The DCEDC Business Retention Committee was formed in the first quarter of 2004 and is made up of volunteers from throughout the peninsula. The purpose of the committee is to meet with the leaders of the Door County business community and evaluate current attitudes and levels of satisfaction. Committee members meet face-to-face with business owners and leaders, lead them through a 20-minute survey and report the results to the committee and DCEDC. The DCEDC staff then addresses any immediate concerns of the business.

To date, the Committee has distributed 35 surveys to area businesses. Some of the companies who have had issues addressed by the DCEDC staff include: Sturgeon Bay Sand & Gravel; Itasca Systems; Woodrow Engineering; and Bay Shipbuilding.

If you would like to volunteer for the committee, or if you would like to recommend a business for a committee member to interview, please contact Sam Perlman in the DCEDC office.

DCEDC, in partnership with the City of Sturgeon Bay, Bay Shipbuilding Company and Palmer Johnson Yachts, are preparing to release the findings of a Master Plan to address the future infrastructure needs of the two Sturgeon Bay maritime building companies. New ownership at Palmer Johnson and significant new construction contracts at Bay Ship, indicating strong job growth for both, have focused a great deal of positive attention on this important business cluster in our community.

The implemented Plan will enable Bay Ship and Palmer Johnson to efficiently improve volume, stability and competitiveness, and create a positive outlook for the future growth of both companies. The plan calls for substantial investment in equipment, infrastructure and building facilities to allow both companies to remain competitive, including upgrading the current, 100-year-old boat launch system both companies currently use. Projected investment totals more that $40 Million, for improvements such as dock walls, launch system, utilities, production facilities and parking.

The Master Plan, created in consultation with Boldt Technical Services and funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, will be presented to the Sturgeon Bay City Council at their October 19 meeting. DCEDC is also arranging visits by state and national government officials to review the plan and consider funding alternatives.

After twenty-four months, the Door County Earmark Labor Training grant has ended. With thanks to Senator Herb Kohl and in partnership with the Bay Area Workforce Development Board, DCEDC administered a grant that brought over $450,000 in federal Department of Labor employee training funds to fifteen Door County businesses. More than 1000 area workers received skills training that will lead to better wages and increased efficiency and productivity for their employers.