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38 | I NSIGH T • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 14 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m and oil storage facilities. e area's redevelopment was part of a three- pronged effort that started by restoring the historic fishing shacks along the river as retail sites, then upgrading the harbor, then Blue Harbor site south of the river. "It's real easy to sit here six years aer the fact and say why things didn't work at first," Sanderson says. "e fact is there are a lot of reasons, just like there are a lot of reasons we were able to turn it around, such as the repositioning and an increase in travel spending. It's just been great we've been able to capitalize on the lakefront." ose redevelopment efforts have made tourism one of the leading sectors of the Sheboygan area economy, bringing in millions in new spending and helping to lower the region's unemployment rate. Tourism spending increased more than 4 percent from 2012 to 2013, according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Visitors spent nearly $200 million in the county in 2013. "ey have been doing really well, and we would expect them to continue that with the ownership changes," says Amy Wilson, planning and tourism director at the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce. "We have been seeing big increases all over the county, even from the first quarter when marketing is limited." At the same time, the unemployment rate has fallen dramatically to 5.2 percent from a high of 10.6 percent in 2010, according to data maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Along with Blue Harbor and the tourism industry, many other businesses in Sheboygan are seeing positive growth and undergoing expansions, a trend that began a few years ago and is showing few signs of slowing down. Leveraging the lakefront has been an important element in the turnaround of Blue Harbor Resort. This past year, the resort began working with a local surf shop to rent watersport equipment on the nearby beaches. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GET AN EDGE IN Manufacturing Management TAKE CLASSES ONE NIGHT A WEEK ASSOCIATE DEGREE classes closer than ever with 8 locations in Manitowoc & Sheboygan counties. Start this fall! Manufacturing Management is a unique associate degree program designed by local industry to meet the needs of the workplace. Classes focus on key topics such as supply chain, quality, lean, leadership and supervisory skills. With a Manufacturing Management associate degree from LTC, you'll be ready to advance in your manufacturing career. • Earn your degree in approximately 3 years • Credit transfer agreements to UW-Green Bay, Lakeland College, Concordia University, Cardinal Stritch University and others make it easy to continue to earn a bachelor's degree LEARN MORE Contact Carol Meyer, Administrative Specialist-Evening Programs, at 920.693.1295 or carol.meyer@gotoltc.edu. gotoltc.edu/Manufacturing 1.888.GO TO LTC • 920.693.1000 1290 North Avenue • Cleveland WI 53015 NCA-Accredited (ncahlc.org • 312.263.0456)