Shawano County Economic Progress Inc

PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SHAWANO COUNTY, WISCONSIN

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - GAVE A PRESENTATION TO LEADERSHIP SHAWANO COUNTY ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PROVIDED INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE BUILDINGS AND SITES TO SITE SELECTION FIRMS. ATTENDED MEETINGS OF THE WITTENBERG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, CITY OF SHAWANO COUNCIL AND PLAN COMMISSION MEETINGS, SHAWANO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, SHAWANO INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, SHAWANO REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, THEDACARE COMMUNITY HEALTH ACTION TEAMS. MET WITH SEVERAL NEW ENTREPRENEURS LOOKING TO ESTABLISH NEW BUSINESSES. WORKED WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS TO REWRITE THEIR LOAN TO ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND INTO THE FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS. WORKED WITH A CLIENT THAT WANTS TO PURCHASE AN EXISTING FACILITY IN SHAWANO TO KEEP THE PRODUCTION WORK HERE. WORKED WITH A BUSINESS TO PUT TOGETHER THEIR REDEVELOPMENT PLANS ON THE PROPERTY THEY OWN ON MAIN STREET, SHAWANO. MET WITH AN ENTREPRENEUR THAT HAS A MEDICAL DEVICE IDEA AND WORKED TO CONNECT HER TO RESOURCES. WORKED WITH NWTC ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS. MET WITH A TOWN CHAIRMAN TO DISCUSS REDEVELOPMENT IN HIS TOWNSHIP. WORKED TO IDENTIFY 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF WAREHOUSING TO ASSIST A BUSINESS PRODUCT EXPANSION. WORKED WITH A BUYER AND THE CITY OF SHAWANO TO PUT TOGETHER A CAPITAL STACK SO THE BUYER CAN ACQUIRE A LONG-TIME SHAWANO BUSINESS AND KEEP THE FACILITY OPERATING IN THE COMMUNITY. ARRANGED A MEETING WITH AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS, A GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND ATW TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AT THE AIRPORT. MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF A LOCAL BANK AND A COUNTY VILLAGE TO DISCUSS A POTENTIAL COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT (CRA) PROJECT.

COVID-19, BUSINESS SUPPORT - MONITORED BI-WEEKLY WEBINARS ON THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE FROM PREVEA AND THEDACARE. ATTENDED THE THEDACARE AND PREVEA UPDATES REGARDING INFECTION RATES AND VACCINATION PLANS AND THE WEDC SEMINAR ON THE VACCINE REGARDING MYTHS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS. PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE MAIN STREET BOUNCEBACK GRANT PROGRAM AND ADDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SEVERAL APPLICANTS. WAS ACTIVE ON CONFERENCE CALLS WITH THE DELTA VARIANT AND THE CHANGES THAT ARE SEEN IN THE LOCAL HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY WITH THE MOST RECENT SURGE. ASSISTED BUSINESSES IN APPLYING FOR THE MAIN STREET BOUNCE BACK GRANT AND CONTINUED TO WRITE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE DOWNTOWN BOUNCEBACK GRANTS.

COUNTY HOUSING - WORKED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO CHOOSE A COMPANY TO CONDUCT A SHAWANO COUNTY HOUSING STUDY. WORKED ON A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT. HAD A DISCUSSION WITH A HOTEL OWNER ABOUT TURNING THE HOTEL INTO MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING. WORKED WITH NEWCAP AND THE COUNTY ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY'S LAKELAND FACILITY. WORKED WITH LOCAL PROPERTY OWNERS TO SECURE LONG TERM, TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR WORKERS BROUGHT INTO SHAWANO. WORKED WITH A COUNTY VILLAGE THAT WILL BREAK GROUND ON A COMMUNITY BUILD OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME. CONTINUED OUTREACH TO BROKERS/DEVELOPERS ON THE HOUSING INITIATIVE AND SET UP MEETINGS BETWEEN CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION AND THE SMC FOR SENIOR HOUSING. MET WITH SIX CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES. THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING TASK FORCE TOURED TWO POTENTIAL LOCATIONS.

BROADBAND - WORKED TO EXPAND BROADBAND THROUGHOUT SHAWANO COUNTY. ATTENDED A WEBINAR ON BROADBAND FUNDING. WORKED THROUGH WEDA TO ENSURE THAT BROADBAND EXPANSION REMAINS A PRIORITY IN THE UPCOMING STATE BUDGET. SERVED ON THE NEW NORTH BROADBAND TASK FORCE. TRACKED THE STIMULUS FUNDING, ESPECIALLY THE BROADBAND ACCESS FOR FREE/REDUCED LUNCH STUDENTS AND THE K-12 FACILITIES EXEMPTIONS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. EXPLORED A TRAINING PROGRAM WITH THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND THE CHAMBER THROUGH NWTC TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO BETTER COMPETE IN THE DIGITAL MARKETPLACE. WORKED WITH MSA ON THE INITIAL STEPS ON THE EDA GRANT FOR BROADBAND MAPPING, LISTING THE CONTACTS AND RESOURCES IN THE COUNTY. MET WITH REPRESENTATIVE STEFFEN ON HIS PROPOSED BILL ON BROADBAND MAPPING FOR THE STATE. RECEIVED REQUESTS FROM REALTORS ASKING FOR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS AT CURRENT LISTINGS BECAUSE THE INTERNET IS CRITICAL ON A NUMBER OF THESE PENDING HOUSING SALES. MET WITH NEW NORTH AND NSIGHT TO DISCUSS BROADBAND IN NEW NORTH.