EDC to Host “Mission Driven” Sawyer County Social on April 11th
(April 3, 2023; Hayward, WI) – The Sawyer County/Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will be hosting learning opportunities for businesses and interested individuals in Sawyer County on April 11th and May 16th.
The next Sawyer County Social will be held on April 11th at Angler’s Bar and Grill in Downtown Hayward from 4:00 pm-5:00 pm and is sponsored by the Entrepreneur Fund. Ken Pearson from the Northwest Regional Planning Commission will present “Mission Driven: Accelerating Organizational Growth Through a Focused Mission Statement.” Pearson has worked in Economic Development for over ten years and has been with NWRPC for almost six years. He is currently the Business Development Specialist and the Loan Fund Manager at NWRPC. The discussion will include: What is a Mission Statement? How can a Mission Statement drive Small Business? How to Create a Mission Statement for Strategic Success and How to Stay Mission Driven. There will be built-in time for announcements, questions for the guest, and networking opportunities after the event.
Sawyer County Socials aim to connect businesses and entrepreneurs with the opportunity to learn about different available programs. Guests may include representatives from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Northwest Regional Planning Commission, Entrepreneur Fund, and other similar organizations. The next Sawyer County Social will be on May 16th at the Whistle Punk in Stone Lake with presenter David Fleming from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation office of Rural Prosperity. He will present on Small Business Marketing Resources.
Thank you to everyone who attended the first Sawyer County Social on March 14th at Big Fish Golf Course! To learn more about the Sawyer County Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation, visit their website at www.sclcoedc.com or find them on Facebook and LinkedIn. Have a topic you’d like the group to address? Please email info@sclcoedc.com.
The focus of the program is to help you complete a comprehensive “rough draft” of your business plan in the form of a written workbook. Each session of class will help you learn business terminology and work toward putting your ideas on paper so that, by the end of class, you have made significant progress toward launching your business or writing a more comprehensive business plan.
LIVE VIRTUAL – Wednesday, April 5, 2023 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Course introduction and understanding the Business Model Canvas
LIVE VIRTUAL – Wednesday, April 12, 2023 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Business value proposition and empathy mapping
LIVE VIRTUAL – Wednesday, April 19, 2023 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Marketing Strategy
LIVE VIRTUAL – Wednesday, April 26, 2023 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Legal and Operational Considerations
LIVE VIRTUAL – Wednesday, May 3, 2023 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Financial Basics
IN PERSON – Full-day session Saturday, May 6, 2023 (Old Post Office Building – 1401 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI) from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
* Please note that for this course, there are both live-virtual and an anticipated in-person component.
The Sawyer County / Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation will host a Placemaking Event at Big Fish Golf Club in Hayward on November 12th from 9am – noon.
Placemaking involves listening to and asking questions of the people who live, work and play in a particular space to determine their needs and aspirations. This will be a collaborative Placemaking Workshop in which those who attend will explore and discuss potential improvements to The Travel Plaza, LCO Ball Field, The Landing and Reserve Pavilion.
This event is open to the public and anyone who is interested is encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be provided and an RSVP is preferred. RSVP: https://bit.ly/LCOPlace22
For more information, please visit www.sclcoedc.com or directly reach out to Jordan St. Germaine at (715) 699-3202 or jordan.stgermaine@lco-nsn.gov
New Executive Director & Executive Committee Appointed by the Sawyer County Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation
(October 10, 2022 Hayward, WI) – During the September 8, 2022 meeting, the Sawyer County/LCO Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors appointed a new President, Monica Johnson, Director of Business Development with NorthLakes Community Clinic. Monica will replace Jessica Wagner-Shultz, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, who served as the organization's President for 3 years, including keeping the organization intact through COVID-19 and staff turnover. “On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to recognize Jessica for her leadership and dedication to the Sawyer County/Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation, she’s done an amazing job.” said Monica Johnson.
At the August 11 meeting, the Board of Directors voted to hire Dalton Hessel as the Marketing/Communications Contractor. Hessel is a graduate of University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a degree in Elementary Education and Teaching. Hessel is a lifelong resident of Sawyer County, an author, second grade teacher, small business owner and known to many as The Northern Nerd. He spends much of his time working in and promoting the Northwoods of Sawyer County.
On September 19, the executive committee held an interview for the Executive Director contract position. With the support of the Board, the Executive Director position was extended to Kate Barido who previously served as a board member. “I knew Kate would be a perfect fit as our Executive Director, with her background, experience and roots in the community she has great energy and I look forward to working with her,” said Monica Johnson. Kate moved back home to Sawyer County in 2021 after living out of the state for several years. Barido has a bachelors from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville in Geography, Biology and Education and an MBA from King University in Bristol, TN. She brings experience in tourism, workforce, housing, grant writing, recreation and marketing. She has knowledge of the business community and family roots throughout Sawyer County.
The Board of Directors recently elected its Executive Committee: Monica Johnson – President, Amanda Wilson – Vice President, Jordan St. Germaine- Secretary, Mary Jo Becker – Treasurer and Jessica Wagner-Schultz – Past President.
Monica Johnson
President
Monica is the Director of Business Development for NorthLakes Community Clinic, an FQHC where she oversees and plans strategic service line growth, business expansion and sustainability in both existing and new markets across Northern Wisconsin. Monica owned her own successful real estate company prior to moving to Hayward in 2019 and has participated on numerous boards and committees related to economic development, education and public policy.
Amanda Wilson
Vice-President
Amanda moved to Hayward in 2011, taking the leap into entrepreneurship with the purchase of Deerfoot Lodge & Resort on the Chippewa Flowage. Amanda graduated from the Wisconsin School of Business at UW-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Real Estate & Management/Human Resources.
Jordan St. Germaine
Secretary
Jordan St Germaine is the current Director of the Planning and Grants Department for the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Her priorities within this department are to form collaborative partnerships, seek financial resources, and create innovative programming to support the needs of LCO and to achieve the goal of ensuring Lac Courte Oreilles and the surrounding area are successful and sustainable for future generations.
Mary Jo Becker
Treasurer
Mary Jo, a Sawyer County resident for most of her life and Retail Banking Manager at Frandsen Bank and Trust, formerly People’s Bank. Mary Jo has had the unique pleasure of meeting many in the community. It is her passion to bring a quality workforce within our communities.
Jessica Wagner-Shultz
Past President
Jessica is the Director of Institutional Advancement at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa University. In this role, she is responsible for fundraising, alumni engagement, marketing, and community engagement for the University.
Through the past year, the SC/LCO Economic Development Corporation collaborated with Norvado, Bevcomm and Mosaic to develop long-term plans to bring broadband to underserved areas in Sawyer County and supported the award of over $16 million dollars of AARPA funding, dedicated to Sawyer County's broadband mission.
The SC/LCO EDC provided letters of support for:
- LCO Tribal Government for a Tribal Business Incubator grant application.
- Local businesses to receive Main Street Bounceback grants.
- LCO Tribal Government for a Workforce Innovation Grant.
- Sawyer County Housing Authority in their request to Sawyer County.
- Northwest Regional Planning in support of the Workforce Innovation Grant.
The EDC Raised $29,880 from other non-county entities in the last fiscal year.
The EDC, in partnership with the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board, First American Capital Corporation and the U. S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, hosted a Tribal Enterprise & Economic Development Resources Toolbox Discussion in July 2022.
This summer, the EDC worked to develop new strategic goals to take the EDC through 2026. The goals the EDC will focus on include:
- assisting the Housing Authority in developing or helping others develop affordable housing for the area.
- assisting new business development when applicable, providing workforce attraction and retention.
- assisting Sawyer County communities in retaining and growing area businesses.
- collaborating with Sawyer County communities in expanding broadband and telecommuter services, working with internet service providers and the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board.
The Board of Directors of the Sawyer County / Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation is composed of all volunteers, dedicating countless hours to improving the business future of our area.
Board Members
- Michelle Beaudin – Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Government
- Luke Beirl – Hayward Area Memorial Hospital & Water's Edge Leo Carlson – Norvado
- Tara Gokey – Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Government
- Stacey Hessel – Sawyer County Board of Supervisors
- Mark Lundeen – Hayward TV
- Craig Olson – Hayward Community Schools
- Ed Peters – Sawyer County Board of Supervisors
- Chris Ruckdaschel – Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce
- Tweed Shuman – Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Government
- Mike Stamp – Shell Lake State Bank
- Rob Susedik – H&R Block Staff
EDC Staff
- Kate Barido – Executive Director
- Dalton Hessel – Marketing/Communications
To learn more about the Sawyer County Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation, visit their website at www.sclcoedc.com or find them on Facebook and LinkedIn. Have a topic you’d like the group to address? Please email info@sclcoedc.com.
Annual Report
2021 – 2022 Fiscal Year
Annual Report
2019 – 2020 Fiscal Year
2019 – A Thriving Year for SCLCOEDC and Its Partnerships
December 13, 2019
The Sawyer County/Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation had a year filled with new and existing business support, Placemaking, pursuing broadband, workforce attraction… you name it and our volunteers are working to support it. Click on the image for some highlights.
Business Improvement District (BID) PASSES City Council Vote
June 10, 2019
The Downtown BID Proposal passed with a unanimous vote at the June City Council Meeting and the suggested board members were approved. Now the real work begins for this group. Please congratulate them when you can. The folks behind most of the legwork in getting this through were Billie Jo Sabin, James Netz, Cindy Swift, Jennifer Titus, and Cathy Peterson who spent hundreds of hours preparing for meetings and pounding the pavement to meet with proposed BID and City Council members. One of the first goals upon getting the Hayward Downtown BID up and running was to establish a FB page and it is under development. Please LIKE and SHARE the page; more content will continue to be added. https://www.facebook.com/Downtown-Hayward-Wisconsin-384808929048070/
By Joe Morey LCO News Editor
Hayward Area Memorial Hospital & Water's Edge Donates to SCLCOEDC
4/30/2019
The Sawyer County/Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation would like to thank Hayward Area Memorial Hospital & Water's Edge for their continued financial support. It is through donations such as yours that we are able to continue our mission of Promoting a Thriving Sawyer County.