By Arthur Thomas, BizTimes, Mar 24, 2022

Wisconsin added 20,700 private sectors jobs in February, the largest one-month jump outside of the immediate aftermath of COVID-19 shutdowns in data that goes back to 1990, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Workforce Development.

Even with the strong month of growth, Wisconsin is still 50,000 jobs behind its pre-pandemic level in the monthly survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“It’s a healthy number, it’s a nice number,” said Dennis Winters, chief economist at DWD, acknowledging the gain was perhaps a little better than expected.

He pointed to a 7% growth in U.S. GDP in the fourth quarter as a sign of a growing economy that would suggest this kind of job growth is possible.

Sheboygan County families and employers face a severe affordable housing, child care, and labor shortage — and a regional agency is working to address these issues, which are identified as creating the top barriers to growth in the county. 

Based on the findings of cross-sector task forces and various studies, the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corp., a not-for-profit 501(c)(4), has raised funding to help address these workforce development barriers. The funding will serve as a continual financial arm to support short- and long-term workforce development barriers and will initially be used to drive new, entry-level home development.

The current housing market is experiencing rapid price increases, exceeding the purchasing power of many working families. More than 2,500 full-time jobs are currently open in Sheboygan County. Pre-pandemic data from WisConomy anticipates 2,500 additional jobs will be created as part of the economic recovery.

To address this, the SCEDC will lead in developing approximately 600 housing units over the next three to five years throughout Sheboygan County to bring affordable housing to the market. 

Early employer donors to this SCEDC-run program include Johnsonville, Kohler Co., Masters Gallery Foods, Inc., and Sargento Foods Inc., which have collectively donated $8 million to date with a total goal of raising $16 million to make affordable homes available in the county.

When Aebi Schmidt Group, a Switzerland-based manufacturer, acquired M-B Companies of Chilton and New Holstein in 2017, the move brought tremendous benefits to both parties. The most visible part of that for M-B Companies has been the $13 million Aebi Schmidt invested in a manufacturing expansion and new corporate office in Chilton, which opened in 2021. 

“They really put their roots in deeper into this community with that investment,” says M-B Companies CEO Doug Blada. 

Prior to Aebi Schmidt’s acquisition of M-B Companies, a manufacturer of airport snow removal equipment, the two organizations had been competitors. Blada says now that they work as a team, they’re stronger as a team. It’s also provided opportunities for the North American and European groups to learn from one another. 

With Aebi Schmidt’s recent acquisition of another Wisconsin company, Monroe Truck Equipment, Blada says the parent company’s revenue in North America Shared success Foreign direct investment benefits overseas companies, local communities BY JESSICA THIEL GLOBAL is roughly the same as its revenue in Europe — Aebi Schmidt has operations in 17 countries worldwide. Under the Aebi Schmidt umbrella, M-B Companies also has won some major business it might have struggled to get in the past, including a large contract with the City of Chicago as well as new business in Canada, China and Greenland.

Tri-County News, March 17, 2022

Next Level Fitness owners Steve and Kathy DeCarlo were recently welcomed to the Chilton business community by Chamber of Commerce President Glen Calnin.

Next Level Fitness is located at 1102 E. Chestnut St in Chilton. The couple has another location in De Pere.

For more information, visit www.nextlevelfitness24-7.com.

By David Nordby, Brillion News, March 17, 2022

Pielhop Wieting Funeral Homes has a new funeral director to help service the Brillion and Reedsville areas. Katie Gorsuch recently joined the staff as the second funeral director to work alongside owner Sarah Pielhop.

Gorsuch has been in the funeral service industry for 12 years and has been a licensed director for 10. “I got into it, I think I was about a sophomore in college, and my grandpa passed away,” Gorsuch said. “I started thinking, ‘I could do this.’”

Gorsuch is from Manitowoc and lives outside of Whitelaw. She and Pielhop crossed paths years ago when they worked together in Manitowoc. “I saw that she was looking for some help, so I started talking to her, and being right there by Whitelaw

there, it worked out perfectly,” Gorsuch said.

The Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Community Partner of the Year Award was recently awarded to Kimberly High School for the school’s efforts with its INCubatoredu program. The program is the culmination of two Kimberly High business teachers’ 3-year efforts to bring entrepreneurship into the classroom. The class was launched in the fall of 2021 with 25 business students participating in the program.

The class is designed along the lines of Shark Tank, giving students an opportunity to develop their own business, learn essential steps to starting a business, and then ultimately pitch their business to a panel of judges/sharks to see whose idea reigns supreme. In partnership with the Heart of the Valley Chamber, more than 30 small business owners and business professionals were gathered to bring their expertise and experience to the students through regular visits to the classroom where many volunteered to serve as coaches on business topics, while others devoted time throughout the semester to mentor and guide a team of students.

This class is now in its second semester and is an exceptional model of how a partnership between our schools and the business community can foster and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Peter Wills, who served as the City of Brillion Administrator since late 2020 has left his role with the City.

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.

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.

Lakeshore Leaders Breakfast Series, April 13, Featuring Dan Ariens

UW-Green Bay Continuing Education & Community Engagement will host a speaker series with distinguished leaders making a positive impact in our communities. Join us to hear an inspiring talk and to learn from area leaders. Wednesday, April 13, 2022, Dan Ariens, Chairman and CEO, AriensCo, “Building Brillion”, will speak.

Wisconsin Downtown Action Council (WDAC) is hosting the annual Downtown Summit presented by AARP Wisconsin this year in Appleton on May 9 and 10 at the Hilton Paper Valley Hotel.

The summit is a “hands-on” approach to conferencing offering mobile workshops and tours on the first day and both general and breakout sessions on the second day. Register now to learn, share resources, network, and develop partnerships with other communities and organizations working to improve downtowns!  Sponsorship and Exhibitor spaces are also still available.  

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.