Winners of Shop Small Win Big Promo Announced
The Chamber’s holiday Shop Small –Win Big promo began November 17 and ran through December 13. Last week all entries were collected from businesses and combined for Santa to draw the winners during his visit to the Fennimore Fire Department Dec 15. The Grand Prize winner of $300 in Fennimore bucks is Tom Parrish of Fennimore who signed up at Speedy Mart.
Seven $25 winners include: Jay Anderson, Greg Cordts, Amanda Schnitzler, Verna Casper, Jamie Chulafich, Jen Jacobus all of Fennimore and Joe Rice from Lancaster.
The Shop Small Win Big promotion is a self funded promotion which is paid using Fennimore bucks. The Chamber wishes to thank the following businesses who made the prize money possible: $125 American Bank and Rayovac, $100 – Midwest Builders, $50 from Clare Bank, Subway and Sugar & Spice Bulk Foods.
Fennimore bucks can be used the same as cash at more than 120 chamber members businesses.
Taste of Fennimore Tickets Available
The Chamber’s sixth annual Taste of Fennimore will be held Saturday, March 2, 2019. The event will once again be held at the Cottonwood Supper Club & Sports Bar from 1 to 5 p.m. Advance tickets ($15) are now available at Carr Valley Cheese, The Cottonwood, Wood Law Office and Fennimore banks and Taste committee members. Committee members include: Committee chairpersons Ryan Rands and Ben Wood, Brad Bodenbender, joy Bussan, Tina Frye, Samantha Goss with assistance from Linda Parrish. They also welcome volunteers to help the day of the event, contact Ryan or Ben.
A great assortment of regional vendors have signed on to provide sampling of their products and beverages. The committee is still accepting sponsors and vendors for the event; if you are interested be sure to contact a committee member no later than January 4, 2019.
One new change for the 2019 event will be the shuttle dropping off participants at the South entrance to help with the flow of traffic.
Chamber Successful Year!
The Fennimore Area Chamber of Commerce is winding up another successful year. The Fennimore Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador committees held ribbon cuttings for the following businesses in 2018: Fennimore Smiles in the business park, Hilltop Bar and Grill, Lusy Mexican Grocery, Bender’s Foods, Community First Bank branch office (within Benders), Rei of Sunshine/Lisa Whitish and new worship opportunity Family in Faith (located in former Silent Woman dining area).
Chamber Begins 2019 Membership Campaign
The Chamber board of directors would like to extend an invitation to join the Chamber in 2019. Chamber membership is not only an investment in your business it also plays a role in the future of our community for today and future generations.
FACC membership dues are a good value with base membership starting at $115 for businesses with 1 to 3 full time equivalent (FTE); $200 for 4-12 FTE, $275 for 13-26 FTE, 27-99 for $325 and businesses with 100 plus employees just $400. Other categories include: Organizations and Places of Worship $75; home based businesses $45 along with individual/farmer/retiree category membership at $45.
Some of the benefits offered through membership in the Fennimore Area Chamber of Commerce include:
- Chamber office and staff available to assist you with businesses needs and development of partnerships with other businesses and resources
- Ability to accept Fennimore Bucks, accepted exclusively at chamber member businesses
- Opportunity to take advantage of increased exposure and marketing of your business through Chamber sponsored advertising plans
- Listing in the Fennimore Chamber online Business Directory and City of Fennimore website
- Business listing in the monthly Chamber newsletter, opportunity to display your business card in the Chamber’s business card rack found just outside the office door.
- Opportunity for you and your staff to participate in a chamber sponsored Business Seminar
- Involvement in the community through numerous networking opportunities and Chamber Sponsored Events
These are just a few of the benefits of being a member of the Fennimore Chamber of Commerce. It is up to each individual business to be as involved as much as they choose to be. Involvement on one or more standing committees is encouraged and serve as a great way to network with other successful businesses, however not required.
To learn more about Chamber membership please contact the Promotions Coordinator’s office 608-822-3599 or Chamber President Ashley Walker 608-822-3248.
This time of the year I like to share the list of chamber officers and board members that will be leading the Chamber in 2019. Officers President – Ashley Walker/Peoples State Bank, V.P. President Elect – Steve Lendosky/Brechler Lendosky LLC; Secretary – Lori Barry/Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. ; Treasurer – Sheila Ruchti/Community First Bank (also Past President/ liason)
Board members include: John Kolenberg/Jim’s Building Center; Joy Bussan/Carr Valley Cheese; Heather Fifrick/Southwest Tech; Barb Scanlan/Sunset Fields; Denise Deaton-Tolzman/QueenB Radio and Candice Wilson/Casey’s General Store.
Any chamber member who is interested in playing a leadership role in the Chamber as encouraged to talk to any chamber officer, board member or the Promotions Coordinator by Sept 15 for their name to be place on the ballot for elections held at the Annual Chamber meeting held in early October.
2019 FIEDC Officers & Board
Another organization I work closely with is the Fennimore Industrial and Economic Development Corp (FIEDC). It is the mission of FIEDC to serve as the marketing arm for lots in the City’s business park and work hand in hand with the City of Fennimore and Chamber of Commerce to assist and retain businesses along with recruitment of business and industry for the Fennimore area.
FIEDC members include: President – John Wells/WebWise Design &n Marketing; Vice President – Mandy Henkel/Southwest Tech; Secretary/Treasurer – Linda Parrish. Board members: Pam Kreul/American Bank; Dennis Biddick/DPW City of Fennimore; Jeff Birchman/Rayovac; Ryan Rands/Midwest Builders; Jane Wonderling/Fennimore Schools; Brent Sheckler/Suppz; Ashley Walker/Council representative and Bill Wood/Fennimore Design Center (past president) Others who attend meetings but have non-voting rights : Mayor Boebel; Dr. Jason Wood/Southwest Tech; Ron Brisbois/Grant County Economic Development Corp.
2018 was another successful year of progress for Fennimore. Fennimore Smiles dental office one of the newest businesses in the Fennimore Business Park, was completed and opened for business in May of 2018. At the top of Main Street the brand NEW Bender’s Foods grocery project was completed and opened for business in early November. Both of these businesses serve Fennimore residents but are also bringing in customers from throughout the area who often stop at other Fennimore businesses. Watch for more expansion news planned for the 2019/20 years.
Another highlight was the 2018 announcement that Southwest Tech was chosen by Forbe’s as the number one two-year college in Wisconsin and number 13th in the Nation! Quite an impressive honor to receive such high rankings out of more than 700 two-year colleges across the nation.
In early 2018 the announcement came in that all Rayovac plants were for sale. Eveready Battery company was quick to announce their interest in purchasing Rayovac but there was a series of steps and approvals that were needed for such a large company buy out. During FIEDC’s December meeting Jeff Birchman announced all negotiations have been finalized and the official purchase of Rayovac will take place the first week of 2019. Watch for more information on this as it becomes available.
We (FIEDC, Chamber, City, residents alike) all continue to have a challenge ahead of us to recruit additional new businesses to fill several vacant storefronts. I’ve also been contacted by a few businesses that are starting to plan for retirement and are looking for buyers for their business. So who do you know and how do I get in touch with them. We appreciate all of your help and input.
Looking ahead for 2019 Randy Bender reports they have signed a 5 year lease of their former building. The national retailer has asked Benders to allow them to make the official announcement. We anticipate that announcement will be coming soon. The former Bender store will undergo a facelift and they plan to open by May of 2019.
Other large projects taking place in 2019 will be the completion of the Fennimore Waste Water plant and a 19 acre Solar Farm that will be installed on the southwest border of Fennimore by June. Southwest Tech Foundation has broken ground yet another student housing project being built by the Construction Trade program students. In an effort to further meet the need for additional students Southwest Tech Foundation also accepted bids on two additional student housing buildings. Midwest Builders (local Fennimore business owned by the Rands) was the business that was awarded the project. All of the student housing projects will be completed by August ready for the 2019-20 school year.
Is 2019 the Year you want to Start or Expanding Your Business
Is starting a business of your own one of your top priorities for 2019? If so, there are resources available to help put your ideas and plans together along with financial projections. Please give me a call 608-822-3599 to set up a confidential appointment to get you started and connected to these free available resources.
Are You Interested in Serving Your Community?
Are you interested in serving in a leadership role for our community? If so, the deadline for nomination papers for the April spring elections are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. In order to register as a candidate for the upcoming spring election stop by the Clerk’s Office and pick up the nomination papers. To qualify a candidate must have at least 20 signatures. The nomination papers/signatures must then be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. The term of office is two years and would begin April 2019.
Information concerning aldermanic district boundaries may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office at 860 Lincoln Avenue, Fennimore, WI.
The first day to circulate nomination papers was December 1, 2018, and the final day for filing nomination papers is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 in the office of the city clerk. Incumbents not seeking re-election must file a Notification of Non-candidacy (GAB-163) by December 21, 2018. Failure to notify will extend nomination paper deadline 72 hours for that office.
For additional information, please contact City Clerk, Misty Molzof, 822-6110. Nominations papers are available at the City Clerk’s office during regular business hours which are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please note the City Clerk’s office will be closed Monday Dec 24, 2018, Tuesday Dec 25, 2018, and Tuesday, Jan 1, 2019.
Snow Reports Available Online
While we’ve been having some awesome weather recently winter could be just around the corner. Winter in Wisconsin is more than Jack Frost nipping at your nose and catching snowflakes on your tongue — In Wisconsin we snowboard, tube, skate, ski, snowmobile and snowshoe our way to fun!
Once winter does arrive the Wisconsin Department of Tourism will share the best hot spots for your favorite cold-weather sports every Thursday during the season. Use the Snow Conditions Report to search a specific activity, like snowmobiling and downhill and cross country skiing. Travelers can also upload wintery photos and plan a weekend getaway in Wisconsin right from the report. They also list nearby events taking place. So when the snow arrives be sure to check it out https://www.travelwisconsin.com/snowreport/
Fennimore Lions Club Birthday and Anniversary Calendars
The Fennimore Lions Club is currently taking orders for the Birthday and Anniversary Calendar which runs from March 2019 through February 2020. To order a calendar, please contact a member of the Lions Club.
