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The 20 Most Innovative Cities In The US

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:17:36 -0500

Even as the economy slows, you can't take away good old American ingenuity. The U.S. is home to Silicon Valley, most of the world's health care inventions, and the largest share of the world's patents.

Still, America produces only the 9th most patents per person, and could fall behind if it doesn't produce more scientists and engineers.

Increasingly, inventions are concentrated around unique institutions, unique companies, and unique cities. 63 percent of patents come from just 20 areas, and someone from San Jose is 600 times more likely to produce a patent than someone in McAllen, Texas.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-20-most-innovative-cities-in-the-us-2013-2?op=1#ixzz2TYHLP9uc

Patenting is at its highest level since the Industrial Revolution, according to a new report from The Brookings Institution. And this innovation isn't driven by patent trolls but instead from long term drivers of growth. Sheboygan County ranks 16th on this list with an average of 1,045 patents per million residents. There are an average of 120 patents filed each year by Sheboygan County businesses.

Click here to read the full story and view the rankings.

Business Insider Source
The Business Insider report was derived from the Brookings Study entitled “Patenting Prosperity: Invention and Economic Performance in the United States and its Metropolitan Areas.” This study is the first analysis of its kind to present patenting trends on a regional level from 1980 to 2012. The report ranks all of the nation’s roughly 360 metropolitan areas on patenting levels and growth, while noting the firms and organizations responsible. It also analyzes how patenting has affected productivity levels in each region, comparing patents—which embody novel inventions—to other sources of economic dynamism, such as educational attainment.

Click here to read the Brookings report entitled "Patenting Prosperity: Invention and Economic Performance in the United States and its Metropolitan Areas."

Northshore Clinic opens new location

Sat, 04 May 2013 08:07:44 -0500

Northshore Clinic celebrated its new location at 805 N. 6th St., Sheboygan, with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 25. Northshore Clinic is a locally-owned mental health clinic providing counseling for individuals, couples and families in the Sheboygan area since 1991.

Click here to read the full story online.

Free Business Counseling

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:35:17 -0500

To assist local business owners with financing, marketing and other management issues and those looking to start their own business, a counselor from the Small Business Development Center will be available at the following locations in May:

Appleton - Thursday, May 9 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

UW Extension Outagamie County Office - 3365 W. Brewster

Oshkosh - Wednesday, May 15 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

UW Extension Winnebago County Office - 625 E. County Road Y

Fond du Lac - Monday, May 13 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

UW Extension Fond du Lac County Office - 400 University Dr.

Sheboygan - Tuesday, May 14 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

UW Extension Sheboygan County - 5 University Dr.

Wautoma - Thursday, May 16 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

UW Extension Waushara County - 209 S. St. Marie

Green Lake - Friday, May 10 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

UW Extension Green Lake County - 571 County Road A

Montello - Friday, May 17 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

UW Extension Marquette County - 480 Underwood Blvd.

This counseling service is free and confidential, but an appointment is required. To schedule an appointment, call (920) 410-3045 or email richtert@uwosh.edu.

Right the Rules

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:43:37 -0500

Welcome to our website dedicated to Regulatory Reform in Wisconsin. Governor Scott Walker and the leadership in the State Assembly are committed to a top to bottom review of the 1,768 chapters in the Wisconsin Administrative Code containing countless rules we all deal with on a daily basis. If you are a small business person, local government, manufacturer, or just an individual resident of Wisconsin you are affected by these 11,764 pages of rules.

On this website you can find out how we plan on doing this review, what the rules actually say and notices of public hearings that will be taking place dealing with specific rules. This is a huge undertaking so this site will be changing and adding more information as we go forward.

Click here to learn more.

Improved economy, pent-up demand have builders optimistic

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:03:10 -0500

Homebuilders say they’re seeing a strong uptick in demand for new homes in Sheboygan County as the housing market as a whole bounces back.

Demand for new homes began to pick-up early last year, as existing homes sales climbed to their highest point since before the housing market collapse. Homebuilders say that’s helped the market for new construction, as people who’ve been wanting to build are finally able to sell their existing homes.

Click here to view the full article.

Golfer Choi donates $30,000 to Boys, Girls Club

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:24:20 -0500

When Na Yeon Choi won the U.S. Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run last summer, Sheboygan County earned a place in her heart.

On Tuesday, after her second day in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Palm Springs, Calif., she made that affection public.

In the media tent after play, Choi handed over a check for $30,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Sheboygan County.

Click here to read the full article.

Van Horn buys Memorial Plaza

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:14:08 -0500

The Van Horn Automotive Group has purchased the Memorial Plaza Shopping Center in Sheboygan, where the group’s owner hopes to begin construction on a new Mazda dealership later this year.

The $5.9 million deal closed in late March, and new owner Chuck Van Horn said Monday he intends to retain each of the shopping center’s existing tenants.

Click here to read the full story online

City of Plymouth receives funding to provide assistance for the expansion of area business

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:55:20 -0500

USDA Rural Development State Director, Stan Gruszynski, announced that the City of Plymouth in eastern Wisconsin was selected to receive USDA funding that will support local businesses and expand job growth in the area.

"I commend the city of Plymouth, they put forward a strong application. These funds will strengthen their local economy," Gruszynski remarked.

The City of Plymouth will use a $500,000 loan provided through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program as pass through funding to Glacier Transit and Storage(GTS).

GTS will use the financing to expand their refrigerated warehouse operations located in Plymouth, Wis. The expansion will create three new jobs and provide storage for cheese manufacturers in the state, as well as other businesses with food storage needs.

“We are thrilled to see GTS expand their operations in Plymouth. The expansion project means so much for our area food industry cluster and the project helps to add stability to our local businesses,” said Plymouth Mayor, Donald Pohlman. “We are fortunate in Plymouth that local business, local government, and USDA Rural Development have a positive working relationship where we can come together to make things happen.”

The mission of GTS, a family owned and operated 3PL company, is to provide excellent customer care with pride, quality, and experience while exceeding warehousing and transportation needs. GTS offers a wide range of logistical and warehousing services including inventory financing, cross docking, customized picking, packaging, and loading/unloading rail cars and containers and transportation.

The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program is designed to support job creation efforts, promote business development, and strengthen economic growth in rural communities. Eligible recipients are rural utilities program borrowers that pass the funds to local organizations. The money must be used for projects to retain and create jobs, upgrade public infrastructure, improve service delivery, or improve the quality of life for area residents and visitors.

Donohue, city wastewater plant earn engineering award

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:00:06 -0500

Donohue & Associates Inc. and the City of Sheboygan’s Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility recently received the top honor in American Council of Engineering Companies’s Wisconsin 2013 Engineering Excellence competition.

The 2013 Grand Award, presented at The American Club in Kohler on March 22, recognizes the collaborative effort between Donohue and the city to improve energy efficiency, production, and recovery at the treatment facility.

Click here to read the full article.

Senator Leibham Announces States Budget Public Hearings

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:10:42 -0500

State Senator Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) announced today that he will be hosting a set of State Budget Constituent Input Sessions for residents of the 9^th Senate District in Plymouth, Chilton, Sheboygan, Kiel, Oostburg and Manitowoc.

“In an effort to reach as many people as possible, I have worked to offer sessions at varying times of the day, on weekdays and weekends. If you are interested in the state budget, I encourage you to attend,” Leibham said. “The purpose of the Budget Input Sessions is to receive citizen input on the 2013-2015 state budget plan proposed by Governor Scott Walker and currently under consideration by the State Legislature. As I begin to review and deliberate the state budget plan, it is important that I hear from my constituents.”

Click here to read the full article.

Local state representatives to headline First Friday Forum

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:59:54 -0500

Sheboygan County state representatives in Madison will be the featured speakers at the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce’s next First Friday Forum on Friday, April 5.

Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, Rep. Mike Endsley, R-Sheboygan, Rep. Steve Kestell, R-Elkhart Lake, and Rep. Dan LeMahieu, R-Cascade, will discuss the upcoming budget discussions and the impact the budget might have on the area.

Click here to read the full article.

Vollrath continues expansion in Sheboygan

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:46:35 -0500

Construction is more than halfway through on a $4.5 million expansion project that will more than double the distribution space at Vollrath’s Sheboygan headquarters.

The company, which manufactures a wide-range of commercial-grade food service equipment, will use the new 158,000-square-foot space to accommodate its ever-expanding product lines after acquiring six companies since 2009.

Click here to read the full article

Sheboygan County has accomplished a lot, Payne says

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:19:04 -0500

Sheboygan County Administrator Adam Payne gave a “state of the county” address to supervisors at their monthly County Board meeting Tuesday night, titling his talk “What have you done for me lately?” as he looked back as well as forward.

Payne said he was most proud of the Sheboygan River and harbor dredging project that will be completed this spring.

“The city and county has done a tremendous job, particularly in the difficult economic times of the last five or six years, of making this a priority,” Payne said. “Sheboygan County provided a key leadership role in coordinating the effort and leveraging resources to get the job done.”

Click here to read the full article.

Touch of Hollywood to boost Wisconsin Tourism

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:59:32 -0500

Wisconsin tourism officials have a message for anyone considering visiting the state: C’mon in, it’s easy.

They unveiled a new TV spot Monday to promote the state. It features “Airplane!” actor Robert Hays playing a befuddled fisherman on a beautiful summer day where everything seems to go wrong.

In the 30-second ad, Hays is hit by a bucket he accidentally hooks with his fishing rod, smacked in the face by a loose deck board, and taken for an unplanned and painful tube ride. As a reward, a nice muskie is tossed in his lap and several bathing beauties — played by four former Wisconsin beauty pageant winners — lean in to make sure he’s OK.

Click here to read to full article.

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Vollrath happy to return manufacturing to Sheboygan

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:50:03 -0500

From 2002 to 2010, the Sheboygan-based Vollrath food equipment company made its food pans for the international market in China -- up to 3 million a year.

The company did it because it was less expensive, "but that’s no longer the case,” Vollrath executive Guy Kwaterski told a Madison International Trade Association luncheon gathering. He is now the company’s credit director, but formerly served as its logistics manager.

A decade ago, it was something of a no-brainer for companies to ship manufacturing abroad to cut costs. Vollrath’s move was part of a wave of similar decisions that contributed to the reduction of U.S. manufacturing employment by around 6 million jobs, or roughly a third, between 2000 and 2010.

Click here to read the full article.

Endsley announces Business Listening Session with the Random Lake Chamber of Commerce

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:08:55 -0500

Today, State Representative Mike Endsley (R- Sheboygan) announced that a business listening session will be held in conjunction with the Random Lake Chamber of Commerce. This session will be held on Tuesday, March 21^st at 7 a.m. in the lower level of the Times Printing Co. Inc. at 100 Industrial Dr., Random Lake.

“During my time in office, I have heard numerous business owners say that the legislature needs to remove the bureaucratic red tape that hampers job creation,” said Representative Endsley. “I would encourage business leaders to take part in this listening session, so that I can hear first-hand what regulations may be out-of-date or overly burdensome to Wisconsin businesses.”

Click here to read the full article.

Local entrepreneurs eye new Sheboygan-based social media download

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:51:01 -0600

Two entrepreneurs are unveiling a new Sheboygan-based social media company this week that will offer gift cards to online users who share posts about their experiences with consumer products and brands.

The start-up, Yappem, has already attracted support from several major U.S. companies, including McDonald’s and Hasbro, and will be showcased along with other emerging tech companies this weekend during the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

The company’s free app will be available for download this week for the iPhone, Android phones and at yappem.com.

Click here to read the full article.

Aurora Sheboygan named one of the top 100 hospitals

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 11:07:29 -0600

Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center has been named one of the nation’s 100 top hospitals by Truven Health Analytics. It’s the fifth time Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center has been recognized with this honor.

“Being one of only 100 hospitals in the whole country to receive this recognition really says something about the care we provide,” David Graebner, president of Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center, said in a press release. “We are proud of our performance, and we strive to continue to make improvements in order to provide the best care possible.”

Click here to read the full article.

Youth Apprenticeship paves way for adult apprentice program

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:13:53 -0600

Even for students who enroll in the Youth Apprenticeship program simply because they want to get out of classes and make some money, the experience can change the course of their lives.

That was the case for Dustin Behnke, a 2010 graduate of Lincoln High School. Behnke didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, but he liked the idea of spending part of the school day on the job. He enrolled in the two-year manufacturing machining YA program, working at Jagemann Stamping.

Click here to read the full article.

What Drives Sheboygan County's economy?

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:51:41 -0600

Earlier this month, the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation held its 2012 Annual Meeting. This was an event specifically designed to celebrate and champion our local businesses, with more than 300 local business leaders in attendance.

One of the highlights of the evening was the awarding of the 2012 “Sheboygan County Economic Driver of the Year.”

Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, on behalf of the SCEDC, was delighted to present the award to Dan Merkel, founder and chairman of American Orthodontics. John Viglietti, co-founder of American Orthodontics, was also honored at our event. The lieutenant governor, Ben Salzmann, CEO of Acuity, Randy Benz, CEO of American Orthodontics, and Kellen Winslow, vice president of athletics and wellness at Lakeland College, all provided high levels of enthusiasm and passion while focusing on the importance and relevance of economic drivers.

Click here to read the full article.