DOOR COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS ADVANCEMENT AND ADVOCACY IN 2024, DCEDC WAS IN THE SECOND YEAR OF ITS 2023-2025 STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH FOCUSES ON PROVIDING PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES AND SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE SUCCESS OF ALL BUSINESSES IN DOOR COUNTY, REGARDLESS OF SIZE OR SECTOR. HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2024 INCLUDE: CONDUCTED THE 2024 BUSINESS SURVEY, WHICH GARNERED 75 RESPONSES, AND BEGAN RETENTION VISITS; CONDUCTED A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE; RE-LAUNCHED THE ATTAINABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE; WORKED ON POLICY ISSUES SUCH AS CHILDCARE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY; ADVOCATED FOR DOOR COUNTY'S INCLUSION IN THE 2024 LACK OF WINTER WEATHER EIDL PROGRAM; OFFERED FINANCING PROGRAMS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES; SUPPORTED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN BUSINESS BY CONDUCTING THE HIGH SCHOOL JOB FAIR AND MANUFACTURING DAY TOURS, AND ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY TO STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS THROUGH THE BUSINESS AND EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE. ASSISTED COMMUNITIES WITH GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR BROADBAND ENHANCEMENTS; CONDUCTED AND PRESENTED STUDY TOWARD SECONDARY RESIDENT IMPACT OF BROADBAND ENHANCEMENTS; CREATED RENTAL HOUSING INVENTORY; HELPED COMMUNITIES ADD HOUSING UNITS TO INVENTORY; REFRESHED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE TO CONVEY INFORMATION REGARDING COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND TOOLS; INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS PRESENCE TO CONNECT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO OPPORTUNITIES.ENTREPRENEURIAL GROWTH: GRADUATED EIGHT STUDENTS THROUGH THE ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAM; CONDUCTED THE SECOND LIGHTHOUSE LAUNCH PITCH EVENT; ASSISTED COMMUNITIES WITH GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR BROADBAND ENHANCEMENTS; SERVED 59 ENTREPRENEURS WITH INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES, SUCH AS BUSINESS PLANNING; OFFERED EVENTS AND PROGRAMS FOR ENTREPRENEURS AT THE DCEDC BUSINESS CENTER; OFFERED FINANCING PROGRAMS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.BUSINESS ADVANCEMENT AND ADVOCACY: CONDUCTED THE 2024 BUSINESS SURVEY, WHICH GARNERED 75 RESPONSES, AND BEGAN RETENTION VISITS; CONDUCTED A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE; ADVOCATED FOR DOOR COUNTY'S INCLUSION IN THE 2024 LACK OF WINTER WEATHER EIDL PROGRAM; OFFERED FINANCING PROGRAMS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES; SUPPORTED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN BUSINESS BY CONDUCTING THE HIGH SCHOOL JOB FAIR AND MANUFACTURING DAY TOURS, AND ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY TO STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS THROUGH THE BUSINESS AND EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE.SUSTAINABLE LIVING: CONDUCTED AND PRESENTED STUDY TOWARD SECONDARY RESIDENT IMPACT OF BROADBAND ENHANCEMENTS; CREATED RENTAL HOUSING INVENTORY; HELPED COMMUNITIES ADD HOUSING UNITS TO INVENTORY; RE-LAUNCHED THE ATTAINABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE; WORKED ON POLICY ISSUES SUCH AS CHILDCARE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY.COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT: REFRESHED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE TO CONVEY INFORMATION REGARDING COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND TOOLS; INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS PRESENCE TO CONNECT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO OPPORTUNITIES.

BUSINESS ATTRACTION, RETENTION AND EXPANSION - DCEDC WORKS TO RETAIN CURRENT BUSINESSES ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES IN DOOR COUNTY AND ASSISTS THEM TOWARD EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE EDUCATION AND FACILITATION REGARDING EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDING LABOR DATA AND PROJECTIONS TOWARD MAKING BUSINESS DECISIONS AND PROVIDING SITE SELECTION SERVICES FOR EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES. DCEDC ALSO WORKS WITH DOOR COUNTY COMMUNITIES AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT DOOR COUNTY, INCLUDING SPACES INTENDED FOR RETAIL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USERS. DCEDC MARKETS AVAILABLE SITES, WORKS WITH THE CITY OF STURGEON BAY TO PROMOTE LOCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY'S INDUSTRIAL PARK, AND PROMOTES THE AREA FOR NEW BUSINESS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.