MONTHLY

NEWSLETTER

July 2023

TTX addition will double maintenance space

Cherries are a big business in Door County

The famous Door County cherry season is in full swing once again, and that’s good news for the local economy.

From growing, harvesting and processing, cherries have been a big business on the peninsula since the late 1800s. Cherries are part of a fruit, nut and berry industry that generates more than $5 million in local economic activity, according to a report by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension.

Thousands of residents and tourists flock to Door County cherry orchards at this time of the year for pick-your-own cherries.

Here are some other interesting facts about Door County’s cherry industry:

• Door County is the largest producer of tart cherries in Wisconsin and contributes significantly to the state’s ranking as the fourth-largest cherry producer in the United States.

• Door County orchard growers typically harvest between 8 and 15 million pounds of cherries a year.

• There are more than 2,000 acres of cherry orchards in Door County.

• The first cherry trees in Door County were planted in 1896 north of Sturgeon Bay.

• Cherry production peaked in the 1950s, when approximately 700 cherry growers were producing about 50 million pounds of cherries annually and Door County became known as Cherryland USA.

DCEDC welcomes two new board members

The Door County Economic Development Corporation welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors at its meeting on July 17.

The new board members are Jackie Bongle of Hatco Corporation and Town of Egg Harbor Supervisor Dale Wiegand.

Bongle is the Human Resources Manager at Hatco and has been with the Sturgeon Bay company for the past 23 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and previously served on DCEDC’s Business and Education Partnership Committee.

Wiegand is a Door County native with an extensive background in local government. He has served on the Egg Harbor Town Board for the past 10 years, including a time as its chairman, and also previously served on the Door County Board of Supervisors. Wiegand grew up in Sturgeon Bay, joined the service in 1973 and returned to Door County in 1987. He proudly currently serves as Commander for the American Veterans Department of Wisconsin.

"We are very fortunate to have both Jackie and Dale join DCEDC's Board of Directors. Jackie's extensive experience in workforce development and recruitment, and Dale's deep history in Door County and service to community make them perfect additions to our leadership," commented Michelle Lawrie, DCEDC Executive Director.

In the picture, from left to right: DCEDC vice-chairman and Door County Landscape & Nursery president Tim Duquaine, Bongle, Wiegand and Lawrie.

We're hiring; come join our team!

The Door County Economic Development Corporation is seeking a full-time Director of Business Development and a part-time Accounting and Operations Coordinator.

Learn more about these exciting job opportunities and how to apply by clicking on the graphic below:

Sturgeon Bay is the only official U.S. Coast Guard City in Wisconsin! All of Door County is thankful for the services the Coast Guard provides. Thanks to the Door County Maritime Museum for leading the coordination of a week-long celebration of activities from Aug. 4 through Aug. 11. The top of the list of events includes the Coast Guard Person of the Year and Mariner Award Dinner and the Salute to the Coast Guard Golf Outing. Click the poster below for more details on all events!

Growing your business? We have space!

The Door County Economic Development Corporation has helped foster successful businesses in Door County for more than 30 years.

One of the ways DCEDC does this is by leasing office, warehouse, distribution and light manufacturing space in the Business Development Center, located at 185 E. Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay. Tenants pay competitive rents and share services and equipment, which allows them to keep overhead costs low and get their businesses off to a strong start.

There are currently 11 businesses operating out of the Business Development Center, including MWS Associates, Inc., a manufacturers’ representative that covers 37 states and specializes in servicing all levels of trade from independent retail, outdoor specialty retail chains, farm & home, distribution and e-commerce.

“MWS Associates has leased office space in the Business Center since the inception of our company in 2018,” said company president Kurt Bassuener. “The Business Center was the clear choice for us to locate our main office for several reasons: location, cost effectiveness, reliable high-speed internet, services offered and full access to the conference room. It truly offers everything our company needs to headquarter our business without the hassle of owning our own office building with the maintenance, yard care and snowplowing that goes along with ownership.”

If you’re looking for space, contact DCEDC today! Inquiries can be directed to DCEDC Communications and Marketing Director Korey Mallien at korey@doorcountybusiness.com or (920) 743-3113. 

Two Door County communities have been awarded $50,000 matching grants from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

Sturgeon Bay and Sister Bay both received the maximum amount through the WEDC’s Vibrant Spaces grants program, which aims to help communities develop and enhance public spaces.

Sturgeon Bay is using the grant money for public restrooms, water-filling stations and other amenities for the Door County Granary social hub project on the city’s West-Side waterfront.

Sister Bay is applying its grant toward improvements at Waterfront Park, including accessible seating and tables, night-sky-friendly lighting and renovating and expanding a gazebo to include a food counter.

Door County ranks fifth in population growth among Wisconsin’s 46 rural counties, according to a recent report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum.

Door County’s population has grown 9.9 percent from 2010 to 2022, trailing only these other rural counties: Sawyer (12%), Vilas (11%), Bayfield (11%) and Burnett (10%). This positive growth trend is an important factor toward addressing workforce challenges and contributing to our economic vitality. The challenge with the growth trend for Door County is that a significant contingent of growth is considered an aging population.

Door County has rebounded nicely from a 1% population decline that occurred between 2010 and 2022.

To read the Wisconsin Policy Forum report about why Wisconsin's rural population growth is outpacing the Midwest, and how Door County's destination activity enhances the growth trend, click on this link: Focus_23_15_RuralPopulation.pdf (wispolicyforum.org)

FBS, NWTC extend training program

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Door County’s largest employer, and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College are expanding their partnership to advance the maritime manufacturing industry and meet the region’s growing workforce demand.

In the fall of 2022, the partners designed a specialized training program for FBS employees to advance their welding and ship/pipe-fitting techniques. Since that launch, 97 participants have successfully completed the five-week course offered through NWTC’s Sturgeon Bay campus.

With the success of this pilot program, the partners have solidified a one-year contract and expanded student capacity, the course curriculum and more.

Your DCEDC Contacts:

Michelle Lawrie

Executive Director

michelle@doorcountybusiness.com

(920) 743-3113, Ext. 101

Korey Mallien

Marketing & Communications

korey@doorcountybusiness.com

(920) 743-3113, Ext. 103