Focus on Calumet
A bi-weekly update on economic development opportunities in Calumet County
and the region for businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities.

Monday, March 4, 2019
WEDA Legislative and Budget Updates: Follow the Latest Proposals from the State Capitol 
T his excerpted information comes courtesy of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA), of which Calumet County is a member. WEDA provides periodic updates about bills and legislative proposals that have an impact on economic development efforts in Wisconsin. To follow WEDA's legislative activity during the 2019-20 legislative session, readers are encouraged to regularly visit the WEDA Bill Tracker tool . 

Nearly two months into the 2019-20 legislative session, the stream of newly introduced legislative proposals has been relatively slow. However, activity in the halls of the State Capitol has increased over the past few weeks and will certainly pick-up steam now that Gov. Evers has introduced his two-year state budget bill.

As WEDA had anticipated, there are numerous economic development-related provisions included in the Governor’s budget that will be considered by lawmakers over the next several months. Although the WEDA Government Affairs Team is still in the process of fully analyzing the proposed budget bill, they note the following proposed economic development incentives:
  • Limit the percentage of a TIF district's project costs that can go toward cash grants for developers to 20 percent.
  • Require TIF project plans to contain "stress tests" in their financial projections so that local governments better understand the risks of TIF utilization if projects fail to materialize as promised.
  • Limit the manufacturing portion of the Manufacturing and Agriculture Tax Credit to only apply to the first $300,000 in qualified production activities income for each firm qualifying for the credit.
  • Numerous requirements aimed at WEDC contract and operating practices.

The following bills and proposals will be discussed separately from the budget bill.
  • Bill Number: Assembly Bill 23 / Senate Bill 16
  • Bill Description: Increases funding for the Career and Technical Education Incentive Grant program by $3.5 million per year over the 2019-21 biennium. The bill essentially doubles funding for the program over the next two years. The CTE grant program provides financial support to school districts that provide educational opportunities for student to earn industry recognized certifications in high-demand professions.
  • Bill Number: Assembly Bill 38
  • Bill Description: Eliminates current law barriers the UW System faces when entrepreneurs and faculty attempt to create businesses with patents and spin-off opportunities produced by the university’s research. The bill modifies the UW System’s conflict of interest regulation, putting the System on an even playing field with other universities across the country.
  • Apprenticeship Tuition Tax Deduction (LRB-1159) - Creates an income tax deduction for tuition expenses paid – by an individual or corporation – for an individual to participate in an apprenticeship program approved by the Department of Workforce Development.
  • Comprehensive Youth Apprenticeship Opportunities Act (LRB-1584) - Under current law, DWD must approve a list of occupational areas related to youth apprenticeships, but the Department is not required to provide youth apprenticeship programming in each area. DWD currently sanctions 11 of 16 occupational areas for youth apprenticeship programs. This bill will require DWD to approve and maintain youth apprenticeship programs in all 16 specific occupational areas.
  • Expungement Reform: Pathways to Employment (LRB-1689) - Provides comprehensive expungement reform in an effort to strengthen Wisconsin’s workforce.
  • Youth Apprenticeship Enhancement Act (LRB-1990) - Would make numerous changes to the Youth Apprenticeship program to increase its reach and impact.
Eve of Disruption: Three Takeaways from New North/St. Norbert Business Survey
Jeff Bollier , Green Bay Press-Gazette,
Feb. 20, 2019 

If you could take the northeastern Wisconsin business community's pulse right now, it would be racing.

A New North-St. Norbert College survey of 288 businesses in the region found a full two-thirds of respondents worry their industries will lose sales, employees, or both by 2020. Forty percent of respondents expect their individual business to feel the sting. 

The survey sought input from small, medium, and large businesses that span the 18-county region's economic spectrum. Jamie Lynch, the executive director of SNC's Strategic Research Institute who oversaw the survey, said executives and business leaders who spent Wednesday morning dissecting the data need to be ready for the challenges they face to get worse before they get better.
Jamie Lynch, St. Norbert College Professor of Sociology and executive director of SNC's Strategic Research Institute. (Photo: Courtesy of St. Norbert College)
"Let's have a wake-up call," Lynch said. "How will (your company) successfully navigate labor changes? We need to have an authentic conversation at your business about what it means to upscale and re-scale your business, about how to retrain your employees."
Note: Three primary takeaways from the survey research (as noted in the full article):
  • Hiring alone won’t solve the problem. Businesses need to invest in technology, train existing employees in new skills, and strategically look at what their business does.
  • The “brain drain” problem is going to get worse. Refer back to the first bullet.
  • Assess your business, both the product component, and the culture component.
Insight’s 10th Annual InDevelopment Conference 
Each spring Insight hosts its annual InDevelopment event , gathering the region’s most influential people in commercial and economic development. A dynamic, intensive, three-hour event held every year since 2010, it draws some 300 attendees from throughout Northeast Wisconsin and beyond. This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, March 19, from 2:00 to 7:00 pm at the Red Lion Hotel Paper Valley, Appleton.

InDevelopment features a keynote speaker and presentations on some of the most important current projects in the works. The event is capped with high-powered afternoon networking.
What do Millennials Want?
A recent Livability.com trend report by Jackie Gutierrez-Jones titled “What do Millennials Want?” succinctly offers five key insights into the present and future of talent attraction. Why all the fuss about Millennials? According to a report by Forbes, Millennials had a collective spending power of $200 billion in 2017. According to Forbes, in 2018 this age group will have the most combined spending power of any generation. Understandably, as baby boomers age, Millennials are an i ncreasingly important consumer group, as they represent future employees and residents.
  • Insight #1: When making a relocation decision, affordability reigns supreme.
  • Insight #2: When it comes to relocation, millennial women know what they want—and it’s affordability.
  • Insight #3: To attract Millennials, show them that your community isn’t an employment desert.
  • Insight #4: Having a diverse community goes a long way with Millennials, although the definition of diversity varies based on individual preference.
  • Insight #5: A community’s quality of life plays a major role in Millennials’ relocation decisions.
It's Not Just Business or Personal — It's Both
AP News: Small Business, February 13, 2019

Business owners who are also romantic partners can find that it takes a lot of adjusting to work together, and for some, being together 24/7. Many of the issues that come up are around communication, division of responsibilities, and creating boundaries between work and family life. AP’s Joyce Rosenberg shares tips from spouses who’ve worked through conflicts as co-owners:
  • Set clearly defined roles. Mary Wendel and Mark DiStefano run a small chain of women’s hair-loss treatment centers. They struggled at first without a structure. “We learned to step back and look at each other’s strengths and set roles based on what those strengths were,” Wendel says.
  • Be direct. Debbie and Gary Douglas know that they need to be more direct than they would be as just wife and husband. As co-owners of a public relations firm, they have learned to take a hard line with each other at times for their business.
  • Give positive feedback. “It's important to support each other and let each other know we are doing a great job, as with any employee,” Wendel says.
  • Create boundaries. Melanie and Ray Ocana, who own a tile manufacturing company, strictly guard against letting work conversations take time away from their kids. “This took some adjusting, but it has saved our quality time at home,” Melanie says. They also schedule date nights.
SBDC to be Celebrated on March 20
With the help of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), 14,716 new businesses were started by in-depth SBDC clients nationally in 2017. Wisconsin SBDC’s provided assistance to 256 business startups in 2018. SBDC provides low and no cost business counseling assistance. March 20 has been designated as America's SBDB day. 
Local Business Updates
Little Food Co. Wins Cash Prize on ‘Project Pitch It’
Biz Times, Molly Dill , February 25, 2019

Kaukauna-based Little Food Co. LLC won $10,000 on the latest episode of “Project Pitch It” on Saturday on WISN-TV Channel 12.   “Do you know what’s in baby food?” asked Amanda Santoro, founder of Little Food Co.
The moguls on “Project Pitch It” season three.
The successful Milwaukee-area business moguls who review entrepreneurs’ pitches on the show all responded in the negative. “Overprocessed ingredients with preservatives, additives, and fillers heated to extreme temperatures to create a product that can sit on the shelf for years,” Santoro responded.

A nurse and mother of four, Santoro said she’s been making baby food at home for 25 years. And by the fourth baby, she needed a quick alternative when she was busy with her full-time job.

Founded in 2018, Little Food Co. makes its food from scratch in small batches with locally sourced, organic produce. It is frozen to seal in freshness and flavor, she said. LFC has sold more than 4,000 baby food meals through farmers markets, its website subscription plan, and wholesale accounts at four grocery stores.  
Note: Amanda Santoro’s business started in her Calumet County, Appleton home, and has now moved to Kaukauna. While it would have been great to keep her in the county, Kaukauna had the location and space she needed. We wish her all the best and congratulate her on this prestigious award.
Haley’s Forever New is Open in Stockbridge
Haley Piper is the owner of Haley’s Forever New in Stockbridge. The shop features a variety of fashionable clothing, shoes, and accessories for women and young people. It is a consignment and resale store located at 106 South Military in Stockbridge.  
Endries International Growing Again
Brillion – Endries International has acquired Industrial Products Company (IPC) of Lynchburg, VA. IPC is a provider of fasteners and related components for the OEM market. Current IPC leadership will remain in place.
Upcoming Events
Women in Manufacturing Event - March 8
A "Women Power - Manufacturing" interactive, free educational event is being hosted by Lakeshore Technical College on Friday, March 8, from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm at the LTC Cleveland campus.

Women of high school age and older are encouraged to get a close-up look at high-paying advanced manufacturing careers including welding, fabrication, machine tool operation, and mechanical design.
Explore Public Safety and Health
Tuesday, March 19
5:00-8:00 pm
Lakeshore Technical College, Cleveland Campus

This free event will explore how men and women can step into high-paying advanced public safety and healthcare careers. Featured LTC programs will include Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Medic, Nursing, and Medical Assistant.

Supervisory Leadership 101
Invest in the future by building your leadership skills today!

Guidance for aspiring or new leaders and pragmatic recommendations for leaders who seek to develop strong teams and drive outstanding results.

Supervisory Leadership 101 offers guidance for aspiring or new leaders and pragmatic recommendations for leaders who seek to develop strong teams and drive outstanding results. Explore different leadership styles and discover your own unique style. Understand the transition into leadership and how your role and responsibilities are defined.

Leadership is a conscious choice. Gain the tools and approaches necessary for professionals at all stages of the leadership life cycle to understand your role, establish fundamental practices, integrate your actions with the organization’s strategy, and motivate and inspire your teams.

Date: April 9-10, 2019 | 8:30-3:30 pm
Location: Advance Business & Manufacturing Center, 2701 Larsen Rd, Green Bay
Cost: $450
Free Small Business Counseling Available
Once a month, a counselor with the Green Bay Small Business Development Center meets with entrepreneurs and existing business owners at the Calumet County Courthouse in Chilton; he is also available to meet with Calumet County entrepreneurs and businesses on a periodic basis at other locations in the county or his office as schedules permit. These 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, contac t Mary Kohrell using the information provided below. The next regularly scheduled session will be held on Tuesday, March 19.
WWBIC - Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation Classes
The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation - offers classes statewide for new entrepreneurs, seasoned business owners and anyone looking to improve their financial health. Click here to see a list of classes held at the Appleton WWBIC location.
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