Progress Lakeshore held its annual Excellence in Economic Development Awards Breakfast and presented the awards listed below:
- The Corporate Investment Award for a business that has made a positive economic impact on the community through capital investment, product innovation, and enhancing the workforce was presented to The Inn on Maritime Bay. The Inn made a multi-million-dollar investment into the hotel breathing new life into downtown Manitowoc, operating now under the Ascend Hotel Collection brand. Honorable mention was presented to Allstates Rigging.
- The Entrepreneurial Achievement Award recognizing an individual or emerging small business was presented to Executive Concierge. The business started as a one-person operation back in 2023, but has grown into a five-person team to keep up with demand for services. Two honorable mentions were presented to CRusched and Mishicot Managers.
- The Neighborhood Development Award was presented to Mike Howe Builders for The Preserve at Lincoln Park. This award recognizes innovative real estate development or reuse projects which are purposely built or adaptively reused to enhance the community. Specifically, this project took a former hospital site that was abandoned since 2013 and transformed it into a single-family home development. Honorable mention was presented to Dollar General.
- The city of Two Rivers was presented with the Community Enhancement Award for the Central Park West 365 project that turned a local park into a hub for year round activities. It included a splash pad and an ice skating rink equipped with artificial ice for consistent use, alongside a new pavilion providing amenities like restrooms and concessions. Honorable mention was presented to CESA 6 College and Career Readiness Division.
- The Economic Accelerator of the Year Award was presented to Brandon Bartow. The award recognizes an individual or organization that has played a key leadership role in economic development – workforce development, entrepreneurship, community collaboration, and/or business retention and expansion. Bartow Builders stated with two people and now employs 25. Bartow has transformed a historic downtown Manitowoc building into a thriving restaurant employing over 40 individuals, diversified with the purchase and expansion of Carpets Plus, and continued downtown property development. Honorable mention was presented to Jamie Dahmer.
