MONTHLY

NEWSLETTER



February 2023

Business Advancement & Advocacy | Entrepreneurial Growth
Sustainable Living | Communications & Engagement

INVESTOR SPOTLIGHT

For over 100 years, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College has built a pipeline of highly-skilled workers for our region by providing education and training to thousands of individuals. 


NWTC has strong roots in Door County, with a campus in Sturgeon Bay and a Learning and Innovation Center in Sister Bay.


NWTC delivers education and training in trades, business and health fields that support Northeastern Wisconsin and is in the process of developing English Language Learner (ELL) resources in collaboration with Door County and Kewaunee County partners.

NWTC WEBSITE

UPCOMING DCEDC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

DCEDC seeks nominations for business awards

DCEDC is accepting nominations for three different business awards that will be presented at the organization’s Annual Meeting in May.


The awards include:


  • The Range Lights Award for New Business of the Year


  • The Light Keeper Award for Women & Minority Owned Business of the Year


  • The Lighthouse Award for Established Business of the Year


The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Friday, March 10. Award winners will be honored May 18 during DCEDC’s Annual Meeting at Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center in Sturgeon Bay.


“There are many wonderful businesses throughout Door County,” said DCEDC Executive Director Michelle Lawrie. “The Board of Directors and our organization are honored to continue this annual event as a way to recognize individuals and businesses for their contributions to our community. We are excited to begin the call for nominations.”

 

Descriptions of each award, nomination forms and submission details can be found on DCEDC’s website livedoorcounty.org or by clicking on the button below.

AWARD DETAILS HERE

Join the Legislative Days delegation

Registration is open and sponsorships are being accepted for the 10th Door County/Kewaunee County Legislative Days event scheduled for April 19-20 in Madison.


Sponsored in partnership by DCEDC and the Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation, Legislative Days is a biennial trip to the state capitol by a delegation of residents, elected officials, business owners and other stakeholders of the two counties. The goal of the grassroots campaign is to bring a locally agreed-upon agenda of Door County and Kewaunee County issues directly to state-elected officials and government agency leaders.


This year's trip will continue to build upon the successes of past Door/Kewaunee Legislative Days events, which were first held in 2003. The event is held every other year, before the state begins to finalize its biennial budget.


To join the delegation, become a sponsor, or learn more about Legislative Days, visit DCEDC's website livedoorcounty.org or click on the button below.

REGISTER HERE

OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE DOOR COUNTY STUDENTS

Announcing the Door County High School Job Fair

There are 15 business spots remaining for the Door County High School Job Fair, co-sponsored by DCEDC and the Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship organization.


If your business would like to join us for the event on Wednesday, March 29, at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay, contact DCEDC Marketing and Communications Director Korey Mallien at korey@doorcountybusiness.com or (920) 743-3113, EXT. 103.


The Job Fair gives local businesses the opportunity to connect with high school students from four Door County school districts for part-time and summer employment and youth apprenticeship opportunities.

EMAIL KOREY

DCEDC participates in Reality Store at GHS

DCEDC staff assisted in giving Gibraltar High School seniors a glimpse at some of the financial situations they will encounter as adults by participating in a "Reality Store" event Feb. 13.


Students were provided with a career and salary and then were tasked with budgeting their money while visiting stores to purchase insurance, vehicles, cell phones, etc., as well as encountering other expenses for rent, child care, clothing and entertainment.


The event was organized by Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Coach Lauren Baumann and Marcia Waldron-Kuhn of CESA 7.

ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAM UNDERWAY

Program has helped many business owners

Fifteen aspiring business owners are participating in the Entrepreneurial Training Program hosted by DCEDC and facilitated by Tara Carr, Director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Thank you to Door County sponsors Associated Bank, Bank of Luxemburg and Nicolet Bank.


The program has had a significant impact since its inception in 2012. Over that time, 120 people have graduated from the Door County program, including Carol Ash who started Kick Ash Products in Ellison Bay with her husband Christian.


Carol credits the Entrepreneurial Training Program with helping her put together a successful business plan. You can read more about Carol's ETP experience and her business by clicking on the button below.

KICK ASH FEATURE STORY

AROUND THE DOOR

New Sturgeon Bay facility could offer manufacturing, warehouse space

DCEDC is in support of a 50,000-square-foot, multi-tenant building being planned for the City of Sturgeon Bay Industrial Park.


The Sawyer Business Center would be constructed by Howard Immel, Inc. and located on a vacant, city-owned lot along South Neenah Avenue.


The building would offer flexible space for use by different tenants based on their specific needs, and allow for existing businesses to expand or new businesses to locate in the industrial park.


DCEDC Executive Director Michelle Lawrie said the facility could provide space for developing companies to leave DCEDC's Business Center located on Walnut Street.


"The business incubator is supposed to incubate companies to come in at below-market rates, stay for up to five years and then grow out of it -- that's the whole point, so we can get new companies in and start their space," said Lawrie. "What has ended up happening is that there hasn't been any space for them to grow and move into. This is going to help some of these businesses that need to grow and have more space to actually do that."

READ MORE HERE

THE DOOR COMMUNITY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER will break ground in March on a new facility located at the intersection of Gordon Road and OId Highway Road in Sevastopol. The new facility (rendering above) is expected to open in January of 2024 and will have a licensed capacity for 146 children, DOCO Executive Director Alexis Fuller told the Peninsula Pulse.


MAXWELTON BRAES GOLF COURSE in Baileys Harbor has been purchased by Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy. “We’re excited,” Murphy told the Peninsula Pulse. “I grew up playing on public courses like Maxwelton and want to make sure it continues to be an affordable course for locals and visitors.”


ROCK ISLAND STATE PARK, located off the tip of the Door Peninsula, was awarded $1.4 million by the Wisconsin State Building Commission to renovate the historic Thordarson Boathouse. “As the state senator for the area – and an active proponent of preserving our historic places – I believe this is the very type of project the commission should fund to preserve,” said state Sen. André Jacque in a statement. “Places like the Rock Island Boat House help keep the story of Wisconsin alive for future generations, along with other sites across the state, and serve as important reminders of our history.”

BUSINESS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

The UW-Madison Extension Community Food Systems Program is providing no-cost virtual workshops for small-scale food and farming business start-ups every week from March 9 to April 24. 


The sessions will cover topics such as:

  • food safety planning, 
  • selling products at the farmers market, 
  • selling at your local retail food co-op, 
  • business incubator support for entrepreneurs, and 
  • finding customers for new and growing food businesses.  


"Wisconsin has a wealth of food and farming entrepreneurs who are creating amazing products in their communities. The FEED Webinar Series this spring highlights Wisconsin food entrepreneurs from across the state, features local and regional business support organizations in Wisconsin, provides tools and worksheets to help businesses make well thought-out decisions, and gives entrepreneurs a chance to interact, discuss, and get to know each other,” said Jessica Jane Spayde, Food Entrepreneurship Specialist at the Community Food Systems Program at UW-Madison Extension. 

LEARN MORE HERE
DCEDC SERVICES

How Can We Help You?

Did you know that the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is a public/private partnership dedicated to improving the economic vitality of the county and its residents?


DCEDC partners with companies and entrepreneurs to help build successful businesses in Door County and continuously improve the area’s economic climate. It’s a relationship that allows businesses to tap into the expertise of area leaders, and provides them with access to a variety of local, state and federal resources.

FREE No Cost Services to Door County Businesses

Hundreds of businesses and entrepreneurs have benefitted from DCEDC services at no cost!


  • Workforce Development
  • Entrepreneurship Assistance
  • Financial Assistance
  • Attraction & Site Selection

Your DCEDC Contacts:

Michelle Lawrie

Executive Director

michelle@doorcountybusiness.com

(920) 743-3113, Ext. 101

Bailey Koepsel

Operations & Accounting

bailey@doorcountybusiness.com

(920) 743-3113, Ext. 102

Korey Mallien

Marketing & Communications

korey@doorcountybusiness.com

(920) 743-3113, Ext. 103

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