• Workforce Summit – Gathered key economic and educational players to prioritize concerns held by the common group. This resulted in several small groups that have completed projects geared toward improving the hiring process and matching employees/employers. A County-wide Workforce Resources guide was developed that connects employers with potential employees and vice-versa. Additional training needs are consistently monitored and we are prepared to be the liaison with education centers who could provide more training opportunities that match the needs of local businesses.

• Broadband – Supported the successful grant application for Price County Telephone to bring broadband to its customers on West Lane in the southeast part of Sawyer County.

• Housing - Transferred management of 41 housing units in Sawyer County and Birchwood to Sawyer County Housing. This decreased the time between vacancy and lease up from 6 months on average to less than a week. It brought an additional $14,000 into Sawyer County to help finance the building of more workforce housing. 

• Trails - Coordinated with the Hayward Chamber of Commerce and the Trail Alliance to open 12 ATV/UTV routes. This provided greater ATV/UTV access to local businesses resulting in additional visitor spending. The new trails have enhanced the Hayward area's reputation as a premier ATV/UTV destination. A few of the routes opened were Williams Road, linking two major north/south trails, Highway E connecting the LCO Store and the Village of Reserve and trails between Hayward to Stone Lake.

• Business Assistance – Brought together four local business and UW Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The SBDC is helping one business develop a business plan, one business to determine the profitability of its product lines and two others to increase sales via better marketing.

• Sawyer County Housing Study - Quantified the housing needs in Sawyer County. Rather than antidotal views about housing needs within the County, this report provides documented facts about the housing needs. The study will be used by the Housing Authority to apply for housing grants and by developers to obtain financing for apartments and single family housing. The housing study is on the Sawyer Co/Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development website (sclcoedc.com)

• High School Survey - A survey of juniors and seniors at the Hayward, Winter, LCO and Birchwood high schools. The survey will contribute to determining what needs to be done to keep graduating high school seniors in Sawyer County and to provide them a reason to return after college. The high school survey is on the Sawyer Co/Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development website (sclcoedc.com)

• Professional Staff-Hired - An executive director and marketing/ administrative assistant to assist existing business thrive and to encourage new business start ups

• Heather Sheehan – (Vice President Senior Services, Hayward Area Memorial Hospital & Water’s Edge) takes over as SC/LCO EDC Board Vice President, a position held by Chris Ruckdaschel in 2018. We thank Chris for his generous contribution to our success last year and look forward to Heather bringing her unique industry insights to the table.

• Mike Stamp - Elected as the Board Member at Large. Mike relocated from Iowa to Hayward in early 2018, joining Peoples Bank Midwest - Hayward as their new President. Mike joined the SC/LCO EDC Board in September and his financial industry experience has been a welcome asset to the EDC.