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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WMC Survey finds Support for Tariffs Despite Business Harm
While Paranet Group survey says tariffs among top challenges facing manufacturers
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Two-thirds of Wisconsin businesses surveyed by
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
“strongly” or “somewhat” support tariffs imposed on China even as 47% say the actions are having a negative effect on their business, according to the organization’s semi-annual survey.
Kurt Bauer, president and CEO of WMC, said he was somewhat surprised by the strong support for the tariffs, noting the organization most often hears from members seeking exemptions from the tariffs.
“The U.S. opens its markets to foreign companies with the expectation of reciprocal treatment, which doesn’t always occur, especially when it comes to China,” Bauer said. “The general sentiment expressed in this survey is that something drastic needs to be done to force a change.”
Bauer said prior to the survey he would have expected WMC members to be against the tariffs levied against China.
Another recent survey
by Chicago-based advisory firm Sikich found two-thirds of manufacturers are preparing for a recession.
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Economic Development Plan Efforts Get Underway
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Jim Frymark (pictured left) and Seth Hudson, consultants with Cedar Corporation, met recently with Mary Kohrell to discuss Calumet County’s CDBG CLOSE Economic Development Plan project. Cedar staff have been hired to prepare the county’s CDBG CLOSE Economic Development Plan grant application to the WI Department of Administration in anticipation of beginning the planning work in October.
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The Plan will examine workforce and senior housing demand in Calumet County’s cities and villages (except for Appleton and Menasha which are HUD entitlement communities and therefore ineligible for this project). The plan will also explore redevelopment and financing opportunities for selected facilities in the county that are blighted, primarily vacant manufacturing facilities.
Cedar Corporation is located in Green Bay and Menomonie. Our last newsletter issue incorrectly stated Cedar’s location.
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Wisconsin’s Brain Drain Problem
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Wisconsin Policy Forum Focus #10, May 2019
Article summary: People who move away from Wisconsin tend to be more highly educated than those who stay in the state or those who move here from elsewhere. Recent policy proposals from both Democrats and Republicans have sought to retain college graduates, but generally those ideas have not advanced or addressed what is often seen as a larger problem: attracting graduates to Wisconsin.
For several decades, Wisconsin has remained stuck among the states with the largest gaps between the educational attainment of those who move away and those who stay in or move to the state, according to a recent study by the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) of the U.S. Congress. This concerning finding may be tempered somewhat by
previous WPF research
that found people are less likely to move away from Wisconsin than from most other states. Still, tens of thousands of people move into and out of Wisconsin each year, indicating a sizable problem worthy of consideration.
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We reviewed both the JEC
report
and federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data on tax filings for a broader look at Wisconsin’s population migration trends. We share those trends here and consider recent state policy proposals and initiatives aimed at curbing the problem.
The JEC study shows that in 2017, Wisconsin had the eighth largest gap in the country between the share of those who left the state versus the share of those who moved to the state who were “highly educated.”
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The Latest from SCORE – The Power of Small Retailers
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Small retailers – defined as companies that have fewer than 50 employees – make up 98.6% of all retail firms. Proving that brick and mortar stores are not dead, research compiled by the SBA SCORE and KIMCO indicates that e-commerce comprises only 9.46% of retail sales, and that 55% of shoppers would prefer to buy from retailers that have a physical store. Check out the infographic below for more useful details about the importance of small retailers. And don’t hesitate to take advantage of the assistance provided by SCORE mentors, SBDC business counselors, and other service providers who exist to help small businesses succeed.
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Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Launches Monthly Podcast
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Wisconsin DWD
- The Department of Workforce Development is proud to announce "On, Wisconsin Workforce," a monthly podcast focusing on workforce issues in Wisconsin, hosted by DWD Secretary Caleb Frostman. The inaugural episode launched Monday, July 8, 2019. In the July episode, Secretary Frostman interviewed President & CEO of the Green Bay Packers, Mark Murphy, to discuss how the Packers hire and retain quality workers both on and off the field. Each month the podcast will include a discussion with Chief Economist Dennis Winters on the state of the Wisconsin workforce along with a special guest.
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Get the podcast "On, Wisconsin Workforce" at:
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Amazon, the online retailer, continues its international growth by leaps and bounds. According to eMarketer.com, nearly 55% of U.S. households will have an Amazon Prime account by 2020, surpassing half of all American households in 2019. Amazon Prime is the subscription service offered by Amazon that enables free delivery and special discounts on many Amazon items.
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City of Kiel Seeks Qualified Developers for Downtown Project
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The City of Kiel is seeking proposals from qualified developers (individuals or firms) interested in presenting a viable design and concept for redevelopment of five lots located at 203 and 223 Fremont St. in downtown Kiel, Wisconsin. Proposals are due on July 31, 2019.
Kiel prides itself on being “The Little City That Does BIG Things!” A successful proposal will be a unique addition to the community that enhances the quality of life, and embodies the ethos of this growing community. The location of the properties being developed is ideally situated to serve as one of the anchors of the downtown, and the development will affect the character of the east end of Fremont Street for decades. Enhancing the downtown and surrounding area is key to a successful proposal. Finally, the city is also interested in competitively-priced lot purchase offers in order to recover costs associated with fostering the development of the site.
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Downtown Business Operator Revenue and Rent Survey
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UW-Madison/Extension and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Downtown Development Program are examining commercial rents and sales per square foot across the state for downtown businesses. By August 1, downtown business operators are invited to confidentially complete the survey.
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The survey coordinators anticipate the data will be a useful resource for both renters and landlords to make informed decisions based on information collected from similar downtowns. The survey is anonymous and will be published when there are enough responses so individual businesses cannot be identified. Participants will get early access to the results once published.
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Karen and Kurt Lardinois Use ecocountertopsUSA to Provide High Quality Countertop and Tub Resurfacing, Saving Customers Money and Protecting the Environment
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Karen and Kurt Lardinois are focused on providing their customers with a high quality countertop and tub resurfacing process that saves customers money while also providing an environmentally friendly product. Wanting to be able to work for themselves and start their own business, Karen bought a dealership of ecocountertopsUSA in 2017. The one-day installation process involves applying a durable and long lasting finish, available in a large selection of colors, directly onto these existing surfaces. This can save the customer significant amounts of money. The products are environmentally friendly and contain low VOCs. The Lardinois' look forward to growing their residential and commercial business while delivering the highest quality results. Located in Appleton, they serve all of Northeastern Wisconsin. They can be contacted at
klardinois@ecocountertopsUSA.com
. More information can be found at
www.ecocountertopsUSA.com
.
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Explore Starting a Business
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The complimentary “Explore Starting a Business” session provides a look inside at what it takes to launch a startup and small business. Explore key factors in starting and growing a business. Begin to determine if you have a feasible idea, learn about critical questions to consider, and additional entrepreneurship training opportunities. Whether you are looking to turn your side hustle into a full-time gig, grow your small business, or scale a startup, this session will help you understand your next steps. Get more details and register
here
. The closest session is on August 14 at 5:30 pm at the Fox Valley Technical College Venture Center in Appleton.
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Free Small Business Counseling Available
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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, August 13.
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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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