• West Central

Green Lake, Marquette, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara Counties

Shawano invests in housing development

The city of Shawano is using $750,000 in tax incremental financing to fund a housing development on 31 acres, purchased by Kolby Construction of Birnamwood, that will be annexed by the city.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be $2.2 million; it will include 31 residential lots on the south side of the city near the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College campus.

Shawano would be able to recover its investment of TIF funds through the increased value of the taxes generated by the property after it is developed. The city’s investment will be for streets, sewers and water infrastructure.

Kolby Construction owner Kolby Muscha has been constructing homes in the Wausau and central Wisconsin area for 25 years.

Donation will complete Green Lake to Ripon Trail

A $200,000 donation from Suzanne Smith in memory of her husband Bary Roy Smith will complete Lauree’s Trail between Green Lake and Ripon.

Lauree Renaud founded Green Lake Greenways in 2008 in an effort to bring bike and walking trails to the area. She died in 2018, but Greenways has continued to build trails and trail access.

The first phase of the trail was completed in 2020; phase two was completed in August 2022. The Oberreich Fund donated $150,000 to the project for phase two.

The final phase, which Green Lake Greenways hopes to have completed by 2025, will expand the trail through both Green Lake and Ripon.

It is estimated that a total of $600,000 will be needed to complete the final phase of the trail. When completed, the trail will stretch from Koro Road in Ripon to the north side of Green Lake.

• The Northwoods

Florence, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto Counties

Rainbow House receives $45,558 grant

Rainbow House Domestic Abuse Services received a $45,558 grant from the Basic Needs Giving Partnership of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, a funding collaborative that includes funds from the U.S. Venture Open Fund for Basic Needs, the J.J. Keller Foundation and other community donors.

This grant has been provided annually for the past three years to support the operations of the Rainbow House Oconto outreach office.

Rainbow House provides for the safety and empowerment of all abuse victims and their children. Services include prevention, education and information to communities, families and schools.

“We are so grateful for the support of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation,” said Jessica Honish, outreach and legal advocate for Rainbow House Oconto. “This grant continues to assist survivors and their families by removing barriers that limit them from experiencing lives free of domestic abuse. These funds have provided security systems, rental assistance and attorney retainers, among various other financial support to many families in Oconto County.”

Wisconsin Innovation Awards finalists announced

Twenty-five companies, including two organizations from Northeast Wisconsin, have been selected as finalists for the 2023 Wisconsin Innovation Awards.

Roving Blue of Lena and Community Clothes Closet of Menasha are among the finalists. Roving Blue, founded by Marianna “Yana” DeMyer, makes portable products that use ozone to kill bacteria and viruses in water. Community Clothes Closet is a basic needs nonprofit organization that provides free clothing to people in need.

In total, more than 300 businesses, products and services from around the state were nominated. The finalists were determined by a panel of 19 statewide industry experts, with winners to be announced at the annual awards ceremony Oct. 10. Nominations spanned across the state of Wisconsin, representing startups, organizations and established businesses of all sizes and industries. More details on the program and event are available at wisconsininnovationawards.com.

• The Lakeshore

Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan Counties

Coolest Coast teams with harbor towns to promote Great Lakes

The Wisconsin Harbor Towns Association and The Coolest Coast announced a partnership called “Coolest Coast – Wisconsin” aimed at amplifying tourism and promotion of the Great Lakes communities as a comprehensive destination experience.

The organizations recognize that visitors may cruise the lakeshore region by ship, car, boat, RV, motorcycle, bicycle or motorcoach, and that they have varied interests to explore and experience along the Michigan and Superior coasts.

Recognizing that travelers are not concerned about municipal boundaries when visiting an area, The Coolest Coast – Wisconsin partnership strives to increase state and national exposure to Wisconsin’s coastal communities and unique coastal experiences encouraging residents and visitors alike to explore, experience, plan and visit by connecting communities with quick access to reliable information that will enhance the travel experience and spark ideas. Itineraries feature varied and unique activities, rich histories, beaches, museums, natural beauty, charters, tours, craft brew destinations, wineries, sweet treats, special events and more.

Strategic partners include Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Circle Wisconsin, Travel Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Sea Grant – University of Wisconsin, the National Park Service and Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission, among others.

Northern Sky Theater receives $500,000 gift

Northern Sky Theater launched a capital campaign after receiving a $500,000 challenge gift from anonymous donors.

The “Burn the Mortgage – Build the Bridge” campaign aims to retire the balance of its construction loan debt and start a self-managed endowment to ensure the company’s long-term sustainability.

The construction loan debt portion of the challenge amounts to $175,000. When those funds are matched, the company will have raised $350,000 to be applied directly to the mortgage on the creative center that was built in 2019.

Once matched, the remaining goal of the campaign — $325,000 — will allow Northern Sky to seed a self-managed endowment with a beginning balance of $650,000, essentially building the “bridge” to the company’s future.

Northern Sky has already taken steps to establish this new endowment by creating an endowment trust document and electing a board of trustees.

“While this opportunity came as a wonderful surprise to Northern Sky, we recognize that this campaign is the next step in our journey to become the mature institution that will weather anything the future holds,” said Holly Feldman, Northern Sky’s associate managing director. “We are grateful to our anonymous donors for their ingenuity and for allowing their gift to inspire others to join them.”

Northern Sky Theater’s Burn the Mortgage – Build the Bridge Campaign has already reached 50% of its $500,000 goal.

Powerboat races fuel $4.7 million economic impact

According to preliminary estimates, the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge brought in $4.7 million in visitor spending to Sheboygan, mayor Ryan Sorenson said during a city council meeting Aug. 31.

Sheboygan was selected to host the inaugural Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge, a powerboat racing event and festival organized by Powerboat P1, the Formula One Championship Series, and Mercury Racing of Fond du Lac. The event held Aug. 11-13 featured the top categories of U.S. powerboat racing, including the UIM Class 1 World Championship, F1 Powerboat Championship and various offshore racing classes. More than 40 race teams participated with competitors from around the world, including Australia, Italy, Sweden, Canada and Norway.

In addition to viewing the races, visitors were able to meet race teams and celebrate with a block party. The event drew an estimated 43,000 people to Sheboygan.

Race organizers have not announced any plans for future events.

• Interstate 41 Corridor

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

Universities receive nearly $1 million to fund water research

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will receive $478,275 for projects to increase research and training opportunities for high school and undergraduate students, as well as address emerging water contaminants such as PFAS and agricultural water management issues such as phosphorus pollution.

The funding is part of a statewide initiative, backed by the Wisconsin State Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers, to tackle what are being termed Wisconsin’s “Grand Water Challenges.”

Funding includes support for student-involved projects at UWGB that are studying phosphorus in streams and rivers and mitigation of PFAS contamination in groundwater, as well as pre-college freshwater experiences and building capacity for water careers and education.

Additionally, The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin has awarded $505,000 for a project led by UW Oshkosh’s Greg Kleinheinz.

Kleinheinz is the principal investigator for a training effort at the Environmental Research and Innovation Center, where he serves as director. He also is involved in two other projects funded by the collaborative.

Funding will support expansion of summer research programs that allow students from Wisconsin and across the nation to conduct freshwater research at one of the UW System campuses, summer programs for high school students to educate them about careers in the water industry, and university-led research projects that help fulfill community and government agency needs for water quality monitoring.

Numerous projects will address PFAS — “forever chemicals” used in everyday products that have been shown to cause significant health issues in humans and which have been identified at high levels in drinking water throughout the state.

SSM Health contributes nearly $914 million to Fond du Lac area economy

According to a new study conducted by Envision Greater Fond du Lac, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac has a $914 million annual economic impact on the Fond du Lac community.

SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac employs nearly 3,000 people and has a total job impact of more than 4,600 in Fond du Lac.

“SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac’s impact goes well beyond the impressive employees and providers, as the impact study shows,” said Sadie Vander Velde, president and CEO of Envision Greater Fond du Lac. “A wide number of indirect jobs in the entertainment, retail and service industries are supported by SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac. As their organization continues to grow, our region’s economy grows with them and the quality of life in Fond du Lac improves.”

The new study also shows that SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac’s impact on retail activity in the region remains strong, accounting for more than $135 million in community retail sales and $17 million in property, sales and income taxes.

SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac has three hospitals (Fond du Lac, Ripon, Waupun), 17 clinic locations, six retail pharmacies/prescription centers, three long-term care facilities, full-reference laboratories, home medical equipment, home care/hospice, adult day services, cancer care and more.

SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac supports community benefit programs in the amount of $1 million annually.

“Wisconsin hospitals and health systems — like SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac — are well known for providing high-quality and accessible care for Wisconsin residents, helping to keep our communities healthier,” said Katherine Vergos, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital president. “They provide critical health care and emergency services; contribute substantial resources to communities through jobs, tax revenue and capital improvements; and are among the largest employers across the state.”