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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 | 29 I N S I G H T O N E C O N O M I C DEVELOPMENT B y S e a n P. J o h n s o n T he pieces have always been there. Oshkosh is home to plenty of major companies that have put it on the map, from its sawdust days of producing wood products to today's global players Bemis Co. and Oshkosh Corp. ere is prime space available in the region's industrial parks and visible commercial districts on both sides of the Fox River. Organizations including the Chamber of Commerce and Chamco have long been active in extolling the virtues of starting or locating a business in Oshkosh, while education institutions have also contributed and work diligently to deliver a highly- skilled workforce. Despite all those pieces, it sometimes seemed no one knew what the finished puzzle was supposed to look like. Instead of a polished picture, economic strategy at times remained a jumble. "We have a lot of great organizations that do great things for economic development," says Matthew Jameson, president and COO of Jay Manufacturing Oshkosh, Inc. "If we didn't, there would be nothing to coordinate." at coordination will now be provided by the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation, a public-private agency launched in 2014 to create a strategic vision and single point of reference for development activities in Oshkosh and the surrounding areas of Winnebago County. While still in an organizational mode, the newly-formed agency has set out ambitious goals such as fostering the creation of 1,000 jobs during the next three years. Both private industry and governmental agencies have stepped up to fund those efforts, which organizers say will ensure a unified vision so that resources and opportunities are not squandered. "I like to explain it that we are here to be the umbrella," says Bill Wyman, chairman of the board and interim CEO. "We see our job as setting the strategic plan. If everyone knows the overall picture, they can better execute their part. We all work in unison to accomplish the goals." at unified vision has not always been there in the past, which resulted in gaps, or worse, tensions among the various players. It could also be confusing to businesses looking to expand or locate, as they oen had to contact multiple agencies to get answers to questions or find resources, an inconvenience that will now be eliminated. "Now, with one call, we can bring the right resources to bear and provide them with the right contacts," Jameson says. "Business owners don't have time to sit down with four to five different contacts. Instead, let's Strategic selling New partnership poised to set the strategy for economic development [continued] » Bemis Co.'s $25 million health care packaging facility is under construction in Oshkosh and should open in late 2015. The project, managed by Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc., was an economic development win for Oshkosh in 2014. C O U R T E S Y O F H O F F M A N P L A N N I N G , D E S I G N & C O N S T R U C T I O N , I N C .