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

Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News February 4, 2005 - New businesses added 353 jobs in '04 By: Colin Atagi, Daily Tribune Staff Nearly 60 businesses opened in 2004 in south Wood County and the town of Rome, creating 353 jobs in an economy hit hard by paper mill layoffs, according to figures from the local chamber of commerce. Few of those jobs were in manufacturing, and the bulk of the new employers created less than five jobs each. But the overall growth is important, said Connie Loden, executive director of the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance, which provided the numbers to the Daily Tribune in advance of the organization's annual dinner meeting Saturday. "Sometimes, people don't realize how many jobs those small businesses add up to," Loden said. Among the new businesses is Chrislyn's Bar & Grill, hich opened along Plover Road in Grand Rapids in May and now has a dozen employees. It was rough at first, but since then the business has thrived and people are welcome to apply for work, said owner Lynn Chrislyn. "We're always hiring," she said. "We're always accepting applications and looking for that good person to help us out." Among the largest employers that opened last year were Wendy's restaurant with 45 workers, Walgreens with 30 and the Riverview Cancer Center with 20, according to Heart of Wisconsin numbers. Other businesses expecting to open soon include Sleep Inn, Dollar General and Arpin Dairy. Creating a variety of small businesses can help bring money into the area, but the local economy still needs higher-paying manufacturing and technology jobs, said Wayne Pankratz, business agent for the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 95. "To stabilize the economy in Wisconsin Rapids and to have people here, if there were a thousand manufacturing jobs, it would be far greater for our community, because then people would be able to relocate here and stay here," he said. "I think Wisconsin Rapids has done a nice job of bringing in retail businesses, but we have to do far better to bring in manufacturing and technology jobs. The various stores and restaurants that open here depend on people having a good income in the area to patronize them." Still, the year will go down as a success for the Heart of Wisconsin alliance, Loden said. "We did feel in 2004 we accomplished quite a number of things in our goals and work plans," she said. "We look to expand in 2005 and to create additional economic benefits for the community and coordinating the Community Progress Initiative." The Community Progress Initiative, a joint venture with the Community Foundation of South Wood County, was launched in April as an effort to enhance the local economy and build optimism in south Wood County communities. While local officials and business people worked together to enhance their respective industries, other residents participated in entrepreneurial boot camps to learn how to open and operate their own businesses. Rich and Caroline Casper of Rudolph participated in the boot camps last year and about two weeks ago opened Rudolph's Little Dears Child Care Center. "The camps certainly helped," Rich said in an earlier interview. "They're a good place to start if you want to learn about running a business in the future." Heart of Wisconsin officials also reported that 40 local businesses and organizations became members last year. The business alliance sold nearly $345,000 in Heart of Wisconsin gift certificates and drew favorable crowds to events such as Lunch by the River, where local vendors sold food outdoors on Thursdays during the summer. "(Lunch by the River) introduced me to some restaurants in the area," said Heather Cooper, 34, of Wisconsin Rapids. "It also gave me a place to take my kids over the summer. It was good to try some of the local restaurants there."
		Copyright © 2005, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome