Focus on Calumet
A bi-weekly update on economic development opportunities in Calumet County
and the region for businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities.
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Monday, November 22, 2021 |
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In this season of giving thanks, we’re taking a moment to say thanks to our newsletter readers and all the people with whom we work all year. We are so grateful to be able to support your efforts. Together we will continue working towards a strong economy and vibrant communities in Calumet County. |
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Calumet County Launching Business Retention & Expansion Program |
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Calumet County’s Community Economic Development Program has contracted with Rob Peterson of Patriot Consulting LLC to implement a Business Retention & Expansion program for Calumet County businesses. The program will initially focus on outreach to the largest employers in the county, working in collaboration with local government officials, WEDC, and technical college contacts, among others. The primary goals of the program will be to
- Help businesses address economic difficulties;
- Assist with expansions that add new jobs; and
- Increase competitiveness in the wider marketplace.
With the current challenges in hiring and retaining employees, immediate attention will be focused on better understanding specific causes of challenges like this, and then working to resolve the causes. This will include things such as childcare, workforce housing, and training needs that can’t necessarily be adequately resolved by individual businesses.
Rob Peterson is familiar with many Calumet County businesses, having conducted numerous business retention visits here several years ago. We look forward to having Rob’s focused support to help local employers.
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Childcare Survey Coming in December |
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In December, the largest employers in Calumet County and several neighboring counties will be asked for their assistance with distributing a childcare survey to their employees. The purpose of the survey will be to better understand the current childcare supply and demand needs in the region from the voices of parents, grandparents, and related caregivers. With a better understanding of childcare needs, appropriate solutions can be developed. For example, is 2nd and 3rd shift childcare a need in this area? Are there certain areas with “childcare deserts” that need to be addressed? Stay tuned as this project rolls out. The survey will be conducted by UW Oshkosh’s Center for Customized Research. |
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Talent Attraction Scorecard Released |
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EMSI’s 6th Annual Talent Attraction Scorecard was released in November. The 30-page report provides an overall picture of employment growth trends in large, small, and micro counties in the US.
Calumet County ranked 558th in the nation among the small county rankings (population 5,000 to 99,000). Rankings are based on how well counties draw new residents, grow a skilled workforce, and increase educational attainment. The report includes information on trends and what is being done in the most successful counties.
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Did you know…
- 90% of businesses in WI downtowns are locally owned
- $76 is the average spent per shopper on Small Business Saturday. Imagine if that happened every day or every week!
- Sixty-seven cents of every $1 spent in a local business is reinvested into the local community.
The Wisconsin Downtown Action Council has brought back its #ShopWIDowntowns campaign during the holidays to remind people of the importance of local downtowns and shopping local. More information about their efforts is available at this link.
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Supply Chain is a Wildcard for Manufacturers
Transportation and logistics rise in importance
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News images show dozens of ocean-going ships at anchor out in West Coast harbors, loaded with freight destined for addresses in the United State and Canada. “I think in the short term, [it is going to get] probably worse, as the total volume of freight continues to pile up, particularly on the West Coast, with the high volumes,” said Dr. Daniel Rust, a professor in the UW-Superior Transportation and Logistics program – the top such program in the country. There are really two interlinked factors, Rust said, both related to the pandemic.
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Get Paid to Share Rural Experiences |
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KW2 is a woman-owned strategic communications and marketing firm with a mission to empower and improve lives through strategies that are informed by the voices and experiences of real people. KW2 has a new research campaign aimed at capturing the unique perspectives, experiences, and values of rural Wisconsinites. The research panel sign-up is now open, and individuals in rural areas are asked to sign up to participate. Participants are compensated for participating in the research studies.
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Soar with Zander Press and share what inspires you with the hashtag #soarwithZPI on social media sites.
A massive mural is outside on the west side of the Zander Press building. “(Business development and operations director) Lisa (White) came to me with an idea of wings and uplifting people. I was new at Zander Press and had just come here after a COVID-related job loss right before, so I knew I had to create something powerful and positive and hopeful,” graphic designer Becca Meyer said. Colors are an important aspect of the design.
“An image of wings can be very iconic and influential and can mean a lot of things. I wanted to be sure they were bright and full of life and sent a positive message.
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Drive along Highway 10 and see the new Soar with Zander Press sign outside of the building. Take a photo and share on social media with the hashtag #soarwithzpi to share what inspires you. (Brillion News photo)
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New Human Resources Director Named at HUI |
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Carly Shine has joined HUI Manufacturing of Kiel as the company’s new director of human resources. Shine’s responsibilities in this role will include managing employee benefits, performance management and talent development, safety, retention and strategic staffing management. Shine comes to the job with 11 years of professional human resources experience, with demonstrated proficiency in benefits management, recruitment, engagement, labor and employee relations, staff development and continuous improvement of HR systems and policies in line with current best practices and regulations.
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The team at Professional Plating once again this year in conjunction with The Salvation Army Bread of Life Center in Chilton took part in the "Coats for Kid" drive. This year they came up with 83 new or gently used winter coats, exceeding last year’s count by over 20 items. “The team is proud to be able to continue to partner with John Kost and the team at The Salvation Army on this great cause,” PPI General Manager Larry Dietz said. The team is shown presenting this year’s donations to John. (The Brillion News, November 18, 2021)
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Ariens Products Featured on ‘The Price is Right’ |
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A Brillion company had a moment on the famous game show with the catchphrase “come on down.” Ariens Company products were twice featured on ‘The Price is Right.’ First on Oct. 28, then again on the episode that aired last Friday, Nov. 10. The show airs nationally on local CBS affiliates each morning. Friday’s episode featured the Platinum 24 Sno-Thro®. The previous episode featured the Ikon XD zero-turn. “If the home audience will give me just a second because everybody is from California,” host Drew Carey joked. “A snow blower is a thing that they use to get rid of snow, which is a thing that falls from the sky in Ohio.” Carey is famously from Ohio. The snow blower was $2,013. A contestant named Thomas had the closest guess with $1,500. He said he lived in Washington, so he understood snow.
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Kimberly students participating in INCubatoredu program |
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Kimberly High School students in the INCubatoredu program recently had a Mentor Day in school, where they got feedback on their plans to build a business.
INCubatoredu is a national curriculum published by Uncharted Learning that gives students entrepreneurship experience while they develop their own product or service startup. Teacher Lynn Fischer said she and fellow teacher Karen Hoffman have been working on offering the class for two years, with the first offering being this fall.
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Brian Roebke photo/Kimberly High School students (from left) Devin Goetsch, Samuel Oestreich, Abigal Hutchinson, and Luke Odgers discuss their idea with mentor Sydney Hummel at a recent Mentor Day for the INCubatoredu class. |
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“As they started the class they had to come up with a bug me list,” she said. “What’s something that bugs you, a problem that you’d want to solve.” Students did mini pitches before being put into groups where they decided which problems they wanted to solve, and the class ended up with seven groups working on problems to solve.
Mentors come into school from the community to help them with their projects, and at the end of the class in January, students will make a pitch before a board of directors. Groups are now working on either products or phone apps. One group, Sage Financial, is focused on educating people on the stock market and financial industry for middle school to college students.
“We’re really trying to set them up for a strong financial future so that by the time they get out into the business world they know how to manage their money so they don’t have to be a step behind where they could have been,” said Luke Odgers, a KHS senior.
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Main Street Bounceback Grants |
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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. Contact the grant program coordinator at East Central WI Regional Planning Commission for information.
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Calumet County Business Assistance |
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Business Start-Up and Expansion Assistance |
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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 opportunity 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.
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Managing Offsite Employees |
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Explore how to manage a remote workforce successfully. Learn how to communicate effectively, maintain a sense of community, cultivate teamwork and develop relationships built on trust.
Monday, December 6, 2021
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
$149 | Materials provided
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Managing the Generation Mix and Difficult Behaviors |
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‘My job would be great if it weren't for the people stuff!’ Leaders get things done through people and, yet, some of the difficult behaviors are the biggest obstacles to results. We'll brainstorm the difficult behaviors you are facing, from employees, clients or bosses, and identify strategies to cure or cope with the behavior so you can get on with getting your job done.
Friday, December 10, 2021
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
$205 | Materials provided
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Explore Starting a Business
December 8, 2021
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Work for Yourself at 50+
December 7, 2021
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1 Million Cups Appleton
Join us virtually every Wednesday
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Calumet County Community Economic Development contact information:
Mary Kohrell, Community Economic Development Director
Connie Leonhard, Program Assistant
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