Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/533571
w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m J u l y 2 0 15 • I NSIGH T | 35 C O U R T E S Y O F G R A N D E C H E E S E C O . greater Fond du Lac region. In late 2014, Grande Cheese Co., a producer of cheese and other ingredients for restaurants and food manufacturers, announced it was constructing a new headquarters and research facility on a 40-acre campus in Fond du Lac and moving the majority of its 175-member workforce there from its current location in Lomira. Work is already underway on the first phase of the project, which is expected to be complete by early next year. Additional phases of the project include a research facility and orchards, vineyards, vegetable gardens and a greenhouse. e county has also seen its workforce grow steadily. Fond du Lac County has enjoyed some of the fastest job growth in the United States since 2013. e latest rankings released by NewGeography show that among all 421 metropolitan areas in the U.S., Fond du Lac ranked 156th in job creation for 2015, up from 353rd in 2013. Among the nation's 258 small metro areas, Fond du Lac ranked 91st, up from 202nd. e county's unemployment rate was reported at 3.8 percent, according to the latest figures released by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. e two fastest growing sectors of the economy in Fond du Lac are manufacturing and information technology. "What you are seeing is the result of follow through on the promises that were made back in 2009," says Joe Reitemeier, president and CEO of the Fond du Lac Association of Commerce. "It's been pretty rewarding for all of us who were involved." In an effort to keep that forward momentum going, and create an agreed upon destination, Reitemeier, Jenkins and others are participating in Envision Fond du Lac, a community planning process designed to create a vision of what Fond du Lac should be like in 25 years. "As individuals and individual institutions, we were all working toward making this a better community," Reitemeier [continued ] » Grande Cheese Co. is building the first phase of its new headquarters and research facilities in Fond du Lac. The company will relocate its workforce from Lomira. THE AUDUBON INN M A Y V I L L E W I S C O N S I N • E S T A B L I S H E D 1 8 9 6 Built in 1896, The Audubon Inn is a boutique full-service hotel on the National Register of Historic Places. We offer 18 elegant guestrooms with high quality amenities, signature destination restaurant NOLA North Grille, a full selection of spa services, and close proximity to internationally renowned Horicon Marsh, museums, artisan foods, shopping, sightseeing, and a wealth of outdoor recreation and adventure. 920.387.5858 • auduboninn.com