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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Friends of High Cliff State Park Building Accessible Playground
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The
Friends of High Cliff State Park
has been awarded a $100,000 grant toward building an ADA-accessible playground at the state park on Lake Winnebago near Sherwood, Wisconsin.
The grant is one of 27 totaling $3.8 million awarded this year from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation. It helps the Friends of High Cliff State Park with its goal toward $175,000 for the project.
The accessible playground will be built on a new site in the upper level of the park south of the observation tower and will replace the partially dismantled and deteriorated playground that is more than 45 years old near the upper pavilion.
The new playground, to be built this year and available in 2020, will have ADA-compliant equipment on a safe, cushioned low-maintenance play surface. Nearby bathroom facilities and a water fountain will be upgraded to be ADA-compliant and all will be connected through new ADA-compliant sidewalks.
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Wisconsin’s Paper Industry Still Leads the Nation, WEDC Study Finds
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Wisconsin’s paper industry continues to lead the nation on many economic measures, according to a new study released today by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).
The study by the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point found the state ranks first in the nation in the number of paper mills, the number of employees, and the value of products sold. The report also found that Wisconsin’s paper industry is better positioned than many of its peers to meet demands for new products because of investments in plant upgrades, technological advances and improved worker training.
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Wisconsin’s pulp, paper, and converting industries directly generated $18.2 billion in economic output and employed more than 30,000 workers in 2018, the report found. The paper industry’s total contributions to Wisconsin’s economy—including direct, indirect and induced benefits—come to more than $28.8 billion and more than 95,000 jobs. Indirect benefits include money spent on supplies or other materials or services that supply the industry, while “induced benefits” refers to the spending of personal income from the direct and indirect benefits.
While Calumet County has no direct pulp, paper, or converting businesses in the county, a considerable percentage of our residents commute to jobs in our neighboring counties which are among the largest employers in the industry. This industry matters to us, and its continued health is good news for our local economy.
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Industrial Manufacturing Technician Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Program Created, Seeking Trainees
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As part of its commitment to training people for the jobs our region needs to fill, the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board (FVWDB) is offering the opportunity to train up to 10 individuals for free to become a Certified Pre-Apprentice. FVWDB partnered with the WI Department of Workforce Development, Fox Valley Technical College, and local companies to create the four-week targeted Industrial Manufacturing Technician Pre-Apprenticeship training program. The program includes four weeks of targeted training at Fox Valley Technical College during the month of September, and successful trainees will be offered interviews with local partner companies.
Applications
are being accepted until August 23, 2019.
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Employers Asked to Complete Benefits Survey by August 31
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In an effort to help local employers stay competitive in the marketplace and make the Fox Cities and northeast Wisconsin more competitive as a region, the Fox Cities Regional Partnership invites participation in the
2019 Fox Cities Benefit Survey
. Organizations who complete the online survey by
August 31
will receive a complementary digital copy of the survey’s results by November 1.
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A thoughtful overall benefits package helps employers:
·
Increase productivity,
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Attract top talent, and
·
Reduce turnover.
A national employee benefits study conducted by the
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reported that “Employee retention (72%) and recruiting (58%) were the top reasons for increasing benefit offerings.” The goal of this survey is to provide employers with the information they need to remain competitive in the marketplace, and make northeast WI a more competitive as a region.
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“Coolest Things Made in Wisconsin” 4th Annual Contest Accepting Applications
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Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and Johnson Financial Group is currently accepting applications for the fourth annual “Coolest Things Made in Wisconsin” contest. Any product made in Wisconsin is eligible for the contest and nominations are open through August 30. Companies can self-nominate and details on entries are available at
www.madeinwis.com
.
“This contest has quickly become one of the best ways to highlight the state’s vibrant and diverse manufacturing industry,” said Kurt Bauer, president and chief executive officer of WMC. “As we approach Manufacturing Month in October, we hope this contest will bring attention to not only the cool things made in this state, but the outstanding career opportunities available in Wisconsin’s largest economic industry.”
Previous contest winners include
Harley-Davidson’s Milwaukee Eight engine
, Oshkosh Corporation’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, and the Sea Salt Caramel Pecan Kringle from Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe in De Pere.
A popular vote from September 9-15 among nominated products will determine the top 16 in the 2019 contest. Products will then face off in weeklong head-to-head matchups over four rounds to determine a winner. The winner will be announced October 8 at the WMC Foundation Business and Industry Lunch.
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How Your Small Business Can Succeed With Social Media
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It should come as no surprise that social media use across the United States has been increasing steadily in recent years. Is your small business taking advantage of the trends? According to the latest Infographic from SCORE Mentors, social media use has grown 58% in the last 12 years, with 69% of US adults using at least one social media site in 2018, up from 11% in 2006.
YouTube is the most popular social media channel; Facebook is a close second:
- 94% of 18 to 24 year olds use YouTube
- 83% of 25 to 29 year olds use YouTube
- 80% of 30 to 49 year olds use YouTube
- 56% of 50+ year olds use YouTube
- 80% of 18 to 49 year olds use Facebook
- 55% of 50+ year olds use Facebook
In addition, 41% of women use Pinterest, and 50% of college graduates use LinkedIn. Small businesses will benefit by developing an effective social media strategy. Resources like SCORE Mentors can help.
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Uptown Commons II is Officially Open
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City officials, out-of-town guests, and new residents were present for the Uptown Commons II ribbon cutting event which took place Wednesday afternoon, including City Council member Clayton Thornber, RDA Board Chair Dexter Sattler, Council member Mark Willems, RDA Vice-chair and Plan Commissioner Steve Mueller, residents Jim Allinger and Leonard Daun, Chilton City Mayor Rick Jaeckels, Development Manager Scott Kwiecinski, Chamber President Erica Bates, RDA Board Member Greg Garton, Chamber First Vice President Jamie Wieting, Chamber Second Vice President Kari Meyers, Chamber member Lisa Herrick, resident Terry Welmene, and Bureau of Housing Grant Specialist Luke Dorzweiler.
Uptown Commons II is an expansion of the original Uptown Commons senior housing facility located in downtown Chilton.
Photo credit: Janet East
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Demolition at BIW Site Will Go into 2020
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David Nordby, Brillion News, Aug. 8, 2019
Demolition of buildings on the former Brillion Irons Works property, now known at Brillion Works LLC, will go into 2020. Ongoing environmental remediation at the site and the upcoming demolition are two key steps for the site to move to the redevelopment phase.
“We’re finishing up the removal of all the metal and scrap metal inside the buildings and that’ll be substantially complete by the end of August,” Ariens Company Vice President Mark Olsen told the newspaper earlier this week.
The City of Brillion is working closely with Olsen, Ariens CEO Dan Ariens and others on the entire site. Right now, there is still lead paint, asbestos, and some contamination, but Olsen says it isn’t something for the public to worry about. “It’s all known, and it’s all contained to a specific area,” he says.
All remediation plans were previously approved by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Demolition on the buildings will start this fall and be completed by April 2020, if all goes according to the current schedule.
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Family, Community Power Official’s Den Success
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In an era where the number of bowling houses in the country, and in northeast Wisconsin, has dropped dramatically, lanes at Official’s Den in Hilbert are busier than ever and owner Jim Schmidt is looking at expanding. Maybe the fact that he started bowling at four years of age has something to do with that, but maybe it’s much more.
For Schmidt, owning and operating a bowling center is a second career. It followed a career in a large manufacturing plant in Neenah.
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A young bowler is learning the fine art of bowling at the Official’s Den in Hilbert.
Photo credit: Ed Byrne, Brillion News.
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Ten Years of Hidden Treasures in Brillion
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It's been a decade of thrift shopping in Brillion. Hidden Treasures Thrift Shoppe opened in Brillion on August 13, 2009. Since then the location on Main Street has received plenty of donations, donated back to the community in multiple ways totaling $358,192 and attracts customers from young to old on a daily basis.
The store will celebrate 10 years with a sale where everything in the store is 50 percent off from Wednesday, August 14 to Saturday, August 17. Clothes and other items will be at low-cost. The building is owned under the 501-c-3 non-profit that was established under the name, and run entirely by volunteers.
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Free Small Business Counseling Available
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Calumet County offers a free service for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and existing businesses – one-on-one meetings with a business counselor from the Small Business Development Center. Our business counselor is available to meet with Calumet County entrepreneurs and businesses at the Courthouse in Chilton; he also travels to individual business locations for the counseling sessions.
The individualized 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 learn more, or to schedule a visit with the business counselor, contact
Mary Kohrell
using the information provided below.
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MARKETPLACE 2019 Conference on Business Development Set for October
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The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is hosting the 38th annual MARKETPLACE conference for minority-, woman-, veteran- and LGBTQ-owned businesses October 23-24 at Potawatomi Hotel and Conference Center in Milwaukee. The conference is expected to draw more than 700 attendees and is sponsored by corporations, small businesses and organizations, with U.S. Bank being this year’s Keystone Sponsor.
MARKETPLACE: the Governor’s Conference on Diverse Business Development is the premier annual statewide business capacity-building conference for minority, woman, veteran, and LGBTQ business owners looking to do business with state, federal and local governments as well as the private sector. The conference provides opportunities for businesses to meet with dozens of potential buyers, identify funding sources, connect with business assistance resources and network with other businesses.
Registration is now open. The general attendance cost is $70 for both days, with a $20 additional fee for the Oct. 23 evening reception. Discounts are available for minority-, woman-, veteran- and LGBTQ-owned businesses. Buyers and supplier diversity managers from government agencies and private corporations attending to meet potential suppliers can register at no charge. Exhibit booths are also available for $500, or at a discounted rate of $250 for state-certified minority-, woman- and veteran-owned businesses. To register or for more information about MARKETPLACE, visit
marketplacewisconsin.com.
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2019 New North Summit, December 5 in Green Bay
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The 16th annual New North Summit will be held on Thursday, December 5, at the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay. Registration now is open for the full-day event, which will feature a variety of the popular “ED Talks” around Economic Development, updates on various development projects across the region in collaboration with local partners, talent and business development videos, presentation of workplace excellence awards, the sharing of regional success stories, and all-important networking. New to this year’s lineup is a Regional Pitch event by pre-selected entrepreneurs that have advanced through local events across the region.
Themed “A 2020 Vision of the Future,” the 2019 Summit is geared towards business executives, education leaders, non-profit heads, manufacturers, IT professionals, HR practitioners, elected officials, community members and other stakeholders from around the region and state. Networking begins at 7:30; the Summit runs from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Online registration can be completed at
www.newnorthsummit.com
.
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When talking about your business, confidence is key! You will learn the importance of an elevator pitch and how to create and evaluate your own. Sponsored by WWBIC at the Fox Valley Technical College, Riverside Campus in Oshkosh, 6:00-7:30 pm, Tuesday, September 10.
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Marketing Made Lean is a four-part, 12-hour marketing series for marketing professionals and small businesses.
It will enable you to solidify your value proposition and align products/services with your customer’s needs; identify current and potential customer segments; maximize your marketing resources while driving sales and profits; explore and develop your marketing channels; create customer service strategies.
Wednesdays, September 4, 11, 25, and October 2
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
D.J. Bordini Center, Appleton
Fee: $199
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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 September 11 at 5:30 pm at the Fox Valley Technical College Venture Center in Appleton.
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Learn how to use your business plan as a platform to accelerate success. This class will give you a brief synopsis of what goes into a business plan, what's important, and where to start. This free program is sponsored by WWBIC.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
6:00-7:30 pm
Appleton Public Library
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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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