Happy Holidays! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The DCEDC staff extends to you hopes for a joyful holiday season filled with family, fun, food and frivolity.
We wish you a safe, healthy, peaceful
and prosperous New Year!
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2013 Recap
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2013 was a year that saw continued evidence of an improving global economy, and also saw significant progress on a number of Door County projects and initiatives. Hatco constructed a 65,000 square foot addition to their existing plant in the Sturgeon Bay Industrial Park. Wisconsin Public Service relocated gas lines and built a new lift station in the Industrial Park. Sturgeon Bay began implementing the Westside waterfront redevelopment plan, including clearing the former Door County Co-op site. Door County Coastal Byway Council began erecting distinctive kiosks around the 66-mile byway loop. Washington Island Ferry Line expanded by purchasing the Rock Island Karfi ferry route. Downtown Sister Bay saw the establishment of at least five new businesses. DCEDC helped administer the successful Door Kewaunee Legislative Days in May. The Door County Housing Partnership was established to provide long-term attainable housing units in Door County. Door County and DCEDC joined a ten-county Regional Housing Consortium that will begin administration of a state housing grant. Cellcom completed deployment of their new fiber optic network in Door County, from Green Bay to Gills Rock. The County Board approved new communications tower height limits, which will allow local service providers to reach a greater number of unserved areas. Door County Buy Local continued to grow their website with searchable member database and hosted seven business networking mixers.
Click the link to review a summary of our 2013 Major Accomplishments on the DCEDC website.
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2014 Forecast
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The DCEDC Board of Directors is in the process of establishing our priority strategic objectives for 2014: implement the final phases of the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Cluster Master Plan; pay Business Retention visits with the County's top 15 private sector employers; assist local communities implement downtown redevelopment plans; administer and market new business financing tools; workforce development initiatives including outreach to US Coast Guard personnel and creating an employee recruitment package; and most importantly, celebrating our 25th anniversary throughout 2014! 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.
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Unemployment 101 for Employers
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DCEDC and the Door County Visitor Bureau are hosting a free business education seminar, " Unemployment 101 for Employers", on Wednesday, December 4, 9-11:30am in the Sturgeon Bay City Hall Community Meeting Room, 421 Michigan Street. This seminar will present the ins and outs of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program and how employers can protect their interests, while providing the appropriate coverage and benefits for their current and former employees. The presenter will be Cheryl Scholl with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Registration for this free business education seminar is available at education@doorcountybusiness.com.
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Buy Local Business Mixer
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Door County Buy Local is holding their next business networking mixer on Wednesday, December 4th, 5:30-7pm at the Door County Maritime Museum, 120 North Madison Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. The event will feature the holiday themed DCMM exhibit "Merry-Time Festival of Trees," with trees decorated by local businesses and organizations scattered throughout the Museum's galleries. The mixer will also provide time for an update about the status and activities of the Door County Buy Local program. Attendees are asked to make a $5 donation, which will give them a ticket for the DCMM tree bucket raffle; additional tickets will be available for purchase. Refreshments and appetizers will be provided, courtesy of DCMM and mixer sponsor Edible Door magazine. To RSVP for this event by Monday, December 2nd or if you have questions, please email Bill Chaudoir or call 920-743-3113 ext. 200.
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Training Grants for Manufacturers
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The state Department of Workforce Development is now accepting applications for Wisconsin Fast Forward grants. Wisconsin Fast Forward includes $15 million in grants for employer-led worker training programs. Single employers or groups of employers are encouraged to apply. The Department of Workforce Development's new Office of Skills Development (OSD) will administer the program.
The Northeast WI Manufacturing Alliance will be submitting a grant application for a consortium of manufacturers from our area. The workforce training needs currently identified by Alliance members that are interested in the grant include Machine Troubleshooting; Electrical Troubleshooting and Rudimentary Electrical Training. If your business has similar training needs, you should strongly consider participating in the Alliance application; participating in this application will significantly ease the process. Interested companies should contact Ann Franz, Alliance Coordinator. She will be hosting a meeting to finalize the project the week of December 2; application deadline is December 16.
OSD recommends that employers with a particular workforce need complete an OSD inquiry form. These inquiries, along with analysis of labor trends and input from strategic partners, will inform the development of future grant program announcements.
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Entrepreneurial Training Program
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DCEDC, in association with the UW-Green Bay Small Business Development Center, will once again sponsor the annual Entrepreneurial Training Program course in Door County. Beginning Monday, January 27, 2014, this course takes students through a step-by-step approach to writing a professional business plan. The eight-week course is open to 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 Door County Entrepreneurial Training Program course is only $250, including books and materials. Registration forms and additional information are available on the DCEDC website.
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Board Moves
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At their December meeting the DCEDC Board will reelect the following members for a new, two year term: Scott Baker (Village of Sister Bay); Mike Baudhuin (WireTech Fabricators & DC Manufacturers Association); Thad Birmingham (Mayor, City of Sturgeon Bay); David Enigl (County of Door); Mark Feuerstein (County of Door); Joe Stutting (Sturgeon Bay School District); and David J. Ward (Northstar Economics).
For the New Year, our current ex-officio Board members will also be re-elected for a one-year term at the December meeting: Rob Burke (UW-Extension); Bill Chaudoir (DCEDC); Zeke Jackson (Village of Sister Bay); Steve McNeil (City of Sturgeon Bay); Jack Moneypenny (DCVB); Maureen Murphy (County of Door); Jim Stawicki (Sturgeon Bay Utilities); Dale Swanson (WPSC); and Todd Trimberger (SBVC).
We greatly appreciate all these individuals contribute to our organization.
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