• West Central
Green Lake, Marquette, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara Counties
22 nonprofits receive grants from Waupaca Foundation
The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region’s Waupaca Area Community Foundation affiliate has awarded grants totaling $117,000 to 22 area nonprofits to help enhance the region’s quality of life.
“Donors have once again helped make this possible. With the support of our generous community, we have been able to grant out these funds to continue to make the Waupaca area a great place to work and live,” said Dick Phillipsen, chair of the Waupaca Area Community Foundation advisory board.
Annual grants of up to $7,500 are given to support a wide range of projects and programs benefiting people of the greater Waupaca area. Grant dollars are generated from fundraising activities — including an annual fundraising dinner — donors’ charitable funds, and the endowed Waupaca Area Community Foundation Fund.
• Interstate 41 Corridor
Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, Winnebago Counties
Brillion Works begins housing project
Brillion Works LLC launched two new development projects to restore a section of Spring Creek and construct a 42-unit apartment complex on a portion of the 144-acre site abandoned after closure of the Brillion Iron Works Foundry.
Construction of a new apartment complex on the 200 block of Parkway Drive has begun. The first phase of the three-phase project will create 42 residences and welcome tenants by next fall. Phases two and three will introduce two additional buildings with similar numbers of units. Units in the new building will be competitively priced and aligned to market rates.
Brillion Works, along with two partners, is funding the project. Construction is being completed by Duquaine Development Inc. of Green Bay.
A section of Spring Creek that currently flows beneath the former foundry’s foundation will be “daylighted” and brought above ground to its original state. With guidance from Stantec environmental services, the segment between Francis Street and Park Avenue will be rerouted slightly east to align with the natural floodplain before reconnecting with its existing path near East Water Street.
No taxpayer dollars collected at the local level will fund the project. Of the estimated $3 million price tag, most of the expenses are covered by grants with the remaining portion funded privately by Brillion Works LLC.
VPI to merge with Viroqua nonprofit
VPI, Inc. announced it will merge with VARC, Inc., a nonprofit based in Viroqua, in November.
By joining forces, VPI and VARC will enhance their services, broaden their reach and strengthen their support for individuals with disabilities across Wisconsin.
By combining complementary strengths — ranging from licensed child care, adult day services, supported employment, early intervention services, trauma-informed mental health care and school-to-work transition programming — the new-look organization will provide a comprehensive continuum of care to more individuals throughout the state.
The expanded reach will deliver coordinated support across Vernon, La Crosse, Richland, Sauk, Juneau, Columbia, Adams, Racine, Outagamie, Calumet, Winnebago, Waupaca, Fond du Lac and Brown counties.
• The Lakeshore
Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan Counties
Health care clinics merge
Lakeshore Community Health Care and Noble Community Clinics merged under the name Noble Community Clinics.
Both organizations are long-standing Federally Qualified Health Centers. They provide a broad range of services including medical, dental, behavioral health and pharmacy, serving both urban and rural communities as well as agricultural workers across 15 counties.
“This new partnership is about integrating our two health centers, building on our shared values and ensuring people can get the right care, at the right time, in the right way,” said Laura Waldvogel, CEO of Noble Community Clinics.
Officials said the merger is not driven by financial need. The combined organization will invest in workforce development and provider retention, expand services to meet changing community needs, modernize facilities and adopt innovative care models that improve patient outcomes.
Kristin Stearns, CEO of Lakeshore Community Health Care, said, “Together, we’ll be able to meet the needs of our patients in new and innovative ways, and attract and retain mission-driven staff, ensuring our patients continue to receive the compassionate, accessible care they depend on.”
The unified organization is expected to launch early next year, pending federal approval.
Kohler to add golf course at Blackwolf Run
Kohler Company plans to add a 14-hole golf course to its Blackwolf Run complex in the village of Kohler in Sheboygan County.
Construction is planned to begin this fall, with a fall 2027 targeted opening date. The name of the course and its designer will be announced soon, officials said.
Blackwolf Run opened in 1988 and consists of two 18-hole golf courses — the River Course and the Meadow Valleys Course — and a 10-hole par 3 course called The Baths, which opened in 2021 and also features a two-acre putting course. The River Course and Meadow Valleys Course have both been ranked among the best public golf courses in the country. In addition, Blackwolf Run played host to the U.S. Women’s Open in 1998 and 2012.
The new 14-hole golf course would be built on a 47-acre site owned by Kohler Co. and located directly west of the Meadow Valleys Course. It will be a walking-only, multi-loop golf course (which allows the same holes to be played in two or more different directions or routings), with par 3, par 4 and par 5 holes.
“Kohler is committed to growing the game of golf and expanding access to more individuals at all skill levels,” said Dirk Willis, vice president of golf, landscape and retail for Kohler Hospitality. “Each of the last five years has been record-setting in terms of golf rounds at our Kohler, Wisconsin resort, and we project this strong growth to continue. This additional golf course will provide another level of enjoyment for guests and further cement our position as a leading global golf destination.”
• The Northwoods
Florence, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto Counties
Ground broken for school projects in Marion, Shawano
Ground was broken for school referendum projects in Marion and Shawano.
The majority of the Marion project’s $14.98 million budget is dedicated for work at Marion Elementary School to accommodate the move of the middle school from the high school building, as well as infrastructure upgrades at the elementary school and a new secure entry at Marion High School.
Construction started with a new commons and kitchen addition at the elementary school, and will continue throughout the school year. All construction projects are scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
In Shawano, the groundbreaking marked the start of work at Shawano Community High School. One portion of the $51.2 million referendum for maintenance and upgrades will feature: enhancements to classrooms, fine arts and other learning spaces; expansion of fitness and related areas; relocation of the district office to Olga Brener Intermediate School; and a significant upgrade to the athletics field.
The district is partnering with Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc. for the referendum projects at all four of the district’s campuses, including the primary, intermediate and middle schools, which broke ground earlier this year.
Fincantieri has added hundreds of jobs in Wisconsin this year
Fincantieri Marine Group has expanded its workforce at its U.S. shipyards by more than 600 employees.
Company officials said the increase marks a recovery in the U.S. shipbuilding industry. The company has a goal of reaching 2,700 employees in the United States by year-end.
This workforce expansion primarily involves Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette (approximately 400 new employees) and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay (200 new employees).
The company has invested more than $800 million in the U.S. industrial base, with over half specifically allocated to upgrading and expanding the Marinette yard in Wisconsin.
Fincantieri has introduced advanced technologies to enhance safety and efficiency, including wearable exo‑skeletons, air-purifying welding helmets, collaborative robotics and digital production tools. The company also highlights its partnerships with local suppliers, educational institutions and communities as part of its growth strategy.
