A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of     South Wood County

About Breaking News Program Dates Feedback Donate Contact Industry Clusters		Breaking News August 8, 2006 - Ocean Spray awards $30,000 grant to Community Progress Initiative FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wisconsin Rapids, WI, August 8, 2006, Ocean Spray is making another investment in the future of central Wisconsin. The cooperative has awarded a $30,000 grant to the Heart of Wisconsin’s Community Progress Initiative, a program that works with area residents and business owners to stimulate economic growth and strengthen local communities. Ocean Spray’s support will be directed to the group’s cranberry agriculture and tourism programs, focusing on identifying community growth and new business opportunities. “The heart of Wisconsin is the heart of Ocean Spray and cranberry farming in the state, and we’re pumping some new life into that system,” said Randy Papadellis, President and CEO of Massachusetts-based Ocean Spray. Papadellis said Ocean Spray, as it looks to expand its presence in Wisconsin, sees involvement in this initiative as an investment in the future. “The beauty of this initiative is that it stimulates not only cranberry agriculture itself, but the tourism associated with the cranberry harvest,” said Papadellis. The Community Progress Initiative first formed in 2004 when business owners, managers, and citizens came together to find an effective model for business networking and problem-solving. Connie Loden, executive director of the Heart of Wisconsin Community Incubator, said, “On behalf of the Community Progress Initiative and all of its partners and participants, we thank Ocean Spray for this generous financial support and the company’s belief in our local efforts. The Industry Cluster Network is important to our region’s future economic growth, and cranberries are a cornerstone of our community. This is a very important contribution to the Clusters’ efforts to build a prosperous local economy.” Ocean Spray purchased the Wisconsin Rapids facility in September 2004. In April 2006, Ocean Spray announced plans to expand operations for quadrupling production of its popular Craisins sweetened dried cranberries, and noted preliminary plans for more lines in Wisconsin. In addition to the Wisconsin Rapids and Babcock plants, Ocean Spray operates two other facilities in Wisconsin: a beverage bottling facility in Kenosha, one of the largest in the Ocean Spray system, and a plant in Tomah that is the manufacturing hub of one Ocean Spray’s fastest growing product lines, Craisins® sweetened dried cranberries. About the Community Progress Initiative The Community Progress Initiative was launched in April 2004 as a bold three-year effort throughout the South Wood County area to create vibrant communities with prosperous local economies. Programming assists residents and business people to: advance a shared vision for people throughout the region; create a business-friendly environment and empower entrepreneurs; stimulate new enterprises and additional job opportunities; build the area’s endowed charitable assets to support sustainable community development; motivate emerging young leaders to drive positive change; and inspire community spirit and pride. Programs that support the building of a prosperous and diverse local economy include: seven Industry Cluster networks; Entrepreneurial Boot Camps; Business2Business Club; Ideas Incubator, Business Angels Network; entrepreneurial technical support; and business innovation speakers. About Ocean Spray Ocean Spray is a Massachusetts-based agricultural cooperative owned by more than 650 cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and other parts of Canada as well as more than 100 Florida grapefruit growers. Ocean Spray was formed 76 years ago by three cranberry growers from Massachusetts and New Jersey. Florida grapefruit growers joined the Cooperative in 1976. Ocean Spray is North America’s leading producer of canned and bottled juices and juice drinks, and has been the best-selling brand name in the canned and bottled juice category since 1981. Ocean Spray posted fiscal 2005 gross sales of about $1.4 billion.
		Copyright © 2005, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome