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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Calumet County Disaster Response Business Loans
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Small businesses which have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 can apply to Calumet County for a
Disaster Response Loan
of up to $5,000 per applicant, 1% interest rate, for businesses which have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Funds are intended to be used for working capital, with payments deferred for six months. Application deadlines are weekly each Tuesday at 5:00 pm while funds last. The program currently has $50,000 to lend, so businesses are encouraged to act fast. Decisions about applicants are made within days, and funds are available promptly thereafter.
In addition, the City of New Holstein Common Council and Revolving Loan Fund Committee have established a City of
New Holstein COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program
to assist City of New Holstein businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Any business located in the City of New Holstein is eligible for up to $5,000 in a zero interest loan for business purposes. All loans will be awarded to eligible applicants while funds are available. The City is making $100,000 available for this program from the existing Revolving Business Loan Program.
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WEDC “We’re All In” Initiative
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WEDC has developed a $75 million grant program for small businesses as part of its
We’re All In
initiative, a comprehensive effort to celebrate and help Wisconsin’s small businesses get back on their feet and support best practices to keep businesses, consumers, employees, and communities safe. Funded largely by federal dollars received through the CARES Act, this initiative will provide direct assistance to small businesses most impacted by the duration and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to 30,000 small businesses with 20 or fewer FTEs will receive cash grants of $2,500 to assist with the costs of business interruption or for health and safety improvements, wages and salaries, rent, mortgages, and inventory. Businesses will be able to apply for grant assistance beginning June 15. Grant criteria will be announced soon, so stay tuned for more details. There will likely be a competitive aspect to the grant program, with businesses needing to identify their NAICS code and secure a letter of support (ask us for one!) among other expectations.
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From the Small Business Administration:
PPP Loan Report, Review, and Forgiveness Details
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As of May 23, 2020, 79,736 Wisconsin small businesses have received Paycheck Protection forgivable loans. More than 4.4 million businesses nationwide have been approved for PPP loans with an average loan size of $116,000. More than 93% of loans nationally have been for $350,000 or less. See the
full report
.
Forgivable funds are still available.
Find a Paycheck Protection lender.
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REMINDER: Business COVID-19 Support Resources
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- WEDC’s 15 specific industry reopening guidelines for businesses are very thorough and contain specific instructions for safely operating nearly every type of business from small to large.
- The NEW Manufacturing Alliance has created a COVID-19 Directory to facilitate connections between companies offering personal protective equipment and related products and services and companies seeking them. Click here to read more about the new tool and here to visit the directory.
- The CDC has updated face covering guidance including washing and drying instructions.
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Nominations Open for NEWMA Awards; Deadline Approaching
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The nomination period is open for two NEW Manufacturing Alliance recognition programs — the Excellence in Manufacturing/K-12 Partnerships Awards and the 2021 All Stars program.
The organization is accepting nominations for the Excellence in Manufacturing/K-12 Partnerships Awards through
June 12
. Each October, NEWMA presents several awards to individuals, schools, and businesses that are leading the way in creating manufacturing educational opportunities and partnerships. Self-nominations are encouraged. Click
here
to nominate. Award winners will be announced in August and recognized at a dinner scheduled for October 20 at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay.
NEWMA is also accepting nominations for its All Stars program. Each year, the organization recognizes 10 up-and-coming manufacturing professionals and two mentors. The All Stars will be featured in a special publication that gets distributed at the annual New North Summit in December and published in the January issue of Insight on Manufacturing. All Star nominations are open to any NEWMA member organization. To view last year’s All Stars, click
here
.
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UWO COVID-19 Economic Impact Study Indicates ‘Greater Sense of Resilience’ among Wisconsin Businesses
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Many Wisconsin businesses responding to a second University of Wisconsin Oshkosh statewide survey anticipate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue through 2020 and beyond.
Twenty-three percent of responding businesses reported not being able to remain open beyond three months if current conditions persist, said Jeffrey Sachse, director of UWO’s Center for Customized Research and Services (CCRS). But the 32 percent of respondents reporting they would likely survive beyond 10 months under current conditions points to a “greater sense of resilience,” he said.
“The cumulative impact of the survey results in April and May tell the story of businesses first responding to the emergency of the immediate impacts and now reassessing their new, long-term reality,” Sachse said.
Respondents to the second survey, administered between May 4 and 17, represent more than 67,000 employees across the state. The first survey ran April 1-10.
Key findings of the May survey include:
- 27 Calumet County businesses responded to the survey, noting a cumulative loss of 141 positions, a $503,000 loss in productivity, and $12M in other financial losses. Find the full Calumet County data here.
- Respondents reported April losses of 9,816 employees due to layoffs and furloughs in addition to the 8,795 reported for March.
- Businesses also reported losses of $28.8 million in inventory (62 percent decrease from April), $78.9 million in income (7.2 percent decrease from April), and losses in wages and productivity totaling $26 million (56 percent increase from April).
- Businesses reported other financial impacts of $118.6 million (62 percent decrease from April).
Seventy-five percent of respondents reported seeking some form of financial assistance in the past month (Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan, etc.). Only 61 percent of respondents reported receiving assistance, Sachse said.
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Relevant Retail Tidbits
Dollar General and Family Dollar sales pop, CVS expands COVID-19 testing, Tractor Supply sets a precedent
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There's just no stopping Dollar General.
The company this morning said it opened 250 stores during the first quarter, despite COVID-19 related challenges, and maintained its commitment to opening 1,000 stores this year. Meanwhile, same store sales surged as initiatives put in place years ago to increase the company's exposure to food and consumables paid huge dividends as demand for those categories surged. The company said its momentum
has continued throughout May
.
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Dollar General continues its evolution to become a new breed of grocer with the addition of perishable departments at 400 stores this year.
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Family Dollar didn't grow
as fast as Dollar General during the first quarter, but it managed to open new stores and has restarted a remodeling program which is aiding same st
ore sales. Parent company Dollar Tree said it was its namesake single price point stores that were the uncharacteristic
drag on sales during the first quarter
.
Tractor Supply Company may have
set a new precedent for other retailers by making permanent hourly pay increases and enriching benefits put in place at
the start of the COVID-19 outbreak.
CVS Health now offers
COVID-19 testing at 1,000 stores and it has set a huge goal beginning in June regarding the number of tests it plans to provide to
help re-open America.
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FREE Small Business Survival Coaching Available Throughout Calumet County
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This is a challenging time for many small business owners and Calumet County wants to help. That's why a new partnership has been started with the Rural Ideas Network to offer all small businesses free access to "
Small Business Survival Coaching" until June 30, 2020.
The Rural Ideas Network is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that specializes in helping rural entrepreneurs and communities spark growth. Their experienced business coaching team will help develop an Outbreak Survival Plan through a series of virtual one-on-one sessions. This service is specifically designed to help create relevant solutions to the current crisis. Working with a coach, participants will:
1. Complete a cash flow analysis
2. Learn about any available disaster relief funding
3. Consider alternative income opportunities (online, etc.)
4. Review tools and strategies for remote working (if it’s an option)
5. Evaluate down-time improvement opportunities
This service doesn’t replace the
SBDC counseling services offered by
Ray York. It is an enhancement to that service because the Rural Ideas Network has a larger staff capacity and is able to spend more time with each business. It may be especially useful for businesses that are trying to determine disaster relief funding, assess their continued viability, or just need an external set of eyes and ears to help make critical business decisions.
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Business counseling is also available through the Small Business Development Center. Ray York is eager to serve entrepreneurs and start-ups that are considering going in to business, and it isn’t too late for businesses feeling the effects of COVID-19 to contact the SBDC. Use the
online contact form, or reach Ray by phone (920-946-9379) or
email.
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Kiel Subdivision Improvements continue
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Contractors were busy this week placing curb and gutter in preparation for streets in Kiel's newest subdivision, Nash Estates, located on Kiel'ls northeast side along Rockville Road.
Mike Mathes photo
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Kwik Trip Project Moving Along
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Mark Sherry, Tri County News, May 14, 2020
Maybe it was partly because of people going stir crazy with the pandemic shutdown, but the process of installing the fuel tanks at the new Kwik Trip in New Holstein last Wednesday became a spectator sport. Dozens of people gathered to watch a crane pick up the giant red tanks off a lineup of semi trucks which had pulled into the community early that morning. After a brief delay to get the crane operational, it began the process of lowering the tanks into the deep hole which had been dug along Milwaukee Drive (STH 32/57). About half a dozen tanks of the same size along with several smaller ones were place in the hole. Workers then came along and filled in gravel in between the tanks. Later the fill assemblies were installed in each tank, and as of early this week the tanks are no longer visible and only black plastic protective sleeves can be seen above ground. Meanwhile, the foundation for the new building is in place and soon walls will be rising from that foundation. The existing Kwik Trip building -- seen in the background of the photo below -- remains open and will continue to be open until the new building is completed later this year.
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Foremost Farms Plant in Chilton Closing in July, 53 Workers Affected
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Foremost Farms USA will be closing its cheese plant in Chilton in July. The company announced the closing of the manufacturing facility Monday. Foremost Farms had fewer cheese orders from food service clients due to COVID-19 and a sudden drop in production demand, the company said in a news release.
The plant in Chilton produces and sells Italian cheeses including provolone cheese for sandwiches. Fifty-three employees work at the plant and were told about the closure Monday. The company said it will be creating a severance package in the next few weeks.
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Year of Change for Information Company
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To say 2019 was a year of change for the former Delta Publications, Inc., would be a significant understatement. New owners, a new name, and then acquisition of another longtime Wisconsin newspaper all marked the final four months of the year.
Yet for Tri-County News subscribers and recipients of the Tempo, their hometown newspapers look the same today as they did prior to the flurry of changes.
In September, Mike Mathes, president/owner of Delta Publications/Delta Digital Strategies, announced the sale of the two companies to Delta Media Group which is headed by Jim O'Rourke - a 25-year veteran of the newspaper industry - and Joe Mathes, Mike's brother and a longtime member of the Delta Publications family.
Publications, digital strategies
Delta Media Group continues to publish the Tri-County News -- serving the greater Kiel, Chilton, and New Holstein areas -- along with the Tempo, a weekly free paper serving the "Between the Lakes" market area. In addition, Delta offers cutting edge digital advertising solutions for a customer base that goes well beyond the traditional media and local market place.
It's been my privilege to serve as publisher of this amazing community institution for nearly 40 years," Mike Mathes said. "We have been blessed to be part of some amazing communities, and connected with the people and organizations of those communities for four decades." He added, "True stewards not only look back on their history, but try to help shape a future for the organization they have served. I am thrilled to leave this business in the hands of tremendously capable and bright people who will continue the tradition of great customer and community service.
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Banks Help Clients During Pandemic
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The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans created challenges for area banks. The loan designed to help businesses keep their workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic required hours of work when the program was rolled out. The money on the loans is
planned to be forgivable to the borrower.
“It was kind of a hectic program because they just kind of threw it to the banks with very little instruction,” Laura Hoerth, State Bank of Chilton’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said. Terry Van Engen, Collins State Bank’s president, says that mortgage refinancing has remained another client priority as rates remain historically low.
“As a smaller bank, the mortgage refinancing would have been enough in a normal world … then we got into the PPP and did a very good amount of those, so it was very
taxing on our loan group and our loan processors to meet those demands. We’re still fighting through it for probably another good month, month-and-a-half,” Van Engen said.
State Bank of Chilton processed 250 PPP loans. “I’m proud that we worked 24/7
there for a couple of weeks to get that done,” Hoerth said. When the loans were introduced, the banks did not receive thorough information.
“All banks experienced challenges when it came out because they didn’t really come out with any strict guidelines,” Hoerth said. “We were constantly just trying to get on and get our customers' loans approved.” Hoerth says that ultimately the loans are a good thing. She says $15 million is coming back to area businesses. “Just in our small area, that’s kind of a huge dollar amount,” she said.
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Inside Econofoods during Coronavirus
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More frequent sanitation, curbside pickup, and bonuses for store employees.
A lot has happened at Tadych’s Econofoods grocery stores since the coronavirus hit hard in March, but the store is holding strong. “All in all, when you take a look around any one of our stores, we look good and solid and ready to serve,” Econofoods President Mike Tadych said.
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A customer with a mask readies to enter Tadych’s Econofoods in Brillion. Some customers are wearing masks inside the store. Masks are required for employees.
(David Nordby/BN)
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“I think the biggest challenge from the beginning was … adjusting to the COVID-19 information, educating ourselves as to what the FDA wants, what the CDC wants, what the virus does and doesn’t do, and then communicating that with employees
and customers,” Tadych said. Employees with concerns over the virus are at home and are welcome back when things get better, and the store has not had to let go of or furlough any employees. The need for workers has been high.
Tadych says initially there was “panic shopping” that resembled the business of holiday preparation in the store. “There’s no way we could let anyone go. It was all hands-on deck,” Tadych said.
When Tadych saw toilet paper and water being emptied out of stores on the news in other parts of the country, he planned for the possibility in Wisconsin. “What typically starts on the coast ends up in the Midwest at some point and I directed our teams … let’s stock up on some toilet paper and let’s keep an eye on our water,” Tadych said. “Let’s be prepared as best we can ... Eventually it reared its head and we went through what every other grocery retailer and Walmart and Target was going through was the panic buy,” he adds.
Early in the virus, customers were calling from Appleton and Manitowoc for meat in Brillion. “The grocery stores in those areas did not have adequate supply of meat and we did, so we saw a lot of new faces because of that,” Tadych said.
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35-mile Walk Raises Funds for C.H.E.E.R.S.
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Mark Puetz, manager of the Strike Zone bowling lanes in New Holstein, set off on a 35-mile walk on Sunday, May 24, to raise funds and bring awareness for C. H. E. E. R. S. Wisconsin, a Tavern League of Wisconsin relief fund.
“During this COVID-19 shutdown, I started walking and pretty soon I was up to 15 miles a day. I thought it would be a great way to raise funds and bring awareness to the struggles the area bars and restaurants are having during this time,” Puetz said.
Known as Neuman to his customers and family, Puetz has been on the State Board of the Tavern League of Wisconsin (TLW) for 1-1/2 years and has served as vice president of the Manitowoc chapter for four years.
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Mark “Neuman” Puetz was about six miles into his walk toward Kewaskum from New Holstein here along with his sister Kim.
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The TLW created the relief fund C. H. E. E. R. S. (Communities Helping Empower Employers to Remain Successful) in April to help their over 5,000 members who are struggling during this shutdown. In a statement from TLW President Chris Marsicano, “Instead of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a crowded bar and green beer, our members we
re forced to lock their doors. It was a punch in the gut for the hospitality industry."
These members are usually the ones organizing fundraisers or donating to community events. In 2019, TLW members raised $15.8 million which was distributed to 42,540 local charities throughout Wisconsin.
Wisconsin taverns and bars employ thousands of people and during the shutdown, most of these employees were forced out of jobs or ended up in the unemployment lines. Even with most restaurants and bars offering take-out food, they are struggling to make ends meet and pay bills. Some have been forced to close completely. The C. H. E. E. R. S. program was created to raise funds to help TLW members be able to open their doors again and to help bridge the gap between the closure and when they are able to reopen.
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- The Job Center of Wisconsin keeps an updated list of jobs for job seekers. It is searchable by type of position and community.
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Wisconsin Rural Summit (Rural Partners Event)
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June 17 and 18
Marshfield
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Lessons Learned from WI CEOs
on how they are managing the COVID crisis
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Thursday, June 11 | 11:00 am
The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges to all types of Wisconsin businesses whose operations are impacted by disruptions to their supply chains, demand for their products, and worker unavailability. As members of the Wisconsin business community, we want to help you address your company challenges by engaging, collaborating, and communicating with you and our thousands of valued businesses across Wisconsin.
Join state business and health leaders for the latest medical updates, insights into how companies are adapting their operations to the COVID-19 pandemic and how these best practice examples might apply to your business.
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E-seed Express: Entrepreneurship Training
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E-seed™ Express is a proven program that has launched more businesses than any other entrepreneur training program in the region.
Perfect for start-ups, early-stage entrepreneurs or experienced small business owners, E-seed Express is an accelerated, affordable, and action-oriented series designed to help you create your business plan and guide the launch of your new business.
Gain access to a powerful network and insight from expert entrepreneurs and internationally recognized leaders in entrepreneur education.
Starts Monday, June 8, 2020
Fee: $299.00
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Explore Starting a Business
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
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Work for Yourself
at 50+
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Thursday, August 13, 2020
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Managing Offsite Employees
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Explore the best practices and helpful tools for a productive and engaged dispersed workforce. Learn how to communicate effectively, maintain a sense of community, cultivate teamwork and develop relationships built on trust. You will also learn how to proactively spot potential problems. This seminar does not cover the technology aspect of working remotely.
Friday, June 5, 2020 | 8:00 am - 12:00 noon
Fee: $149.00
Virtual Classroom
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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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