Focus on Calumet

A bi-weekly update on economic development in the Calumet County region for businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities.
Monday | August 29, 2022
2021 Revenues - Growth in Calumet County Municipalities
On August 10, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s Equalization Bureau issued the 2021 Net New Construction Report. This report provides municipalities and counties with net new construction numbers for levy limits and the Expenditure Restraint Program (ERP). Net new construction is the new construction minus any demolition or destruction of buildings (and may include corrections to the prior year).

Shown are two different views of last year’s municipal net new construction in Calumet County. The first graph below depicts the total net new commercial, manufacturing, residential, and other construction per municipality. Shown in the second graph is the percentage of growth in each community attributable to each type of growth. Harrison’s $30 million net new construction was fueled by residential growth that exceeded $27 million, followed by the City of Appleton’s Calumet County growth at $7.2 million. Note that 3 cities – Appleton, Kiel, and Menasha -- are located in multiple counties and only the Calumet County portions are reflected in this data.
Data Source: WI Department of Revenue
The Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin is Back!
The Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin is back for the seventh straight year. WMC is partnering once again with Johnson Financial Group to highlight the manufacturing industry and ultimately determine what is the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin.
 
Anyone can participate in this contest right now by visiting www.madeinwis.com to nominate a company and product that's made in Wisconsin. The nomination period ends on Sept. 9 and voting will begin Sept. 19.
 
Each year, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and Johnson Financial Group partner to determine the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin. The competition aims to highlight the state’s vibrant manufacturing industry. The contest not only brings attention to all the cool things made in Wisconsin but also the outstanding career opportunities available in manufacturing – an industry that employs 1 in 6 people in the state!
 
WMC and Johnson Financial Group have partnered together for this contest since 2016, and Wisconsinites have cast nearly one million votes since its inception. Last year alone, roughly 150 products were nominated and over 200,000 votes were cast to determine the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin. Products have ranged from motorcycles, military vehicles, cheese products, boats, generators, food carts, iron castings, beer, all-terrain vehicles, snow blowers, and much more.
'Their life, literally, saved': THRIVE Calumet making major mental health impact for five school districts
By Mike Woods, Spectrum New 1
Demolition Continues at Former Brillion Iron Works Site
By Brillion News, August 24, 2022
The former Brillion Iron Works buildings continue to come down. Pictured here from North Francis Street and Highway 10, the space next to Brillion Early Learning Center will soon be used for redevelopment. (David Nordby/Brillion News)
Booming Business in Brillion
By Brillion News, August 24, 2022
Changes to businesses continue in Brillion. Roehrborn Meats officially became Brillion Butcher shop, LLC last week. The new owner is Brady Zutz, who is also the store's manager. The group announced it will undergo changes over the next few weeks as it transitions ownership and that it will honor previously purchased gift certificates to Roehrborn Meats for one year of new ownership until August 15, 2023.

Meanwhile downtown, the former Randy's Central building will be taken over by Batch Baker Co. to become a coffee shop and bakery owned by Ashley Ebert and Michael Ebert. An opening date has not been announced.
Chilton Approves Residential Redevelopment
The Chilton City Council recently approved the redevelopment of the former Chilton Care Center/Atrium nursing care facility. The redevelopment project is being undertaken by Lokre Development, Plover and will feature 34 1- and 2-bedroom apartment units.  
Grant Opportunities
Main Street Bounceback Grants
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. Application deadline is Dec. 31, 2022.
Calumet County Business Resources
Business Start-Up and Expansion Assistance
WWBIC Training & Programs Catalog
WWBIC is a leading innovative statewide economic development corporation that’s been “Putting Dreams to Work” since 1987. WWBIC helps open the doors of opportunity by providing underserved individuals who are interested in starting, strengthening or expanding businesses with access to critical resources such as responsible financial products and quality business and financial training. 

WWBIC’s focus is on individuals who face barriers in accessing traditional financing or resources in pursuit of their dreams and economic well-being … in particular women, people of color, veterans, rural and lower wealth individuals. >>View WWBIC's Training and Programs Catalog
Business Start-Up and Expansion Assistance
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.
Upcoming Events
Public Hearing Scheduled for September 15
A public hearing will be held on Thursday, September 15 at 4:00 pm to discuss Calumet County’s CDBG Coronavirus Grant that provided assistance to micro businesses in Calumet and Outagamie Counties. The hearing will be held in Room 015 of the Calumet County Courthouse, 206 Court Street, Chilton. The public is invited.
Brownfields Fundamentals Panel Discussion on September 15
Action by local communities is often the key to cleaning up and redeveloping brownfield sites. The DNR has new resources available for communities that are interested in revitalizing brownfields but aren’t sure where to start or need financial resources to make it happen.

9:30 – 11 a.m. Brownfields Assistance: Boosting Redevelopment with Fresh Funds
A panel of experts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the Kansas State University Technical Assistance for Brownfields program will join the DNR to discuss brownfields financial assistance available to Wisconsin local governments, with an emphasis on federal infrastructure funding.

1:30 – 3 p.m. Local Governments and Brownfields: Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Experienced staff from four Wisconsin communities – Calumet County and the cities of Prairie du Chien, Manitowoc, and Appleton – will share best practices and lessons learned while navigating brownfield redevelopment projects.
SBDC Entrepreneurial Training Program
Is owning a business right for you? Interested in starting a new business? Do you already own a business, but need to restrategize or create new revenue streams? Do you know how much capital is needed to expand your current business?
 
The SBDC's Entrepreneurial Training Program gives business owners the resources and skills needed to be successful. The SBDC at UW-Green Bay is offering two options for the Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP) program this fall: 

  • In-person in-person course offered at the Small Business Development Center on the campus of UW-Green Bay, September 20-November 15, 6-9 pm

  • Virtual class (zoom): The Green Bay and Stevens Point SBDC's are collaborating together by offering a virtual training class to help create your business ideas and start the planning process, September 20-November 15, 5:30-8:30 pm via zoom.
 
Through instruction and guest speakers, the course serves those entrepreneurs who are considering starting a business, owners of existing businesses struggling to get a handle on all the details, and those owners of successful companies they want to grow. >>Register Here
E-seed Express: Entrepreneurship Training at FVTC
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 provide insight into legal, management, marketing, technology, accounting and financing aspects of operating a successful small business. >>Additional Information and Registration

Business & Industry Complimentary Training
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.

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