By Stephanie Hoff, WisBusiness.com, April 26, 2021

Wisconsin employers are struggling to recruit workers unless the surrounding area has attractive and affordable housing options, according to a brief from the WRA. 

The matching program builds on the employer-based vaccination program by encouraging vaccinators to also partner with community-based organizations to hold on-site vaccination clinics. Vaccine providers are encouraged to reach out to local organizations and employers to host pop-up or on-site vaccine clinics.

Trusted organizations can encourage vaccination among their members, clients, and communities by offering a community-based vaccination. This can provide convenience and build confidence by seeing others in trusted social circles get vaccinated. Organizations interested in providing vaccinations can fill out the vaccinator provider matching survey. DHS will coordinate with local and tribal health departments and vaccinators to ensure those organizations are supported.

The Restaurant Recovery Fund (RRF) application portal, administered by the Small Business Administration, opened on Monday, May 3. Demand for the program nationwide was very strong. In the first 36 hours of the grant program being open, 186,200 restaurants, bars, and other eligible businesses applied for funding across the U.S.

After a few temporary glitches with the electronic signing aspect, the online application process has been running smoothly. Numerous local restaurants and bars applied to recover their 2020 COVID financial losses, with grant request amounts ranging from a few thousand to around a million dollars. The application portal is available at http://restaurants.sba.gov and businesses that need assistance can contact Mary Kohrell in Calumet County or Ray York with the SBDC.

Tri County News, New Holstein Progress Edition 2021

We are excited for the future of New Holstein! With our continued growth, we can look at new opportunities to reinvest in our community through our Tax Incremental Districts (TIDs), streamline our review processes, recreate or restore the services that are provided to the citizens and to look for new ways to provide recreational activities to meet the needs of our ever-changing population.

The city has had active TIDs since the late 1980s. These districts provide the city with the opportunity to incentivize growth within the city. New Holstein currently has three active TID’s—TID #4 is located on the north side of the city along STH 32/57, TID #5 is located on the Metko property, and the ER-TID #6 is located over the former Tecumseh property.

The Common Council is currently working on a plan to divide up a large 10-acre parcel within TID #4 into smaller lots. Within these new lots, the city will offer two community retention ponds. This is an asset to developers as they will be able to maintain their entire lot for development without having to sacrifice space for individual retention ponds. The city is expecting additional growth and improvements within this TID over the next 12 months.

By Mark Sherry, Tri County News, New Holstein Progress Edition, 2021

Lilybee Flowers, Inc. of New Holstein has a long history of brightening homes, weddings and other venues from Lake Winnebago to Lake Michigan.

Customers from New Holstein, Kiel, Chilton and beyond have long been visiting the flower and gift shop at 2126 Wisconsin Ave. (STH 32/57). Lilybee Flowers also delivers to Sherwood, Stockbridge and Hilbert to the north and west, as well as to Elkhart Lake, Newton and Cleveland to the south and east—and all points in between.

Carrie Strobl started Lilybee Flowers in 2009 and has a crew of part-time employees to help her run the busy shop, especially when holidays and events roll around—such as Mother’s Day coming up on May 9.

Fresh flowers, silk flowers, houseplants and gift items are just some of what is offered for sale at Lilybee Flowers, Inc., owned by Carrie Strobl. Pam Mathes photo

Ordering via the Lilybee website at https://lilybeeflowersinc.com/ is another great way to brighten the day of someone—even if that someone is yourself—or to brighten one’s home with fresh, beautifully scented flowers. The website is mobile friendly and people can be assured that orders come directly to Lilybee Flowers and not to a third-party site.

Carrie said the store also offers a large selection of houseplants, both “run-of-the-mill and exotic” varieties, she said. “There really isn’t any place that you can get well-cared-for houseplants around here,” she said. Interestingly enough, Carrie said younger people are especially into houseplants these days and tend to gravitate toward the more unusual varieties.

By Mark Sherry, Tri County News, Chilton/Stockbridge Progress Edition, 2021

It is fun to shop, and it feels good to help other people—and everyone could use more of both after this past year.

At Seasons by Design & Jillayne’s Boutique gift shop in Chilton, people can accomplish both—fun and the satisfaction of helping others—all on the same trip.

Jill Bertram of Seasons by Design & Jillayne’s Boutique shows the new tea gift boxes from India which her store sells. Mark Sherry photo

Owner Jill Bertram is always on the cutting edge of what is trendy. Falling into that category these days are items in which the manufacturers take a portion of their revenues and donate them to worthy causes—and Seasons by Design carries a number of such items. It only helps the cause that many of those items are a lot of fun and great gift ideas for that special person in someone’s life—or for the shopper themselves.

The shop located in the Southside Shopping Center at the corner of STH 32/57 and USH 151 is carrying more products for men these days—a nice complement to the fact Seasons by Design also is now the area’s only supplier of tuxedos and formalwear for men (more on that later).

Nation’s top men’s products Duke Cannon is one line of men’s products including shaving cream, lip balm, solid cologne, and beard balm. They even sell beer soap in the scent of Old Milwaukee, as well as bourbon soap. Bertram said Duke Cannon offers the number-one men’s products in the nation, and they donate a portion of their sales to veterans’ causes.

CAUS is a company which sells insulated tumblers in various sizes, donating 25 percent of their sales to whatever cause Bertram chooses—clean drinking water, pet rescues, crisis and disaster relief, or the fight against human trafficking.

Keith Price (second from left) of Price Tree Service in New Holstein was officially welcomed to the New Holstein Area Chamber of Commerce last week. Board Members (from left) Sonny Schaar, Phil Kubichka, Brandon Schrage, Mike Hartmann and Deneen Mueller joined in welcoming the business to the organization.   Mark Sherry photo, Tri County News, May 6, 2021

The Calumet County Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic (St. Martin Lutheran Church, 717 Memorial Drive, Chilton, WI) is open to all individuals, age 16 and over. Youth, ages 16 and 17, are required to have a parent or guardian with them to sign paperwork and be present during vaccination.

Appointments can be scheduled online (preferred method). The site registration site will remain open until all appointments are filled.

Additional vaccine clinics in our regional area can be viewed here.

Individuals planning to use the test site must pre-register for an appointment at https://doineedacovid19test.com/. 

The Calumet County Public Health Officer strongly recommends personal responsibility for the continued use of all measures identified by the WI DHS and the CDC. These measures include wearing a face covering (mask), social distancing, and frequent handwashing. For people who’ve been vaccinated, the county continues to recommend CDC guidelines: “We’re still learning how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19. After you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should keep taking precautions—like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces—in public places until we know more.”

Employers are in the best position to protect their organization, customers, clients, and staff from COVID-19. WEDC encourages employers to review a state-created toolkit to help foster communication, develop policies, and/or implement programs to encourage vaccination against COVID-19 among their workforce to keep employees, their families, and the community safe and healthy.

Ray York of the Small Business Development Center serves Calumet County with business assistance to existing and start-up businesses throughout the county. Small Business Development Center services are available at no cost to businesses. Ray’s goal is to provide opportunity to clients by guiding them to make informed decisions to start, expand, or transition their business. He can be reached by phone at 920-946-9379 or email.

With Amy Baxter, Editor, Retail Leader

This is a free webinar and all are welcome, but registration is required. Consider attending this event – built upon the success of St. Norbert’s annual February State of the Economy – for trends specific to Wisconsin and the New North region. 

If you missed the New North Summit virtual pre-game event on March 11, or the Business and Community Training Camp on April 14, you can view them here: https://newnorthsummit.com/videos/. 

The May 12 Education and Talent Attraction Training Camp from 9:00 to 10:00 am will focus on best practices around upskilling and talent attraction methods, work of the industry alliances, and a real estate forecast as it relates to pandemic effects. 

These virtual sessions all lead up to the in-person main event on June 10, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm at Lambeau Field Atrium, 1265 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay.

We will celebrate the winner of the Workplace Excellence Award, presented by Right Management, all wrapping up with a tailgate luncheon and a high school drumline competition.

More Information | Register

Join an interactive Zoom discussion to get answers, resources, and referrals for your business questions.

Check out the CAP Services Facebook Events Page for registration information.

WWBIC offers classes statewide for new entrepreneurs, seasoned business owners, and anyone looking to improve their financial health.

One-hour, online classes, held in English and Spanish, are available in the following categories:

View the program offerings catalog, and sign up today!