Focus on Calumet
A bi-weekly update on economic development opportunities in Calumet County
and the region for businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities.
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Calumet County Economic Development Plan is Available
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Calumet County’s Economic Development Plan,
An Analysis of Workforce and Elderly Housing and Opportunities to Remove Slum and Blight has been released. The
200+ page report includes an overview of community demographics and existing housing characteristics for eight cities and villages in the county – Brillion, Chilton, Harrison, Hilbert, New Holstein, Potter, Sherwood, and Stockbridge. It also provides a review of economic and other factors that create an affordable housing gap within Calumet County, informed by an analysis of census data; Chmura Jobs EQ economic development software; focus groups visits with people who work on housing within the county; and a Survey Monkey housing survey.
The Plan was developed using a CDBG CLOSE Economic Development Planning grant received from the WI Department of Administration. Cedar Corporation supported the plan development, working in partnership with a local community Advisory Committee.
After adoption by the Calumet County Board, the report will be submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources in compliance with the CDBG Economic Development Planning grant received by the county.
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Calumet County Small Business Disaster Loan Fund Update
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The
Calumet County Small Business Disaster Loan Fund
was launched in May. Thus far, three business loans have been approved. Loan recipients have each received a $5,000, 1% interest loan to support the challenges their businesses have faced and help them adapt operations. The program was started with $50,000, so funding is still available to support other business applicants.
New Holstein has established a City of
New Holstein COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program
to assist City of New Holstein businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Any business located in the City of New Holstein is eligible for up to $5,000 in a zero interest loan for business purposes. All loans will be awarded to eligible applicants while funds are available. The City is making $100,000 available for this program from the existing Revolving Business Loan Program.
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WEDC “We’re All In” Initiative
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Funded by the federal CARES Act and administered by WEDC, the Wisconsin
We’re All In grant program will help small businesses with the costs of business interruption or for health and safety improvements, wages and salaries, rent, mortgages and inventory. The program will provide $2,500 grants to 30,000 small businesses to help them get back on their feet amid the COVID-19 pandemic while also encouraging them to adopt best practices to keep employees, customers and communities safe. Note the new application deadline has been extended to June 23; previously it was June 21.
To be eligible, a business must be located in WI, have been in operation before 2020, have 20 or fewer full time employees, and make more than $0 but less than $1 million in annual revenues. Businesses that are part of a national chain are ineligible unless they’re a third-party franchise.
Similar to the business grant program, the state is also providing $50 million in relief grants to farmers through the
Wisconsin Farm Support Program. Approximately 26,500 farms are eligible to receive grants from $1000 to $3500 from the WI Department of Revenue. All farm commodities are eligible for the grants.
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Better Than Before: Inclusion & Diversity in Northeast Wisconsin
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New North has partnered with Fox Valley SHRM (Society of Human Resource Managers) to create a diversity and inclusion publication –
Better than Before: Inclusion & Diversity in Northeast Wisconsin
. While the release was not timed to fit with the current global racial unrest and discussions, the
diversity and inclusion publication
’s content is more relevant than anticipated. The intent of the publication is to highlight the amazing things companies in northeast Wisconsin are doing to make inclusion and diversity a priority and not just a corporate buzz word. It applauds the work of these companies, but also shows outside talent why our region is worth another look. The publication is also intended to be a resource for companies that understand the importance of inclusion and diversity, but aren’t as far along in their journey.
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Accelerated Trends Highlight Importance of Skills-Based Workforce Marketplace
Businesses and communities will find that the solution to their post-COVID workforce problems is the same: skills
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Drew Repp, Emsi, from Area Development magazine
A
recent Brookings article
touched on trends that the COVID-19 pandemic will likely accelerate. Many of them were already familiar to communities and economic developers: automation, the housing crisis, the necessity of ubiquitous broadband, and the struggles of microbusinesses. And businesses are also keenly aware of shifts in the economy that were already in motion: (again) increasing automation, rise of remote work, difficulty in finding talent, and oftentimes retaining that talent.
The key for communities and businesses in traversing the labor market shifts was identifying in-demand skills, connecting individuals with those skills to jobs and, when necessary, connecting them to training for up- or re-skilling. This is still true, and now perhaps more urgent. Skills are what people have and employers need. And as the economy begins to re-open, there will be millions of people ready to put their skills to work. And as businesses begin either backfilling or making strategic investments in their workforce, finding the right talent with the right skills will be their biggest need.
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NEWMA “Millennial Perceptions of Manufacturing” Survey Results
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At the June 10, 2020, quarterly meeting of the Northeast WI Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA), nearly 200 attendees heard a presentation from Mike Dockum of Element Marketing & Advertising, De Pere, regarding millennial perceptions of manufacturing as a career choice. The survey was conducted of 119 current northeast WI millennial manufacturing employees and 514 national participants.
Some of the key research findings are
- The national audience was less likely than young manufacturing employees in Wisconsin to view manufacturing as a Career than a Stepping Stone. However, young manufacturing professionals already in Wisconsin hold a favorable long-term view of manufacturing as a career.
- The national audience had significantly less favorable perceptions of Wisconsin, overall. However, millennials already living in Wisconsin had very favorable perceptions of living and working here.
- National job seekers favored Company Websites, Indeed, and Google Search as a clear Top 3.
- National job seekers were much less likely to talk to friends than young manufacturing employees in NE Wisconsin.
With regard to hiring recommendations, companies looking to hire millennials already living in Wisconsin should optimize their benefit offerings and promote flexibility, advancement, vacation, and culture. When recruiting out-of-state millennials, highlighting the state’s affordable cost of living and housing are viewed as most important recruitment options.
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REMINDER: Business COVID-19 Support Resources
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- The US Chamber of Commerce has created a customizable workplace flyer suitable for use with employees and customers
- WEDC’s 15 specific industry reopening guidelines for businesses are very thorough and contain specific instructions for safely operating nearly every type of business from small to large.
- The NEW Manufacturing Alliance has created a COVID-19 Directory to facilitate connections between companies offering personal protective equipment and related products and services and companies seeking them. Click here to visit the directory.
- The CDC has updated face covering guidance including washing and drying instructions.
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FREE Small Business Survival Coaching Available Throughout Calumet County
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This is a challenging time for many small business owners and Calumet County wants to help. That's why a new partnership has been started with the Rural Ideas Network to offer all small businesses free access to "
Small Business Survival Coaching" until June 30, 2020.
The Rural Ideas Network is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that specializes in helping rural entrepreneurs and communities spark growth. Their experienced business coaching team will help develop an Outbreak Survival Plan through a series of virtual one-on-one sessions. This service is specifically designed to help create relevant solutions to the current crisis. Working with a coach, participants will:
1. Complete a cash flow analysis
2. Learn about any available disaster relief funding
3. Consider alternative income opportunities (online, etc.)
4. Review tools and strategies for remote working (if it’s an option)
5. Evaluate down-time improvement opportunities
This service doesn’t replace the
SBDC counseling services offered by
Ray York. It is an enhancement to that service because the Rural Ideas Network has a larger staff capacity and is able to spend more time with each business. It may be especially useful for businesses that are trying to determine disaster relief funding, assess their continued viability, or just need an external set of eyes and ears to help make critical business decisions.
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Business counseling is also available through the Small Business Development Center. Ray York is eager to serve entrepreneurs and start-ups that are considering going in to business, and it isn’t too late for businesses feeling the effects of COVID-19 to contact the SBDC. Use the
online contact form, or reach Ray by phone (920-946-9379) or
email.
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Blattner's Continues Feeding New Holstein Area
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May 28, 2020
Having a quality, hometown grocery store like Blattner’s Piggly Wiggly in New Holstein has never been more important than right now.
As scenes and stories of food shortages and supply chain interruptions have been plentiful in the U.S. during the coronavirus crisis of the past few months, people have been able to go to their local grocery store and – with few exceptions – pick up what they need in a calm and safe atmosphere.
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Masks and plastic shields are among the coronavirus fighting measures taken at Blattner's Piggly Wiggly in New Holstein.
(Mark Sherry photo)
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"Hang in there, this isn’t going to go away,” said Jack Blattner of Blattner’s Piggly Wiggly. “You just have to get used to the new way of doing things.”
Blattner’s has put in place all the common measures being seen in society today to try to keep both employees and customers safe. Employees are required to wear face masks, and plastic shields have been installed at checkout lanes. Marks on the floor ask customers to stay six feet apart while checking out.
Sanitizer is made available to customers to wipe down cart handles. Cleanliness has always been a top priority at Blattner’s Piggly Wiggly, but cleaning and sanitizing efforts have been stepped up during the pandemic.
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Willowdale Director Feels Right at Home
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Madelyn Process said she feels right at home as the executive director of Willowdale Health Services in New Holstein. Process knows all about small communities, having grown up in Sobieski and graduating from Pulaski High School. She also knows about long-term care facilities, having spent a lot of time in them visiting grandparents and great grandparents while growing up.
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Just some of the staff members at Willowdale Health Services in New Holstein gather around Madelyn Process (front, right), the new executive director at the facility.
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After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Process landed her first full-time job in that field last June at Willowdale. Her training on the way to earning her degree included 2,000 hours of administrative training at a facility in Fond du Lac, and she also did volunteer work at a homeless shelter.
UW-Eau Claire’s Health Care Administration program has a slogan which says, “A head for business and a heart for caring.” Process said her strength is more in the business area of operating a long-term care facility rather than the care side, but she said she definitely respects the role Willowdale’s caregivers play. “It’s such an honor to be in their (the residents’) lives,” she said.
Willowdale made a great first impression on her, Process said. “It’s a small facility with a big heart,” she said. “It’s like a family here.” She says the same about the community as she has moved to New Holstein and has started to get active with the Chamber of Commerce.
Process said she realized quickly that the employees of Willowdale are local residents, and they are taking care of other local residents who are calling Willowdale home for either a short amount of time or long term. In many cases, nurses, aides, and others are caring for family, neighbors, and/or friends.
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Chilton-based Buechel Stone Corp to Open Stone Selection Center in Kohler
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Buechel
Stone Corp will open their main stone selection center at The Shops at Woodlake in Kohler on Monday.
While Buechel Stone Corp’s corporate office will remain in Chilton, the “brand-new design center” will feature natural cut stone, building and landscape stone available to view on more than 100 displays arranged by color, according to a press release from the company.
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- The Job Center of Wisconsin keeps an updated list of jobs for job seekers. It is searchable by type of position and community.
- City of Brillion is seeking an experienced professional to work as the City Clerk/Treasurer. Successful candidate must hold appropriate state certification for Municipal Clerk-Treasurer or obtain certification within 3 years.
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Regional Leadership Series Continues
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Thursday, June 18
11:00 am - 12:00 noon
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Marketing Made Lean is a four-part, 12-hour marketing series designed for marketing professionals and small businesses.
This series enables you to solidify your value proposition and align products/services with your customer’s needs. You'll identify current and potential customer segments, maximize your marketing resources while driving sales and profits, explore and develop your marketing channels and create customer service strategies. You won't want to miss this engaging and interactive series!
Wednesdays, July 8 - July 29, 2020
Fee: $199
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Explore Starting a Business
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Thursday, August 6, 2020
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Work for Yourself
at 50+
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Thursday, August 13, 2020
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Finance Your Business, the Right Way
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Give yourself permission and time to fully understand your business financials and make better decisions.
Join the FVTC Venture Center and SCORE Fox Cities for this NEW, dynamic series. Discover how to receive the loan or investment you need to launch your startup or grow your small business. This workshop series is for startup and growth companies in all life stages and within all industries.
Mondays, July 13-August 3, 2020 | 8:00 am - 12:00 noon
Fee: $399.00
Virtual, Instructor-Led
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Calumet County Community Economic Development contact information:
Mary Kohrell,
Community Economic Development Director
Connie Leonhard
, Program Assistant
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