Military Avenue - Beyond the Curb!

The Military Ave Market Analysis & Corridor Design Plan has completed its 5th and final public workshop discussing the future of this commercial corridor. The City of Green bay contracted with Vierbicher, a consulting firm out of Madison, WI in February 2010 to begin the process of analyzing the market position and to redesign the aging commercial corridor. For the past 10 months Vierbicher and city staff have meet with numerous businesses, residents, real estate developers, and retailers to identify market limitations and to design a plan to reposition Military Ave as a major commercial corridor throughout the region.

The Military Ave Market Analysis & Corridor Design Plan comes on the heels of the successful road reconstruction of Military Ave which opened to traffic in November. This plan will help guide the redevelopment of over 1million square feet of retail, office, and housing uses into a vibrant commercial corridor. This plan identifies key redevelopment sites and provides implementation strategies, land use preferences, and conceptual designs on how to redevelop them. In addition the plan outlines new design standards and site guidelines for land uses to follow to achieve a cohesive identity for a revitalized Military Ave.

The public workshop period has ended and now the plan is set to go before the Plan Commission, the City of Green Bay Redevelopment Authority and then the City Council for final approval.

November 23, 2010

NWTC Expands Art Programs to East Side Union Hall

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College plans to expand their art classes to the old union hall off of Main Street on the east side of Green Bay. While the building will be used for art classes, business classes are also offered at this facility to help students develop the skills necessary when setting up their own studios to sell their art work. The union hall has been vacant for several years, and NWTC is proud to augment the city’s art district by developing a center for enterprising artists.

The location is ideal for this venture by NWTC, as the building is located in the city’s arts district that is home to the Art Garage and many other artists’ studios. Not only will the students learn the entrepreneurial skills for managing their own studios, but will also get real world experience and advice from professional artists.

The facility will be primarily used for classes in pottery, woodworking and quilting, with additional open space for students to work on their crafts.

November 1, 2010

New Development Project Adding to Green Bay's Economy

Several new development projects are underway throughout the city of Green Bay. The projects are valued at more than $10 million in new construction at seven businesses.

“It’s a sign things are slowly getting better,” said Derek Lord, City Economic Development Director. “Also, it’s a sign there was pent-up demand for some very successful businesses in Green Bay.

When completed in the spring, these projects will create more than 100 new jobs and over 200 new jobs over the next two years.

The projects include:

AK Pizza Crust is expanding their operations into the I-43 Business Center. They recently purchased the former VNS Industrial Machining, Inc. building, and are now adding 18,700 sq ft to that facility.

Cherney Microbiological specializes in microbiological testing and technical support for manufacturing companies, especially the food processing industries. Cherney is adding 15,000 sq ft to their current facility and expects to double their staff in 2 years.

Dell’s Service Center is also building in the I-43 Business Center. This is the second expansion for the business which also has shops in Ashwaubenon and Oconto Falls. Owner D.J. Lubenske chose the east side of Green Bay to locate the business because of the growth in the area.

Hansen Frozen Food, a private label pizza manufacturer for fundraising services is constructing a 7,000 sq ft addition to their current facility, valued at $600,000.

O’Reilly Auto Parts –is building a new 7,442 sq ft. store on the east side of the city, valued at $500,000.

Planet Fitness – There will be two Planet Fitness facilities opening in the next year. The first, located on W Mason Street, is scheduled to open November 15th, and the other on Main Street in late winter. The build out costs are estimated at $1.5 million, and new construction is projected at over $2 million.

Subway – a new restaurant is under construction in the Broadway District, on the corner of Dousman and Chestnut. The restaurant will feature a drive-through, a take-and-bake or bake-on-the-spot pizza, and eco-friendly and energy efficiency design.

Green Bay Cited as a Best Community for Young People

The City of Green Bay has again been selected as one of the Best 100 Communities for young people. This national award is presented by the America’s Promise Alliance, a group founded by General Colin Powell. This is the third award given to Green Bay. The city was also honored in 2005 and 2008.

Green Bay received this award for the Partners in Education (PIE) program. This program links businesses, educators and community organizations to assist all students in developing the skills necessary for successful transition from school to an eventual career involving lifelong learning. Partners in Education sponsors the Golden Apple Awards, Youth Apprenticeship program, Drug Alliance and many career exploration and experience programs. The Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, which includes Mayor Jim Schmitt, County Executive Tom Hinz and other community leaders, monitors and supports the work of PIE.

The Mayor's Neighborhood Resource Council was also cited for its contribution to the community. This program empowers local neighborhoods to address issues and provide activities for their neighborhood by dedicating approximately 9 percent of the budget to youth-related programming.

Each community chosen by the America’s Promise Alliance has proven that they are developing programs and implementing initiatives to provide young people with the essential resources needed to graduate from high school and succeed in college and a 21st century career.”

Demolition of the Washington Commons Mall

Plans to demolish the Washington Commons Mall are moving ahead. The city’s Redevelopment Authority approved to proceed with Request for Proposals to salvage and recycle all demolition materials both inside and out of the building. Demolition of the interior is expected to begin in the fall and the outer walls in 2011.

The emphasis of recycling the materials is a primary concern. It will keep the materials out of the landfill, and lower project costs. Materials expected to be recycled are glass, metal, railings, light fixtures, pipes, bricks, asphalt and concrete.

Tearing down the former Port Plaza mall is part of the revitalization plan for the downtown. Its removal will allow for the extension of Adams Street to Main Street, which will allow a more direct access to the downtown area. Cost for the project is estimated at $1 million. The city is currently in the process of securing federal funds to assist with the project.

Over the past few years, city leaders discussed ways to redevelop the mall. Some of the proposals considered included a downtown college campus, an office complex, medical facility and others. All were rendered not feasible, given the size, condition and layout of the facility. Demolishing the structure will improve the development potential and open the parcel up for new economic opportunities.

Mayor's Morning Business Connection

Throughout the summer, Mayor Jim Schmitt is hosting a series of meetings with business owners and managers throughout the city. The Mayor is discussing local economic development activities and local, state and federal programs aimed at assisting businesses in the city. A question and answer period follows each presentation. These meetings are specifically designed to address the activities and issues within a distinct commercial corridor. The Mayor’s Morning Business Connection is designed after the Mayor’s “Walk and Talk” series with city neighborhoods, but with an emphasis on local economic development activities. Business owners, managers, finance officers and other company decision makers have been invited to attend.

See the Complete Presentation >>

Economic Development Presentation for the University Ave Area>>
East Mason Araa>>

NPS Corporation Helps with the Gulf Oil Spill

NPS Corporation is helping with the cleanup of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. The company manufactures Spilfyter, a line of products that include special absorbent boom which surrounds and soaks up oil that is spilled in water.

The city recently gave NPS a loan from the Revolving Loan Fund Program for new equipment to enhance the manufacturing process of the Spilfyter line. The high demand for their product has increased production to a 24/7 operation NPS CEO and President Andrew Hetzel describes the quantity of products shipped to the Gulf as “sizeable”. In addition to the absorbent booms, NPS is also supplying oil absorbent pads and other products to assist in the massive spill.

Mayor Jim Schmitt is impressed with the contribution NPS is making to eradicate the affects of the environmental disaster. “NPS is a business that makes the people of Green Bay proud to have in their community” Mayor Schmitt said. “It’s great that this company is involved with cleaning up and protecting our natural resources.”

NPS has more than 200 employees who manufacture other spill-control products as well as tissues and towels on Bond Street in Green Bay and in Ashwaubenon.

Final Closing on Eastside Developments Pave Way for Northland Hotel Restoration

April, 2010: The final financing agreement was completed today for two customized residential housing buildings on Green Bay’s eastside. The first site located on University Avenue blends 80 units into a wooded lot while the second location on Morrow Street has 70 units adjoining a beautifully landscaped pond with direct access to the Baird Creek Trail.

These two new buildings will create over a hundred construction jobs and add approximately $20 million to city tax base. It will also provide tenants with an improved living situation with on-site services. A groundbreaking is expected to take place in the next two weeks. “This is a great day for the City of Green Bay,” said Mayor Jim Schmitt. “We have been working on this for five years. The construction of these two projects now presents the opportunity to begin the planning process for the complete restoration of the Northland to a high end hotel with first class accommodations.”

Manufacturing Improvement Assistance Grants Success

July 30, 2009: Since the program was announced in 2007, 37 Green Bay businesses received a total of $136,000 in grant funds, leveraging an additional $540,000 in process improvements.

“This grant program is a great resource for Green Bay manufacturers seeking to leverage workforce investment into more efficient operations,” said Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt. “I am pleased that this partnership has achieved real gains in manufacturing productivity.”

Richard Dewey of Structural Components Corporation received an award this spring. “This program provided the impetus for our company to upgrade its antiquated communication system,” he said. “The change has been dramatic and extremely positive for our company.”

The Manufacturing Improvement Assistance Grants were available to small to medium sized manufacturers (less than 500 employees) located within the city of Green Bay. Grant projects included improving processes, application of new technologies, identifying new products or markets, reducing manufacturing cycle time, improving quality or reduction of costs, with the expectation of increased competitiveness for each company.

WMEP secured the grant funding from the Federal Economic Development Administration to assist Wisconsin manufacturers to remain competitive nationally and globally. Since 1996, WMEP has helped over 3,000 Wisconsin manufacturers improve their profitability and productivity.

Tourism Industry Continues to Grow

June, 2009: Visitors spent $557.7 million in Greater Green Bay in 2008. That’s up 5.2% over 2007 spending. Most travelers came to the area during the summer months (June-August) and spent $165 million followed by Fall with $147 million.

Dollars were spent on food (27%), shopping (30%), lodging (13%), transportation (8%), and recreational events (22%). Business related visits was the main reason for coming to Green Bay (40%) followed by pleasure (36%) and meeting & conventions (24%). Greater Green Bay welcomed 603 meetings, conventions and sporting events with delegates and participants spent an estimated $80.6 million.

Local employment was also greatly affected by the increase in visitors, with 8,927 jobs impacted, a 2% increase over 2007, while $12.21 million were generated in local taxes. The Green Bay area continues to be a destination for groups and families. People who have visited here stated they enjoyed their stay and would return in the future. Hospitality venues are excited about the future and are ready to make their guest welcome and happy.