DCEDC is pleased to announce the details for our annual investors meeting and luncheon on Monday, April 14, at the Stone Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sturgeon Bay. The keynote speaker will be Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (invited). His remarks will outline his "Blueprint for Prosperity." This year's annual meeting will also serve to kick off the celebrations surrounding DCEDC's 25th anniversary in 2014.

In addition to the keynote address by Gov. Walker, the annual investors meeting will include the presentation of the Door County Industry of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The Industry of the Year Award recognizes a construction, service or manufacturing business that has made a substantial impact on the community and enjoyed significant accomplishments during the past year. The Entrepreneur of the Year Award celebrates those individuals who have taken the initiative to start and grow a successful small business in Door County. The luncheon meeting will also include the annual report to the community about the accomplishments of DCEDC during 2013.

The DCEDC annual investors meeting will start promptly at 12pm. Tickets for the April 14 luncheon are $35 per person or $330 for a table of ten. Tickets are available from the DCEDC office. For more information, please contact DCEDC at (920) 743-3113 x200 or by email at cindy@doorcountybusiness.com.

The 2014 DCEDC Annual Meeting has been generously sponsored by: Associated Bank, Bay Shipbuilding Company, Baylake Bank, the Door County Manufacturer's Association, ERA/Starr Realty, Peninsula Building Systems, Stone Harbor Resort, Soik Communications, Sturgeon Bay Florist, Sturgeon Bay Utilities, Therma-Tron-X, Wisconsin Public Service, and Wienke's Market.

The Wednesday, April 2 Buy Local business networking mixer will be held at DC Specialty Foods, 10331 Highway 42, Ephraim, and will feature a program by Ashley Lusk of Homebody Personal Training on "Fitting Exercise in Your Busy Day." The mixer will also provide time for an update about the status and activities of the Door County Buy Local program.

These networking events are open to anyone interested in learning more about the Buy Local initiative in Door County. Attendees are asked to make a $5 donation to help defray costs. To RSVP or if you have questions, please email bill@doorcountybusiness.com or call 920-743-3113 ext. 200.

On Friday, March 21, 12-1:15pm, please join DCEDC and NWTC for a free lunch and informational meeting about the second round of Wisconsin Fast Forward grant opportunities. Shelly Harkins, from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Office of Skills Development, will present on the recently released second round of Wisconsin Fast Forward business grants and details about the application process. Wisconsin Fast Forward will make up to $15 million in grants available to support employer-led worker training. The Wisconsin Fast Forward program encourages employers to develop customized, skilled and semi-skilled labor solutions.

This second round of grants focuses on:

* Wisconsin Small Businesses

* Health Care and Related Occupations

* Information Technology Occupations

* Manufacturing Occupations

* Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution Occupations

* Financial Services Occupations

* Construction Trades and Related Occupations

The Door County Job Center and We Are HOPE Inc. are currently recruiting companies for their Spring Job Fair. The event will be held on Wednesday, April 16th, 2-6pm at the Cherry Point Mall. Companies looking for full-time, part-time, permanent, seasonal, youth or seasoned workers are encouraged to participate. Past Job Fairs have shown success with up to 244 job seekers attending. 

Wisconsin is one of the first states in the nation to permit a company to raise capital by selling small ownership shares to many investors. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission is currently gathering feedback on federal crowdfunding guidelines. These new rules will create innovative financial opportunities for start-up companies, especially those focused on non-technology based ventures. Our colleagues in Brown County are hosting an educational session on crowdfunding. Entrepreneurs, attorneys, financial advisors and potential investors are encouraged to attend this panel discussion to learn how you might benefit from these legislative changes. 

Crowdfunding Rules and Regulations
Wednesday, March 26
7:30am breakfast & networking; 8am panel with Q&A
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Student Center building

Executive dining room SC128  

2740 West Mason Street, Green Bay, WI  

Cost: $10 includes continental breakfast  

Click here for more information and to register for this informative event. 

Learn how to grow, produce and market your own hops! The Local Agriculture subcommittee of the Lakeshore Industry Cluster Initiative is hosting a hops growing workshop on Saturday, March 29th, 8:30am-3:30pm at the Farm Market Kitchen Incubator, 520 Parkway Street, Algoma. "Hops for Fun and Profit" will include an overview of hops production terminology; discuss bottlenecks of processing and harvesting; planning and site prep; trellising and planting; setting up irrigation systems; harvesting, drying and marketing hops; and disease control measures. Workshop presenters will be John Tucker (Tucker's Hops Farm), Rich Joseph (The Hop Garden), Tim Rehbein, Carl Duley and Dean Volenberg (UW Cooperative Extension). Cost for the workshop is $35 and includes lunch and drinks.  Space is limited to 40 participants and online registration is open. For more information call (920) 482-0540.