SHAWANO COUNTY ECONOMIC PROGRESS INC

Programs

1. BUSINESS ASSISTANCE RECRUITMENT Attended the New North site consultant events held in conjunction with the NFL draft. The majority of the group was involved in data center development. Continued small business support and consulting work. Entrepreneurship is on the rise and many are seizing the opportunity to become their own boss. A number of new businesses are opening storefronts in Bonduel, Shawano and Wittenberg. Was able to connect a number to finance resources that may be appropriate for their situations. Met with several entrepreneurs interested in getting their fledgling businesses off the ground. The range is from retail to consulting to small manufacturing. Participated in the Menominee economic resiliency project and the final report out session hosted at the College of the Menominee Nation. SCEPI is engaged in several site location requests from new North and from businesses relocating to the county that are in need of space. Archer and Bliss have an offer to purchase K and L Cycle in Bonduel to establish a wholesale floral business. As part of the Thrive Rural Wisconsin Grant, we worked with Wisconsin Main Street to get access to their modeling data for leakages in…

   $87,864 spent
   50% of program spending

2. Housing * A recent study by Fannie Mae shows increased demand for rural housing within commuting distance to urban areas. * Housing will continue to be a priority and there is still plenty of opportunities for further development of both multi and single family housing. * In the Village of Bonduel, Sunrise Court has completed five homes, and the final two homes are substantially finished. * The first 8 plex in Bonduel is enclosed and should be accepting residents in the first quarter of 2026. * The second 8 plex in Bonduel is enclosed and should be accepting residents in the first quarter of 2026. * The Village of Bonduel and Sunrise Court had a groundbreaking on 11 22 2025 for the new lots. This is the first significant single family housing development in the village in nearly two decades. * The Village of Bonduel broke ground on the first of a three phase of Bear Crossing Apartments. * The Village of Bonduel has a developer agreement with Landmark development to construct two eightplexes near the village's industrial park. * The Shawano County portion of Marion is working with SCS to develop some housing in their community. We have initiated meeting with SCS to help master plan…

   $47,446 spent
   27% of program spending

3. Broadband Expansion * Attended Town meetings to explain the BEAD program and the town endorsement process. * Still working through all the recent changes that the PSC needs to deal with and hope to have some resolution in July. * USDA has opened another grant round for fiber to the home and we are working with Cirrinity to determine if there might be an opportunity for the county. * Still tracking the changes to BEAD and waiting for the final grant awards to be announced. The funds, more than $1 billion according to the Governor's release, come through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) which approved Wisconsin's final Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program proposal. As approved, the awards will provide funding to service all BEAD eligible locations throughout Wisconsin with more than $397 million in matching funds provided by the recipients. Additionally, funding will support high speed fiber internet services at Community Anchor Institutions like libraries, schools, and local government and educational facilities. The technologies will be split: 76 percent fiber, 10 percent fixed wireless, and 14 percent satellite.

   $21,087 spent
   12% of program spending

4. Other Activities * A couple of fun notes connected New North and the NFL to the Shawano Barn Quilt Project and the draft has commissioned two barn quilts for the event. * Also NFL draft related assisted in finding accommodation for drivers on Thursday of the draft. * Attended Newcap, New North, WEDA, USDA, Wisconsin Rural Partners and SBA meetings webinars. * Attended WEDA legislative day and discussed potential changes to the TID law with our local elected officials. * Attended Wisconsin Rural Partners, New North, ThedaCare and WEDA monthly meetings. * We are hosting our next Workforce Event Creative Staffing Options on April 9th, 2026. * Attended several meetings with the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Submarine Workforce and Industrial Base working group that Deloitte is leading. * Attended a WEDC workshop on site selection. * Attended the Governor's Conference on Economic Development and was part of a panel discussion on TIF in Wisconsin. * Continued RDA work is started or in process for Bonduel, Marion and Wittenberg. Also the three communities are working on redevelopment plans and establishing an active RDA. * Presented a webinar with Bonduel and WEDC on how to…

   $19,330 spent
   11% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2025 Form 990-EZ. Program spending in total: $175,727.