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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Demographic Drought: How the Approaching Sansdemic Will Transform the Labor Market for the Rest of our Lives |
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By Gwen Burrow, EMSI, May 2021
Key takeaways:
COVID and resulting policies accelerated the US into a fast-approaching sansdemic: “without people.” Or in the case of the US, without enough people.
Three major factors hastened the approach of the people shortage:
- Record numbers of baby boomers left the market in 2020.
- Millions of prime-age workers (many of them women) left the labor market. Meanwhile, huge numbers of men have been leaving the labor force or opting for part-time instead of full-time work for several decades.
- The US experienced the lowest birthrate in our nation’s history.
Current people shortages are creating an incredibly tight labor market. These shortages will likely result in a significant overall economic slowdown, forcing society to lower their quality-of-life standards.
Quick fixes such as immigration, automation, and artificial intelligence do not provide adequate short- or long-term solutions.
Employers, universities, and non-profit organizations will need to adjust to the changing labor and talent markets in order to survive.
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Note: This is a fascinating and definitely eye-opening 41-page report, and well-worth reviewing. We know there’s a workforce shortage, and this report highlights all the reasons and outlines the critical steps that will need to be taken to cope. |
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Restaurant Revitalization Fund Applications to Close 7:00 pm CT, May 24 |
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Eligible establishments have until Monday, May 24, 7:00 pm CT, to submit applications to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund signed into law established an initial $5 billion set-aside established by Congress for applicants with gross receipts not more than $500,000.
As of May 19, the RRF program had received more than 303,000 applications representing over $69 billion in requested funds, and nearly 38,000 applicants have been approved for more than $6 billion. Of the overall submitted applications, 57 percent came from women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged business owners. During the first two weeks of the program, SBA has received applications from:
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More than 122,000 women business owners
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More than 14,000 veteran business owners
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More than 71,000 economically and socially disadvantaged individuals
Local businesses have started receiving notification of their approvals of their grant requests. Any remaining interested businesses are encouraged to apply prior to the 7:00 pm deadline.
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Monday was a big day—and a good day—for the City of New Holstein in its years-long effort to redevelop the former Tecumseh Products Company site.
The city’s Community Development Authority (CDA) chose the lowest bidder for razing the former engine factory and will recommend that bid to the Common Council for approval in June. What had CDA members and other city officials smiling is the fact that the bid came in much lower than officials expected.
The CDA is recommending that Veit & Company, Inc. perform the demolition and have the waste trucked to GFL Environmental between Chilton and Hilbert at an estimated cost of $851,599—$237,224 for the demolition and the balance for disposing of the waste. Stu Gross of the consulting firm Stantec said he spoke with City Administrator Casey Langenfeld when the bids were opened. “We were a bit shocked,” Gross said at Monday’s CDA meeting. “They’re lower than we anticipated.”
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Village of Harrison Hires New Staff |
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An administrator, clerk/treasurer, and deputy clerk/treasurer have been hired by the Harrison Village Board.
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Matt Heiser, who has 13 years’ experience in municipal government, will assume the job of village administrator on June 22. He has served as administrator in the Village of Kewaskum in Washington County, since 2008. Heiser and his wife, Lisa, have five children ranging in age from 14 to 24. They will be moving to Harrison in the near future.
Vicki Tessen, who has had 19 years’ experience in municipal government, most recently with the Village of Kimberly, is the clerk/treasurer. She most recently has been working with a non-profit organization. She and her husband, Doug, live in Kimberly.
Kristy Van Hefty, who has been serving as office coordinator at the Village of Sherwood, is the new deputy clerk/treasurer. She has been a resident of Harrison for 20 years.
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Special Meeting Approves Final Cottages at High Cliff Development Agreement |
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Several participants could file a claim for overtime in Sherwood this week including various attorneys, those involved in the Drive Fore Success development partnership, village administrative personnel, and members of the Sherwood Village Board.
After months of work, the final additions were made and the Cottages at High Cliff development agreement was approved at a special May 12 meeting of the village board held on a sunny late afternoon.
The special meeting was formally requested and approved Monday, May 10, when Drive Fore Success leader Dan Rippl asked for some additional time to have attorneys finalize a storm water maintenance agreement, have the final development agreement considered and still try to meet a Friday, May 14, excavation start.
The attorneys worked hard over a 48-hour period to finalize the storm water language while also formally adding language to the development, which would be for those ages 55 and older and would have an emergency gated entrance. Also written in was a correction regarding a 10-in. water meter instead of three inches.
During their consideration at the late afternoon special session on May 12, Tom Herrmann suggested one more addition regarding any future changes.
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Harrison Approves Agreement to Build Trail and Sidewalk on Highway N |
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The Harrison Village Board approved an intergovernmental jurisdictional agreement with Calumet County for the construction of a trail and sidewalk on Highway N from Highway KK to Schmidt/Midway roads.
The project consists of a sidewalk on the west side of the road and a 10-foot wide trail on the east side. The county received a $1 million grant on the $1.9 million project. The agreement calls for the sidewalks to be maintained by the village, that the crossing movements along Highway N will be cost shared 50/50 between the village and the county, and that the county will be responsible for roundabout maintenance and vegetation control in the terraces along the length of the project. The sidewalk and trail will be constructed in 2022.
A resolution was approved attaching the right-of-way on North Coop Road from Lorna Lane to Midway Road, currently attached to the City of Appleton. The transfer of right-of-way is part of an intergovernmental agreement with Appleton to share in the resurfacing costs of the road and transfer of the property on the west side of the road.
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Busting Myths During Mental Health Awareness Month |
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ERC: Counselors & Consultants is a mental health benefit / Employee Assistance Program (EAP) partner providing services in several northeast WI locations which includes their Appleton/Calumet County office. In honor of May as Mental Health Month, ERC shared a list of myths and misconceptions around mental health and counseling that can keep people from accessing the care they need.
Myth One: Most people don’t struggle with mental health issues.
While many assume that mental health issues only impact a small amount of people, the reality is that everyone experiences issues that affect their mental health at some point in their life. Workplace and household stress, relationship challenges, grief from loss, life transitions, and parenting concerns are common and can impact mental health. Seventy-six percent of U.S. employees report struggling with at least one issue that affected their mental health.
Sometimes, these issues can be related to diagnosable mental health disorders, such as clinical depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. To be diagnosed with a mental health disorder, there are certain criteria or symptoms that must be met. About one in five U.S. adults experience a mental illness. You can also have symptoms of a disorder without meeting all the criteria and being formally diagnosed.
Myth Two: Counseling is for people with serious mental health issues.
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ERC is looking for people who are passionate about mental health to join their team in a variety of roles, including Manager, Outside Sales, and Client Care Specialist. For information, visit their careers page. |
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Ariens Company Announces Acquisition of Germany Company |
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Acquisition Expands Company’s International Reach
Ariens Company announced last week its latest move with the acquisition of Germany-based AS-motor. The company said the move complements Ariens’ strategic international growth plans.
AS-Motor is a third-generation family-run enterprise and has been a quality manufacturer of professional mowing solutions for high grass and slopes since 1959. The company employs 140 people. Headquartered in Buhlertann, Southern Germany, AS-Motor products are sold through 300 dealers in Germany, over 100 dealers in France and distributors throughout the rest of Europe and the world.
“We’re happy to welcome AS-Motor into the Ariens Company family of brands,” Ariens Company Chairman and CEO Dan Ariens said. “The values of AS-Motor align closely with the Ariens Company core values to be honest, be fair, keep our commitments, respect the individual and encourage intellectual curiosity. This acquisition allows for the expansion of both company’s reach across Europe,” Ariens added.
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Brillion Early Learning Center |
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KinderCare's Brillion Early Learning Center, part of the redevelopment of the Brillion Iron Works, appears vibrant as construction is nearly complete. The childcare center opens this August on North Francis Street, just off of Highway 10.
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Hardware Hank Grand Opening |
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Kiel Hardware held its grand opening celebration last weekend which included a ribbon cutting (right) on Friday conducted by the Kiel Area Association of Commerce. Owner Rick Braun and his son Corbin helped Association of Commerce members cut the ribbon. The Brauns said Monday that they had a successful grand opening celebration and that they have been pleased with customers’ response to the store since it opened about a month ago. They said they continue to fine tune the store and bring in new products based on customer requests. Pam Mathes photos
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Calumet County Public Health Mask Update
It is encouraging that the CDC and WI DHS updated the COVID-19 guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals. The updated guidance shows promise that the end of the pandemic is near. The guidance also demonstrates the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against spreading strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The science shows that COVID-19 vaccines are effective in real-world settings in preventing mild and severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Therefore, this allows fully vaccinated people to start returning to normal activities.
The guidance is specifically for fully vaccinated individuals. Mask wearing, regardless of vaccination status, continues to be an important mitigation tool to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our county.
CDC explicitly gave recommendations for exceptions to their updated guidance:
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For health care settings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-after-vaccination.html
- K-12 Schools
- Places where masks are required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules or regulations, including businesses and workplaces.
- Residents and employees of correctional and detention facilities and homeless shelters.
- Travelers on all planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the US and in US transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
Organizations are encouraged to adopt policies that align with the updated CDC guidance. Calumet County Public Health supports the decision of organizations and businesses that continue to require masking for the safety of their staff and patrons. It is difficult for businesses to determine who is or is not vaccinated.
Finally, Public Health is grateful for the individuals who live and work in the county that have already chosen to become vaccinated and are hopeful that this guidance will encourage others to become vaccinated to protect our community from COVID-19.
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COVID Vaccination Clinic
The Calumet County Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic (St. Martin Lutheran Church, 717 Memorial Drive, Chilton, WI) is open to all individuals, age 12 and over. Youth, ages 12 to 17, are required to have a parent or guardian with them to sign paperwork and be present during vaccination.
Appointments can be scheduled online (preferred method). The site registration site will remain open until all appointments are filled.
Tuesday Clinic Hours
Clinic open 3:30 pm - 6:05 pm
Make an appointment:
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Register online until 3:30 pm on Tuesday
- Call (920) 629-0479 after 3:30 pm for same-day appointments
Wednesday Clinic Hours
Open 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Make an appointment:
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Register online until 8:00 am Wednesday
- Call (920) 849-1432 after 8:00 am for same-day appointments
Additional vaccine clinics in our regional area can be viewed here.
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COVID Testing
The community COVID-19 testing site at Christ the Rock Church in Harrison is currently suspending operations. This is based on the limited availability of the mobile testing unit, as well as the decreased demand for testing at that particular location.
As Calumet County Public Health works to vaccinate everyone eligible, please continue to be diligent about testing if you display symptoms or are in close contact with someone who has the virus. Check out the Regional Testing Site locations.
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Important Surveys
Calumet County’s Health and Human Services Department is in need of confidential participation in two important programming surveys. Please consider taking these quick polls in order to help adjust their services and planning throughout the department, as necessary. Reader’s efforts are greatly appreciated.
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Calumet County Business 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 email. |
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Retail Sales Surge Again in April |
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Consumers are eagerly jumping back into buying this spring, with retail sales surging once again in April. That’s according to the latest Mastercard SpendingPulse, which reported a 23.3% year-over-year increase in April retail sales. The report measures U.S. in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment, Chain Store Age reported.
The April surge comes after retail sales rebounded in March, with consumers feeling more confident about the Covid-19 pandemic as the national vaccination program began to roll out. Plus, more consumers had fuller pockets thanks to federal stimulus checks provided in March. Retail sales in March were up 17.7% year over year, according to the National Retail Federation.
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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
Sept. 23, 30; Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28; and Nov. 4, 11, 2021
5:30-8:30 pm
Location TBD
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New North's Summit "Playbook for Recovery" Series |
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As a way to highlight the actions of business and community leaders to help get our region back on the road to recovery, you will not want to miss the series of virtual events leading up to the in-person Summit at Lambeau Field in the Atrium on June 10.
If you missed the New North Summit virtual pre-game event on March 11, or the Business and Community Training Camp on April 14, you can view them here: https://newnorthsummit.com/videos/.
These virtual sessions lead up to the in-person main event on June 10, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm at Lambeau Field Atrium, 1265 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay.
- This June event will feature our “Offense,” provided by President and CEO Kim Bassett of Bassett Mechanical, discussing their regional growth.
- Imran A. Andrabi, MD, president and CEO of ThedaCare, will give his perspective on “Defense,” representing an industry that has risen to the challenges of caring for COVID-19 patients.
- Michelle Schuler of TechSpark Wisconsin at Microsoft and Joe Kirgues of gener8tor will focus on “Special Teams” as they discuss the gener8tor Upskilling initiative which is assisting those who have lost employment due to the pandemic.
- Keynote speaker and Three-time Emmy award-winning director, Tim Moore will share messages on the power of social impact.
- Featuring our “Offense,” President and CEO Kim Bassett of Bassett Mechanical will discuss her company’s regional growth.
We will celebrate the winner of the Workplace Excellence Award, presented by Right Management, all wrapping up with a tailgate luncheon and a high school drumline competition.
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NEW Manufacturing Alliance's 15 Year Anniversary Celebration |
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For the first time in over a year, the NEW Manufacturing Alliance’s in-person quarterly membership meeting will be celebrating the Alliance’s 15 year anniversary as part of our meeting on June 30 at Lambeau Field’s Miller Lite Deck from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. This event is all about celebrating and reconnecting with business colleagues.
The agenda for the program:
2:00 pm: Check in starts
2:30 pm: Program begins with overview about the Alliance’s start, what is ahead for the organization and John Kuhn, former Green Bay Packer All Pro fullback
3:00 pm: Networking
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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.
Registration will be opening soon. Check out the website for more details.
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Managing Offsite Employees |
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Explore how to manage a remote workforce successfully. Learn how to communicate effectively, maintain a sense of community, cultivate teamwork, and develop relationships built on trust.
June 11, 2021 | 8:00-12:00 noon
D.J. Bordini Center, Appleton
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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.
You will learn about:
- Small business ownership - is it right for you?
- Identifying and analyzing your industry, competition and market
- Legal issues facing business owners
- Bookkeeping and accounting systems
- Networking with other peers, small business owners, entrepreneurs and business leaders
Starts Wednesday, June 16, 2021
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
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WWBIC offers classes statewide for new entrepreneurs, seasoned business owners, and anyone looking to improve their financial health.
One-hour, online classes, held in English and Spanish, are available in the following categories:
- Starting a business
- Managing a business
- Growing a business
- Financial capabilities
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Explore Starting a Business
June 9, 2021
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Work for Yourself at 50+
June 3, 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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