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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Working Together on our Workforce |
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The challenge of recruiting, hiring, and retaining employees is affecting many employers throughout the US, and this is the most common current concern relayed to Calumet County by local businesses no matter what sector they’re in. This section of the newsletter features articles and ideas that focus on workforce issues.
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Calumet County Employer Business Roundtable Scheduled for August 3 |
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Is your business working too hard to find employees?
Do you struggle to meet production deadlines because of too few employees?
Are hours of operation being cut due to staffing shortages?
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Calumet County, in partnership with the New North, is hosting a Calumet County Employer Workforce Roundtable session on Tuesday, August 3, from 7:00-9:00 am. Registration, light breakfast, and networking start at 7:00 am, while the program will run from 7:30 to 9:00 am. It will take place at Carstens Mill, 114 West Water Street, Brillion. Pre-registration is appreciated. |
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Participants will:
- Gain important insights about current workforce data in Calumet County and Northeast WI
- Learn about resources that can help your business improve employee hiring and retention practices today, tomorrow, and into the future
- Obtain intel about newly evolving best practices being implemented in our region to recruit and retain employees
- Share experiences with other Calumet County employers
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These Two Demographic Trends Driving "Help Wanted" Signs Inside So Many Business Windows |
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Long before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the economy, experts warned of two demographic storms on the horizon that would present major challenges for Wisconsin employers. The retirement of Baby Boomers along with declining birth rates are the main factor behind so many "Help Wanted" signs, even with the pandemic still holding back some who lost their jobs from returning to the workforce.
According to the Pew Research Center, 76 million Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964, while only 62 million Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996. The pandemic sped up the decision to retire for many Boomers. As Boomers continue to retire, there simply are not enough people in the younger generations to take their place in the workforce.
“If you look at the Baby Boomer population compared to the Millennial population, the numbers simply do not support the size of the workforce we had even 10 years ago," said Matt Valiquette, executive director of the Bay Area Workforce Development Board.
In 2020, there were 3.6 million babies born in the United States, down 4% from 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That's the fewest babies born in the country since 1979.
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How States Can Recover From Pandemic: Focus on Workforce Development |
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The country is slowly bouncing back from the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus shutdown, but recovery is uneven across several regions and threatens to leave millions behind if localities can’t better equip their workforces for the reviving labor market.
States struggling the most to get their sea legs include Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania, according to a recent June assessment by TOP Data, with New Jersey, California, Connecticut, New Mexico, and New York among those battling high unemployment rates.
The difficulty many states are experiencing is a trend that was underway before the pandemic struck. In early 2020, the National Skills Coalition reported 52 percent of jobs require training beyond high school, but less than a bachelor’s degree. Yet only 43 percent of workers were receiving relevant training. Similarly, back in 2019, IBM had estimated that approximately 54 percent of all employees would require significant reskilling or upskilling.
Now, during COVID recovery, the mismatch between employer needs and the available labor force is even more front and center and a major obstacle to economic recovery. “Today, many communities lack appropriate education and job-training programs that align with employers’ needs and shifts in the labor market,” said a new report by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
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New North Hosted Governor’s Workforce Investment Announcement |
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New North, Inc., the regional economic development corporation serving the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin, hosted a press conference and roundtable discussion at TitletownTech in Green Bay with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and two of his cabinet-level secretaries. At the event, the Governor announced a $130 million investment in workforce solutions to help address the state’s post-pandemic workforce needs.
Included in the state’s investment is a $100 million Workforce Innovation grant program, which is designed to encourage regions and communities to develop leading-edge, long-term solutions to workforce challenges emerging from COVID-19. In making the announcement, Secretary Hughes explained that the new grants will give communities and industries the flexibility to respond to their specific workforce challenges and find solutions. Investment of program funds could range from childcare or transit issues, to apprenticeship initiatives, to strategies geared towards talent attraction and retention.
A roundtable discussion with Evers, Missy Hughes, Amy Pechacek and Barb LaMue, along with more than a dozen business, education and community leaders from across the New North region, followed. Workforce-related challenges, and potential solutions, were highlighted. The grants will be funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, which are available to support investments to address the ongoing negative economic impacts of COVID-19.
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Broadband Expansion and Access |
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U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Pushing for High-Speed Broadband Expansion |
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U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) calls broadband service a necessity and she is doing her best to push expansion. Kris Schuller (WFRV) reports about Sen. Baldwin holding a roundtable discussion with local leaders to get their thoughts on better internet access.
At NWTC, the roundtable discussion was held to talk about the need for high-speed broadband service. “Clearly broadband is not a luxury, we liken it to a highway,” said Barb LaMue, CEO of New North Inc.
Between Senator Baldwin and leaders in education, healthcare, and the business community. “What we heard was a lot of resolve to get things done,” said Baldwin.
Watch the interview which features Calumet County's Mary Kohrell.
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In other broadband news, the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access released its Broadband Report on June 30. Among Task Force recommendations:
- Explore hybrid models of Broadband infrastructure development and ownership. Create shared risk mechanisms for public/private partnerships that make use of publicly owned infrastructure to reach underserved locations by private internet service providers.
- Increase construction and permitting coordination.
- Increase Broadband Expansion Grant Program funding.
- Collect internet access data from all ISPs at a household and business level of granularity.
- Increase broadband consumer protections and pricing transparency.
- Establish a State Internet Assistance Program.
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Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Tour throughout
the Fox Valley Begins
New vaccine clinics give rural communities better access to the COVID-19 vaccine
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City of Brillion Receives Nelson Family Grant |
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The City of Brillion was one of 25 nonprofits throughout Northeast Wisconsin who received part of a $2.79 million grant package from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.
The $150,000 that the city will receive is for the redevelopment of the former Brillion Iron Works, specifically the new park space.
The grant will help open the Spring and Mills creeks that flow under the original foundry building. The creeks will be opened and flow through the park.
The park project received multiple parts of approval from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
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The Spring and Mills creeks will flow through the redeveloped BIW site. The grant the city recently received will help make that happen. (Ayres Associates photo)
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The city has received grants totaling $750,000 from the DNR, but the partnership between the City of Brillion and Brillion Works LLC must match that number. The Nelson Family Fund grant will help do that.
The creek restoration will be a focal point of the new park. A $500,000 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfield grant to help support the cleanup of those creeks was previously granted. Work is scheduled to begin later this year. The new park on the Brillion Work site is separate from any changes to the existing Horn Park. The timeline for the new park is the next 24-30 months.
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Swiss-Based Company Aebi Schmidt Opens New North American Corporate Headquarters in Chilton |
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Aebi Schmidt, an airport equipment manufacturer,
held its grand opening of its expanded manufacturing facility and North American corporate offices in Chilton.
“Our equipment is at many major airports around the world,” Airport Division CEO Doug Blada explained. Thursday marked the grand opening of their expanded facilities in Chilton: 70,000 square feet in the manufacturing plant. It also marked the beginning of their parent company’s new home base in North America.
“We’ve also designed and built a 16,500 square foot corporate office to house Aebi Schmidt, which is our group owner, based out of Zurich, Switzerland,” Blada said. From the new Chilton office, the company will oversee its North American operations.
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El Jaripeo Opens in Former Source Public House Building in Menasha |
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After sitting vacant for nearly three years, the former Source Public House building in Menasha has a new tenant. El Jaripeo Mexican Restaurant had its grand opening Tuesday at 890 Lake Park Rd. in Menasha. Construction on the development began last August, with the demolition taking about three months, according to building co-owner Bob Rossi.
Significant renovations were made to the interior, including a handcrafted granite countertop bar, revamped kitchen with new appliances and new dining room furniture. Another new feature is a buffet line designed to cater to customers who want a quick meal.
Returning from the building’s days as the Source is a large outdoor patio area. Rossi and El Jaripeo owner Antonio Sandoval expects the patio, which can seat over 100, to be a big hit this summer. “With everybody getting out now, now that COVID is kind of winding down, hopefully, people are coming out more,” Rossi said. “They’ll want some fresh air, want to sit outside.”
Sandoval initially hoped to have the Menasha restaurant up and running by May 1, but shipping delays for the furniture pushed it back. The Menasha El Jaripeo is Sandoval’s fourth Mexican restaurant in the Fox Valley.
El Jaripeo's Menasha location is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday. For more information, call 920-903-8590 or visit the restaurant's Facebook page.
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Calumet County Business Assistance |
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Free Small Business Counseling Available |
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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 email. |
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Business Start-Up and Expansion Assistance |
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Wisconsin businesses of all sizes have a vast array of resources at their fingertips to help them. Listed below are two such resources to help expand product markets.
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The Go Global Initiative is available to any and all Wisconsin companies who are looking to grow into new or existing international markets. Take advantage of their Free Export Assessment Tool and discover the trade resources available to your company today. Start here!
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The Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) is a non-profit organization helping Wisconsin businesses win government contracts. WPI Government Contract Specialists will be available to assist you in SAM registration, locating opportunities, free bid matching service, small business certifications, market research, capabilities statements, contract requirements/compliance, and more. WPI publishes an e-newsletter that provides helpful information on upcoming events, procurement opportunities, and much more. Use this link to subscribe and learn more.
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Entrepreneurial Training Program |
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Whether your business is growing or brand-new, writing a business plan is critical to building a profitable venture, especially to attract financing from lenders or investors.
The Entrepreneurial Training Program is eight efficient sessions to help you develop a plan for a thriving, profitable business. In this program, you will learn to identify customers, determine their needs and analyze that information into a feasible plan for starting or growing your business.
- Organize and better manage your business
- Identify opportunities and market your business
- Understand and get your business financials in order
- Get funding for your business
- Write a detailed, comprehensive business plan
- Network with other entrepreneurs
- Develop a network with small business support services
ETP Sheboygan County or virtual option
Sept. 23, 30; Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28; and Nov. 4, 11, 2021
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InDevelopment Conference, September 9, in Green Bay |
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The in-person InDevelopment Conference will be held at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, on September 9. Geared toward real estate and economic development professionals in Northeast Wisconsin, it is an event that you do not want to miss.
The event kicks off with Marc Schaffer, an economics professor from St. Norbert College, who will share the latest economic data and what it means to economic and commercial development.
Following the keynote, there will be two briefing sessions. The City of Green Bay will present the first session discussing their economic and commercial development successes and plans for the future. Afterwards, Barb LaMue, president and CEO of New North, Inc., will lead a panel discussion focused on housing developments inside opportunity zones in the region, and the landscape for office, transportation and logistics, and industrial development across Northeast Wisconsin.
There will be a networking reception following the speakers where communities from the 18-county region provide information on development opportunities and projects in their local area.
Check out the website for more details.
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Explore Starting a Business
August 11, 2021
September 8, 2021
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Work for Yourself at 50+
August 12, 2021
September 9, 2021
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1 Million Cups Appleton
Join us virtually every Wednesday
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If you receive a forwarded copy of this newsletter and no longer want to receive it, please contact the person who e-mailed the newsletter and ask to be removed from their list; do not use the unsubscribe feature. |
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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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