October is Wisconsin Manufacturing Month… Celebrate our area manufacturers!
Wisconsin is celebrating Manufacturing Month throughout the month of October in recognition of the manufacturing industry’s impact on Wisconsin’s culture and economy.
The importance of manufacturing in our state is clear: last year, our manufacturing industry employed more than 461,000 Wisconsinites, accounted for more than 18 percent of our gross domestic product, and contributed over $56 billion to Wisconsin’s economic growth.
Manufacturing businesses often serve as a staple in their communities, supporting families and hardworking taxpayers throughout the state.
Prosperity Southwest Wisconsin sponsors Workforce Summit
As a member of the SW Chamber Alliance the Fennimore Chamber and Economic Development are helping Prosperity SW WI spread the word about the Southwest WI Future Workforce Summit planned for Thurs. Oct 19 at Belmont Convention Center. Where are things headed in the future and are you part of the picture?
Attendees will get an in-depth look at the most current labor market and industry trends in southwest Wisconsin.
Registration and networking begin at 8:30 a.m. during the breakfast buffet. The summit begins at 9 a.m. with opening remarks by Prosperity Southwest WI. Current workforce demographics and trends will be shared by Matt Kures, UW Extension, followed by Steven Deller, UW Extension, speaking on growth industries, in-demand jobs and skills of the future. Round table discussions begin at 11:30 a.m. and should adjourn by noon.
There is no fee to attend the event, but pre-registration is required.
Register online for the Workforce Summit
Chamber Annual Meeting Oct 12
The Fennimore Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual meeting Oct 12 with a noon luncheon at The Cottonwood. Elections of 2018 offices and presentation of the 2018 Chamber budget will be followed by a First Impressions Report from James Schneider, UW Extension Grant County.
Looking ahead at November events…
Small Business Saturday November 25 – encouraging businesses to sign up for FREE materials – you do not need to accept American Express to qualify.
Christmas Creations Craft Show – November 25 vendor space full
Official City of Fennimore Trick or Treat Hours- The Fennimore Police Department has set the official Trick or Treat Hours for the City of Fennimore. They suggest youth are accompanied by a parent during the hours of 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct 31.
Rayovac Recognized Sept 7
American manufacturing is alive and well here in Fennimore as Walmart honored Rayovac for producing batteries for 111 years on Thursday, Sept 7. In attendance were many Rayovac employees, Walmart representatives along with City, chamber and economic development members and staff from Southwest Tech.
Mayor Ryan Boebel presented Rayovac with a proclamation naming September 7 as Rayovac Day in Fennimore. We appreciate Rayovac’s investment in our community, the jobs they create and the economic impact Rayovac has made to Fennimore and the region for the past 47 years and for decades to come.
Spectrum (Rayovac) supplies Rayovac batteries to 4,600 Walmart stores. In 2013 Walmart pledged to buy an additional $250 billion in products that support American jobs by 2023. This strengthens Rayovac’s desire to increase workforce readiness and technical education by announcing its CORE (Creating Opportunities for Readiness through Education) initiative.
Spectrum Brands will partner with local educational institutions including high schools, Southwest Tech and UW Platteville to offer career fairs, tours, curriculum development, mock interviews, internships and scholarships.
Walmart estimates their $250 billion investment will lead to the creation of 250,000 direct manufacturing jobs and 750,000 support and service sector jobs in the United States.
Fennimore Receives Spark Award for A4A Project
Celebrating ideas that make Wisconsin brighter
WEA Trust partnered with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities to launch the Local Spark Award in 2014. Like the Trust, the League values the creative spark found in Wisconsin’s cities and villages. A nonprofit and nonpartisan association, the League serves as an expert resource to understanding Wisconsin’s communities.
Together, we hope to support ideas that strengthen Wisconsin and simply make it a remarkable place to live.
WEA Trust is a Wisconsin health insurance company that is committed to making our great state a better place. At the Trust, we recognize that the best ideas for Wisconsin’s communities come from the people who live there. That’s why we launched the Local Spark Award – to support local people with the vision, passion and drive to spark something special in their community.
Each year they award three $3,000 grants for community projects. Margaret Sprague, Fennimore City Clerk, shared the grant opportunity with Promotions Coordinator, Linda Parrish, who submitted two grant applications. One for A4A (Aiming for Acceptance) and another for the Fennimore Fireball Run. Sprague reviewed grant applications. On September 25 Parrish was notified Fennimore’s A4A project received one of the three $3,000 grants to be awarded.
Kirk Fry (a FHS graduate) an employee of WEA Trust will present the check to Rose Cutting on October 18 at the League of WI Municipalities conference at WI Dells.
Fennimore Utilities Celebrates Public Power Week
Fennimore has owned their own Public Utilities since 1904. Fennimore Utilities will celebrate public power week October 1 thru 7. Stop by the City Clerk’s office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for light refreshments and to sign up for door prizes and also a chance to a credit against your utility bill.
Fennimore First WI City to Achieve 100% LED Street Lighting
As an added celebration we just received word that Fennimore has just been recognized as the first city to achieve 100% LED Street Lighting in Wisconsin. Eight years ago, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) Fennimore was successful in obtaining Federal grants and incentives from Focus on Energy to develop and implement a local energy plan. This plan set Fennimore on a clear path to achieving their energy goals of 20% reduction in electrical use by the year 2020.
This is just another way Fennimore Utilities, Mayor and City Council members are working hard to provide customers and the community reliable, efficient and sustainable energy and public services such as the street lighting. More details may be found in this issue of the Times.
Fennimore Chamber’s Fall Decorating Contest Successful
Fennimore merchants and residents really did a fantastic job on their entries for the Chamber’s first Fall decorating contest. The response from everyone was amazing; people have stopped me on the street and sent emails to compliment our community. Marketing committee members found judging to be a challenge because every business did a great job.
Fennimore Vet Clinic
Those receiving awards are as follows:
1st Place to Fennimore Vet Clinic – they will receive free chamber membership for 2018 a $110 value.
2nd place went to Serendipity Salon and Day Spa – $50 Fennimore bucks
3rd place went to People’s State Bank – $25 Fennimore bucks
Two additional awards are:
Mayors Choice of Best Transition into Fall – IJ Hair & Company – $25 Fennimore bucks
“Most Unique” – Timothy’s Café – $10 Fennimore bucks
Businesses are encouraged to keep their decorations up throughout fall. Keep those creative ideas coming; watch for details coming soon about a Holiday “Shop Local” Decorating Contest.
Serendipity Salon
Peoples State Bank
Fireball Run – A big thank you to everyone!
- 14 teams came to Fennimore
- 7 teams visited Doll Museum and 7 visited RR Museum
- Fennimore school children, band, cheerleaders and Mascot all gave a WARM welcome!
- Missing Children Posters on Display in Memorial Building hallway – one child recognized a person and a police report was written.
- Donations of food and cash covered most of the meal expenses.
- Video should be available early 2018 for us to review prior to airing.
ATV/UTV Club Organizes
A long time goal of Fennimore to open ATV/UTV trails into the City of Fennimore takes one more step forward by forming a Fennimore area club. The club is named Crossroad’s Cruisers. Club meetings will be held the 4th Wednesday of each month starting at 6 p.m. at The Cottonwood.
Crossroad’s Cruisers officers include: Pres. Gary Northouse; VP Bob Lund; Secretary Karla Witzig; Treasurer Sandy Wiest. Board members are one person from each of the townships represented in the club.
The first action of the club was to file non-profit papers and start collecting dues followed by starting work on the club’s by-laws. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 25 at the Cottonwood starting at 6 p.m. There are currently a couple bills pending in regard to signage and regulations. Once word is received on the decision of the bills, the club will begin work on routes and signage. There are high hopes trails may be open by late spring 2018. Please note until signage is in place any ATV/UTV riders on unmarked trails will be ticketed. For more details contact any of the officers.
2018 Events
It’s that time of the year that I need to submit dates and details of community events to the WI Dept of Tourism, Hidden Valley and Grant County travel planners.
Check the Calendar of Events for upcoming events on the Fennimore website; information is added on a regular basis so check the site often.
