• The Lakeshore

Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan Counties

Valders, Reedsville join Progress Lakeshore

The village of Valders and the village of Reedsville have officially partnered with Progress Lakeshore.

The communities join current municipal partners: the city of Manitowoc, the city of Kiel, the village of Mishicot and the village of Cleveland.

“Partnering with the villages of Reedsville and Valders enhances our ability to drive economic development, fostering a resilient and forward-thinking economy in Manitowoc County. Together, we are dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities that support businesses, entrepreneurs and our local communities,” said Jamie Zastrow, executive director of Progress Lakeshore.

Through this partnership, the villages will gain access to resources aimed at supporting local businesses, attracting new investment and advancing municipal property development goals.

“We are excited to partner with Progress Lakeshore to strengthen economic growth and enhance opportunities for our community. This collaboration allows us to leverage their expertise, resources and network to attract investment, support local businesses and drive sustainable development,” said Devan Schneider, village of Valders president.

Van Horn opens Kia dealership in Sheboygan

Van Horn Automotive Group opened its new Kia dealership at 3524 Wilgus Ave., Sheboygan April 1.

The new dealership spans 23,500 square feet on the main floor with an additional 4,200-square-foot second level. The dealership and surrounding lot will occupy a total space of 3.5 acres, with enough room to park more than 200 vehicles.

There are private and semi-private consultation spaces, a full-service lounge with comfortable seating, a refreshment station and a large video screen.

The dealership’s service department features an 18-bay climate-controlled shop, a two-bay indoor service reception lane and three service writing workstations. It is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and staffed by factory-trained technicians.

“We are thrilled to open the doors of Van Horn Kia of Sheboygan and welcome customers into a dealership that reflects our dedication to excellence,” said Jeff Niesen, president of Van Horn Automotive Group. “With this new facility, we can provide an upgraded and more seamless experience for our customers while continuing to grow with the Kia brand. We look forward to serving the Sheboygan community with industry-leading vehicles and services.”

Van Horn Ford of Sheboygan will continue to operate exclusively as a Ford dealership at 3624 Kohler Memorial Drive. Kia owners will now receive all sales and service at the new Van Horn Kia of Sheboygan location on 3524 Wilgus Ave. Customers who previously visited Van Horn Motors of Sheboygan for used vehicle sales will now be directed to Van Horn Budget Auto, while Motors service customers will transition to the Kia of Sheboygan service department.

• Interstate 41 Corridor

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

HSHS plans $270M capital investment in Green Bay hospitals

Hospital Sisters Health System leaders will invest $270 million in strategic capital over the next three to five years to expand and remodel HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center and HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, both in Green Bay.

“This is much more than an investment in our brick and mortar,” said Wisconsin Market President and CEO Bob Erickson. “This investment is Hospital Sisters Health System’s response to a need for greater access to health care in Green Bay. With projected population growth, an aging population and a growing number of patients traveling to Green Bay from afar to seek health care, we see a significant need to open more access to patients who want to receive care from us.”

HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, located at 1726 Shawano Ave., will be the site of the largest expansion.

Preliminary design plans include a new tower on the existing campus that would allow for more intermediate and intensive care beds. Early design plans also call for additional operating and procedural rooms, wider corridors and spaces that offer more natural light, plus additional parking and entry to make navigating the hospital campus easier.

Construction at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center is expected to begin summer 2025 and be complete in 2028.

Remodeling plans for HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, 835 S. Van Buren St., are still being determined and will be announced at a later date. HSHS St. Vincent Hospital is home to a Level II Trauma Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center, a Women and Infants Center, and Green Bay’s only children’s hospital — HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital.

BayCare Foundation awards grant for mental health care

BayCare Clinic Foundation awarded a $101,570 grant to Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, Inc. to support its initiative to increase access to mental health care.

The grant will fund a multifaceted initiative that provides barrier-free counseling services to victims of crime, survivors of sexual assault and abuse, youth facing multiple obstacles, and community members confronting financial and language barriers. The project also includes strategic investments in workforce development, such as a clinical internship and school‑based mental health collaborations, to nurture the next generation of behavioral health providers. The program aims to serve at least 650 additional individuals while significantly expanding therapeutic sessions and clinical training opportunities.

“This grant is a game-changer for our community as the project leverages the strengths of our clinical team at Family Services as well as those of our critical partners, like Casa ALBA Melanie Hispanic Resource Center of Greater Green Bay, to extend critical mental health services to those who need them most, all while training tomorrow’s mental health professionals. We are honored to partner with BayCare Clinic Foundation in this essential work,” said Tana Koss, vice president of programs and strategy at Family Services.

Services under this project will be offered at multiple locations, including Family Services Counseling Clinics in Green Bay and Menasha, Casa ALBA Melanie Hispanic Resource Center of Greater Green Bay, the Willow Tree Cornerstone Child Advocacy Center, and through school-based programs across 17 sites.

• West Central

Green Lake, Marquette, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara Counties

Condo project moves forward in Green Lake

Condominiums will be built at the former Bayview Motel site in Green Lake, according to the Ripon Commonwealth Press.

The Green Lake Plan Commission approved Legacy by the Bay Condominiums site plans at 439 Lake St. The project will include seven townhomes and 10 condominiums and is expected to produce $20 million in new tax revenue for the city.

The Green Lake Common Council also approved the formation of a Tax Incremental District (TID) that includes the Legacy by the Bay project.

The individual units could sell for more than $1 million.

The first units are expected to be available in 2026, with construction continuing through 2029.

ThedaCare Shawano facility earns recognition

ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano has been named among the 2025 Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals by the Chartis Center for Rural Health.

ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano is among eight Wisconsin hospitals in the top 100. According to the Chartis Center for Rural Health, the determining factors for recognition include an objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging publicly available data, the list is utilized nationwide by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

• The Northwoods

Florence, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto Counties

Developer purchases Marinette’s Bay Area Hospital site

Tycore Built in Green Bay will develop housing on the site of the former Bay Area Hospital in Marinette.

Tycore purchased the 20-acre property at the corner of Shore Drive and University Drive for $900,000 and will develop Shipyard Estates with 174 apartments and 22 single-family homes. The apartments will be built in the first phase of the project, which has an estimated value of $33 million. The property is part of a Tax Incremental District (TID) that will help cover the costs of infrastructure for the development.

Construction is expected to start this year with completion of 63 apartment units. Construction of single-family homes will start with six homes and continue until completion.

Tycore has similar housing developments underway in 10 Northeast Wisconsin communities including Howard, Grand Chute, Combined Locks, Luxemburg, Pulaski, Waupaca and Manitowoc. Tycore will construct 40 single-family homes and 168 apartments as well as three commercial sites in Manitowoc as part of the Mid-Cities Mall and Edgewater Plaza properties project. In Waupaca, the company is building 32 single-family homes and 124 units of multifamily housing in phase one of the River North project.

Emergency nano loans offered in Oconto County

TEDCOR, the economic development organization in Oconto County, announced a new Emergency Nano Loan program.

The temporary program will be open until July 30 and aims to provide swift financial relief to businesses reliant on outdoor recreation activities that have been negatively impacted by weather and lack of snow.

“We recognize the challenges our local hospitality businesses face during unpredictable winter seasons,” said Jayme Sellen, executive director of TEDCOR. “This Emergency Nano Loan program is designed to provide quick access to vital funds, helping these businesses navigate through these difficult times.”

Interested businesses are encouraged to visit tedcor.org to learn more about the program details and to apply or contact TEDCOR at 920-834-6969 or jsellen@tedcor.org.