Econ. Update 08/16: Nemak Renovation Approved for New Contract; LTC Secures $2.87M Grant; Plans for a Sheboygan Riverfront Boutique Hotel; Gov. Evers Announces $70M in Grants for WI Lodging Industry

A report on economic opportunity occurring in Sheboygan County and what it means for the local economy

Economic Progress Updates

August 16, 2021

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Nemak will renovate their Gateway Dr. facility to satisfy production needs for their new contract. Nemak will hire 43 full-time employees with a starting annual salary of $78,132 to support the contract.

Economic Progress Updates

Nemak Updating Gateway Drive Warehouse for New Contract

Sheboygan Sun — Nemak has been recently awarded a contract with one of the country's largest electric vehicle companies through 2027 and will be renovating its underutilized warehouse facility at 4464 Gateway Drive to meet new production need.

The existing site is owned by Fifth Generation Properties and is leased to Nemak, which currently uses the site as a warehouse facility. The plans, approved in Tuesday's City Plan Commission meeting, state that the property will continue to be used as a warehouse facility but will now include landscape-screened outdoor storage and manufacturing/production area.

Due to confidentiality agreements, the name of the company cannot be disclosed by Nemak, but the project requires a $33 million investment into the site for equipment and site upgrades. The contract is set to last "at a minimum through 2027," but the upgrades set up Nemak for further contracts or an extension. To support the contract, Nemak is adding 43 full-time hourly employees with a minimum compensation of $78,132/year including benefits.

Temporary locations have been set up to begin bringing in equipment, so developers expect the first production parts to be shipped by the middle to end of September with full-production capacity planned for the first quarter of 2022.

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Congratulations, Nemak!

$2.87 Million COVID-Related Grant Awarded to Lakeshore Technical College

Cleveland, WI — Current and future students impacted by COVID-19 will benefit from a $2.87 million competitive grant awarded to Lakeshore Technical College – the largest in the college’s history. The grant was secured through the U.S. Department of Education’s Institutional Resilience and Expanded Postsecondary Opportunity program. LTC’s portion is the largest amount awarded in Wisconsin and among the largest awarded in the country.

Funds will be used to address gaps created by the onset of the novel coronavirus at LTC and in the local K-12 system.

"Our college’s faculty and staff have all gone above and beyond to meet student and community needs during this pandemic. Being awarded the largest competitive grant in the college’s history is a direct reflection of their hard work and mission focus," said LTC President Dr. Paul Carlsen. "These funds will be leveraged to have a transformational impact on our student experience."

LTC has been offering safe in-person instruction since fall 2020. The college also offers online, iFlex®, and competency-based learning options.

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Congratulations, Lakeshore Technical College!

Mary Motiska to Join Inspire Sheboygan County

Sheboygan County, WI — Mary Motiska, The SCEDC's Design and Marketing Coordinator, has accepted a position at Inspire Sheboygan County, a 501c(3) organization that connects students to careers in our community and businesses to their future workforce. Motiska's last day at the SCEDC was Friday, August 13th.

Motiska will serve as Inspire's Communication and Engagement Manager beginning August 20th. In her new role, Motiska will be creating content and overseeing social media campaigns, recruiting career mentors and employers, and identifying Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives to provide support to underserved students.

Motiska has been with the SCEDC for 4 years and worked on various initiatives and projects that have contributed to the development and success of the SCEDC.

Motiska said, "While I will be moving on to a new position, I deeply appreciate all the valuable experiences I have gained over the course of my 4 years. It has been a pleasure."

We wish you all the best in your future professional endeavors and thank you for the impact you have made here at the SCEDC, Mary! To reach out to Mary at Inspire, contact Mmotiska@inspiresheboygancounty.org.

Blue Harbor Resort to Host Fall Lakeshore Community Job Fair

Sheboygan County, WI — The Lakeshore Community Job Fair will take place Tuesday October 12, 2021 at Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan, WI from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registration for the event will open soon at lakeshorecommunityjobfair.org.

The Lakeshore Community Job Fair is a partnership among several organizations in Sheboygan and Manitowoc counties to help employers connect with job seekers, by organizing two community job fairs, one in the fall and one in the spring.

Learn more

Sheboygan County has jobs that fit your needs; find them at the Lakeshore Community Job Fair this October!

A New $3 Million Boutique Hotel Along the Sheboygan River Could be Built by Summer 2022

Sheboygan Press — A new hotel could be going up where N. 15th Street meets the Sheboygan River.

Watershed Development LLC has proposed the development of a 25-room boutique hotel and a small event space, to be considered Tuesday by the City Plan Commission. The project is estimated to cost over $3 million, according to the application.

The Watershed Hotel would consist of two stories and span 9,600 square feet. There would also be a three-season outside pavilion that could seat up to 150 guests. The hotel would employ approximately six full-time employees.

The location of the hotel was chosen because of its proximity to the Sheboygan River, downtown Sheboygan, and the views of Kiwanis Park, according to the application. The land is vacant.

"[The hotel] will allow improvement of the vacant property, which otherwise would likely remain vacant for some time, fill a need for quality hotel accommodations and add to the commercial quality of the surrounding properties," wrote Paul Weaver, a member of Watershed Development LLC, on the application.

Construction on the hotel is expected to begin in September of this year and be completed by June 2022.

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Watershed Development LLC proposed plans for The Watershed Hotel, a 25-room boutique hotel that would sit on the Sheboygan River and employ six full-time employees.

Meet the Startups Presenting at the 2021 Summerfest Tech Pitch Competition

Wisconsin Inno — Six startups — including three based in southeastern Wisconsin — will present at the Summerfest Tech pitch competition on Sept. 8 at the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage at Henry Maier Festival Park.

The local contenders are Milwaukee-based Investii and Vaia, as well as Sheboygan's Debtle. Three other startups from around the country are also pitching.

The first-place winner will receive $20,000 and the second- and third-place winners will each get $2,500. Young Enterprising Society, a local organization that promotes entrepreneurship, is hosting the competition, which is sponsored by Molson Coors Beverage Co.

Among the six companies vying for the prizes is Sheboygan's Debtle. Debtle was co-founded by Stephanie and Houston Hoskins in 2019. Debtle's platform is designed to help organizations negotiate and settle invoices directly with their customers.

The presentations will occur in person at 2 p.m. on the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee but will also be available virtually — registration is free on the Summerfest Tech website.

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Congratulations to Sheboygan County's Debtle on the exciting opportunity!

Gov. Evers Announces More Than $70 Million in Grants Distributed to Wisconsin's Lodging Industry

Madison, WI — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that more than $70 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were distributed to members of Wisconsin's lodging industry. Grants of up to $2 million were released on Friday to 888 lodging businesses around the state to help them offset some of the losses they incurred during the pandemic.

"Members of Wisconsin's lodging industry are essential to tourism in our state, and they were hit very hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Tourists and residents alike depend on their services when visiting or traveling around our beautiful state. We appreciate the work they've done under difficult circumstances. We are pleased to be able to provide a shot in the arm to an industry that needs it," said Governor Tony Evers.

Despite the pandemic, Wisconsin’s tourism industry supported more than 157,000 jobs across the state and had a $17.3 billion impact on the state economy in 2020. So far in 2021, the industry is seeing recovery above 2020 numbers as travelers make up for missed vacations while reconnecting with friends and family.

Lodging grants were funded by ARPA and administered by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR). The DOR will continue releasing lodging grants to additional lodging businesses in the coming days.

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Grants of up to $2 million were distributed on Friday to 888 lodging companies around the state to help them recover from pandemic-related losses.

Local Courses to Host 101st State Open Golf Tournament

WHBL — For the first time in its 100-year history a Wisconsin State Open golf event will be hosted on two courses at two different golf venues. The 101st Suter Ward Group at Morgan Stanley Wisconsin State Open next Monday through Wednesday will be played on the Meadow Valleys Course at Blackwolf Run in Kohler and at Sheboygan’s Pine Hills Country Club.

The Assistant Executive Director of the Wisconsin Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America Chris Hoel expressed excitement at expanding the field from the usual 156 to 204 players this year, something made possible by having two different venues that he called "two of the best courses in the state."

This is the second of three events in the 2021 Wisconsin State Open Series, and is the oldest and largest of the three championships. Past winners include PGA Tour veterans Jerry Kelly, Steve Stricker and Mark Wilson.

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Kohler's Black Wolf Run and Sheboygan's Pine Hills Country Club will host Wisconsin's 101st State Open August 16-18.

T-Mobile Launches Hometown Grant Program, Commits Up to $25 Million

T-Mobile — T-Mobile is committing up to $25 million over the next five years through their Hometown Grants program to support small communities across the United States by funding community projects.

T-Mobile is focusing on revitalizing community spaces in towns with 50,000 people or less. Submit a proposal for a town project of your choice, and if selected, use the funds to get started. For example, you could implement tech upgrades at your library, refresh a local park, or break ground on a new place where neighbors can connect.

T-Mobile partnered with Smart Growth America and Main Street America, two consulting partners with a combined experience of over 60 years working to help build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities. With their Hometown Grant program, they are investing big in small towns by awarding up to 100 towns a year with project funding—up to $50,000 each.

Learn more

Submit a proposal for a local project through T-Mobile's Hometown Grant Program to earn up to $50,000 for your community project.