Expansion and Business Development in the New North
Washington Island hotel wins Buy Local grant to open shop featuring local food products
GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE
WASHINGTON ISLAND - Hotel Washington and Studio was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's annual Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grant program.
Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin is a competitive grant program that is meant to strengthen Wisconsin's agriculture and food industries by helping farms and businesses process, market and distribute locally grown food products, as well as providing consumers with access to those local foods.
The hotel is using the funds to help it start a shop featuring local products in the Honeymoon House, a small, old building that sat in several different locations on the Island before it was brought to the hotel property by Brian Vandewalle, its previous owner. The shop plans to carry honeys, syrups, produce and other products made on the Island when it opens in about a month, owner Jeannie Kokes said....
Encourage Educational Attainment
Collaborative spirit prompts merger of University Foundation-Manitowoc with UW-Green Bay
UW-GREEN BAY
GREEN BAY — The University Foundation-Manitowoc Inc., formerly known as the UW-Manitowoc Foundation, a philanthropic society of individuals dedicated to supporting public higher education in Manitowoc County, is combining forces with the UW-Green Bay Foundation to create efficiencies and eliminate duplication of fiduciary duties. The two groups determined that the focus needs to be on growing the number of college degree earners in the region to retain and attract employers in today’s fast-paced changing economy. The college degree attainment rate in the region is 26% compared to 33% nationally.
“The missions of the two entities overlap and it makes sense to work collaboratively with the University’s affiliated Foundation for fiduciary purposes,” says Jon Danforth, board chair of the University Foundation-Manitowoc. “The local UW College campus was integrated with UW-Green Bay in 2018 and now the campus offers a growing number of classes and even four-year degree options. The time has arrived to roll up our sleeves and work together to re-envision what public higher education looks like in our region going forward.”.
..Economic Development Feature
A place to embrace: Fond du Lac area invests in its health, history and human capital
INSIGHT PUBLICATIONS
Lisa McArthur is looking forward to the day when economic growth isn’t just defined by job creation.
Since recently moving from her education post with Envision Greater Fond du Lac into a new role as the organization’s director of economic and workforce outreach, McArthur says the county’s business leaders have been clear: They need infrastructure, manufacturing space, and people to fill the jobs they already have.
“Federally, at the state [level] and even locally we have to get past ‘How many jobs are you creating?’” she says. “It’s got to be, are you helping businesses grow? That’s what we need to be paying attention to.”...
Read More 4>
Expansion and Business Development in the New North
Making Manitowoc cooler: The Wharf brings the party back to downtown
INSIGHT PUBLICATIONS
Manitowoc refers to itself as the “coolest coast,” and the region has gotten a whole lot cooler thanks to 29-year-old Brennan Seehafer.
Seehafer, who has launched several businesses in his hometown and is also the producer of its annual July 3rd celebration and co-producer of Night Market 920, had a vision for creating activity, buzz and excitement in downtown Manitowoc. So in 2018, he purchased a vacant piece of land on the Manitowoc River and opened The Wharf — which began as a seasonal bar and music venue built out of repurposed shipping containers.
With a few years under his belt by the time the pandemic hit, he felt confident in expanding the venue — noting that a lot of people consider live music a stress relief. So Seehafer purchased a one-acre venue with financing from Bank First...
Economic Development Feature
Door County Granary grows up as progress builds
DOOR COUNTY DAILY NEWS
Your eyes were not playing tricks on you if you traveled past the Door County Granary site on Wednesday, as yes, it did get taller. DeVooght Building Movers hoisted it up to its original height in anticipation of reconstructing the former grain elevator’s first floor.
The building section had to be removed before it made its first journey across the bay several years ago. In the meantime, the granary’s original timbers were restored and will be placed in their original locations before the floor reconstruction can begin. The timing could not have been more perfect for Door County Granary Executive Director Beth Renstrom, who was hosting the project’s architect James Dallman, representatives from Greenfire Construction, and community members looking on as a part of Wednesday’s open house...
