The New North has released its next video in the “More YOU in NEW” series. The videos are part of a marketing campaign designed to be used as talent attraction and human resource hiring tools in the New North region for businesses seeking prospective employees. 

The videos can be embedded in websites and used in social media of local employers to help prospective employees “see themselves” in Northeast Wisconsin and consider the New North as an ideal destination to live and work.

The newest video features Nick Reising, who lives in Neenah and works at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Nick moved back to WI after living in Colorado and tells the story of the satisfaction he has found relocating to the Fox Cities region.

Target has raised its starting wage range to $15 to $24 per hour, in an effort to attract and retain talent. The move comes as the labor market has tightened over the last year, with millions of Americans changing roles in what has been called The Great Resignation. The labor movement has led many retailers to increase wages and add new benefits, such as coverage for tuition and other educational expenses.

Overall, Target is investing $300 million more in 2022 on its team members and staffing efforts. The company has more than 350,000 team members at its stores. In addition, Target announced it is cutting the waiting period to enroll in employee benefits. Plus, team members are eligible for benefits by working a minimum of 25 hours per week.

MB Aebi Schmidt, Chilton, manufactures MB5 multi-tasking runway clearing machines. A recent photo captured their MB5’s in perfect formation at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The MB5 pushes a heavy duty, front mounted plow and finishes airport clean-up with a mid-mounted broom.

Peters’ Boyz Texas BBQ has moved from their Sherwood location on Hwy 114/55 (next to Frogg’s Ice Cream) to 100 S. Birch St. in Kimberly, the same building as il Bar Coffeehouse & Bistro.

By Emily Matesic, WBAY, Mar. 10, 2022

Next week marks the end of an era in Darboy. The Darboy Corner Store will be under new ownership for the first time in nearly two decades. Patti Rodencal started working at the Darboy Corner Store about 25 years ago. Less than a decade later, she bought it. And now, after being the owner and operator for the past 17 years, Rodencal took to Facebook earlier this week to announce the store had been sold and she’s retiring.

“It seems like the right time,” says Rodencal. “It’s just been a lot of long hours and

not enough help and not getting any better anytime soon, so it just feels like the

right time.”

After a one-year hiatus, Taste of the Town is back. The Kiwanis Club of Darboy again hosts a food tasting and fundraising event at Waverly Beach on Tuesday, March 15, featuring food and beverage samples from approximately 20 area eateries.   This year’s menu includes Southwestern chimichangas, egg rolls, pizza, Buffalo wings, burritos, Texas BBQ, single-origin coffee, cookies, tarts, candy, cake and more. Tickets for the event are $30 per person. Information at www.darboykiwanis.org 

The Main Street Bounceback Grant program provides $10,000 to new or existing businesses and non-profit organizations moving into vacant properties in Wisconsin’s downtowns and commercial corridors. Funds can be used to pay leases or mortgages, operational expenses and other business costs related to the newly opened location.

The reimbursement grant program is open to new or existing businesses opening a new location or expanding operations in a vacant commercial space as of January 1, 2021. Calumet County. Contact the grant program coordinator at East Central WI Regional Planning Commission for information.

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 opportunities 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 york@sheboygancountyedc.org.

Save the Date! Don't miss the next virtual town hall meeting hosted by Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Kevin A. Carr on Tuesday, March 22 at 12:00 pm for a discussion about Employment Readiness in DOC.

During this moderated session, panelists will discuss how they are actively seeking out ways to promote collaboration and employment opportunities for individuals returning to the community from incarceration, and how they can be a valuable addition to the workforce. The status of work release and the impact of current COVID-19 protocols on operations will also be discussed.  

Fox Valley Technical College offers a variety of small business-oriented free training and seminars monthly. Please visit their website to view their calendar of classes.