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

Monday, October 28, 2019
New North Region Shares the Economic Importance of Sports-Related Attractions
From October 19-21, New North, Inc. hosted Ron Starner from Site Selection Magazine and Conway, Inc. for three days of tours, meetings, and gatherings that included New North’s local partners. Ron was able to gather additional knowledge about how sports-related developments spur other business and community development in the New North region. Tours included Lambeau Field, Titletown District, Ariens Hill, TitletownTech, Community First Champion Center, Capital Credit Union Park, Whistling Straits, and several other community venues. 

Ron was accompanied by Mary Perry, Business and Investment Attraction Director for WEDC, and Barb LaMue, New North Executive Director. As shown in the photo below, several county and community representatives within the New North region met with Ron to discuss local sports-related amenities, and other community housing and development projects. Calumet County was represented at the meeting by Mary Kohrell; other participants represented economic development organizations in Fond du Lac, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marquette, Sheboygan Counties, and the cities of Green Bay and Oshkosh. Starner is shown in the lower left.
Photo credit: Jeff Blumb, Blumb Communications and Consulting
Northeast Wisconsin International Trade Conference Offered Lessons for Beginners and Experienced Businesses
International trade continues to play an important role in the economy of Northeast Wisconsin.  Wisconsin did $7 billion in international trade with Canada in 2018; with Mexico that total was $6.3 billion. This year’s Northeast Wisconsin International Trade Conference offered practical training for businesses looking to expand into exporting, as well as insightful analysis for those businesses with significant international portfolios.
 
Attendees at the conference, held on October 25 at Fox Valley Technical College, had an opportunity to learn about trade opportunities and challenges during the keynote panel. Sessions throughout the day were designed to help businesses understand how to start or expand their export opportunities. There are many free resources available to businesses to get started. Contact our office for details.

The conference was organized by NEWREP and New North Inc. with financial sponsorship from WEDC, Associated Bank, Oshkosh Corporation, and others.
Presenters and moderators in the keynote panel, left, included Sen. Ron Johnson, Julian Adem Diaz de Leon, Consul General of Mexico, and Wayne Robson, Consul General of Canada. Shown right, Rebecca Gladen, Brad Schneider, and Lisa Stout are trade export resources.
WEDC Launches New Wisconsin Supplier Network Website
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has launched a new website to help connect new and existing businesses in Wisconsin with the buyers, suppliers, and service providers they need.  

The new Wisconsin Supplier Network (WSN) , will take the place of the previous Wisconsin Supply Chain Marketplace site. It features a free, online directory of suppliers and services, as well as a communications platform that provides regular newsletters and alerts to promote new business opportunities, supplier development resources, and industry networking initiatives.

“We want to do everything we can to make it easy for businesses in our state to grow,” said WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes. “The Wisconsin Supplier Network will help companies—whether they’re new businesses, existing businesses looking to expand, or out-of-state businesses looking to come here—make the connections they need with suppliers and service providers.”

The Wisconsin Supplier Network is supported by WEDC, which leads economic development efforts for the state by providing resources, operational support, and financial assistance to companies, partners, and communities in Wisconsin.
Local Community Updates
City of Kiel Renews Partnership with Progress Lakeshore
The Kiel City Council has voted to renew a 3-year investment agreement with Progress Lakeshore to continue receiving local services. Progress Lakeshore is the economic development corporation that serves Manitowoc County, including the entire city of Kiel. Progress Lakeshore is a public-private partnership that promotes economic development in Manitowoc County.  
Frostman Visits Kaukauna High School to Learn About Co-Op Program
Brian Roebke, Times-Villager, 10-19-19
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Caleb Frostman visited Kaukauna High School on Wednesday, learning more about the school’s co-operative education and youth apprenticeship program that helped the school be a 2019 National Award Winner for Manufacturing Career Pathways.

Frostman chatted with three seniors who are participating in the program this year. Justin King works at Tweet Garot.  Michael Kraus works at August Winter & Son, and Anna Roovers works at Capital Credit Union. King is looking at a career with Tweet Garot and Kraus is interested in working in aerospace engineering. Despite looking at a chemical engineering career, Roovers will have her certificate for banking and finance apprenticeship when she enters college to become a chemical engineer.
Photo credit: Brian Roebke, Times Villager
Local Business Updates
State Bank of Chilton to Open Brookfield Branch
Biz Times , 10/2019
State Bank of Chilton has plans to open a new branch at 14040 West Capitol Drive, just off Lily Road in Brookfield.   The bank received approval for its plans to remodel a 2,193 square foot building in March, according to a Plan Commission and Common Council agenda. The remodel included a 443 square-foot addition, which is a drive-thru. Plans to remodel the building were requested by realtor Ramkrishna Subedi of Noby Lily LLC, according to Plan Commission documents. State Bank of Chilton EVP Laura Hoerth said she did not have any additional details to release about the project, but said the bank could be open by April of 2020.
Groskopp Chiropractic Adds Associate  
G roskopp Chiropractic is announcing the addition of a new associate, Dr. Nathan S. Cummings, D.C., C.C.E.P. Cummings received his undergraduate degree at UW-Eau Claire before earning his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2007. In addition, he is a Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner. This means he can literally treat you from head to toe. Previously, Dr. Cummings practiced in De Pere for four years and South Carolina for seven years. He looks forward to bringing his diverse skill set and knowledge to the Brillion community. Dr. Cummings resides in De Pere with his wife Anne Marie and his three daughters, Katherine, Jacqueline, and Chloe.
Upcoming Events
Business Counseling
November 19, or when mutually convenient: Small Business Development Center business counseling services offered by Ray York, Sheboygan County EDC and Small Business Development Center Entrepreneurship Specialist. Available to all existing businesses and entrepreneurs monthly. To schedule an appointment or learn more, call 920-946-9379 or email Ray.
Manufacturing First Conference and Expo
KI Convention Center
With Northeast Wisconsin an epicenter of manufacturing, Manufacturing First has rapidly become known as one of the state’s premier industry events. Since it began in 2011, Manufacturing First routinely welcomes more than 1,200 attendants and 550+ high school students annually to the KI Center in Green Bay. With the NEW Manufacturing Alliance and First Business Bank, Insight is a co-sponsor and coordinator of the event.  Manufacturing First features a full-day of speakers, informative presentations focused on innovation and the latest industry trends, multiple networking opportunities and an expo hall with more than 200 exhibitors highlighting their products and services.
First Steps to Starting a Business
Thinking About Starting a Business? Start Here!
The Small Business Development Center offers a free, interactive, online class to help entrepreneurs explore their business idea and assess their entrepreneurial readiness as well as identify strengths and weaknesses as a business owner. This interactive online class includes downloadable worksheets, hands-on exercises, local entrepreneur stories, and additional resources to determine next steps. The best part about the class is that it is available anywhere and anytime, and its free!

The “ First Steps” class helps entrepreneurs answers questions like these:
  • Do you have the right personality, skills, and life situation to start and manage a business?
  • Do you have a realistic business idea?
  • Is your business idea well thought out?
  • Are you financially ready to start a business?
  • What are your next steps?

For more information or to register for first steps, click here .
New North Intermodal Freight Rail Summit, November 11
The cost of international shipping and the availability of ocean-going containers has been a topic of concern voiced by Wisconsin businesses for a number of years. To that end, there are two important Intermodal Summit meetings being held in Wisconsin, one which is conveniently located in Appleton on November 11. The meeting will allow participants to learn what the major railroads and shipping companies need to make intermodal service economically viable and how local companies and communities can be a part of bringing these services back to eastern  and northeastern Wisconsin. This is our chance to make our voices heard and influence transportation decisions.

In spring 2017, the Freight Advisory Committee (FAC), comprised of the key shippers, carriers, and regulators that affect freight movement in Wisconsin, identified the development of an intermodal strategy for Wisconsin as the most important new policy in the State Freight Plan; FAC's March 2019 report, Overview of Intermodal Freight in Wisconsin , was the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s follow-through on that policy. These summits provide the private sector and regional economic development groups the opportunity to discuss what they have to offer and what they need to make new intermodal sites in Wisconsin a reality.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.
 
Monday, November 11
12:15 to 4:30 pm
Fox Valley Technical College
D. J. Bordini Center, 5 North Systems Drive, Appleton, WI 54914
Rural Wisconsin Listening Tour
Join WMC Foundation’s Future Wisconsin Project at one of the final of their six town halls this fall as they facilitate an important statewide discussion regarding rural Wisconsin. States across the country not only have a workforce shortage, but also an increasing divide between rural and urban centers.
 
Be part of this conversation as Ted Abernathy, a futurist, researcher, and the founder of Economic Leadership, presents on Wisconsin and national economic and demographic data, while also sharing national trends and best practices of states bridging the rural and urban divide. Ted’s presentation will be followed by an hour long town hall discussion among all attendees.
 
The Future Wisconsin Project, a program of WMC Foundation, addresses our state’s long-term systemic, economic challenges. With partner representation from business, government, and education, this program seeks to bring all stakeholders of the economy to the table to develop solutions we can all implement. The year-long collaboration culminates with The Future Wisconsin Summit, held at the end of each year.
November 14, 2019

Ariens Company Museum
109 Calumet Street, Brillion, WI 54110
2019 New North Summit Program to Feature Three Global Business Leaders
Three global business leaders with ties to Northeast Wisconsin highlight the program for the 16th annual New North Summit, set for Thursday, December 5, at the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay. Speaking at the 2019 Summit will be Kim Underhill of Kimberly-Clark North America, Fred Stephan of Amcor, and David Beurle of Future iQ®.
 
The three speakers will follow the popular ‘ED Talk’ format, New North’s version of TED Talks, focusing on economic development themes from the perspective of business leaders. The speakers engage the audience through a storytelling format to expose them to new ideas.

“We are excited to share the global perspectives of Kim, Fred, and David with Summit attendees,” says Barb LaMue, executive director of New North Inc. “They bring an understanding of the impact that industry-led initiatives can have at the regional level.”
 
Online registration for the 2019 New North Summit, themed “A 2020 Vision of the Future,” continues at www.newnorthsummit.com . The registration fee is $90, increasing to $100 at the door on the day of the event. Student tickets are available for $15.
Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers
In this class, you’ll learn basic financial management skills, including major financial statements, sources and uses of cash, cash budgeting, and financial ratios. Emphasis will be placed on financial information as a diagnostic tool in understanding a company’s health. Using real-life examples and exercises, you will learn simple and necessary skills that can immediately apply to your workplace, including:

• Learning the difference between profits and cash.
• Interpreting and understanding the income statement, cash flow and balance sheet.
• Managing cash flow with purposeful techniques.
• Calculating a break-even point.
• Finding the hidden cash in your business and how to get it back.
• Forecasting business success with financial information.

Date: Thursday, December 5, 2019 | 8:30-3:30 pm
Location: Startup Hub, 2701 Larson Road, Green Bay
Cost: $200
Microsoft Excel Tables & Pivot Tables
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

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2019 | 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Location: FVTC Chilton Regional Center, 1200 E. Chestnut Street, Chilton
Cost: $99 | Materials and refreshments provided
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

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2019 | 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Location: FVTC Chilton Regional Center, 1200 E. Chestnut Street, Chilton
Cost: $99 | Materials and refreshments provided
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. Get more details and register here. The next session will be held on November 13 at 5:30 pm at the Fox Valley Technical College Venture Center in Appleton.
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