Robert DeShazer, an Assembly Specialist with the Hatco Corporation for almost seven years, recently was the first company employee to take advantage of a pilot employer-assistance housing program initiated by Hatco and DCEDC earlier this year. DeShazer borrowed funds from his Hatco-sponsored retirement account to make a down payment on his home purchase; his contribution was matched, dollar-for- dollar, by the Door County Housing Assistance program, which is administered by DCEDC. DCEDC reserved $60,000 for Hatco employees from the Community Development Block Grant-funded Housing Assistance program, to be used towards down payments. The funds provide a one-to-one match to the employee's down payment contribution, up to $10,000.

DCEDC, in association with the UW-Green Bay Small Business Development Center, recently announced that Megan O'Meara, owner of O'Meara's Irish House, LLC in Fish Creek, is the winner of a $1,000 cash award for the best business plan originating from the NxLevel Entrepreneurial Training course conducted earlier this year. In addition to the $1,000 cash prize, O'Meara will also receive a $5,000 advertising package for her business from DoorCountyDailyNews.com and the radio stations of Nicolet Broadcasting, WBDK-FM, WRLU-FM, WSBW- FM and WRKU-FM. The $1000 award was generously sponsored and judged by Associated Bank, Baylake Bank and Citizens Bank. The award is to be used by O'Meara for business expansion.

O'Meara was among eighteen students representing thirteen businesses in the class sponsored by DCEDC and the Small Business Development Center. This was the sixth year DCEDC has co- sponsored and offered the NxLevel Entrepreneurial Training course in Door County. The twelve-week NxLevel Entrepreneurial Training course will again be offered in Door County beginning in January 2008. Contact DCEDC for more information about the class.

DCEDC recently worked with four local companies to provide business expansion financing and help create new and retain existing jobs in the community. Young Automotive of Sturgeon Bay received a $20,000 loan to help finance their re-branding as an independent auto repair shop after ending their franchise agreement with Midas. Door Peninsula Internet of Forestville is using a $40,000 loan to help purchase equipment for the extension of their wireless broadband service in Door County. The two companies project retaining 12 jobs and creating at least two new jobs in the local economy in the next three years.

Additionally, two companies with existing revolving loans had their loan terms adjusted to continue to facilitate their growth and expansion. Simon Creek Vineyard and Door County Confectionery are both expanding in downtown Sturgeon Bay, with a planned new tasting room for the vineyard and an increase in the wholesale business of the confectionery.

DCEDC administers Revolving Loan Fund programs offered by the DCEDC Board of Directors, the City of Sturgeon Bay and the County of Door, to facilitate the expansion or start-up of local businesses. During the 16-year history of the Door County Revolving Loan Funds, DCEDC has serviced 48 loans with a value of almost $5.6 million. Cumulative impact of the three Revolving Loan Fund programs includes over $29 Million in private investments, and the creation or 406 new jobs and the retention of 63 existing jobs. DCEDC currently maintains a loan fund balance of $820,000 that is available to lend to eligible growing businesses.

The Milwaukee office of the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) is looking for nominations to help them recognize outstanding leaders in the small business community in a variety of categories, including Small Business Person of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Small Business Champions of the Year. Self-nominations are welcome. More information, including nomination criteria and a nominating form, can be found on the SBA website. Nomination forms are due by September 28, 2007.