by GCDC | Oct 24, 2019 | Programs
MONROE – Come find out more about Green County’s new Growth Opportunity Fund and how it could benefit your business at a free workshop at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29 in Monroe.
The workshop will include important information on how to present a competitive application for the Growth Opportunity Fund, along with insider tips on what the selection committee is looking for.
Green County Development Corporation administers the Growth Opportunity Fund, which provides gap funding to startup and new businesses (in business 5 years or less) in Green County or within a municipality partially in Green County. These businesses could be advanced manufacturing; agriculture or food processing; information systems or software; medical devices; bioscience; or energy. There is no job creation requirement to be eligible. The loan fund may not be used for multi-family housing.
GCDC is raising funds totaling $375,000 from local donations, with a matching $375,000 in funds from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. As money is repaid with interest, funds are lent to help other businesses – a revolving loan fund.
The workshop will be held at the Enterprise Center at Blackhawk Technical College Monroe Campus. The center’s entrance is located on the north end of BTC, across from Alp & Dell Cheese Store.
More information about the Growth Opportunity Fund is available from GCDC at 608.328.9452 or emailing [email protected].
by GCDC | Apr 30, 2019 | News
Ashley and Dan Wegmueller were the recipients of the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award for their business, the Dairy at the Wegmueller Farm. He is shown with GCDC Executive Director Cara Carper.
Tim Hayes and Todd Prien, co-owners of Monroe Powersports, was named Green County Development Corporation’s Outstanding Business of the Year. They are pictured with GCDC Executive Director Cara Carper.
The Richard B. Schmied Leadership Award went to Brodhead Mayor Doug Pinnow. He is shown with GCDC Executive Director Cara Carper.
GCDC Executive Director Cara Carper earned an award for her contributions to the success of the Small Business Development Center. Presenting the Award is Neil Lerner, SBDC associate state director.
MONROE – The Green County Development Corporation honored an outstanding local business, a visionary young couple and an exemplary leader at its Annual Meeting and Recognition Dinner on Wednesday, April 24.
The winner of the Outstanding Business of the Year was Monroe Powersports. The award honors existing businesses that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the county’s economic growth through innovation, job creation, new investment, and/or extraordinary long-time interest in supporting others in business.
Quality products and service that keeps customers coming back – and strategic growth to meet customers’ needs – have been the keys to Monroe Powersports’ success. More than 20 years ago, Tim Hayes and Todd Prien purchased Monroe Powersports on County N. They built their current building at 2820 County DR and have gone through numerous expansions of staff and additions for storage and a service building. They are now completing their latest building. In the every-changing business of ATVs/UTVs and snowmobiles, Monroe Powersports continues to adapt and grow. As Joe Klein of the Bank of New Glarus and Sugar River Branches said in nominating Monroe Powersports, the business has “an excellent reputation for their service department, and people come from around the area and well in to Illinois. They are exactly what the area needs and have been growing since the day they bought the business.”
Dan and Ashley Wegmueller were named recipients of the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award for The Dairy at the Wegmueller Farm, a “farmstay” destination on their 50-head Brown Swiss dairy farm just outside Monroe. The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award honors an entrepreneur with a hunger for opportunity, a growth mindset, a willingness to learn, a willingness to find solutions to challenges and problems, and a strong work ethic.
Like so many other farmers, the Wegmuellers were confronted with the growing crisis in the dairy industry. The Wegmuellers found a unique solution: After the unexpected death of Dan’s parents, they turned the family home into a farmstay destination, giving guests an opportunity to interact and take in the day-to-day activities of a working dairy farm. Opening last September, the Wegmuellers have already hosted guests from as far away as Rwanda and Great Britain. The Wegmuellers also help promote others in the community by providing their guests with a Welcome Basket of local products. In nominating the couple, Lisa Kivirist of the Inn Serendipity and Soil Sisters said the Wegmuellers “authentically demonstrate the positive, forward-thinking visionary mindset that brings not only success to their business but stimulates economic opportunity for all of Green County.”
Doug Pinnow, mayor of Brodhead, is the winner of this year’s Richard B. Schmied Leadership Award. The award commemorates Richard B. Schmied, remembered for the characteristics of leadership he exhibited. The winner of the award exemplifies the character of a true leader.
Pinnow, a life-long resident of Brodhead, has always supported and has spent countless hours devoted to helping his community. After graduating from Brodhead High School, he earned a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Wisconsin. He then owned and operated Pinnow Pharmacy, a mainstay of Brodhead’s downtown business district, for many years before retiring. He has served on the Brodhead school board for 12 years; was on the city council for seven years; and has served as mayor since 2004. In addition, he’s been a member of Brodhead’s Chamber of Commerce, BID Board, Lions and Optimist Clubs and served his church – all of which he has served in a leadership role, wrote John Bernstein of the GCDC Board of Directors in nominating Pinnow. He’s a familiar face at community events – participating and working at events and functions. Brodhead is a better community because of Pinnow.
Cara Carper, GCDC executive director, was also honored during the event. Neil Lerner, associate director of the state Small Business Development Center, presented Carper with a Friend of the Wisconsin SBDC award for her contributions to the success of SBDC services in Green County and the Prosperity Southwest region.
As part of GCDC’s annual dinner event, UW students and staff presented brief summaries of their UniverCity Year projects. The UniverCity Year program is a partnership in which UW faculty and students use research and state-of-the-art technology to help local communities solve pressing problems. In Green County, UniverCity projects covered a wide gamut, ranging from public health to sustainable energy to use of public spaces. More information about the UniverCity Year program in Green County is available online at https://univercity.wisc.edu/greencounty/.
GCDC, a multi-jurisdictional economic development corporation, was formed to bring professional economic development expertise to its member communities to create a competitive advantage to spur job creation and new investments. The organization is building the economic future of Green County communities and businesses through public-private partnerships. For more information, visit GCDC at online at www.greencountyedc.com.
by GCDC | Apr 9, 2019 | News
Pizza Franchise Founder Is Latest to Join Team Offering Free Business Consulting
The founder of a successful pizza restaurant franchise is the latest consultant to join the team offering no-cost, confidential business assistance to Green County area residents.
Jason Schleip is now available to meet with entrepreneurs and small business owners. His position as part-time consultant is funded through a grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to the Green County Development Corporation. GCDC partners with the Southwest Wisconsin Small Business Development Center to provide free business consulting services.
Schleip co-founded Falbo Brothers Pizza with a friend in 1992 while still a student at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Within a year, he had bought out his friend and then continued to grow the business into a multi-state franchise. When he sold it in 2016, there were 13 locations in Wisconsin, Iowa and Texas. Schleip has a degree in Economics from the UW.
“I am excited to work with small business owners in Southwestern Wisconsin,” Schleip said. “Working with franchisees, as well as owners of other small businesses, over the past 25 years has been great. Now I get the opportunity to use the knowledge and experience I have gained to help others,” he said. “The SBDC is an outstanding resource.”
He brings his unique qualifications to the SBDC team led by senior business consultant Brock Waterman and business consultant Kristi Smith.
“Having Jason is a wonderful addition to our consulting team,” said Cara Carper, GCDC executive director. “His background starting and building a successful restaurant brand, and franchising it, is truly invaluable. Entrepreneurs in the Green County area will be able to draw on Jason’s expertise and insights – his skillset is a great complement to the services we offer.”
Schleip and the other consultants work with new and existing companies on business planning, access to loans/other funding, financial management, growth strategies, sales/marketing and operational improvement. Businesses are referred to the SBDC by economic development professionals, lenders, chambers, business service providers, business owners and others.
WEDC awarded a total of $500,000 in grants throughout the state to develop or expand entrepreneurship programs throughout the state, with the largest grant of $80,000 going to Green County.
SBDC’s no-cost, confidential consulting is intended to help boost small business startups and growth as part of the Green County Entrepreneurial Development Program, which has a goal of creating 15 to 20 jobs and garnering business investment of more than $1 million. For the entire region, which includes Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland counties, SBDC’s goal is to serve 200 clients, generate $4 million in business investment, start 17 new businesses and support 800 jobs.
A similar grant last year allowed Smith to join the team. During 2018, the regional SBDC office assisted 167 clients, leading to 11 new business starts and $7.47 million in business investment.
To learn more, visit http://www.wisconsinsbdc.org/swwi. To sign up for free consulting, email [email protected] or sign up online at http://tinyurl.com/SWWISBDC.
GCDC, a multi-jurisdictional economic development corporation, was formed to bring professional economic development expertise to its member communities to create a competitive advantage to spur job creation and new investments. The organization is building the economic future of Green County communities and businesses through public-private partnerships. For more information, visit GCDC at online at www.greencountyedc.com or call 608.328.9452.
by GCDC | Feb 7, 2019 | News
Click here for Nomination Form: 2019 Business Awards Nomination Form Fillable
GCDC is now accepting nominations for special awards to be presented during our Annual Meeting and Recognition Dinner, scheduled for Wednesday, April 24 at Turner Hall in Monroe. These awards are:
• The Outstanding Business of the Year
• The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
• The Richard B. Schmied Leadership Award
These awards recognize both large and small accomplishments and provides all of the nominees a chance to showcase their businesses. Any individual, group or business may nominate a business or leader, and businesses and leaders may nominate themselves.
Outstanding Business of the Year Award
The Outstanding Business of the Year Award honors an existing business that has demonstrated exemplary commitment to Green County’s economic growth. The award-winner will have made a significant improvement to strengthen its market position or have overcome an obstacle affecting the company’s ability to grow. This could include installing new technology, developing new processes, creating jobs which improve employment opportunities for under-utilized workers, and sponsoring specialized training to enhance the skills of existing employees. The company should also be able to demonstrate a long-term history of supporting other Green County businesses and community initiatives.
Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award honors an entrepreneur who leads the way for their business. This award will be given to the entrepreneur who best demonstrates: a hunger for opportunity, a growth mindset and willingness to learn, a willingness to find solutions to challenges and problems, a strong work ethic, and an example of what a good entrepreneur looks like.
Richard B. Schmied Leadership Award
This award commemorates Richard B. Schmied, remembered for the characteristics of leadership he exhibited. The winner of the award exemplifies the character of a true leader.
Richard represented the Village of New Glarus on the GCDC Board of Directors from November 1995, served as GCDC’s Vice President in 1998 and 1999, and was GCDC’s President at the time of his death in November 2000.
Richard worked with many partners to foster a professional, collaborative mindset in New Glarus and throughout the county. He instituted a planning and organizational structure to bring visions and goals to reality, and worked on all the tough issues: land use and growth management, highway rerouting, the Swiss Center of North America, streetscape planning, infrastructure, parks and recreation planning, historic preservation, establishing a Tax Increment Finance District, industrial park expansion and development, and many more.
He also never lost sight of the other small but vitally important opportunities to teach, reinforce and elevate people.2019 Business Awards Nomination Form Fillable
