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Buy Local Networking Mixer Tomorrow
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Door County Buy Local is holding their next business networking mixer tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4th, 5:30-7pm at Door County Creamery, 10655 Highway 42, Sister Bay. The event will feature a panel discussion by Jenny Walker of Cupcake Heaven, Jesse Johnson from the Creamery and Jessica Grasse of Grasse's Grill entitled "First Year in Business: Experiences and Lessons Learned". The program panelists are looking forward to welcoming attendees to Sister Bay and their businesses, with extended hours and additional networking opportunities.
Buy Local mixers 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. This will be the last Buy Local mixer until the end of the busy summer season. Attendees are asked to make a $5 donation to help defray costs. To RSVP or if you have questions, please email Bill Chaudoir or call 920-743-3113 ext. 200.
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Social Media Marketing Made Simple
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On Thursday, June 12, 10:30am-12pm at the Bertschinger Community Center (7860 Highway 42) in Egg Harbor, DCEDC and the Door County Visitor Bureau are pleased to bring Udo Misch from NeoCloud Marketing, a Constant Contact "Authorized Local Expert", back to Door County for essential training for local businesses on cost-effective tools that can help business owners build and maintain strong relationships with customers through email and social media marketing. Join us for a 90-minute program designed to educate business owners and operators about effective and inexpensive tools to market a business, generate new revenue and increase customer engagement.
Whether you're a restaurant owner, non-profit organization, manufacturer, resort or retail store, this free seminar can get you started on the path to greater and more successful customer relationships. You'll leave this program with real-world insights and knowledge that you can put to work immediately to help your business succeed, just in time for the busy summer season. For more information or to RSVP, please e-mail to cindy@doorcountybusiness.com or call 920-743-3113 x200.
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Business Development Center Tenant News
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Some clients of the Door County Business Development Center, the small business incubator operated and managed by DCEDC, have seen growth or expansion opportunities, which have subsequently opened up space in the facility for new tenants.
The Boys & Girls Club of Door County will be graduating from the Business Development Center this month, after a successful fundraising campaign to purchase their new home in the Baudhuin Incorporated building on Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. The new facility will be used for the Club's teen center and third grade and above program space.
The graduation of the Boys & Girls club meant that space was available for Door Peninsula Technical Support Services to move their location within the incubator and lease additional space to accommodate their business growth. DPTSS are technology support specialists. Services include computer installations; wireless networking; server and network configurations; mobile device integration; retail point of sale installations; cabling; and complete enterprise management services.
We recently welcomed new clients Better Avenues, LLC. Owners Hope and Jim Conley propose to provide all available services to individuals with disabilities as a vendor for the state Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation is a program funded by the federal government to assist people with disabilities to obtain gainful and appropriate employment.
Later this summer, the Business Development Center will have two offices available at 400 and 315 square feet. In October of this year, we will also have around 2,300 square feet of light manufacturing space available. The Center helps reduce business start-up overhead costs by offering affordable rents and providing free or low-cost access to shared facilities, services and equipment. Eligible clients include new or young companies looking for support to get a strong start in business. For more information, contact Paula Sullivan, DCEDC Operations Manager at (920) 743-3113 x202 or paula@doorcountybusiness.com.
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Door County COIN Launched
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 | | The Community Foundation's Bret Bicoy and Dave Eliot, along with DCEDC's Bill Chaudoir, announce the formation of Door County COIN |
On Wednesday, May 28, the Door County Community Foundation announced the public launch of the Door County Community Opportunity Investment Network - also known as COIN. COIN is an innovative effort that is using private philanthropic dollars to create a Micro-Loan Pool that will lend to entrepreneurs, stimulating economic activity and ultimately creating jobs. COIN also offers a Business Mentoring Program that taps into the experience of Door County's retired business leaders to help new entrepreneurs succeed. As a business mentor, your counsel will be an invaluable resource to the entrepreneurs of our community. The Door County Community Foundation has partnered with DCEDC to create COIN. We are actively seeking potential loan applicants and mentors for the COIN program; contact Bill Chaudoir for more information.
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Bay Shipbuilding Grant Award
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 Governor Scott Walker recently approved a $2,309,022 Harbor Assistance Program grant award to Bay Shipbuilding for construction of a new dock wall to allow for the docking of large vessels for maintenance and construction. Created in 1979, Wisconsin's Harbor Assistance Program helps harbor communities maintain and improve waterborne commerce. Congratulations to Bay Shipbuilding on their successful grant application!
Bay Shipbuilding also recently announced that it had entered into several contracts with Moran Towing Corporation to build five vessels. The new vessels will be entirely built at BSC's facility in Sturgeon Bay and are scheduled to be delivered separately over the next 24-months.
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DKBEP Open House and Impact
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The Door/Kewaunee Business & Education Partnership (DKBEP) High School Home Construction Program is holding an Open House for the seventh student-built home on Wednesday, June 11, 3-6pm at E2337 Sunset Road, Luxemburg, WI, with a dedication ceremony held at 5pm. Breaking ground in fall 2013, nine high school students representing Kewaunee, Luxemburg Casco and Sturgeon Bay had the opportunity to partner with NWTC for the student constructed building project. High school juniors and seniors, led by NWTC adjunct instructor Jeff Schlag, became skilled in all of the trade areas associated with home construction in preparation for future employment and/or further education. With successful completion, each student receives advanced standing toward NWTC's Structural Systems certificate program.
Through a variety of programs, DKBEP has had another year of successfully providing career awareness to the youth of Door and Kewaunee Counties. This included 56 students participating in the job shadow program; group business tours for 547 students; guest speakers addressing 727 youth in their classrooms; 343 participants in the annual 8th Grade Career Day; and 874 3rd-5th grade students at Careers on Wheels.
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DCEDC recently provided Revolving Loan Fund program financing to Door County Brewing for equipment in their new Baileys Harbor facility, as well as extending terms to The Lodge at Leathem Smith. DCEDC administers Revolving Loan Fund programs for the County of Door, City of Sturgeon Bay and DCEDC Board of Directors, providing low interest financing for new or expanding businesses. There are currently 27 active loans between the three revolving loan funds. Visit our Business Financing page to learn more about the Revolving Loan Fund program and other financing programs.
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New Business List
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As a sidebar to a story about the new restaurant Chives opening in Baileys Harbor last month, the Peninsula Pulse had a list of new businesses opening in the county this year, including established businesses with new ownership. The list covers an exciting range of entrepreneurial activity around the County, from Sturgeon Bay all the way to Washington Island.
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