Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/303876
w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m M a y 2 0 14 • I nsIgh t | 13 shipyard, particularly during the winter layup of the great Lakes shipping fleet when there are as many as 17 freighters in port for inspections and repair work, Chaudoir says. e completion of the plan depends on the grant applications. "I suspect that if all goes well, and they're able to get some assistance, that the project will be started this year sometime," he says. e final phase of this cluster plan not only involves Bay shipbuilding, which is a division of fincantieri Marine group, but Palmer Johnson yachts. e two sturgeon Bay shipyards worked with DCeDC to develop the sturgeon Bay shipbuilding Cluster Master Plan in 2004, Chaudoir says. "Both companies have invested millions of dollars in improvements in both equipment and building expansions over the years since the plan came out," he says. "Both companies have undertaken projects, improvement and expansion projects that were outlined in this plan." for example, Palmer Johnson built two new buildings, added two expansions to existing facilities and invested in new equipment. Bay shipbuilding built one new facility, added two expansions and invested in new equipment. Chaudoir says the total invested by both companies so far is about $60 million, including $8 million invested by the state. "one of the reasons we have our cluster plan is to define how they can work together," Chaudoir says. » THE NORTHWOOdS Florence, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto Counties Hotel developers look at Oconto County In 2013, the oconto County economic Development Corporation (oCeDC) launched a self-funded, county-wide hotel/motel feasibility study, and now that plan appears to be paying off, says Paul ehrfurth, oCeDC executive director. typically feasibility studies are prepared by developers for particular sites of interest, but oCeDC took a different approach and funded the $8,000 study itself. "rather than just have the developer prepare a feasibility study for the oconto falls site, we elected to have a study prepared on a county- wide basis and to fund the study ourselves," ehrfurth says. at way the study would not be proprietary to the developer, he says. since the completion of the study, two companies have shown interest in sites in oconto falls and suring. "e fact that we commissioned the study and have the study available gives us an opportunity to potentially attract developers that we would be able to educate relative to sites in oconto County," ehrfurth says. [continued ] » 920.731.6631 | www.mennlaw.com W hen you need a lawyer, no internet search replaces using an attorney recommended by their peers. The family practice lawyers of Menn Law bring knowledge, compassion, proven expertise and courtroom experience to your divorce, custody or family law matter. Trust is confirmed at Menn Law. Is this how you find a lawyer? Choose the Lawyers other Lawyers Choose. o n t h e w e b Read about a proposed pilot project led by Oconto, Florence and Forest county officials to address what they say is the U.S Forest Service's mismanagement of Wisconsin's national forests that may have led to the closing of many Wisconsin sawmills in the last decade. See "Branching out" on www.insightonbusiness.com.