2010 business outlook in county shows positive indicators
An active Business Retention and Expansion effort has been ongoing in Sheboygan County since 2008. This effort involves visiting local company officials and surveying their opinions regarding local business conditions.
Between January 2009 and June 2010, a combined effort of the Business Retention and Expansion committees from the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce and Sheboygan County Economic Development Corp. (SCEDC) has resulted in the completion of 49 business retention visits. These retention efforts proactively build strong relationships with business owners, and provide the foundation for strategically allocating resources to growth-oriented companies that want to enhance workforce, adopt new technologies, increase profitability and compete globally.
Data gathered during the company visits is analyzed and compared to responses from companies within the 18-county Northeast Wisconsin region, through a joint venture with the Northeast Wisconsin Regional Economic Partnership, using ExecutivePulse customer relationship management software system.
The 49 companies visited in Sheboygan County represent 5,417 employees and over $2.37 billion in sales. All individual company information is kept strictly confidential, and information is only reported in the aggregate format.
Survey results from 2009 and 2010 indicate the following general impression of the Sheboygan County economic climate:
• Sheboygan County businesses exhibit very similar characteristics when compared to other companies in the 18-county Northeast Wisconsin region.
• 43 percent rate the Sheboygan County business climate as good or excellent.
• 88 percent rate their facility’s overall health as good or excellent.
• 86 percent rate the quality of the local workforce as good or excellent.
• 34 percent plan on hiring more employees within the next 12 months.
• 40 percent indicated problems recruiting employees.
• 31 percent have local expansion plans for the next 12 to 18 months.
• 70 percent project sales growth in the coming year.
• 53 percent indicate their markets are contracting.
• 91 percent of employees are residents of Sheboygan County.
• 100 percent rank the Internet as important or somewhat important to their business.
• 97 percent indicate a positive attitude about their community.
• 68 percent rate local government as good or excellent.
• 93 percent rate the recreational and cultural amenities of Sheboygan County as good or excellent.
• 96 percent rated housing in Sheboygan County as good or excellent.
• 89 percent rate K-12 education in Sheboygan County as good or excellent.
• 86 percent rate area colleges and universities as good or excellent.
• 93 percent rate technical training as good or excellent.
• 67 percent forecast that the local business climate will be better five years from now.
According to the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corp.’s executive director, Patrick Drinan, the survey results indicate positive reactions from local business leaders, but also identify several challenges.
“Local business leaders generally indicate they are happy with their facilities and existing workforce,” Drinan said. “However, there are mixed indicators regarding the ability of local companies to attract and recruit employees, and concerns regarding the health of markets for locally produced goods and services. We will work closely with our existing employers to resolve these issues.”
According to the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce’s executive director, Betsy Alles, “These interviews provide such a valuable barometer for the business community as a whole and an important glimpse into individual businesses to identify connections we might be able to make for them to solve issues they have identified. We look forward to partnering with the SCEDC in implementing this important program.”
Both organizations recognize the importance of existing small businesses and their importance to the vitality of Sheboygan County’s economy, as an estimated 80 percent of a local economy’s growth comes from these companies.
The Business Retention and Expansion program has been administered by the Chamber and led by BR&E Committee Chairperson Roberta Felicki-Peneski since 2008, and the SCEDC will begin administering the efforts in Sheboygan County in fall of 2010. The SCEDC will be conducting a focused Fall Blitz retention survey initiative beginning in September 2010.
For a more complete breakdown of responses from Sheboygan County and Northeast Wisconsin companies, visit http://www.sheboy gancountyedc.com/index.php/about-us/newsroom.
