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

Monday, April 29, 2019
Calumet County Moving Forward with CDBG Program
Since 2001, Calumet County has administered a low-interest business loan program – the Calumet County Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program -- that was started when the county received a state CDBG grant for the purpose of supporting local business development and job creation. In early 2019, Calumet County’s RLF and all other RLF Programs in Wisconsin ceased to exist due to the program’s closure by the WI Department of Administration at the directive of U.S. HUD and at that same time, the WI CDBG CLOSE program began operating to close out the CDBG RLF program.

At its April meeting, the Calumet County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution that enables county staff to implement the Calumet County CDBG CLOSE program. The county has an account balance of approximately $1.2 million that can be used by the county to support CDBG eligible projects. Using CDBG CLOSE funds, the county will initially issue a request for proposals to hire a consultant tasked with developing an Economic Development Plan in collaboration with local communities. The plan will analyze workforce housing demand, senior housing demand, and slum & blight elimination in the county, and will also make recommendations for utilizing the remaining program funds. 

For more information, contact Mary Kohell.
Recent TIF Developments in Calumet County
Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) is a governmental finance tool that local governments use to provide funds to construct public infrastructure, promote development opportunities and expand future tax base in a community; tax increment district (TID) defines the TIF boundary. TIF is only used when the proposed development would not occur "but for" the assistance offered by the TIF. Several communities in the county have recently created new TIFs, while others are still in discussion.
2017
  • Chilton TID 6 Mixed Use; TID 7 Mixed Use
2018
  • Brillion TID 5 Environmental Remediation
  • New Holstein TID 5 Mixed Use; TID 6 Industrial
Possible in 2019
  • Harrison TID 2 Mixed Use
  • Stockbridge TID 1 under preliminary discussion
Projects being developed in these districts will help improve the tax base within the communities and all other taxing jurisdictions, including the county. The WI Department of Revenue, the state agency charged with administering TIFs, recently posted new TIF reports for 2019 .  
Falling Behind: Migration Changes & State Workforce
A new report issued on April 15, 2019, by Forward Analytics , Falling Behind: Migration Changes and State Workforce , reveals troubling trends for the future of Wisconsin’s w orkforce landscape.
 
“Wisconsin has too few young people to replace retiring baby boomers over the next 15 years, so the state must turn to migration to grow its workforce,” said Forward Analytics Director of Research Dale Knapp. “However, during 2010-2015, the state lost population among key workforce groups, with the most troubling being the net outmigration of young families, a group that Wisconsin typically attracted.”

The report shows that the ability of a state to naturally grow its workforce over time can be measured by comparing the number of residents under 16 years of age to the number who are 50 to 64 years of age. Many in this older group will likely leave the workforce over the ensuing 15 years and be replaced by those in the younger group. The larger the ratio, the greater ability to grow the labor force.
Note: This troubling trend affects us all in Calumet County and throughout the state. Employers who can’t find enough workers will have difficulty meeting production expectations, which could lead to business closures. Governments and businesses need to work together, utilizing resources developed by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, to do what we can to recruit and retain young talent.
U.S. Housing Starts Drop to Lowest Level in Two Years Amid Affordability Concerns
 Bloomberg; April 19, 2019
U.S. new-home construction unexpectedly fell in March, decelerating to the slowest pace since May 2017 and suggesting builders remain wary even as lower mortgage rates and steady wage gains offer support to consumers. Residential starts fell 0.3% to a 1.139-million annualized rate after a downwardly revised 1.142-million pace in the prior month, according to government figures released Friday.
Construction workers build housing in Salisbury, Mass. (Photo: Elise Amendola / AP)
Permits, a proxy for future construction, slumped 1.7% to a 1.27-million rate. Both figures missed estimates.

The drop signals that developers continue to struggle to build affordable properties amid rising labor and materials costs. Still, there have been signs of stabilization in real estate, with mortgage rates down from last year and the Federal Reserve indicating that it's likely to keep borrowing costs on hold this year.

Data next week may add to signs of a cooling-yet-stable housing market in March. Existing home sales — which account for about 90% of the market — are projected to ease from February's jump, the biggest since 2015, while new home sales are forecast to pull back from the best pace in almost a year. Three of four regions posted declines, led by a 17.6% drop in the Midwest. Starts in the West rose 31.4% .
NOTE: Quoting from the article “Developers continue to struggle to build affordable properties amid rising labor and materials costs.” The labor shortage is real, and continues to present challenges in numerous sectors throughout the state, including Calumet County. There is demand for housing, and workforce housing in particular, which is impacted by builders’ inability to find adequate employees at the wages currently being offered.
Local Business Updates
Brillion Cobblestone Creek owners expand to Kiel
Cobblestone Creek owners Aaron and Seth Kabat have entered a new but similar business venture, purchasing the Millhome Supper Club in Kiel. The Kabat brothers have owned Cobblestone with their parents since 2014. Aaron will oversee Millhome on a day-to-day basis with the current staff. They are looking forward to getting more familiar with the Kiel community.  (Thanks to the Brillion News for this information.) 
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Kazzmo’s Kitchen and Spirits Opens in Stockbridge
Kazzmo’s Kitchen and Spirits is another new business that recently opened at 105 N. Military Road in Stockbridge. The restaurant is owned by partners Wendy Sohrweide and Nina Bowe. It features a small town friendly feel and home cooking. Business has been brisk, and hours have been gradually expanding; they recently started serving breakfast on limited days in addition to lunch and dinner.  (Thanks to the Tri-County New s for this information.)
Hometown Pharmacy to Open in Brillion
When Brillion’s Shopko closed last month, the community was without a local pharmacy. However, thanks to a recent agreement between Hometown Pharmacy and Tadych’s Econofoods, there will be a pharmacy in Brillion again this summer. Ironically, there had been a pharmacy in the Econofoods store when it initially opened, so the store layout is very suitable for the new pharmacy.  (Thanks to the Brillion News for this information.)
Upcoming Events
Technology & Human Innovation Networking Conference
THINC! is once again being organized by Insight on Business, and is scheduled for Thursday, May 9, from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at UW Fox Valley in Menasha. THINC! connects businesses, ideas, and people with the insight and resources they need to grow our regional economy. The Insight event shines the spotlight on innovation in Northeast Wisconsin in a format that provokes, inspires, and energizes people to build on – and invest in – ideas to advance the regional economy. This event is designed for CEOs, presidents, and community and education leaders, as well as innovation executives, manufacturers, venture capital, and angel investors from throughout Wisconsin.

The Insight Innovation Awards honor businesses and organizations in the New North who come up with an idea that’s a game changer and then develop a way to implement it. Insight’s confidential panel of judges look through nominations to determine a winner, based not only on the idea, but the results, too. Awards are handed out in four categories: Planet, Product, Process, and People.
Microsoft Excel Functions & Formulas

Explore the functions available in Microsoft Excel 2016 and learn how to create formulas to enhance your worksheets.
 
Learn About:
  • Excel formulas and functions
  • Entering formulas and functions
  • Reference operators
  • AutoSum
  • Cell references
  • Order of operations
  • Using names in formulas
  • Troubleshooting
 
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
 
$99 | Materials & refreshments provided
Microsoft Excel Tables & PivotTables

Create Tables, PivotTables, and PivotCharts and learn how they can be an effective summary and visual communication tool as well.
 
Learn About:
  • Creating an Excel table
  • Sorting and filtering a table or list range
  • Creating a PivotTable and PivotChart
 
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
 
$99 | Materials & refreshments provided
Math with Business Apps

Covers real numbers, basic operations, linear equations, proportions with one variable, percents, simple interest, compound interest, annuities, applying math concepts to the purchasing/ buying process, applying math concepts to the selling process, and basic statistics with business/consumer applications.

June 4-August 1, 2019
3:00-5:50 pm

$573.95 | Textbook provided
Industrial Maintenance Math

Focuses on a wide range of calculation skills using a scientific calculator with an algebraic-entry method. Topics include elementary calculator operations, scientific notation, formula evaluation, measurement systems, rules of estimation and right trigonometry.

June 4-August 1, 2019
3:00-6:50 pm

$423.80 | Textbook provided
Tax Incremental Financing Fundamentals
The Wisconsin Economic Development Academy is offering a webinar from 1:30-3:00 pm on April 30, 2019, to provide a basic framework and understanding of TIF based upon the latest statutory changes and industry practices. After completing this course, participants should be able to understand what TIF is, how it can benefit their communities, and how they can start using TIF in their communities.
SBDC Entrepreneurial Training Programs
Whether your business is growing or brand-new, writing a business plan is critical to building a profitable venture, especially to attract financing from lenders or investors. The Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP) is eight efficient sessions to help you develop a plan for a thriving, profitable business. In this program, you will learn to identify customers, determine their needs and analyze that information into a feasible plan for starting or growing your business.
  • Organize and better manage your business.
  • Identify opportunities and market your business.
  • Understand and get your business financials in order.
  • Get funding for your business.
  • Write a detailed, comprehensive business plan.
  • Network with other entrepreneurs.
  • Develop a network with small business support services.
Please contact the SBDC at (920) 496-2117 or sbdc@uwgb.edu f or upcoming training in your area. The next programs are scheduled to begin in September.

In addition to the ETP in-person classes offered, the SBDC also has an extensive library of high quality webinars that are suitable for all phases of business operation.
Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers
Learn to analyze business opportunities, assess financial risks and communicate your ideas to others.

In this workshop, you will learn basic financial management skills every businessperson should know. Topics will cover the three major financial statements, sources and uses of cash, cash budgeting, break even analysis and an introduction to financial ratios. Emphasis is placed on the practical uses of financial information as a diagnostic tool to understand a company’s health. Using real-life examples and exercises, participants will learn simple and necessary skills they can immediately apply to their workplace.

Date: May 14, 2019 | 8:30-3:30 pm
Location: UW-Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus, 1 University Drive, Sheboygan
Cost: $200
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, May 21.
Explore Starting a Business
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. Many dates are available around the region. The closest session is on May 8 at 4:30 pm at the Fox Valley Technical College Venture Center in Appleton.
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