• The Lakeshore

Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan Counties

Powerboat racing returns to Sheboygan

The second annual Sheboygan Midwest Challenge, produced by Powerboat P1, takes place Aug. 9-11 on Lake Michigan.

There will be a downtown block party Aug. 9 with powerboats on display, food, drinks and live music. On Aug. 10 and 11, 50 race teams will compete for the checkered flag, with Class 1 teams reaching speeds of up to 160 mph. The best viewing area is along the lakefront at the end of South Pier Drive.

Throughout the weekend, race teams will be on display in Deland Park. New to the event this year is a VIP viewing experience and the Class 1 Experience.

Last year’s event generated an estimated $4.7 million in economic impact and attracted 43,000 visitors to the area. Powerboat P1’s national and international television coverage showcased the city’s attractions to a worldwide audience of more than 230 million homes.

Community partners for the event include Visit Sheboygan, the city of Sheboygan and Sheboygan County Chamber. Net proceeds raised from the event will benefit the P1 Marine Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on conservation by raising awareness of threats to our oceans, supporting research and providing youth scholarships for students going into the field of marine conservation.

Sheboygan received the APBA Best Race Site Award last year for hosting the inaugural Midwest Challenge.

North Town Partners announces changes at Memorial Plaza

Two retail spaces totaling 23,000 square feet located in Memorial Plaza on Wilgus Avenue in Sheboygan have undergone major changes.

The former Office Max will be occupied by craft chain Michaels, and the other is available for another retailer.

Memorial Plaza is managed by North Town Partners and consists of tenants Marcus Theater, McDonald’s, Pizza Ranch, Harbor Freight, Dunham’s Sports and Big Lots. North Town Partners worked with commercial brokerage firm CBRE to assist in the tenant search that ultimately landed Michaels.

“Michaels represents a retail category that forecasts strong growth for in-person shopping,” said Chris Merklein, principal with North Town Partners.

North Town Partners’ management footprint includes Memorial Plaza in Sheboygan, PGA Tour Superstore and Chapter Aesthetic (both in Brookfield), and several new retailers slated to open in North Town this fall.

In addition to this retail development, North Town Partners is simultaneously working on its flagship North Town development, as well as Whitetail Ridge in Elkhart Lake. These extensive projects prompted a name change from Van Horn Development to North Town Partners.

The success over the past two years of the 99-acre, mixed-use North Town development spurred the decision to change the name and capitalize on the rapid progress of the project, which will include 600 residential units, a hotel, retail and office spaces.

Whitetail Ridge, a planned luxury community of two- and three-bedroom townhomes in Elkhart Lake, is also progressing on schedule for occupancy in November. The North Town Partners’ housing portfolio also includes Kingsbury Village apartments in Sheboygan.

While the name has changed to North Town Partners, the ownership remains unchanged from Van Horn Development.

• The Northwoods

Florence, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto Counties

Marshfield Health System intends to combine with Sanford Health

Marshfield Clinic Health System and Sanford Health plan to combine their assets to create an integrated health system.

Marshfield operates facilities in Wittenberg, Niagara and Florence in Northeast Wisconsin as part of its network of 60 clinics and 11 hospitals in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Sanford, headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has 45 hospitals, 211 clinics and 160 senior living facilities in South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota.

Over the last decade, Sanford Health has invested more than $1.5 billion in expanding access to specialty care and state-of-the-art facilities.

“Partnering with Sanford Health presents an incredible opportunity for our organizations to unify and establish the premier rural health system in the nation,” said Brian Hoerneman, interim CEO of Marshfield Clinic Health System. “Together, we will ensure sustainable access to exceptional care for our communities for years to come. With a shared mission to serve, a mutual emphasis on research and education, and a strong tradition of physician leadership, Sanford Health is the ideal partner for this endeavor.”

The combined system will bring together nearly 56,000 employees, 56 hospitals, 4,300 providers, two fully integrated health plans, specialty pharmacies and nationally-recognized research institutions.

Utilizing each organization’s respective health plan, Sanford Health Plan and Security Health Plan, will allow the fully integrated system to serve more than 425,000 members.

Upon finalization of the combination, the name of the parent company will be Sanford Health, with system headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Marshfield Clinic Health System will be a region within Sanford Health and maintain regional leadership with its flagship medical campus in Marshfield, a regional board of directors, a regional physician executive council and regional brand presence. Sanford Health president and CEO Bill Gassen will serve as president and CEO of the combined system. Hoerneman will serve as president and CEO of the Marshfield Clinic Health System region.

• West Central

Green Lake, Marquette, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara Counties

Construction starts on new subdivision in Waupaca

The Waupaca City Council recently approved the final plat for phase one of the River North residential development, which will include 32 single-family homes and 124 units of multifamily housing.

“We are thrilled to advance this project, addressing our community’s need for diverse housing options and shortages. The approval of these 35 single-family units, along with upcoming workforce and market-rate housing, marks an amazing step in our city’s growth,” said Jarod Kivela, community and economic development director for the city of Waupaca. “We eagerly anticipate welcoming new residents to enjoy our vibrant community and amenities.”

In February, the city of Waupaca entered into a development agreement with Tycore Built. The single-family homes will have starting prices of $249,900, including the lot. The development is projected to bring an added tax value of $27.95 million for the city.

Additional phases could include 76 owner-occupied housing units and 120 apartment units. Combined with Phase 1, the total project value is currently estimated at $69 million.

Construction is expected to start this year.

“The city has been a pleasure to work with, and their eagerness to bring growth and workforce housing to their community shows their compassion and understanding of residents’ needs. We are excited to begin construction and development of the first phase,” said Wade Micoley, founder of Tycore Built.

Waushara County Government Center opens

A set of multi-year building projects are complete in Wautoma, as the Waushara County Government Center opened this spring.

The 135,000-square-foot facility houses all general government offices, courts, legal services, human services and health. The two-story building was constructed at the site of the sheriff’s office and county jail and connects to that facility.

It replaces a 94-year-old building that the county could sell.

The project was one of four focus projects approved by the county in 2021 that cost around $90 million. Each was to replace an outdated county facility.

• Interstate 41 Corridor

Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, Winnebago Counties

Construction begins on historic Brandon Public Library

The Brandon Public Library will be expanded after a 10-year fundraising effort raised $1.2 million, including a $473,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa, alongside local officials, visited the village of Brandon to celebrate the start of construction.

“This building has a rich history in the community. It first served as a retail business in 1894, then evolved into the village hall and fire department in 1897 and has been the public library’s home since 1913,” Lassa said.

A $473,000 USDA Community Facilities Grant will be used toward a 1,334-square-foot addition to the first floor of the historic building. Other improvements include new lounge seating, reading areas, workspaces, a community meeting room, additional computer workstations, Americans with Disabilities Act compliant restrooms and additional shelf space for more resources.

Completion of the expansion project is tentatively scheduled for June 2025.

Rail improvements funded in Wrightstown, Luxemburg

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced $3.9 million to improve freight rail at facilities in Luxemburg and Wrightstown.

The freight rail improvement projects are being funded by the Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program. FRIIP loans fund rail projects that connect an industry to the national railroad system, make improvements to enhance transportation efficiency, safety and intermodal freight movement, accomplish line rehabilitation and develop the economy.

The Rio Creek Feed Mill was awarded $1.5 million to help fund the construction of a 1.34 million-bushel grain bin, a support tower, loading equipment and unloading equipment at its facility in Luxemburg, located in Kewaunee County. Construction of the bin will improve rail car loading and unloading efficiency, leading to annual transportation cost savings exceeding $600,000 per year after two years. The facility receives inbound carloads of canola meal, soybean meal, corn gluten and distiller grains. Rio Creek Feed Mill is served by the Fox Valley & Lake Superior Rail System.

The village of Wrightstown was awarded $2.43 million to construct 4,172 feet of industry track. Construction will extend an existing village-owned industry lead to Drexel Building Supply and enable Drexel to shift shipping of lumber to the facility from truck to rail, leading to annual transportation cost savings exceeding $800,000 per year after five years. Businesses located on the village’s industry lead are served by the Canadian National Railway.