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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN UPDATE
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
July 8, 2008-City Hall Room 404, 9:30am
PRESENT: Jon Dell’Antonia, John Casper, Elizabeth Hartman, Rob Kleman, Richard Wells,
Wendy Hielsberg, Melissa Kohn, Eileen Connolly-Keesler, Andy Dumke, Tom
Cooper, Jay Kopplin
STAFF: Jackson Kinney and Darryn Burich
UNABLE to ATTEND: Ron Detjen
OTHERS PRESENT: Bill Hare, Chamco Chair
Prior to discussion of the topic Jackson Kinney inquired if any additional members should be asked to
join the group. There was a consensus that Mayor Frank Tower or Deputy Mayor Bryan Bain and
County Executive Mark Harris should be asked to participate.
Review Business Retention and Expansion Efforts in the Community
Elizabeth Hartman distributed a handout discussing Chamco’s approach to retention and expansion.
Eileen Connolly-Keesler inquired about the Foreign Trade Zone and who is helped by the designation.
Ms. Hartman stated that there is a coordinator with the state who deals with businesses and that she
would bring additional information on the trade zone to the next meeting.
Rob Kleman inquired if “International Trade” should be added as an element in the list of
Comprehensive Economic Development Program Elements. There was a consensus that international
trade should be added to the list.
Mr. Kleman distributed a handout discussing OAEDC’s approach to retention and expansion. He
stated that business retention is the number one mission for the organization. Mr. Kleman stated that
in terms of business retention programs Oshkosh and Green Bay are the farthest along in
programming for retention and that they are considered models. He stated that they are working on
surveying (through Executive Pulse) the business sector to help uncover potential early warning signs
regarding business health.
Ms. Connolly-Keesler inquired if non-profits were included in the surveys and interviews and Mr.
Kleman stated that they were.
Wendy Hielsberg inquired about what happens when you find out a business is going to leave.
Mr. Kleman stated that you inquire about what the problem is and see if you can fix it but many
closings are corporately dictated.
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Bill Hare stated that is why annual business retention calls are important to assess economic health
and its something that needs to be learned 5-10 years before a business gets to the point of closing so
something may be able to be done to avert the closing.
Ms. Connolly-Keesler inquired about incentives. The group discussed items such as tax incentives and
abatement that are allowed in other states and the fact that the State of Wisconsin does not permit the
use of such incentives at the local level.
Mr. Kinney inquired as to what changes could be proposed at the state level and that a review should
be conducted of what other states are doing in this regard for a possible discussion with the local state
representatives.
Chancellor Wells inquired as to how to create a framework to move economic development forward
and build excitement through the Comprehensive Plan.
Jon Dell’Antonia stated that there was a need for short term actions that could be immediately
implemented.
The group discussed the need for better public information about what is happening and the need for
help from the newspaper in this regard.
Next Steering Committee Meeting
Due to time constraints the meeting was ended prior to discussion of goals and objectives.
The next meeting will cover discussion of gaps and needs as well as actions and objectives.
Chancellor Wells stated that for the next meeting we should have a summary of retention/expansion
efforts which would tell what we are doing and what we could be doing.
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July 24 at 9:30 was set for the next meeting of the Steering Committee that would review business
retention/expansion goals and objectives.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 am.
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