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Developments
December 2008
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| Greetings!
The DCEDC staff wishes you a joyful holiday season, filled with family, fun, food and frivolity.
May we all have a safe, healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year! |
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2008 Recap/2009 Forecast
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2008 was a busy and challenging year for Door County and DCEDC. Our staff provided assistance to more than 200 new and existing businesses looking to start or expand in Door County. The City of Sturgeon Bay Plan Commission, Common Council and Joint Review Board approved plans for the relocation of WireTech Fabricators to the Sturgeon Bay Industrial Park, the creation of a new Tax Increment Financing district and changes to existing TIF districts to help finance the move and redevelopment of the current WireTech site for workforce housing. The Wisconsin Department of Transportationcompleted two major projects in Door County in 2008: the new $32 Million channel bridge crossing, connecting Maple and Oregon Streets, and the final section of State Highway 57 as a four-lane divided highway from Green Bay to Sturgeon Bay. The $72 Million four lane highway project and new bridge will improve the transportation infrastructure in Door County, enhance public safety and improve accessibility. The Door/Kewaunee Business & Education Partnership received a $44,000 Community-Based Economic Development grant from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce to fund a Regional Training and Development Program designed to provide career awareness for area youth to help fill the future employment needs of businesses in the region, which includes development of a certified nursing assistant program. DKBEP also produced and released a series of e-mailable videos featuring nine high-demand manufacturing occupations with current availabilities in the region. The videos present duties and skills required at local manufacturing and shipbuilding businesses, and will serve as a tool for area high school technical education programs and workforce recruitment efforts. The inaugural DKBEP High School Home Construction Program, which included thirteen juniors and seniors from four Door County school districts, completed a ranch style home in May 2008. The home sold just 55 days after completion and revenue generated from the sale was used as seed money for the 2008-09 home building project. A summary of our 2008 Major Accomplishments is available on the DCEDC website at www.DoorCountyBusiness.com/pdfs/Accomplishments2008.pdf.
The DCEDC Board of Directors is in the process of establishing our priority strategic objectives for 2009, including support for improvements to the County's telecommunications infrastructure; securing the funding and approvals to implement the final phases of the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Cluster Master Plan; develop and implement a Workforce Taskforce action plan to address labor market issues; and partnering with other groups to help grow and strengthen the tourism industry. DCEDC also looks forward to the planning and execution of Door County Legislative Days in Spring 2009. DCEDC staff will provide leadership for the delegates who make the trip to Madison for meetings with legislators and state agency secretaries and representatives to present agenda items important to the Door County community. As always, the DCEDC staff will continue to be available to provide on-going guidance and assistance to the entrepreneurs and business owners of Door County. |
DCEDC Announces Northern Door Office Hours
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DCEDC is pleased to announce that beginning Wednesday, December 10, the organization will offer monthly office hours in Northern Door County, providing business counseling and entrepreneurial services for any new or existing business owners. The second Wednesday of each month, DCEDC Economic Development Manager Sam Perlman will offer free, one-on-one business counseling sessions, providing advice on business planning, financing, business incentives and other issues. As a member of the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network, DCEDC also has the ability to tap into the expertise of the statewide support network to help find solutions to business issues and questions. Individual, confidential sessions will be held this month at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall, State Highway 57 and County Highway F. An appointment is requested and can be made by contacting Perlman at 920-743-3113 x 204 or via e-mail at sam@doorcountybusiness.com. Walk-ins are also welcome, based on scheduling. |
It's a Girl!
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 Congratulations to DKBEP Program Manager Tara LeClair and her husband Aaron, who welcomed their first child, Alaina Elizabeth LeClair, on November 25. Tara will be on leave December and January. Please contact DKBEP Administrative Assistant Ann Bennett (ann@doorcountybusiness.com or 920-743-3113 x201) regarding DKBEP programs.
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Revolving Loan Funds Available
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DCEDC administers Revolving Loan Fund programs for the County of Door, City of Sturgeon Bay and DCEDC Board of Directors, providing low interest financing to assist business owners starting or expanding their companies in Door County. There are 19 active loans between the three revolving loan funds and they currently have a loan fund balance of $1.2 Million available to lend to eligible businesses. Interested companies should contact Bill Chaudoir or Sam Perlman at 920-743-3113 (bill@doorcountybusiness.com or sam@doorcountybusiness.com) for more information or to request an application. |
DCEDC Takes Entrepreneurs to the NxLevel™ of Business Planning
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DCEDC, in association with the UW-Green Bay Small Business Development Center, is proud to once again sponsor the NxLevel™ Entrepreneurial Training course in Door County. Beginning February 2 at NWTC- Sturgeon Bay, this ten-week course takes students through a step-by-step approach to writing a professional business plan. The course is designed for those who are considering starting their own business, existing small businesses struggling to get a handle on all the details or successful businesses looking to grow.
The cost for the NxLevel™ Entrepreneurial Training course is only $250, including books. The course usually costs $1000, however, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network are offering an Entrepreneurial Training Grant to qualified applicants that covers 75% of the tuition. Registration forms and additional information are available online: www.doorcountybusiness.com/pdfs/registrationpack2009.pdf.
As a preview to the course, DCEDC and the Sturgeon Bay Noon Rotary Club will host a free introduction to business-planning seminar, "Starting A Business in Door County," on Monday, January 12, 6-8pm at NWTC-Sturgeon Bay. This one-evening course will talk about some of the basics that go into a start-up business. The session will also allow interested students to sign up for the NxLevel™ Entrepreneurial Training course and apply for the Entrepreneurial Training Grant. |
Regional Business Plan Contest
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Area entrepreneurs are encouraged to enter the Northeast Wisconsin Business Plan Competition for a chance to win a portion of $25,000 in cash prizes being awarded. The goal of the Competition is to encourage the preparation of business plans for start-up businesses, those making significant changes to existing businesses or launching new products in northeast Wisconsin. Past winners have represented diverse industries from throughout the region and have included our own WaterScape Designs LLC from Forestville. $25,000 in prizes will be awarded with a top prize of $10,000. Second place will receive $6,000; third will receive $4,000; fourth will receive $3,000; and fifth will receive $2,000. Entry forms and specific entry information is available online at www.thenewnorth.com/thenewnorth/newrep/business+plan+contest/default.asp. Entry deadline is January 12, 2009. |
Congratulations, N.E.W. Industries!
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N.E.W. Industries, Inc., a Door County provider of CNC production machined parts, weldments, and complete secondary services, recently received a Manufacturing Award of Distinction from Advance, a program of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. The regional awards recognize manufacturing excellence in Northeast Wisconsin and were announced November 6 in Green Bay. Earlier this year, N.E.W. Industries was named the Door County Industry of the Year at the DCEDC Annual Meeting. |
| Free County-Wide Carpool Matching
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Looking for a more affordable mode of transportation to and from work? Try carpooling! Carpooling not only saves money, it also cuts down on traffic congestion, air pollution, parking lot needs and automotive wear and tear. The Door County Transportation Consortium (Door-Tran) recently expanded its transportation information and referral communication center to include free carpool matching services. Residents and people who work in Door County now have an opportunity to find out what carpooling options and partners they may have. To get started or to learn more about Door-Tran's local carpool matching service, please contact Pam Busch at 920-743-9999, via email info@door-tran.com or on-line at www.door-tran.com. |
| DoorCountyDailyNews.com
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Listen for news from DCEDC during the month of January, as we will be the "Non-Profit of the Month" thanks to the generosity of the radio stations of DoorCountyDailyNews.com. | |
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