July 2005
Volume 1, Issue 1
Download the .pdf of this
newsletter
About .pdf files
This newsletter follows closely the first annual report
presented to the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors. The report focused
on “Actions and Outcomes.” As a “new department” I felt it important to
deliver the news not only about the planning and assessment already
completed, but also, to cite the actions taken as well as outcomes. I have
not included the full text of the annual report here as it is available both
bound and on our web-site.
The
Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium’s Board of Directors has
been instrumental in the department’s successes. It has fashioned the core
department process into a hybrid of an action/outcome model with a dose of
appreciative inquiry theory to guide the programs and services undertaken by
the department.
Below I
have outlined some of the programs and then listed actions and outcomes
associated thereto.
Promoting a Quality and Stable Workforce
JCEDC works
closely with agencies and organizations to insure that Jefferson County
employers have access to a quality and stable workforce. This includes our
being an active member of the Workforce Development Center Steering
Committee/OSO. As a member, we participate in planning on workforce
development issues geared toward Jefferson County and its business
community. In addition, we act as an advisor to the business service
committee for the Workforce Development Center.
One
component to having a qualified workforce is that of education. Our
department partners with the University of Wisconsin-Extension and Madison
Area Technical College in an effort to bring information and programs to
residents and the workforce of Jefferson County. In an effort to promote
education and skills enhancement to the youth segment of the workforce, we
work with businesses to review, assess and hopefully utilize the Jefferson
County Youth Apprentice Program. Through our efforts Sussek Machine in
Waterloo has incorporated the Youth Apprentice program into its
organization.
We assisted
the Jefferson County Literacy Council in receiving a $1000.00 grant to
purchase learning assessment material which will enhance literacy of
Jefferson County residents and thereby improve the quality of the workforce.
The JCEDC
utilizes the Home Consortium’s resources to enhance the stability of the
workforce as well as improving the quality of life for the citizens of
Jefferson County. As a participating member on the Home Consortium board we
look to programs which help achieve the goals of workforce stability and
quality of life. Through partnering with and utilization of various
sub-programs discussed below we are able to assist larger numbers of the
workforce within Jefferson County. The sub-programs and activities include
the following:
As the Administrator
of the Jefferson County Home Rehabilitation we provided assistance to
households which homes are in need of rehabilitation. JCEDC, in its first
months under this program, disbursed $6301.00 for the 2004 calendar year
with approximately $10,000.00 pending for the 2005 calendar year.
We have partnered
with hbc Services, Inc. to provide homebuyer down-payment assistance to some
42 families of Jefferson County. In addition, this partnership, allowed us
to sponsor the Homebuyer Counseling course in an effort to educate families
about homeownership and help qualify them to purchase homes in Jefferson
County.
Supporting Jefferson County Business Community
One of the
major goals of the JCEDC is to support the business community and maintain a
positive business climate. This includes developing programs which promote the
“entrepreneurial spirit”.
JCEDC brought the Small
Business Development Center’s First Step business program to Jefferson County.
The First Step program counsels participants in the fundamentals of business as
their “first step” toward starting their own business. The JCEDC saw ninety
three participants attend the first year of this program. The success of the
First Step program in 2004 was evidence of the pent up demand for the program
and assured its continuation in 2005.
The Entrepreneurial
Training Series is a thirteen session business plan writing training series. The
first eight modules of the entrepreneurial training series aim to develop
management skills. Experts in law, accounting, banking, insurance, management,
and marketing cover the fundamentals of small business management. The
participants gained knowledge about growth stages and problems, marketing,
promotion and advertising, legal issues and requirements, record-keeping,
accounting and financial management, financing, and insurance and risk
management. Attendees during the last five modules of the series learn the
business planning process and start writing their plan. The program participants
conclude by completing a business plan for their business. Success in small
business depends on hard work, good fortune, and business knowledge. A written
business plan helps control business
rather than letting the business control the owner. The plan is
then used to obtain financing, expand the business market and even restructure
the business. We saw eleven participants complete this course.
The Entrepreneur’s &
Inventor’s Connection has approximately 35 participants on a monthly basis. The
focus of the organization is to provide an opportunity for participants to
network, learn from experienced entrepreneurs/inventors and develop creative
ideas and support for new endeavors. Whether starting a new business, improving
an existing business, or developing and commercializing an invention, the
resources shared at these meeting benefit a wide variety of innovators and
entrepenuers. If an individual has an idea, whether it is a product or a service
and would like to turn it into a business opportunity, they benefit from
attending these meetings. Participants have access to resources, networking,
and most important moral support.The meeting is free and open to anyone
interested in fostering their potential in creating economic opportunities for
themselves and their communities through entrepreneurship or inventions. We have
provided guest speakers which included such experts as legal, marketing,
internet, business finance experts, and government contracting specialists.
The JCEDC has assisted
numerous businesses in obtaining financing information from banks, Wisconsin
Department of Commerce, Wisconsin Business Development, Women Business
Initiative Corporation, and other financing sources.
In 2004 we reviewed five
possible projects utilizing Department of Commerce Programs, excluding
Department of Commerce
tax credit programs. Currently a CDBG-ED loan application has
been preliminarily accepted by Commerce and received Jefferson County Board
approval. It is anticipated 25 new jobs will be created.
JCEDC is an active
member on the board of the Wisconsin Technology Zone Tax Credit Program for the
Capital Ideas Zone. The Capital Ideas Zone region is comprised of Jefferson,
Dane and Rock counties. Of the four Jefferson County businesses seeking tax
credit assistance, one qualified and received a tax credit in the amount of
$150,000. Wisconsin InvestCast of Watertown utilized this award for facilities
and upgrades at the Watertown plant. This project retained 50 jobs at an average
wage of $15.11 per hour. Also, in our region we have been involved in the
approval of a total of $1,903,100 for the Technology Zone Tax Credits to eleven
businesses which resulted in over 300 jobs created and 88 jobs retained.
JCEDC acts as an
information clearinghouse for economic development concerns and provide
information to the business community. On a routine basis we respond to
inquires, this includes telephone, faxes, e-mail and in person exchanges,
related to issues of business, including permits, financing, educational
programs, census and demographic information, and training assistance.
The JCEDC has drafted,
submitted and adopted a revolving loan program manual and the policy and
procedures for the Community Development Block Grant-Revolving Loan Program
created under the Milk Volume Production program. Specifically arising from the
lending to the Kutz Dairy located in Jefferson County.
In an effort to
promote expansion of business in Jefferson County we developed and held four
separate, “Doing business with the Federal Government”, workshops. These
workshops included over sixty business and individuals obtaining information on
how to tap into the federal procurement market. The program included essential
elements of contracting with the Federal Government and for participants to gain
the knowledge to effectively meet one-on-one with Federal & State Contracting
Agencies. Also each participant obtained lists of federal agencies and
departments with contact information and strategies on utilizing data bases to
assist in government contracting. In addition, the participants learned steps
required for registering on the Central Contractor Registration System which is
a prerequisite to doing business with the federal government. These workshops
had been designed to provide local business with additional business
opportunities that have not traditionally been available to Jefferson County
businesses.
The Green Building
workshop, with 30 attendees was held to introduce many to what a high
performance green building is and how the national Green Building Rating System-LEEDTM
– Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design works. The program reviewed the
context of green building with other planning and community design initiatives
and how this relates to smart growth. The program assessed true costs of green
buildings over their life and the economics of building green. This workshop
also, looked to educate municipalities about integrating green building practice
into public and private initiatives.
The Jefferson County
Economic Development Consortium sponsored a seminar known as the “Basics
of Ozone”. This program was designed to inform the citizens and
businesses on air quality issues and what an attainment and non-attainment
classification means for Jefferson County. This included the implications of
what will happen if Jefferson County becomes a non-attainment county as it
relates to business and our quality of life. The workshop included a discussion
of the strategies on how Jefferson County can preserve our attainment status and
strategies to prevent our becoming a non-attainment county. This seminar saw
over 20 attend with the additional benefit of
dialogue on creating the air quality task force. The resulting recommendation of
the task force have brought air quality issues into standing with the result of
incorporating air quality into the Solid Waste Department now known as the
Jefferson County Solid Waste/Air Quality.
JCEDC held a
workshop for communities where perceived or actual environmental contamination
is affecting property value and use. According to one estimate, Wisconsin has
about 10,000 Brownfield properties. Towns, villages, and cities frequently have
potentially contaminated properties within their jurisdictions. Re-using already
developed land offers cost savings to communities; helps preserve green space,
rural character, and the agricultural economy. It can boost downtown
revitalization, and can improve public health by removing environmental
contamination. Our seminar focused on the economic and environmental advantages
of incorporating Brownfield site redevelopment into a community’s land use
plans. Resources and tools were presented to help locate potentially
contaminated sites and assure liability protection to local governments. The
workshop looked at tools that may be used to assist communities in financing the
redevelopment of these Brownfield properties.
Assisting in Promotion of Jefferson County Tourism
JCEDC works
with the State of Wisconsin and Jefferson County Area Tourism organizations to
market Jefferson County as a place to visit. The JCEDC is the applicant
organization/recipient for a Wisconsin Department Joint Effort Marketing grant
in the amount of $31,609.00. This program is designed to promote Jefferson
County as a destination for where the “ Hunt is On-Jefferson County Art, Antique
and Gallery Tour” which will showcase the antique shops, galleries, performing
art, visual art and culinary art venues throughout the county. The marketing
plan seeks to encouraging overnight visitors which will generate more revenue
specifically for lodging but, in addition to other businesses within the county.
Our department
assisted in the distribution of the 2004-2005 the Jefferson County Area Visitors
Guide. In addition, we respond to requests for tourism information about
Jefferson County which may include referring to various organizations for
further assistance, such as local municipality and county parks and recreation
departments.
Promote
Agribusiness of Jefferson County
JCEDC works to
promote agribusiness and the farming community. We are the administrator of a
CDBG-MVP for the Kutz dairy project (Jefferson County Resolution No. 2003-08).
This CDBG-MVP project saw an expansion of the Kutz dairy farm from 600 to 900
animals along with the creation of 3 new jobs and the retention of 10 jobs. This
loan is in repayment and is current.
The JCEDC
assisted the Watertown Area Outstanding Young Farmers and Jefferson County
Animal Agriculture Alliance to obtain $1000.00 in grants for education of young
farm families
and non-farm
audiences about agricultural practices and the industry importance to local
economics.
Interactions with Governmental Bodies
The JCEDC
assists and works with local government in their economic development endeavors.
This includes working with communities to provide educational programs such as
the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) educational program which had some fifty
four participants who received information about the impacts of TABOR and the
goals associated with TABOR.
The JCEDC has
provided assistance to municipalities on issues impacting its business
community. An example would be doing a survey, for the City of Watertown, on the
Class A licensing requirements in various communities throughout the State of
Wisconsin.
We sponsored a
Federal grants workshop which we had over 75 attendees. The program was entitled
“Roadmap to Navigating the Federal Grants Process.” Federal agencies attended
and presented information which will assist Jefferson County citizens,
organizations, businesses, and local governments in finding and applying for
millions of dollars in federal grants. Invited guests included: Housing and
Urban Development; USDA Rural Development; the Economic Development
Administration; Department of Education, Health and Human Services; and
Wisconsin Department of Commerce. This workshop provided the participants with
contact information, procedures and techniques to apply for grants with the
federal agency listed above.
We are an
active participant in the Ten Counties Group. This organization reviews,
networks, educates, analyzes and develops strategies for regional economic
growth. As part of the JCEDC mission it is important that the department act as
a regional representative and relay Jefferson County’s vision into this planning
process.
In addition,
the JCEDC represents Jefferson County on the Rural Economic Development–South
Central Region (REDS) which includes our being an active member on the REDS
advisory commission. This organization focus on economic development issues
affecting rural counties in south-central Wisconsin. Topics, to list a few,
include how to promote sustainable economic development, education concerns in
rural areas, unique challenges in rural entrepreneurship and strategies for
marketing rural businesses.
JCEDC
participated in numerous meetings on the Highway 26 Economic Impact Corridor
study which is a joint effort of the communities along the corridor, including
the partnership with Rock and Dodge counties, to evaluate the economic impact of
the Highway 26 construction. JCEDC’s participation also allows the county to
plan the development rather than reacting to it.
Marketing the Benefits and Advantages of Jefferson County
The Consortium
has been promoting the many benefits and advantages of Jefferson County to
business interested in expanding, to entrepreneurs anticipating a startup of a
new business, and to those companies considering whether to locate or relocate
to Jefferson County. At least once a month we participate in local radio (WTTN
Watertown) to promote Jefferson County. In 2004 we developed our Jefferson
County Economic Development Consortium website to market Jefferson County. We
will continue to refine this website and our marketing strategies. The site
address is jcedc.net.
JCEDC publishes
its newsletter which provides information regarding the advantages and benefits
and quality of life within Jefferson County. The newsletter provides information
on various economic development activities and programs within Jefferson County
Business Sites
We have been
maintaining a list of business sites, industrial parks, and buildings available
in Jefferson County. Routinely we provide prospects with this information. The
JCEDC has assisted several communities in submission of site proposals to
Wisconsin Department of Commerce for prospects which were looking to relocate to
Wisconsin and possibly to Jefferson County.
In addition to
our website for marketing business, industrial and building sites we have begun
inputting information into the Location One Information System (LOIS).
LOIS is an Internet accessed marketing
tool that is intended to put Wisconsin-and participating communities-on a level
playing field with the most sophisticated economic development organizations in
the country. It is a joint effort of Forward Wisconsin, the Department of
Commerce, the state’s electric utilities and WEDA. It will provide community
data as well as a complete listing of available sites for business which are
looking to locate in Jefferson County.
Conclusions
In
our first year and one/half we have seen many challenges and opportunities. We
are excited to participate in the future of Jefferson County and feel that the
Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium makes a difference in job
creation, job retention and quality of life issues. We look forward to working
with you and if you have any question please feel to contact us.
