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

Monday, March 23, 2020 - early edition

COVID-19 Business Support - Help is on the Way

Without a doubt, the new COVID-19 virus is causing uncertainty the likes of which haven’t been seen in our lifetimes. Calumet County economic development staff is monitoring the situation with an eye toward business support resources and will communicate on an ongoing basis about relevant resources as they become available.  We’ll get through this together! Listed below are a few resources. Of greatest significance, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has announced $5 million in targeted grants designed to help the “smallest of the small” businesses in the state. The grants will be deployed by partnering with state’s 23 community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Because the CDFIs have pre-existing relationships with many of these small businesses, CDFIs will be able to provide the grants quickly and directly to their clients. Applications for business assistance must be processed through the CDFIs and not WEDC. WEDC plans to identify the participating CDFIs within the next two weeks. This is a developing program, so further details will be emerging. Click here for further information and updates. In addition to the WEDC grant program, Gov. Tony Evers has submitted a request to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance for small Wisconsin businesses and private, non-profit organizations to help alleviate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. This decision was made possible due to Wisconsin businesses that reported their economic injury during the current situation. Thanks to the local businesses that promptly shared their information. A new website that includes regular updates from all Wisconsin state agencies regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus is available here. The New North is in the process of coordinating a webinar that brings together company executives with operations in other locations that have previously experienced crises. This program is modelled on a successful program held in southeast Wisconsin by Milwaukee-7 (New North’s counterpart) and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce has created a special Business Resource Center website page that provides coronavirus updates. They are also hosting webinar updates for members. Finally, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), a nonprofit membership organization for economic development professionals, has started to deploy online training and resources in response to the new virus. Calumet County is an IEDC member and will utilize these resources to support Calumet County businesses and communities. In particular, they have created a new website, www.restoreyoureconomy.org.

Home less: Region, State Battle Shortage of Affordable Housing

Posted by  Jessica Thie l , Feb 27, 2020,  INSIGHT INSIDER One need look no further than Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to understand why housing is a critical part of well-being. Shelter sits alongside other physiological needs such as food, water, and sleep at the base of Maslow’s pyramid. Stability comes with having a safe and affordable place to call your own, says Patrick Leifker, housing administrator for the Brown County Housing Authority. Critical components such as shelter, education, and a reliable form of transportation can help people chart a path to gainful employment and create security for kids and families. “That’s really kind of the first step in terms of getting on the path to self-sufficiency. When you have a roof over your head, you’re able to focus your time, energy, and additional resources (elsewhere),” he says. The Brown County Housing Authority oversees the county’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, and the nonprofit agency Integrated Community Solutions serves as administrator for the program. The housing authority also issues housing revenue bonds and can provide down payment and closing assistance to qualified potential home buyers. Around 56 percent of the Brown County Housing Authority’s clients include a head of household who’s elderly or disabled, 41 percent with minors living within the unit and 31 percent who are a head of household who’s not elderly or disabled and has some earned income. Between 2006 and 2017, in comparison to growth in households, Brown County under-produced by more than 1,500 housing units. This causes strain and creates a supply-and-demand issue, Leifker says.  From low-income housing to workforce housing, the state and region face a shortage of options. In December, the Wisconsin Economic Development Association presented the results of a special report entitled “Falling Behind: Addressing Wisconsin’s workforce housing shortage to strengthen families, communities, and our economy.” Funded by the Wisconsin Realtors Association, it documents the workforce housing shortage, explains the main causes and consequences, and outlines policy solutions. The report found causes of the shortage include failing to build enough homes to keep up with population and income growth, high construction costs, and outdated land use regulations. As a result of these conditions, ownership and rental costs are rising faster than income, and home ownership and affordability are declining.

Read more

Note: Calumet County in partnership with its small cities and villages are in the final stages of a local workforce housing study. The report is expected in May.

Local Business Updates

Harbor Bar & Grill in Stockbridge is Under New Ownership

By Jackie Kempf, Staff Journalist, The Chilton Journal, March 12, 2020 The historic Harbor Bar & Grill, located at Stockbridge Harbor on Lake Winnebago, combines remarkable sunsets and lake views with a casual atmosphere for an enjoyable visit. Offering a dining area, 2 bars and a deck, the restaurant provides ample space for hosting special events such as anniversary, birthday and holiday celebrations, baby and wedding showers, and bachelor and bachelorette parties. On January 1, 2020, new owners Nick Conway and Bud Nackers reopened the bar and are bringing back the original Harbor Bar feeling. Nackers, an investment advisor, lives only ½ mile from the restaurant, so when it went up for sale, he decided that the purchase would make a good long-term investment. However, owning investment Designers In. in Appleton is a full-time job, so he needed a co-owner that could perform the day-to-day management. “Once I met Nick, I knew partnering with him was the right choice to help bring the small-town appeal of Harbor Bar back to the residents,” says Bud. “Nick had proven experience in running a successful restaurant, and he had detailed plans to improve the flow in the kitchen and make menu updates.” “I was looking for another restaurant opportunity,” said Conway, who also owns The Lake House on Cedar Lake in Kiel. “when the Harbor Bar became available, I knew this would be a perfect venture for myself and my family. And it was clear that the locals wanted a place where they could receive high quality food at great prices.”

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Kobussen buys Daun Services, Inc.

Tri County News , March 12, 2020 Kobussen Buses, Ltd. has announced that it has acquired the assets of Daun Services, Inc. With this acquisition Kobussen will take over the school bus transportation contracts for Chilton Public Schools, New Holstein School District, and the Kiel Area School District. “We are extremely excited to work with the three districts and the area communities,” said Kobussen President Joseph Kobussen. “We will operate the three districts from a central location in New Holstein. Because of the proximity to our company’s corporate headquarters in Kaukauna, we see this acquisition as a perfect fit to our existing operations and our growth strategy.” Kobussen will look to retain and grow the current staff of drivers, mechanics, and office staff in Chilton, New Holstein, and Kiel. Founded in 1938 by Elwood “Goldie” Kobussen, a dairy farmer and trucker, Kobussen began as Kaukauna Bus Service, operating school buses for the Kaukauna Area School District. The company changed its name in 1976 and branched into the luxury motor coach business in 1983. With the new contracts, Kobussen Buses currently provides transportation services to 31 school districts throughout the state. These districts are operated out of 20 terminals. Kobussen operates a fleet of more than 900 vehicles and employs approximately 1,100 people.

Upcoming Events

National Small Business Week Virtual Conference

Sponsored by SCORE and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the National Small Business Week virtual conference will take place on May 5 and 6 from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm ET. This free, two-day online event will offer educational webinars, one-on-one mentoring sessions, networking chat rooms, exhibitor booths, prizes, and resources. A virtual conference allows individuals across the nation to participate in an online environment that has the look and feel of an in-person event. With just a few clicks, attendees can ask presenters a question, collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs, chat with exhibitors, and download content - all from their computer or mobile device.  Participants can attend one or both days. Sign up now, and attend the sessions that interest you most. The conference will happen in real-time, and webinar recordings will be available in the virtual environment and the SCORE website post-event.

For more information or to register

POSTPONED: Entrepreneurial Training Program

The Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP), an eight session program originally scheduled for April 1- May 20 at UW-Green Bay's Sheboygan Campus has been postponed until fall.

POSTPONED: Toward One Wisconsin 2020 Conference

A Conference on Building Communities of Equity and Opportunity, bringing together individuals and organizations from multiple sectors across Wisconsin to address the most persistent barriers to inclusion, what is working, and what is promising on the horizon has been postponed until fall. For information or to register, click here .

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Calumet County Community Economic Development contact information: Mary Kohrell, Community Economic Development Director (920) 849-1680 | mary.kohrell@calumetcounty.org Connie Leonhard , Program Assistant (920) 849-1450 x4| connie.leonhard@calumetcounty.org ‌ ‌