"When this is all over, we look to go from 109 employees to somewhere around 155," said Company President Jim Feeny, who also serves as President of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce.
Now the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce and Economic Progress Incorporated are working on a five-year plan to create one-thousand new jobs. "Shawano Country Vision 2017" is working to raise one-point-27 million dollars to market the area to existing and new businesses. So far, with the help of 44-investors, $758,220 has been raised for that joint effort. That'll help fund a U-W Extension Service study to target skill sets that employers are looking for.
"Once that's identified we're going to utilize those skill sets in the business attraction piece," said Dan Miller, Senior Bank Manager, Associated Bank and President of Shawano County Economic Progress, Inc. (SCEPI)
"We are not going to sit by and see how things shake out in Madison or in Washington. We are going to proactively move forward and help our local businesses," said Nancy Smith, Executive Director of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce and SCEPI hope by creating 1,000 jobs that pay at least $16.06 per-hour, that would add about $22-million to the area economy. E
ven before "Shawano Country Vision 2017" solidified, there were already signs that this area was already very attractive to businesses."Agriculture, another great example that gives great strength. The tribes. The casinos. The entertainment aspect.," Feeny said.
Local 5's Terry Kovarik has the story.
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