Endries International, Inc., #29 on the ID Big 50 List, is pleased to announce that it has acquired certain assets of Old Dominion Fasteners, Inc.

Old Dominion was founded in 1995 in Lynchburg, Virginia by Mack McCormick, Wanda Hicks, and Gary Kitts. Old Dominion was built around a commitment to customer service that has endured since the inception of operation. Today the company provides a full line of fasteners including many customer-specific per print parts. In addition, Old Dominion provides vendor-managed inventory solutions. The business continues to reside in Lynchburg.

Endries is a leading distributor of fasteners and Class-C parts serving industrial Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide. From its headquarters in Brillion, WI, and eleven U.S. and international distribution centers, Endries provides over 500,000 SKUs to its customer base. Endries operates primarily through a Vendor Managed Inventory model, managing C-part categories for its customers across diverse industrial end markets. Endries partner with OEM customers through robust replenishment systems that provide products and support services which are critical to maintaining the manufacturing process.

DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski and WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes have announced the

creation of the new Wisconsin Agricultural Export Advisory Council (WAXC). This council will help guide the initiatives created through the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE), a collaborative project between DATCP and WEDC to promote the export of Wisconsin’s agricultural and agribusiness products.

Local businessman Craig Briess, CEO of Briess Industries, has been appointed to the Advisory Council as an at-large member.

“DATCP recognizes the importance of ensuring that stakeholders and policymakers have a seat at the table as we work to increase the export of Wisconsin products,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “This council will not only help provide strategic review of the WIAE plan, but also promote WIAE activities, amplify stakeholder export initiatives, and provide a platform to encourage collaboration among the industry.”

The council includes international trade experts from WEDC and DATCP, state legislators, agriculture organizations, and agribusinesses representing crop, dairy, and meat products.

East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC) is working in partnership with the communities of Menasha, Harrison, and Sherwood, to develop a plan for a new pedestrian/bicycle route, linking northern lakeshore communities to High Cliff State Park.

The intent of the route is to provide a safe and enjoyable recreational and transportation corridor for pedestrians and bicyclists. This connection has been identified as a priority through a number of previous community planning efforts.

The study will consider accessibility, route types, land impacts, intersection crossings, amenities, and links to existing trail networks, to create a connection that will serve a variety of users, such as walkers, cyclists, and others.

The study will provide guidance on route alignment, as well as design and strategies for funding and implementation. It will focus on identifying a route that connects the Loop the Little Lake Trail, the City of Menasha, the Village of Harrison, and the Village of Sherwood along an east-west corridor to High Cliff State Park, with potential for building off of the existing Friendship Trail. There is a public website where comments can be registered, and public meetings are being held to gather input.

TheRealDeal, April 19, 2022

Retail projections are looking up compared to a year ago, but they remain grim for many. UBS predicts the United States will see between 40,000 and 50,000 store closures in the next five years, CNBC reported. The forecast previously predicted 80,000 closures by 2026. The worst outlook landed on clothing and accessories retailers, home furnishing companies, and consumer electronic retailers. UBS is projecting those three retail categories will see 23,500 closures in the next five years.

Meanwhile, business is expected to boom for general merchandise stores, according to CNBC. Stores akin to Target and Walmart are projected to report net openings in the coming years, along with auto parts businesses.

Despite the growing prominence of e-commerce, brick-and-mortar stores have been able to weather the pandemic storm better than expected, spurred by cheap rents and customers’ continued interest in in-store experiences.

Sargento® and Mondelez International® were recently acknowledged as Bronze Award Winners at the 39th Annual Reggie Awards.

They developed a campaign to market Sargento® and Mondelez International®’s Balanced Breaks® Cheese & Crackers in the partnership marketing category. Sargento® developed a digitally-inspired, co-branded campaign with Mondelez International® that leveraged a custom beatbox track to tune out competitors and tune in Millennials to the latest snacking innovation from their favorite cheese and cracker brands. The result? An earworm that reignited growth for the category and portfolio.

Five Below, a retail chain noted for selling cool and fun for between $1 - $5 and beyond is coming to Appleton in 2022. It will locate at 3825 East Calumet St, near Marshalls and Home Goods.

Trish Nau, formerly Principal Park and Recreation Planner with ECWRPC, has been hired by the Village of Harrison as the Assistant Planner with the Village. 

The City of New Holstein has released a mobile app that provides all sorts of useful information about the city.

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.

Wisconsin Downtown Action Council (WDAC) is hosting the annual Downtown Summit presented by AARP Wisconsin this year in Appleton on May 9 and 10 at the Hilton Paper Valley Hotel.

The summit is a “hands-on” approach to conferencing offering mobile workshops and tours on the first day and both general and breakout sessions on the second day. Register now to learn, share resources, network, and develop partnerships with other communities and organizations working to improve downtowns!  Sponsorship and Exhibitor spaces are also still available.

USDA and the University of Kentucky have invited rural leaders across the country to attend the Placemaking for Small and Rural Communities Online Conference on May 23-24. Rural communities, placemaking technical assistance providers and philanthropic entities interested in supporting rural placemaking efforts are encouraged to register for this two-day conference. The event will showcase effective placemaking strategies rural communities can use and connect rural leaders to placemaking experts and potential funders.

The New North Summit is on Thursday, June 9 at the Lambeau Field Atrium in Green Bay. The program will feature speakers and presentations highlighting innovation, collaboration, talent, and teamwork. Registration is currently open.

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.