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Developments

October 2014 
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in this issue
Buy Local Mixers Return
Government Contracting Workshop
Talent Attraction Video
Business Development Center News
Unemployment Insurance Public Hearings
Lakeshore Industry Cluster Initiative
Highway Department Open House
Sister City Delegation
Buy Local Mixers Return
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Buy Local Logo

Door County Buy Local business networking mixers return from their summer recess on Wednesday, November 5th, 5:30-7pm at NWTC-Sturgeon Bay, 229 North 14th Avenue, and will feature a program by Door County U-W Extension on "Door County Local Foods: Recent Trends, Developments and Success Stories." The event will include a tour of the NWTC commercial kitchen. Buy Local mixers also provide time for an update about the status and activities of the Door County Buy Local program.

The December Buy Local mixer will be hosted by the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay on Wednesday, December 3 with their annual Merry-Time Festival of Trees. The museum will be decorated with dozens of beautifully decorated trees, all hosted by local businesses. Door County Buy Local will be the proud sponsor of a tree this year. If your business is not already sponsoring a tree, we hope you will donate a gift certificate or product that can be used to decorate the Buy Local tree. To donate, just call or email Tree Chairman Jon Gast, co-owner of Edible Door at 920-493-1935 or jsgast@gmail.com. All donors will be recognized on the signage for the tree.


 

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; refreshments and appetizers will be provided. . To RSVP or if you have questions, please email bill@doorcountybusiness.com or call 920-743-3113 ext. 203.

Government Contracting Workshop
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The Wisconsin Procurement Institute, DCEDC and C&H Distributors are hosting a free workshop event about the basics of what small businesses need to do to make state or federal government their customer. Join us on Thursday, October 16, 8:15-10:30am in the DCEDC conference room, 185 East Walnut Street, Sturgeon Bay, for "Creating, Developing, and Growing New Business Opportunities."

 

Have you ever been curious about selling to the state or federal government? Did you assume your organization is too small or that the government doesn't buy your goods or services? The United States Government is one of the largest buyers of goods and services in the world; the federal government buys almost everything imaginable and works with small businesses every day. The Federal Government spends about $525 Billion each year on goods and services; the State of Wisconsin spends about $2 Billion annually.

 

If you are curious about government contracting, this free workshop will give you the facts. The program will explain the different layers of government contracting and provide you with realistic expectations on the process. In just a few short hours you can decide for yourself if government contracting is right for you and get any questions you may have answered by an industry expert.

Click here for more information or to RSVP. 

Talent Attraction Video

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DCEDC and a small group of employers and HR personnel have been meeting to discuss various talent attraction strategies to assist Door County companies in their workforce recruitment initiatives; one of the options discussed was the production of a video piece. We received proposals and heard presentations from three potential video production service providers. After consideration, we elected to engage filmmaker Brett Kosmider with Boreal Sky to create the film. As discussed by our focus group, the video will highlight the aspects of life in Door County that can assist local companies in recruiting:

  • Lake Michigan
  • Schools, including state and national rankings and recognition
  • Parks and recreational amenities
  • Arts community and cultural amenities
  • YMCA
  • Healthcare resources
  • Proximity to Green Bay (for trailing spouses).

The production costs for the film are budgeted for just under $16,000. To cover duplication and other post-production costs, we are estimating the total project cost to be $20,000. We are asking local companies to join DCEDC in committing an amount not to exceed $2000 to cover the costs of creating this important workforce attraction tool for your businesses. The investment will provide each organization the opportunity to participate in the filming process and feature their business in the final film. Also included in the proposal is the option for any business to have a personalized video segment, specific to their company, created for an additional cost.

 We are very excited to begin this process and we eagerly ask that you join us. If you have any questions or would like to participate, please do not hesitate to contact Sam Perlman sam@doorcountybusinesscom or 920-743-3113 x 204.

Business Development Center News
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As of September 15, 2014, the Door County Business Development Center, a small business incubator located in the Sturgeon Bay Industrial Park, has two exterior offices (319 ft2 and 400 ft2) and two interior offices (534 ft2 and 315 ft2) available. By October 30, the Center will also have 2,282 square feet of light manufacturing space available. The industrial space and the larger interior office space are dividable to accommodate the needs of any size or type of business.

Eligible clients include new or young companies looking for support to get a strong start in business. 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. Clients typically graduate from the Center within three to five years. For more information, contact Paula Sullivan, DCEDC Operations Manager at (920) 743-3113 x202 or paula@doorcountybusiness.com.

Unemployment Insurance Public Hearings

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The Unemployment Insurance (UI) Advisory Council is interested in hearing your comments, concerns and suggestions for reform of the current rules on Wisconsin's Unemployment Insurance program and suggestions for changing the law and improving the program. The UI Advisory Council advises the Department of Workforce Development and recommends changes to the unemployment law to the Legislature. The Council is holding a public hearing, conducted simultaneously at seven locations during sessions in the afternoon and evening using video conference technology on Thursday, November 13, 2014. For information on the public hearings time and locations go to https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uibola/uiac. 

 In addition to the public hearing, there are several opportunities to expand your knowledge of issues related to Fair Employment, Worker's Compensation, Labor Standards and Unemployment Insurance.  Information, registration for upcoming events and the opportunity to sign up for email notifications of future training dates on the Labor Law Clinics and Friday Fundamentals programs can be found at https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/laborlaw. 

Lakeshore Industry Cluster Initiative

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The five-county Lakeshore Industry Cluster Initiative, which includes Manitowoc, Door, Calumet, Kewaunee and Sheboygan Counties, held a meeting of the Manufacturing Cluster subcommittee of the Initiative in Door County, hosted by DCEDC and Bay Shipbuilding. The program included an overview of Bay Shipbuilding and their supply chain needs from Todd Thayse, General Manager and Tom Martin, Purchasing Director; a tour of Bay Shipbuilding; a demonstration of the new online Manufacturing Directory; and a presentation on "World Class Manufacturing" from  Mark Hatzenbeller with the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Local manufacturers and suppliers are encouraged to add their businesses to the manufacturing directory. The goal is to increase manufacturing supply chain connections in Northeast Wisconsin. DCEDC is a supporting sponsor of the Initiative.

Highway Department Open House

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The public is invited to an Open House to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Door County Highway Department Building on Tuesday, October 21 from 3:30-5:30pm at the County Highway Building, 1001 South Duluth, Sturgeon Bay. 

 This is a chance to see heavy highway, construction and snow removal equipment up close. There will even be opportunities to ride in one of the Department trucks. Highway crew members will be on hand to explain the work they do. Learn how the department supplements tax dollars with other funding to keep our roads in good driving condition.

 The Highway Department Open House is the kickoff of an initiative to create an opportunity for citizens to learn more about how their county government works. It is the first step in the creation of a Citizen's Academy.

Sister City Delegation

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On October 7, the members of the 2014 Door County Sister City Delegation to Jingdezhen, China were introduced to the public. The delegates are (L-R) Tricia Croyle, John Rybski and Helen Bacon, who will act as leader of the delegation.

The delegation will travel to Door County's Sister City of Jingdezhen, China in mid-October as guests of the City of Jingdezhen for four days, and will be treated to a tour of a variety of business, cultural and community events and sights, including the 2014 International Ceramic Fair. Members of the Door County delegation are responsible for the cost of their transportation to and from Jingdezhen. 


Bacon, a retired healthcare professional, will remain in China for three additional weeks, taking advantage of a scholarship opportunity at the international ceramic school in Jingdezhen. She is the first Door County resident to participate in the generous scholarship program which covers all tuition, room and board for the three week session.  All Door County residents are eligible for the scholarship and interested persons should contact Bill Chaudoir at DCEDC for further information. Jingdezhen is located approximately 275 miles southwest of Shanghai. The City of Jingdezhen is known as the "Porcelain Capital of the World" and has been creating porcelain and other ceramic products for more than 1,700 years.

 

Croyle, a retired architecture instructor, has been working with Door County landscape company-owner Greg Meisner on the design for a Door County-themed public square in a redevelopment district in Jingdezhen. The City of Jingdezhen will install the Door County-theme design in recognition of our special relationship.  Rybski, a retired Peace Core administrator, is looking forward to making connections with Chinese musicians and local museums, as he is a longtime supporter of the Door County Maritime Museum.