Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/348149
22 | /insight on manufacturing • July 2014 w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m In this day and age when international competition keeps rising and the U.S. economy is just getting back on its feet, local economic growth is a challenge best tackled through cooperation. To that end, the Fox Cities Regional Partnership was established as an affiliate of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce in 2012 to stimulate regional economic growth within its service area of Outagamie, Calumet and northern Winnebago counties. Specifically, the partnership's goal is to support the creation of 1,200 new primary jobs by the end of 2017, which, according to the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh, would generate a $141 million annual boost to the Fox Cities economy. Because of their critical importance to the local economy, the Fox Cities Regional Partnership works with primary employers, defined as those that derive the majority of their revenue from the sale of products or services outside the Fox Cities region. Incoming dollars resulting from those sales help support local retail, service and professional sectors, whose health and vitality are also essential. e work of the Fox Cities Regional Partnership is focused around two specific programs: existing industry retention/expansion, and industry attraction. rough the retention program, partnership staff and volunteers visit area primary employers regularly in an effort to help them identify challenges and opportunities and connect them with solutions. Of the more than 100 companies that have opened their doors to the partnership, three are contract manufacturers: Lakeside Packaging Plus, Valley Packaging Industries and STEP Industries. e economic impact that these three manufacturers have in our region is clearly identified by the size of their combined workforce, which can reach almost 1,000 employees during peak seasons. eir role in helping other Fox Cities primary employers meet their purchase orders and maintain productivity, by providing cost-effective and reliable contract manufacturing services, is crucial. is regional private sector collaboration contributes to the success of the Fox Cities Regional Partnership and its mission to help our existing primary employers become more competitive, grow stronger and ultimately create more jobs. Further, the well-established presence of contract manufacturing can be a draw for future companies that may be interested in contracting those services locally. Contract manufacturing involves outsourcing production to third-party vendors. is basic working model translates well into different types of industries and reduces companies' production costs. By contracting out labor-intensive projects to third-party sites, client companies do not have to rent, purchase or maintain manufacturing facilities, buy equipment or hire and train employees in order to produce their finished goods. Contract manufacturers also tend to have lower labor costs, but at the same time, work closely with their customers – as well as regulatory agencies – to ensure output meets high quality control and other mandatory standards. Human services meets productivity Contract manufacturing plays an important role in the Fox Cities economy INSIGHT FROM ... MANNY VASQUEZ, director of existing industry services for the Fox Cities Regional Partnership The economic impact that these three manufacturers have in our region is clearly identified by the size of their combined workforce, which can reach almost 1,000 employees during peak seasons.