Shawano County Economic Progress Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE RECRUITMENT Attended the New North site consultant events held in conjunction with the NFL draft. The majority of the group was involved in data center development. Continued small business support and consulting work. Entrepreneurship is on the rise and many are seizing the opportunity to become their own boss. A number of new businesses are opening storefronts in Bonduel, Shawano and Wittenberg. Was able to connect a number to finance resources that may be appropriate for their situations. Met with several entrepreneurs interested in getting their fledgling businesses off the ground. The range is from retail to consulting to small manufacturing. Participated in the Menominee economic resiliency project and the final report out session hosted at the College of the Menominee Nation. SCEPI is engaged in several site location requests from new North and from businesses relocating to the county that are in need of space. Archer and Bliss have an offer to purchase K and L Cycle in Bonduel to establish a wholesale floral business. As part of the Thrive Rural Wisconsin Grant, we worked with Wisconsin Main Street to get access to their modeling data for leakages in the Bonduel downtown. We continue to meet weekly to move the project forward and the village has been awarded their second round of financing for the project. Bonduel hosted a downtown business meeting to explain the Redevelopment plan and how the village can partner with the building owners to make needed repairs and recruit tenants to the downtown district. Bonduel's matching grant program was established and the Village is accepting applications from the one hundred thousand dollar fund. Hosted a walk through with architects of the Block Building in downtown Bonduel. Hosted WEDC Secretary in Bonduel to showcase the work the community has done through the Thrive Rural Wisconsin program of new housing in the community and the place making work in the core of the community. Jesse Bartelt purchased the building he was leasing for automotive repair in Bonduel. SCEPI has put Jesse in contact with a marketing team that offers pro bono assistance to help him promote his axe throwing business in Bonduel. Late last year we assisted Bonduel in applying for a Small Business Development Grant with WEDC. Last week the grant was awarded to Bonduel through their RDA for establishing a facade downtown improvement matching grant program seed funded by the 100000 dollar WEDC grant. Met with several business owners regarding the grant and other assistance available including free facade design assistance. City of Marion requested assistance regarding the Highway 45 frontage in conjunction with another proposed SCS multi-family development. Facilitated a meeting between Waupaca County EDC Redevelopment Resources SCEPI and the City of Marion to discuss both a potential housing project with SCS in Shawano County and the redevelopment of the community's downtown. We followed up with an educational presentation to the Marion City Council. Attended the Main Street overview in the Village of Tigerton with the Village of Bonduel as they evaluate applying to become a Main Street Connect community. I am trying to set up a meeting with Keith Block and the City of Shawano to discuss future plans. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act extended Opportunity Zones into perpetuity but required that they be redesignated every 10 years. The Town of Waukechon appears to be eligible for redesignation. I have reached out to our local elected officials at both the state and federal level and to the Governor's office encouraging that this census tract be redesignated. The rural OZs will receive triple the benefit of the urban OZs making the Shawano County location highly desirable. Assisted Shawano Family Dentistry in finding a suitable property to build their new dental clinic off Airport Road on city owned land.Working now on new CSMs and site layout for hopefully a new clinic in place by fall. As

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 94%; rating input score 94

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -7.4%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.74; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 65.9%; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -2.9% per year; rating input score 0; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.4% per year; rating input score 0; 25th percentile among comparable filings