Monday, April 16, 2018
Focus on Calumet
A periodic update on economic development opportunities in Calumet County and the region for businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities.

Kiel Sargento Expansion
Sargento Foods Inc. announced Wednesday that an expansion of its production facility in Kiel is expected to add 25-40 jobs. By the end of 2018, the cheese-production company will add 41,500 square feet of production and warehousing space to its existing Kiel facility and remodel 7,000 existing square feet. This is in addition to the expansion plans for the Hilbert facility announced in late 2017 to double Hilbert’s staff size. 
Endries to Expand in Brillion and Ohio
Endries International, Inc., a global distributor of machine parts, acquired Branam Fastening Systems in Cleveland, Ohio. The move will expand both the Ohio and Wisconsin operations. The Brillion plant will add approximately 20 positions. Branam provides fasteners to the original equipment manufacturing and distribution markets.
Chilton Apartments Awarded Tax Credits
Uptown Commons II was awarded nearly $25,000 in low-income housing tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to expand their Chilton Senior Apartments. The project is being developed by Horizon Development Group. Uptown Commons offers one and two bedroom apartment homes for those 55 and older, with some units having income restrictions in place.  
Wisconsin Opportunity Zone Designations are Approved
The U.S. Treasury Department has approved Gov. Scott Walker's economic Opportunity Zone designations for Wisconsin, which will allow greater private investment in low-income communities across the state. In all there are 120 Opportunity Zones across 44 counties in rural, urban, and tribal areas of the state. Unfortunately, while Calumet County is surrounded by Opportunity Zone counties, there were no approved Zones in the county. Click here  to see the full list of Wisconsin designated Opportunity Zones.

The Opportunity Zones Program created by the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is designed to drive long-term investment to low-income communities by providing private investors with certain tax incentives when they re-invest unrealized capital gains in designated Opportunity Zones. For more information on the Opportunity Zones program,  click here  to read an overview of program details provided by Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
USDA Community Profile
The goal of StatsAmerica is to provide data for economic developers to use in site requests, developing metrics, grant writing, and strategic planning. Check out the full power of the site at this link.  It includes 17 different components, each capable of creating useful data sources such as maps, graphs, and profiles. Of particular use for local communities is the USA Towns in Profile tool available here , which includes data for every U.S. community. Supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, StatsAmerica is a service of the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) at Indiana University developed to provide a unique and useful set of tools and reports. Data are updated as they are released and arrive from the sources.

Legislative Study Committee to Consider Economic Development Issues
Every two years, at the end of each legislative session, the Wisconsin Legislative Council creates study committees to examine major issues and problems identified by the State Legislature. In early April, the Joint Legislative Council recommended the establishment of nine Study Committees including one that will focus on the dark store property tax loophole and whether it should be closed, and another that will examine the future of the State Trust Fund Loan Program including its potential elimination. 
 
The actions of each committee could have a substantial impact on economic development. The dark store property tax loophole shifts property taxes from “big box” retail stores to homeowners and main street businesses. If it continues to expand in Wisconsin, it could financially undermine TIF districts in communities across the state.
 
The State Trust Fund Loan Program plays a major role in financing economic development and infrastructure projects throughout Wisconsin. Its elimination would lessen the ability of communities to fund critical projects.
 
The study committees will begin meeting this summer and may help develop public policy which could be introduced as legislation in the next legislative session. The committees are comprised of both legi slators and citizens who are interested in or knowledgeable about the study topic.
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