Sheboygan County Entrepreneurship Remains Strong Through COVID-19
By Ray York, Business Counselor for the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Green Bay
Sheboygan County, WI – A key mission of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) is to operate specialized services focused on entrepreneurs. The SCEDC’s approach to entrepreneurship is to create a symbiotic relationship with a variety of organizations that help small businesses start, expand, or transition. Partnerships with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Green Bay and many of our local and regional professional service providers help fuel the continued growth of Sheboygan County, even in times of the COVID-19 economic disaster.
“We consistently see a strong entrepreneurship presence in Sheboygan County, ranking towards the top of many Wisconsin SBDC metrics,” stated Tara Carr, Director of the SBDC at UW-Green Bay. “SBDC metrics are a great benchmark to measure the entrepreneurial spirit in our state. Over the past five years, from 2015 through 2019, Sheboygan County ranked as #1 in Wisconsin with $47.25 million in capital formation, accounting for 11.75% of the total state.”
The COVID-19 economic disaster has had an impact on the Sheboygan County economy and has hurt many small businesses. The SCEDC, in coordination with the SBDC at UW-Green Bay, has been dedicated to helping small business owners navigate the assistance programs available throughout the crisis, while maintaining its business start-up, expansion, and transition programs. As a result, over 500 businesses have received guidance by the SCEDC / SBDC in 2020. The connections made have helped guide businesses in obtaining financial support from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Grant, Paycheck Protection Program, a variety of grant programs, and other local assistance programs that became available since the COVID-19 economic disaster.
While these assistance programs were a ‘stop gap’ solution in helping our existing businesses through COVID-19, we have seen the Sheboygan entrepreneurship start-up, expansion, and transition numbers continue to flourish through this same period. Based on year-to-date Wisconsin SBDC metrics, Sheboygan County ranks #1 with $12.48 million in capital formation, and boasts the most business starts and jobs created.
“The relationships we grow through the SCEDC continue to help us build on our economic success in Sheboygan County,” stated Gary Dulmes, Chair of the SCEDC. “We truly appreciate the support from all our stakeholders that push Sheboygan County forward.”
Our small businesses have a positive influence on our local economy, and it is vital to see them flourish for continued success. The SCEDC will continue on its mission to partner with service providers that focus on growing and supporting entrepreneurship in the county. Opportunity is a landmark of economic success and when Sheboygan County works together, we drive more success in our communities!
For more information about SCEDC entrepreneurial services please email or call at info@SheboyganCountyEDC.com or call (920)452-2479
