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, December 20, 2021 |
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NEW Manufacturing Alliance: Study Finds Northeast WI Manufacturers are Bullish in 2022 for Sales and Hiring |
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The Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Manufacturing Alliance announced its 12th annual “Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Vitality Index Study” at its Quarterly Membership meeting at Fox Valley Technical College. Mike Kawleski, public affairs manager for Georgia-Pacific and chair of the Alliance’s Communications Taskforce, shared the results of the study, which serves as an indication of the strength and vitality of manufacturing employers in the New North. “This year’s report finds that manufacturers sales recovered from 2020, however supply chain constraints and lack of talent are strong concerns from companies in the region. The study found a record number of manufacturers planning on investing in modernization than any other year of the study,” reported Kawleski. “In addition, over half are planning to hire in the first quarter of 2022. The biggest issue is that the skills shortage continues to be of great concern, especially in machinist and general labor/production occupations.”
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The Alliance has commissioned the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Center for Customized Research and Services to administer the study over the past 12 years. Presidents and CEOs of northeast Wisconsin manufacturing companies with at least $3 million in revenue and 25 or more employees participated in the study. In total, 147 manufacturers participated in the survey conducted in fall 2021, answering questions related to financial health, business growth expansion, plant modernization, supply chain constraints, 2022 hiring intentions and potential skills shortages.
Respondents said their companies are financially solid, with 98 percent projecting their firms’ financial health in the next 6 to 12 months will be “healthy” or “quite healthy.”
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Half of Working Women in Wisconsin are Thinking About Quitting, a New Survey Says |
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Sarah Hauer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 9, 2021
Wisconsin women are considering leaving their jobs.
Now, half of working women in Wisconsin are thinking about quitting their jobs, according to a new survey.
In the survey from Milwaukee-based public relations firm Kane Communications Group and Santiago Global Consulting, 50% of Wisconsin working women said they consider quitting work constantly, often or sometimes.
"This points to a crisis that companies need to think about — half of the female employees in Wisconsin are considering quitting," said Kimberly Kane, president and CEO of Kane Communications Group. "This is not a problem to throw money at. This is a values issue."
In a national survey, 40% of women said they have considered leaving their company or switching jobs. The Women in the Workplace study by McKinsey & Co. said that recent high turnover rates suggest that those employees are following through.
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Career CONNECT Event Set for January 27 |
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Local employers are invited to reserve a booth space to connect with local 10th and 12th graders on January 27. Career CONNECT participation will allow businesses to have direct conversations with high school sophomores as well as explore hiring opportunities for high school seniors who will enter the workforce or are looking for apprenticeships.
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Darboy Club Demolished After Being Closed Since 2019 |
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The building that was home to the Darboy Club, a landmark venue for weddings, banquets and class reunions, is coming down. Photos of the demolition were posted to the Kaukauna Community Facebook group.
The hall on County N in Harrison has been in business for 57 years, but competition from newer halls and changing tastes have finally caught up. The property was purchased in April 2020 by Bayland Buildings.
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Business Group Sets Vision for State’s Future |
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The WMC Foundation – an affiliate of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – unveiled its Wisconsin 2035 report at the annual Future Wisconsin Summit last week. The report is an economic blueprint for the state to be successful over the next 15 years and beyond.
Over the first half of 2021, WMC Foundation met with and interviewed more than 80 leaders from manufacturing, construction, agriculture, retail, hospitality, healthcare, energy, finance, education, government and other sectors driving the economy.
The WMC said those conversations reinforced the idea that the state’s biggest problem is and will continue to be the workforce. The level of concern was higher than in the past, however.
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CHS Larsen Cooperative Unites with Country Visions Cooperative |
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Country Visions Cooperative announced last week that CHS Larsen Cooperative is now operating with them under the Country Visions name.
CHS Larsen was a local country operations division of CHS Inc. based in New London servicing northeast and central Wisconsin. Country Visions Cooperative is a farm supply cooperative serving northeastern Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan with their corporate office located in Brillion. The CHS Inc. Board of Directors approved the business partnership with Country Visions and the final documents were completed for the unification to become effective on Dec. 1.
The agreement between CHS Inc. and Country Visions combines the CHS Larsen business with Country Visions enabling Country Visons to expand its trade territory both west and north of their current area.
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Entrepreneur Spirit Strong in Area |
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Despite the challenges of doing business in 2021—supply chain concerns and labor shortages chief among them—the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the Tri-County News area.
Last week a Tri-County News subscriber sent an email commenting on some nice business developments he sees along New Holstein’s main thoroughfare, and he is absolutely right. There are similar good things happening in Kiel and Chilton, and quite likely more to come in all three communities in the months and years ahead.
In New Holstein, the ground being moved on the city’s far north side is for construction of Quality Services, a commercial cleaning business. Other commercial lots are being prepared in that same area for other possible business development.
The former Tractor Supply building and lot have been cleaned up nicely. While no new tenant is imminent, the property is now much more attractive for prospective businesses and the community. NAPA’s move from Wisconsin Avenue to the former Dollar General store building may have been a building-for-building swap, but it was a win for both NAPA and the community as its new location is much more prominent.
Last Wednesday the New Holstein Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed a new salon which is located in The Refinery above Lilybee Flowers & Gifts. B. Lively Beauty is just the latest business to join that very active location in the community.
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KHS Students Make Use of New PAC Area |
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The spring of 2021 was the first time Kiel High School construction students were able to use the new 2,000 square foot scene shop in the Performing Arts Center at Kiel High School.
The first project that the class was able to build using this space was a 20-foot gazebo in memory of Mason Lesczykowski. “This was an octagon building that we wanted to make sure we laid out correctly before going to the job site,” KHS Technical Education teacher Ted Bonde said.
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Kiel High School students built 57 total feet of walls for a local home renovation. The longest wall is 22 feet long and fits just perfectly in the KHS Performing Arts Center construction area backstage. |
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“The building is currently finished at Zielanis Elementary School if you want to check it out.”
The students actually laid out the entire roof structure over the course of a week and cut every board to the correct size and angle while using flat ground and shelter last February and March. “We were able to keep the entire 20-foot roof structure intact for over a week as we lined everything up properly and adjusted angles until they all matched,” Bonde said. “The PAC facilities were crucial for students to be able to see how it was going to align, prior to us being on the job site and eight feet up in the air.
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Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant |
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Verizon is providing resources to help ONE MILLION small businesses thrive in today’s digital economy. The newly-launched Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program provides a personalized curriculum including learning modules, expert coaching, networking opportunities, and more. Members are also eligible to apply for a $10,000 grant to help small businesses move forward.
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Learning modules: Brief, information-packed lessons with strategies to use right away
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Coaching: Guidance from business experts who can help apply what is known and being learned
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Networking: Online opportunity to share information with other business owners, build a network, support each other and engage in potential projects together
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Incentives: Gain eligibility to apply for grants and benefit from an exclusive marketplace of tools, solutions, products and services that can help move a business forward
To apply:
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New to Digital Ready? Simply register for the free program, complete two courses or live coaching events, and become eligible to apply for the grant online
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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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Restaurant Recovery Funds |
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Some local bars and restaurants are still waiting to see if the Restaurant Revitalization Fund will be replenished so they can receive their grant funds. According to recent correspondence from the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC), the time may be NOW for impacted businesses to take action to get Congress to refill the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Businesses are encouraged by IRC to consider these acts:
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Call federal representatives at 202-224-3121 to demand that they refill the RRF. Give a clear and concise explanation of the hardship you and your friends in bars and restaurants have endured without adequate relief. Use IRC’s congressional outreach guide for tips on how to make a call.
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Ask customers to act by printing and distributing our "Take Out Take Action" flyer.
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To put the best foot forward in contacts with legislators and others with influence, use IRC’s state fact sheet.
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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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E-Seed Express: Entrepreneurship Training |
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Thinking of starting a business? Need help? E-seed™ Express assists start-up, early-stage entrepreneurs and experienced small business owners in developing management and planning tools for their businesses. Participants develop a business plan through completion of weekly activities and business planning templates. Experts from the small business and entrepreneurial community provide insight into legal, management, marketing, technology, accounting and financing aspects of operating a successful small business. Cost: $299, materials provided. |
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February 7-April 11, 2022
5:30-8:30 pm
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February 8-April 12, 2022
5:30-8:30 pm
Virtual
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February 9-April 13, 2022
2:00-5:00 pm
Virtual
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Explore Starting a Business
January 12, 2022
February 9, 2022
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Work for Yourself at 50+
January 13, 2022
February 7, 2022
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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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