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w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m J a n u a r y 2 0 15 • I NSIGH T | 11 » HIGHWAY 41 CORRIDOR Brown, Calumet, Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du Lac Counties Fox Cities PAC hits milestones, boosts economy e epicenter of the Fox Cities creative economy had a good year. e Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, perhaps the region's most visible gathering space and catalyst for the emerging creative economy, celebrated several key milestones this past season, including the mark of 2 million ticketed patrons and the 250,000th student to attend its educational programming, according to the PAC's 2013-14 annual report. Nine weeks of Broadway [continued ] » REGIONAL ROUNDUP U P F R O N T For links to economic development groups in the New North, visit www.thenewnorth.com/partners. Development in the New North B y S e a n P. J o h n s o n the strength of manufacturing in the New North region and the great jobs available." Key findings include: » 86 percent expect an increase in sales for 2015. » 66 percent plan a plant modernization in the next 12 to 24 months, and 30 percent plan an expansion, up from 50 percent and 23 percent, respectively, a year ago. » More than 40 percent plan to hire throughout each quarter in 2015 and 52 percent expect to hire in the first quarter. e results, which reflect responses from 151 firms in the region, are the most optimistic the alliance has seen in the five years of conducting the study. at manufacturers feel bullish about the future signals positives for other industries as well, says Bill Bartnik, incoming chair for the alliance and director of manufacturing systems at Sargento, who presented the Vitality Index at the summit. "Given the numbers expecting to expand or update their plant, it should be a pretty good year for the construction industry as well," he says. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center drew 210,000 people to Appleton during the 2013-14 season, generating nearly $31 million in economic activity for the region. To learn more about growing your career with the only insurance company dedicated solely to jewelry owners and the jewelry industry, visit JewelersMutual.com today. 800-558-6411 humanresources@jminsure.com JewelersMutual.com Neenah, Wisconsin Add sparkle to your career at Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company 2 0 1 4 F O X C I T I E S B U S I N E S S O F T H E Y E A R insight 122014 jewelers mutual.indd 1 11/10/14 11:29 AM [continued ] » C O U R T E S Y O F T H E F O X C I T I E S P E R F O R M I N G A R T S C E N T E R