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DCEDC Annual Meeting
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 More than 235 community, government and business leaders attended the DCEDC annual investors meeting on May 25th at the Stone Harbor Resort. Keynote speaker Secretary Paul Jadin of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce discussed "Wisconsin's Renewed Focus on Economic Development" and the transition of his department into the new Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. WireTech  Fabricators was named as the Door County Industry of the Year, and Dale & Kristin Seaquist and Robin & Jim Seaquist, owners of Seaquist Orchards, received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
The Door County Economic Development Corporation 2010 Annual Report to investors is now available on our website. The report, which was released during the DCEDC annual investors meeting, presents a look at the accomplishments of the organization over the past year. |
| Legislative Days Update
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 A small delegation of local officials made the trip to Madison on May 17 as part of Door Kewaunee Legislative Days to deliver a brief, targeted agenda to state officials and legislative leaders. Twenty-five community and business leaders from both counties discussed the following legislative agenda items with state legislative leaders: Modifying Legal Notice Publishing Requirements; Modifying the Prevailing Wage Law for Public Works Projects; Protecting Drinking Water in At-Risk Karst Geology Areas; and Modifying State Rules and Statutes to Allow Directional Signage on State Highways and Local Roads for a Door County Wine Trail.
The delegates also met with representatives from nine state agencies - including the Departments of Administration, Commerce, Workforce Development, Transportation, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, the Public Service Commission and the Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority - to discuss a variety of projects and initiatives beneficial for the area. Specific economic development topics included: Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Cluster Master Plan Implementation; Local Revolving Loan Fund Proceeds as Venture Capital/Micro-Lending; Door/Kewaunee County CNC Regional Training Initiative; Competitive Business Incentives; Door County Wine Trail Highway Signage; and Attainable Housing in Northern Door County. |
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DKBEP Builds Another House!
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 Fourteen high school students representing Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Sturgeon Bay, and Southern Door school districts joined forces with the Door County Home Builders Association, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) and the Door Kewaunee Business & Education Partnership (DKBEP) to build a home from start to finish during the 2010-11 school year. Participating students were involved in all aspects of home construction under the direct guidance of NWTC instructors Roger Mayer and the late Miles Zastrow. Each student has earned 16 transcripted credits for advanced placement in the Wood Tech Technical Diploma one-year program at NWTC. The home has already been sold and revenue generated from the home sale will offset program costs. Student builder Aaron Zak, a senior from Gibraltar High School, took home the Miles Zastrow Excellence in Building and Achievement Award, a $1,000 scholarship for future educational endeavors in a trades field.
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Peninsular Agricultural Research Station
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 The DCEDC Board of Directors recently passed a resolution in support of the Peninsular Agricultural Research Station, which currently faces significant cuts to its budget, with closure a distinct possibility. The Station has been part of Door County since 1922 and is one of twelve throughout the state, but is the only one that studies specialty crops such as apples, cherries and grapes, all of which represent a vital and increasing portion of Door County agricultural production each year. Agriculture contributes close to $200 Million annually to the Door County economy. The Board is asking the University of Wisconsin to preserve the ongoing funding of the Peninsular Agricultural Research Station and oppose cuts to the Station budget that would imperil its continued existence. To send a letter in support of the Station, contact DCEDC to get a list of appropriate contacts.
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Door County Wine Trail
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 Seven Door and Kewaunee County wineries - including Door Peninsula, Harbor Ridge, Orchard Country, Red Oak, Simon Creek, Stone's Throw and Von Stiehl - have joined together to form the Door County Wine Trail, Inc. The wine trail is designed to expand the Door County wine market with new and experienced wine drinkers, while also growing the industry and continuing to support the local economy. A wine trail brochure and website will be released in summer 2011. DCEDC has helped organize and facilitate the new joint marketing organization.
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SBU Main Street Efficiency
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 Sturgeon Bay Utilities recognizes the need to provide support to its "main street" business customers to help save energy. The goal of the Main Street Efficiency Program is to identify electric efficiency projects, and to provide limited time bonus incentives and grant opportunities to ensure that these projects are completed in a timely fashion. Eligible projects include any new electrical energy-saving or demand reducing measure that will result in lasting impacts for the facility and the utility. The projects will help customers control their energy costs, and provide cost-effective conservation resources. All General Service and Small Power (CP-1) customers may be eligible for funding opportunities through the Main Street Efficiency Program. Contact SBU for more information at 920-746-2820.
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Sunset Hill #2 Model Homes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Two model homes are now being built on the former WireTech site at the intersection of Erie Street and North Sixth Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. The City created a Tax Increment District (TID) for this project to fund redevelopment of the site, which helps address the need for affordable workforce housing in the area. Through the TID, the City has created a Down Payment Assistance Program, which will provide a$5,000 zero-percent interest, forgivable loanto help fund the down payment needs for thefirst ninequalified home buyers in the development. $1,000 in loan value is forgiven and converts to a grant for each year that the buyer retains ownership of the home; after five years the entire loan amount is forgiven and no repayment is required! For further information or an application for this program, contact Bill Chaudoir, 920-743-3113 x203 or bill@doorcountybusiness.com. To inquire about a home purchase, contact developer Russ Van Rite of V & A of Sturgeon Bay at 920-371-4444.
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Business Management & Accounting Degrees in Sturgeon Bay
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Starting in August, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College will offer the Business Management and Accounting Assistant programs at the Sturgeon Bay campus. Graduates of the two-year Business Management associate degree program have employment potential in such areas as sales, administrative services, purchasing, finance, human relations, food services, lodging, health care, and more. Accounting Assistant is a new, one-year, technical diploma program that prepares students for entry-level accounting positions. The program will be offered on the Sturgeon Bay campus through a variety of delivery modes such as in-person and online. All credits can be applied to the two-year Accounting associate degree program. For more information call 920-746-4900. |
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