date - State of the Region - November 14

State of the Region will be held on November 14th. Come see the presentation of our Executive Business survey of local leaders, keynote speakers and much more!

Lee Rasch Community Partnership Award

With the 2018 State of the Region event just around the corner, the 7 Rivers Alliance has opened the application process for this year's Lee Rasch Community Partnership Award!

Applications can be emailed to maddy@7riversallliance.org or mailed in to 7 Rivers Alliance, 601 Seventh Street N, La Crosse, WI, 54601.

Please reach out with any questions you may have. Deadline is October 15th.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation News

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Launches Campaign to bring Alumni Back to Wisconsin

Wisconsin has some of the lowest unemployment numbers the state has seen in decades.

But despite those numbers, there is also a low numbers of workers in the workforce says the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

"We realized we needed to start attracting more workers to Wisconsin and the workforce shortage is real and it's what we hear as the number one concern from businesses across the state. So we really needed to be more aggressive and talking about Wisconsin's stories and the opportunities that are here," said WEDC Deputy Secretary and COO Tricia Braun.

The WEDC is launching a $6.8 million campaign, in part, to encourage alumni to stay in Wisconsin after school.

Carl Klemp is one of nine alumni telling their stories for the campaign.

Klemp lived in Virginia for a year after college before moving back to the area in 2012.

"I grew up in Caledonia, I pictured La Crosse as a big city, and then I went to a big city and realized that La Crosse is actually a better spot. It's a good mix of big and small. It's got enough amenities, it's got art, it's got all the things we enjoy to do, concerts, festivals," said Klemp.

Western Technical College is one of nine institutions across Wisconsin, including UW-Eau Claire, partnering with the campaign.

"We're doing our part as a college to help train that workforce, but we've trained so many that have chosen to cross the short border over to Minnesota. Maybe travel down to Iowa, maybe they thought Minneapolis was the right thing. And if we can connect with alumni and show them what their roots were and remind them how great it was where they grew up I think it's the perfect place," said Western Technical College President Roger Stanford.

The campaign will run through June 2019, and hopes to bring workers back to what Braun calls the best kept secret in the country.

Made in Wisconsin

High-Quality Products from Hard-Working People

When something is produced in Wisconsin, it is a point of pride for those who had a hand in its creation. WEDC created a cost-free logo for businesses to use to proclaim their products' Wisconsin origin. The Made In Wisconsin logo can be adapted to reflect a company's production process.

Join the hundreds of companies who are already participating in the Made In Wisconsin program by filling out an application here !

Third Annual La Crosse Small Business Academy

Click here to register!

Something Special from Wisconsin™

Something Special from Wisconsin™ is a trademarked marketing program administered by the Division of Agricultural Development of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Founded in 1983, the Something Special from Wisconsin™ program has helped its members stand out above the rest. The program logo provides a quick and reliable way to identify genuine Wisconsin products and services at grocery stores, retail outlets, farmers' markets and restaurants throughout the state. Program members benefit from having a "Wisconsin" brand identity that consumers recognize as top quality and high value. Products showcasing the logo enjoy a strong competitive edge with consumers. Surveys indicate that over 70 percent of Wisconsin consumers are more likely to purchase a commodity made or grown in Wisconsin than one from outside the state.

Any business, no matter how big or how small, may participate. You can apply for approval to use the Something Special from Wisconsin™ logo if at least 50 percent of the value of your product or service is attributable to Wisconsin ingredients, production or processing activities.

Whether you market your products and services locally, regionally, nationally or internationally, the Something Special from Wisconsin™ logo brings recognition and credibility, building upon Wisconsin's reputation for providing the finest products and services available.

More information about the Something Special from Wisconsin™ program is available by emailing datcpssfw@wi.gov.