Plan your work and work your plan.” Ann-Marie Heidings
The city of Shawano works very hard to accommodate business needs and encourages job growth and retention in our community.
Perhaps residents are not fully aware of the assistance the city gives to businesses, so I will use today’s column to focus on the three most recent projects the city is financially supporting.
Tax Incremental Finance District 6 was created last year to assist in eliminating blighted conditions and promote commercial redevelopment along East Green Bay Street.
United Cooperative owns property located at 660 Seward St., which lies within the boundaries of TIF 6. United Cooperative intends to remodel the building located there and construct a new feed mill, associated loading and warehouse facility, and grain storage and drying bins on the site. The planned expansion will require the purchase of additional properties adjacent to the site.
The city is helping United Cooperative retain its existing jobs and create seven to 10 new jobs. The improvements will result in more than $6 million of new tax base.
The city will design and contract for street reconstructions, reconfigure traffic flow and provide necessary water, sanitary sewer, storm water and electric service connections to the project, with projected costs of $272,000.
In addition, the city will provide a development incentive grant in the amount of $850,000 to support a portion of the estimated costs to remove the old blighted buildings and create a viable/ attractive commercial site.
Tax Incremental District 6 will also assist KTS Investments, LLC, with remodeling of the building at 229 E. Green Bay St. (former Family Dollar). The remodeled building will be occupied by Tower Clock Eye Center, with the remaining space available for lease.
The project costs are approximately $415,000. The city is helping support the job creation and building improvements with a $61,200 grant, which will be paid from TIF 6.
The third development project is located on the corner of Main and West Division streets (former Qualheim’s). The 153 SMC, LLC, investors are remodeling the multi-use building with the intentions of leasing retail space on the first floor and office space on the second floor.
The remodeling/renovation will rescue the building from an uncertain future and will result in a property having an assessed valuation of more than $400,000.
The city’s TIF District 4 will provide a $60,000 grant when the project is complete. Additionally, the city will provide a low-interest loan (4 percent per annum) of $140,000.
City Administrator Brian Knapp commented, “These three current projects alone will receive a total of more than $1,380,000 in financial assistance through the city of Shawano. This is just a sampling of the assistance the city continues to provide encouraging job growth and economic stability to our business community.”
The city works closely with numerous industrial, commercial and economic support groups, including Shawano County Economic Progress Inc.. Director Dennis Heling commented, “I work with many types of businesses such as retail, service, commercial, manufacturing, industrial, agri-businesses and farming.”
Heling added, “The more diversified our business and industrial base is, the stronger our local economy becomes.”
There is also an incentive program in place to assist businesses/industries wishing to locate in the industrial/business parks. If a business creates 10 or fewer jobs, it receives credits to purchase the land in the amount of $750 per job. That scale escalates to $2,250 per job for 51 to 100 jobs.
In addition, incentive credits are given for investment in buildings or improvements. There are also revolving loan funds, industrial revenue bonds and TIF funds available.
Administrator Knapp commented, “The city’s goal is to make it easy for a business to locate here with little or no funds needed to acquire the industrial park property.”
The answer to last week’s question — What was the name of the meat market located at 528 S. Main St. in 2001? — is Jenkins Old Time Sausage Shop.
This week’s question is: The 1976 City Directory lists seven taverns located on Main Street. Can you name them?
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