HAYWARD, WI – The Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Tribal Governing Board has committed $75,300 to provide match funding to Sawyer County Development Corporation (SCDC) and re-launch the organization at a new Sawyer County location. The LCO commitment is the most substantial of any local Sawyer County funding source in the 16-year history of the economic development organization.
SCDC has successfully recruited five new employers to Sawyer County since 2007. These new employers have hired more than 120 Sawyer County residents, adding more than $4 million to the Sawyer County economy each year. SCDC’s primary economic development activities involve recruiting new businesses and job creation.
SCDC Executive Director Scott Allen left SCDC in August. The organization faced further financial issues as the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors cut funding to SCDC by 64 percent over the last two years, and the preliminary county budget shows no county funding for SCDC in 2012. SCDC needed the county funding as a match to gain the release of $74,500 in federal USDA RBEG grant funding that was set to begin in September. Without a county funding commitment for 2012, SCDC had no choice but to cutback operations in October and the remaining employee, a Program Manager, was laid off. Upon learning the county eliminated funding to SCDC from its 2012 preliminary budget, the LCO tribe stepped forward and began discussions with SCDC to help the organization continue its operations.
In a proposal to SCDC delivered at its regular monthly board meeting October 25, 2011, the LCO Tribal Governing Board detailed its commitment to economic development in Sawyer County for tribal and non-tribal communities. The Tribe’s proposal specifically noted a pattern of declining funding to SCDC from the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors, and emphasized LCO’s strong commitment to helping SCDC continue to provide services to individuals and businesses, especially when it comes to job creation, business assistance and consultation to local start-ups and existing businesses. The proposal includes some contingencies that must be met by the SCDC Board of Directors, however the SCDC Board accepted all of the contingencies in its unanimous vote to approve the proposal at the October meeting.
"During these challenging economic times, the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board would like to step forward and support this organization because we believe in jobs creation and recruitment of new businesses. Jobs creation and a vibrant economy are top goals of the LCO Tribal Governing Board. We have been building a ‘Mission Possible’ team to achieve those goals. We are happy to have SCDC and Scott Allen as part of our ‘Mission Possible’ team," said LCO Tribal Governing Board Chairman Gordon Thayer. "We believe by working together we can foster economic development opportunities and create badly needed jobs at Lac Courte Oreilles and within our service area in these challenging economic times. We appreciate the efforts of all of the fine people who served on the SCDC Board as volunteers from its inception in 1995 to this very day. Their commitment to economic development has been a great asset to the SCDC service area."
With this funding, SCDC will now be able to fully meet all required local match to continue its successful U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA) program which is the primary funding vehicle of the organization. SCDC has also retained $200,000 in USDA Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) funding which is money that will be made available to businesses in the form of low interest business loans. The organization will also maintain another $25,000 in a revolving loan fund it operates for businesses.
Under the agreement, Scott Allen will continue the traditional work of SCDC and expand his role by assisting LCO with business development. Allen was asked by the SCDC Board to continue his full duties as SCDC Executive Director in the expanded capacity. Because of Allen’s expanded responsibilities, SCDC plans to hire additional support staff to assist Allen with office operations.
"The LCO Tribal Governing Board has made a strategic commitment that will pay off almost immediately and well into the future. SCDC’s primary focus is jobs creation and there is a great need in the community for jobs creation during these difficult times," said Allen. "We have identified and are targeting some new employers that would be a good fit for LCO and our service area. Economic development must involve the top employers in a service area to be effective and the LCO Tribe owns and operates six of the 10 largest employers in the county. I would not have agreed to come back to lead SCDC if the initiative didn’t include LCO. I want to thank the USDA Rural Development for their patience while SCDC worked out the details with the LCO."
"We are thankful to the LCO Tribal Governing Board for their valued assistance and commitment of resources. We’re very pleased Scott Allen agreed to return to SCDC to direct the organization," said SCDC Chairperson Carol Oller. "Under Scott’s leadership, SCDC played key roles in bringing to Sawyer County many new businesses including: Northern Bridges Health Care; the Great Lakes Renewable Energy manufacturing plant; Cemstone Corporation; and the new L&M Fleet Supply Store. Together, those businesses have hired and will hire more than 120 people total. We are aiming to repeat that very same success with LCO. The people of Sawyer County are fortunate to have the forward thinking LCO Tribal Governing Board backing this initiative. The LCO governing board recognized that SCDC is an asset that benefits the community. With this new relationship and a fine-tuning of SCDC’s mission, we can create badly needed jobs at LCO and within the USDA service area."
The SCDC Board of Directors will be reconfigured to be made up of LCO tribal members and non-tribal business people from Sawyer County and will be trimmed from 17 to 15 seats. This is also the first time in northwest Wisconsin that tribal and non-tribal individuals have come together to work collaboratively toward improving economic development conditions for the Tribe and the service area.
"On behalf of the SCDC board, I would like to thank the LCO Tribal Governing Board for its commitment to economic development," said SCDC Vice Chairman Will LaBreche. "This is a new chapter for SCDC and a very proactive one that brings tribal and non-tribal people to the table to tackle a common goal of creating jobs and generating income for Lac Courte Oreilles families and individuals within the USDA service area. With a lingering recession, investment in economic development is more important than ever to help support new and existing businesses to create jobs."
The new SCDC offices at 13829W County Road B, in the former Peoples Bank building, will be staffed during regular business hours and open beginning November 1, 2011.
Sawyer County Development Corporation (SCDC) has been awarded $200,000 from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development as part of that agency’s Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) to create jobs, assist with business financing and community development projects. Though there were applications submitted statewide, SCDC was the only economic development entity in Wisconsin to receive IRP funding, fetching the entire state allocation.
The funds will be used to directly assist Sawyer County businesses and will be administered through SCDC’s revolving loan program.
“SCDC is very pleased to hear that Rural Development approved our IRP application,” said SCDC Executive Director Scott Allen. “This is money that will now be made available for Sawyer County businesses through SCDC’s application process; money that will work here locally to help create and retain jobs and help businesses with financing. We have a certain need here in Sawyer County for a substantial low-interest, revolving loan fund, and with the state of the local economy, this announcement could not have come at a better time.”
SCDC will also use the funds to partner with area financial institutions to help match loans made to local businesses.
For a list of eligible loan purposes, SCDC has posted more information on its website www.scdc.us/irp-program. A formal SCDC IRP loan application will be posted online in the coming weeks.
Sawyer County Development Corporation (SCDC) has been awarded a $74,500 Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue business development services at little to no cost to the Sawyer County community. The majority of the grant is used for SCDC administrative costs, and $3,000 is allocated for the SCDC Revolving Loan.
“SCDC uses this grant to help offset costs for our agency to counsel, advise, or assist local Sawyer County businesses. The RBEG is annual funding SCDC receives, and we are pleased the USDA has once again approved our application,” said SCDC Executive Director Scott Allen.
Along with administrative and revolving loan dollars, the funding is also used as match to secure other sources of revenue.
“We maintain a very firm partnership with the USDA and share its commitment to community development, job creation and retention, and professional consultation services to businesses in Sawyer County. We want this area to be strong economically as part of the mission of SCDC, the USDA RBEG award helps make that possible,” Allen said.
Since 1963, National Small Business Week has been held to recognize the contributions of small businesses coast-to-coast. As one of the most significant forces driving the American economy, small businesses account for 60 to 80 percent of all new jobs created. An estimated 27.2 million small business are operating in the United States, with over half the population either owning or working for a small business.
Sawyer County Development Corporation (SCDC) takes this opportunity to remind business owners to spend some "me" time on their business this week. It's a perfect time to revisit the terms of loans, think about hiring that additional employee or consider sitting down with a business consultant to have a general checkup of your business.
"National Small Business Week is a great time for businesses, especially before the summer rush begins here in Sawyer County, to re-examine priorities and spend some time working on not just their service or products, but on the business itself," said SCDC Executive Director Scott Allen. "SCDC takes this time to remind all Sawyer County businesses that we are here for you. We provide free consultation in business, financing advice, loans, start-up and organizational guidance as well as helping you to access federal and state programs that might benefit your business."
Almost all of SCDC services to Sawyer County businesses are free and our offices are open during regular business hours, five days a week. To schedule an appointment, call SCDC Program Director Elizabeth Metcalf at (715) 634-7226.
The city of Hayward has approved Sawyer County Development Corporation (SCDC) to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding used to develop an actionable plan to guide city business district infrastructure improvements and development.
SCDC will submit the application and administer the grant on behalf of the city and will also provide match requirements to obtain the grant at no cost to the city. If funded, the grant could bring up to $25,000 to help develop a multi-tier plan to improve the business district that would examine demographic data, physical conditions, historic preservation and how to develop further collaborations tapping community resources.
"Improvements to the Hayward business district are central to sustaining economic development and showing the outside world that Hayward is the perfect place to relocate or start a business,” said SCDC Program Manager Elizabeth Metcalf. “SCDC is very happy to help the city learn a little more about what makes its businesses tick and how ideally to implement district improvements to stay competitive among other northwoods communities."
The CDBG funding would come from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, which Metcalf adds, "will be dismantled in June and is encouraging communities to apply for funds now."
SCDC plans to submit the grant application by March 16 following two weeks of public comment. If awarded, SCDC has 12 months to develop and submit the plan to the city. An award announcement from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce is expected by May 1.
The city of Hayward approved SCDC’s proposal at its regular monthly council meeting February 22, 2011.
The Sawyer County Development Corporation (SCDC) Executive Board of Directors elected a new roster of officers at its regular monthly meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010.
Oller has been an SCDC board member since 2008, LaBreche since 2006, Beckman since 1995 and Carley since 2010.
The board also recognized outgoing SCDC president Scott Chapin and commended him for his years of service in that position.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
HAYWARD, WI – The Sawyer County Development Corporation (SCDC) Executive Board of Directors elected two board members to officer positions at its regular monthly meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010.
Oller has been an SCDC board member since 2008 and LaBreche since 2006. Both were elected as officers by unanimous vote.
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Thursday, May 13, 2010
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development awarded Sawyer County Development Corporation (SCDC) funding which totals $79,500 last week. The funding will help provide technical assistance to new and existing businesses in Sawyer County with a goal of creating and retaining area jobs.
The funding proposal was written by SCDC Executive Director Scott Allen and is called a Rural Business Enterprises Grant (RBEG). “The RBEG will be used to assist entrepreneurs in the start-up phase of new businesses and to help expand and grow existing businesses in Sawyer County,” Allen said.
This is the fourth year SCDC has been awarded the funding.
“We met and surpassed all of the goals and objectives for our previous USDA Rural Development funding,” Allen said. “The fact that we were approved for this RBEG is indicative of Rural Development’s commitment to providing community development opportunities in the rural areas of Wisconsin.”
SCDC assists the public with developing business ideas and plans and providing financial/entrepreneurial expertise. “We truly appreciate the USDA and the USDA funding we been awarded which help business development and jobs creation in the Sawyer County area,” Allen said.
SCDC is staffed by Scott Allen who serves as Director and Elizabeth Metcalf, as Program Manager. The SCDC has a seventeen member Board of Directors who serve as advisors to the organization. Scott Chapin of RJF Agencies chairs the SCDC Board.
Allen, an established entrepreneur, continues to play an integral part in area economic development. He is currently advising businesses which sought SCDC assistance.
Allen credits SCDC’s Board and Program Manager Metcalf with much of the organization’s effectiveness. “The Board has been an effective resource because we have such diverse expertise that we can call upon. It’s the expertise and our efficiency that makes the difference. Much of the credit for our organizational accomplishments and efficiency belongs to Elizabeth Metcalf. Elizabeth has responsibility for managing SCDC programs with a keen eye on organizational efficiency and productivity."
SCDC is currently providing business technical assistance to twelve businesses in Sawyer County. Recently, SCDC developed a grant application to help establish a larger Revolving Loan Fund at SCDC, while managing SCDC’s business revolving loan fund.
In October of 2007, Allen negotiated an agreement which brought the Great Lakes Renewable Energy (GLRE) – a wood fuel pellet manufacturer – to Sawyer County. The plant, which is located on Highway 63 in Hayward, employs 21 full-time employees and 12 year round logging professionals.
In 2008, despite stiff competition from eleven other counties, Allen and Metcalf led the successful effort to bring the corporate headquarters for the health care management firm, Northern Bridges, to Hayward with it’s eighty plus employment positions.
Just six months ago, SCDC facilitated negotiations which brought Cemstone Corporation to Sawyer County. The Cemstone plant is expected to employ five to eight employees initially. Construction on the Cemstone Plant will begin in early summer.
Allen commented, “We’ve had a lot of success through Sawyer County Development Corporation. In addition, to the $79,700 from the USDA, SCDC receives $37,500 in funding from the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors.
Allen continued, “The 121 new jobs that we’ve attracted to Sawyer County since 2007 through new employers such as Northern Bridges, Great Lakes Renewable Energy and Cemstone, brings new money into the local economy. With each dollar that’s spent by the employees of these new companies the county collects additional sales taxes. Furthermore, these new employees pay property taxes, spend money at local businesses, and help to fuel the local economy. We’re happy that we can give the county a big bang for its contribution. I feel real good about our accomplishments.”
Allen added, “People with ideas and others who need more specific, technical guidance and business counseling will really be those who benefit most from the USDA RBEG funding,” Allen added. “We want to make sure those who have business questions or concerns, or who would like to talk ideas, contact SCDC. This funding will truly work for the people of Sawyer County who might need a little extra guidance, either through technical assistance or financing.”
Last year, SCDC received USDA RBEG funding in the amount of $63,500.
“With any grant, there are stipulations and strings attached where agencies must use the money in a specific way,” Allen said. “We certainly utilized the USDA funding from last year to the benefit of Sawyer County businesses. And because we surpassed those expectations and requirements, we were able to make a strong application this year and secure the USDA funding once again for 2010.”
The USDA Rural Development maintains a portfolio of business loans totaling $86 billion. The agency also administers nearly $16 billion in program loans, loan guarantees and grants.
“We are most appreciative to the USDA Rural Development and their excellent staff for the assistance and support they’ve provided SCDC over the past year,” Allen said. “We look forward to continuing that productive relationship in the years to come.”
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Thursday, May 13, 2010
A Sawyer County consortium of housing organizations, led by Indianhead Community Action Agency (ICAA), has been awarded the administration of a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Home Rehab Grant.
The grant will be used to rehab homes throughout Sawyer County in need of upgrading and repairs. Typical rehab projects include new windows, insulation, doors, even furnaces. Qualifying housing units can be owner-occupied or renter-occupied with applicants of low to moderate income levels. Program funds can also be used for closing costs and up to 50% of a reasonable down payment for the purchase of a home by a low-income household.
"We urge families with housing needs to apply for the CDBG housing rehab program," said ICAA Housing Director Sally Schrader.
To inquire about the application process, contact the SCDC offices at (715) 634-7226 or ICAA at (715) 532-5594.
The Sawyer County housing consortium consists of ICAA, SCDC, Lac Courte Oreilles Housing Authority, Sawyer County Housing Authority, and Impact 7.
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Thursday, May 13, 2010
SCDC is taking a summer break from its popular Business Breakfast seminar series, but will continue the programming again in fall 2010. Exploring a new business or professional development topic each month, participants were afforded opportunities to network over breakfast and hear relevant issues discussed by knowledgeable speakers who related the topics to small business owners' concerns.
The last seminar, "Unraveling the National Health Law...and Its Affect on You," was received by a full house. Scott Chapin of RJF Agencies was the featured speaker and was well-versed in how the recent legislation stands to impact individuals and business owners.
"The complexity of this topic may warrant another seminar as we learn more about this legislation," commented SCDC Program Director Elizabeth Metcalf.
Marketplace Foods, which sponsored the health care seminar, also provided an update at the event as to the renovations and remodeling at its Hayward location.
SCDC partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Superior Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the UW-Extension to help design, promote and facilitate the programming series to support businesses and economic development in the region.
Metcalf welcomes business owners to submit suggestions for future topics and speakers for the next series of programming which will commence in October. Businesses that are interested in sponsoring a seminar can contact SCDC to get on the schedule. Metcalf can be reached at (715) 634-7226 or liz@scdc.us.
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Sawyer County Development Corporation
SCDC is an equal opportunity employer
