If you own or manage a Door County gift shop, bed & breakfast, hotel, café or restaurant, and have thought about adding more local products to your retail line, you are encouraged to join the second annual Door County Wholesale Showcase tour on Saturday, June 11th. The Wholesale Showcase will bring retail buyers from across the upper Midwest looking to stock their stores with products made in Door County.

A select group of the area's finest wholesale producers have banded together to create this buying opportunity for local and regional retailers. Among the Door County wholesalers exhibiting are: Door County Coffee & Tea Co.; Homespun Touch; Candleworks of Door County; Peter Wyatt Gallery; Door Peninsula Winery; Renard's Cheese; and Door County Confectionary.

DCEDC released the findings of the recently completed Door County Economic Development Adjustment Plan during our annual investors meeting and luncheon on Monday, April 25. This strategic economic plan will serve as a pathway to the future economic growth in the county over the next five to ten years.

In brief, our consultants found that the Door County economy has a solid base upon which to build future economic growth. There are significant challenges to face in the future, including workforce numbers and skill levels, a seasonal business cycle, a modern physical and business infrastructure and an aging population. Fortunately, the County already has energetic efforts underway to deal with many of these issues, especially telecommunications, the future of shipbuilding and the future direction of tourism. Overall, our consultants believe that the economic opportunities in the County far outweigh the challenges it faces.

Electronic copies of the entire 125-page plan are now available from our office. If you have a broadband Internet connection, we'll be happy to e- mail it to you; otherwise, we'll send you a CDR. Either way, call 920-743-3113 x200 or e-mail sharon@doorcountybusiness.com to request a copy. We'll also be looking for assistance in the implementation of the various strategies, tactics and action steps outlined in the plan. If you'd like more information on volunteering, please contact DCEDC Executive Director Bill Chaudoir at 920-743-3113 x203 or bill@doorcountybusiness.com.

In addition to the presentation of the Economic Development Adjustment Plan and the annual report to investors about the accomplishments of the DCEDC during 2004, the annual investors meeting also included the presentation of the Door County Industry of the Year Award to Baylake Bank, and the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Dan and Tom Austad of Door County Hardware. Once again, our congratulations to both companies on their significant achievements and contributions to the Door County economy!

We cannot begin to thank everyone who helped to make the second Door County Legislative Day event in Madison such a smashing success! From our steering committee to our sponsors to our delegates, each group contributed to make this year even better than our initial efforts in 2003. This year's events built directly on the success of the first Door County Legislative Day, which brought the specific concerns of the community directly to elected representatives and influential government officials.

The immediate accomplishments of our Legislative Day 2005 efforts included: developing a focused, concise legislative agenda for Door County and a 17- point Door County issues agenda targeted to several specific state agencies; 80 Door County delegates presenting our agendas to 99 State Representatives, 33 Senators and 10 state agencies; successfully communicating a better understanding of our issues and needs to state agencies and legislators; and providing strong support to Representative Bies and Senator Lasee's initiative to secure funding for a new downtown bridge prior to rehabilitation of the Michigan Street bridge.

Additionally, the state Department of Commerce announced a $350,000 grant to the City of Sturgeon Bay to support WireTech Fabricators' relocation to part of the vacant Emerson Motors plant and redevelopment of their current site for attainable housing; the Department of Tourism announced a $40,000 grant to the Door County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau for the new "A Kingdom So Delicious" Door County tourism marketing campaign; the Wisconsin Public Service Commission announced approval of a CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) License to Brilliant Cities, Inc. to deploy a new, state-of-the-art fiber optics telecommunications network in Door County; and our delegation enjoyed great hospitality and had a lot of FUN!!

Congratulations are in order for sculptor and Door County Business Development Center tenant Robert Anderson, who recently accepted two juror awards for his work, at the 61st Art Annual at the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay, and the 18th Annual Art Fair at Laumeier in St. Louis, MO. Anderson's large stainless steel vessels, inspired by Japanese origami, were honored. Additionally, Anderson recently installed three of his garden kaleidoscopes in public places in Villa Park, IL, Wichita, KA and on the grounds of the Green Bay Botanical Garden. Anderson exhibits his metal sculptures at juried art shows across the country and his work resides in public spaces as well as private and corporate collections. Locally, you can find Anderson's work exhibited at the Hide Side shop in Fish Creek. For more information, contact Anderson at 920-487-3578.

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Mary Paitrick to the DCEDC staff. Mary has taken over as our new Operations Manager. She is quickly learning the ropes and figuring out ways to make all of our projects and programs run smoother and more efficiently. If you haven't already, give Mary a call or drop her a line to say hello! Mary can be reached at 920-743-3113 x202 or via e-mail at mary@doorcountybusiness.com.