2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation 116 North Main Street

Fond du Lac, WI 54935 920-929-2928

www.fcedc.com

A FCEDC Core Value Collaboration: Encouraging, engaging and participating with both public and private entities to deliver optimal

outcomes.

Collaboration was key in implementing a number of programs in 2014. As you go through this Report, you will

discover more about these great efforts which included:

• IGNITE! Business Success

• Creation of the Emergent Technology Center

• Focus on Fond du Lac video series

• State of Opportunity series with Gannett

• Partnership with DOD regional project

• Regional examination of the aerospace cluster potential

• Implementation of ideas resulting from meetings with regional partners

FCEDC directly produced results through these efforts:

• Implemented M.O.R.E. Business! Existing Business program sponsored by Mercury Marine • Retained ACH Foam Technologies, retaining 108 employees and creating 13 new high-paying jobs • Opened cases on two projects that will take place in 2015 • 20 Focus on Fond du Lac videos • New Economic Profile released • 17 Business Intelligence projects • Economic Assessment for Fond du Lac County updated • 100 business consultations and assistance • 12 Revolving Loan Fund loans closed

2014: Success Through Collaboration Fond du Lac County Economic Development Annual Report

Only through collaboration are we able to have a greater impact on our community. It doesn’t take just one individual or one organization to make ambitious programs that are for the betterment of all our community’s citizens.

We want to tell you more about the great programs that were introduced and expanded upon in 2014, so take a look!

Why Does FCEDC Focus on Primary Jobs? That’s easy to answer:

For every 100 primary jobs created (jobs that ship products and services outside Fond du Lac County), 88 others are created.

New payroll averages of $8.3 million. New retail sales of $3.8 million.

New money is created and put in residents’ pockets to spend at local businesses.

Source: Impact Data Source

High Return on Investment (ROI) in FCEDC Cost per job created and retained is $393.

ROI on capital investment is 247:1. ROI on direct payroll created and retained is 125:1.

ROI on total economic output is 1,169:1. ROI on retail sales is 95:1.

(Does not include the value of incentives)

Five Revolving Loan Funds $15.8 million in loans has leveraged $154.2 million in private investments for a 1:9.7 ratio.

Results from the Past Eight Years 2,845 new primary jobs.

2,058 primary jobs retained. $472 million in new capital investment (tax base).

Let’s Talk Collaboration!

How Many Collaborators Does It Take to Deliver Outcomes?

2014 Existing Business Program The FCEDC Existing Business program is a core focus area for us. Through retention and expansion efforts, we were

able to assist 37 existing businesses this year. There are always big things going on and the same will be true in 2015. Check out our 2015 plans to find out more about what we’re planning with our M.O.R.E. Business program sponsored

by Mercury Marine!

2014 Business Intelligence Successes • Revamped the Fond du Lac County Economic Profile to

include details of what each data set means and why it is

important.

• Client service income for Business Intelligence services

was the highest for the 5 ½ year old program with the

most repeat clients with large multi-phase projects.

• Learned and deployed a new research methodology

called 3-Circle Analysis with one client and are able to

offer this methodology to other future clients.

• Worked with 17 local businesses for Business Intelligence

service projects. 13 of these businesses were existing

businesses.

• Created an economic profile snapshot summary of Fond du Lac County using infographics. Find it at

fcedc.com/businessresources.html!

2014 Entrepreneurial Development Successes • Launch of IGNITE! Business Success in September with collaboration of 15

partner organizations. Additional partners will be included in this endeavor in

the future.

• Imagination Network of Wisconsin (the local inventor and entrepreneur club that

meets monthly at the Elks Lodge) has consistently networked and educated local

entrepreneurs and inventors for 18 months with an average of 29-30 attendees

per meeting and an average of 7 new attendees each month.

(2014 figures: 27 average attendee count; 4 new attendees each month).

• 58 entrepreneurs consulted and assisted.

Plans for 2015 • Continuous implementation of IGNITE! Business Success, Emergent Technology Center, and M.O.R.E.

Business! Existing Business program.

• Export development program for small- and mid-sized manufacturers.

• Increasing business consultations to at least 150 from 100 in 2014.

• Community Connect program in collaboration with Fond du Lac Works.

• Quarterly economic “flash reports”.

• Creation of leading economic indicator index.

• Annual Economic Forecast and Summit.

• Manufacturing Advancement and Innovation Network (modeled after IGNITE!).

• Creation of youth entrepreneurship program.

• Implementation of seed capital fund.

• Generation of Agripreneur program.

• Update targeted industries study.

• Production of 15 additional Focus on Fond du Lac business videos.

• Creation of 4 community videos.

Community Accolades & Recognition • Ranked 25th out of 179 small metros in 2014 as Best Performing. (Milken Institute)

• Ranked in the top 10 metro for manufacturing job growth in 2014; 10th out of 357 metro areas.

(NewGeography)

• Ranked 19th in the nation for manufacturing job growth between 2010 and 2014 (26.4% growth).

(NewGeography)

• Strong total job growth – Ranked 174th out of 398 metros in 2014 versus 353rd in 2013. (NewGeography)

• 9.8% of manufacturing jobs classified as high technology. 38.4% of manufacturing jobs classified as

moderately high technology. (Brookings)

• Fond du Lac metro ranked 7th out of 179 small metros for the presence of high-tech companies. (Milken)

• Best annualized job growth rate compared to comparable Wisconsin metros. (Garner Economics, LLC)

• Ranked 100th out of 240 small metros for total job growth in 2014. (NewGeography)

• Ranked 13th out of 317 metros for in information technology job growth in 2014. (NewGeography)

• Ranked 12th in the nation for wage growth. (Harvard Business School)

This infographic has been provided to show you the industries in Fond du Lac County based on

their overall employment percentage. To see this graphic and more, check out the Sketch of

Fond du Lac County 2014 at fcedc.com/businessresources.html!

How We Do What We Do It takes over 100 investors and reciprocal partners to make what we do possible. For our programs to continue to be successful and grow, we need leaders and collaborators in our community to be united with us. Please consider

joining our other valued investors and stand with FCEDC to make Fond du Lac County the greatest community for economic development, entrepreneurial and other collaborative opportunities!

We offer 8 unique levels of investment that offer a variety of opportunities for our contributors to receive benefits

including special communications, preferred business referrals, discounted research time and more. Go to http://fcedc.com/investing.html where you will find all the information you need!

Existing Business, $86,331 , 13%

Entrepreneurial Development, $65,719 , 10%

Business Intelligence

Services, $87,549 , 14%

New Business Attraction, $51,329 ,

8%

Revolving Loan , $52,252 , 8%

Operations, $162,410 , 25%

Organizational Sustainability, $144,350 , 22%

FCEDC 2014 Use of Funds

Private 27%

Public 51%

Administrative 15%

Other 7%

Sources of Funds for FCEDC - 2014

Administrative funds include RLF

Administration fees. Other funds come

from room rentals, client income,

sponsorships and interest.

Operations costs include business

operations and maintenance, taxes and

insurance, office supplies and professional

fees.

Organizational Sustainability is comprised

of investor relations and recruitment,

investor communications, Annual Evening

and program development.

Other funds are paid for educational and

regional programs and community services.

Who Are We? FCEDC is proud of the dedicated Board of Directors and Staff who makes all of our endeavors possible.

2015 Board of Directors

Ryan Kamphuis, Bank of Oakfield - Chair James Eden, Moraine Park Technical College – Vice Chair Louie Lange III, The Commonwealth Companies – Treasurer Troy Rademann, Bomier Properties – Secretary Steve Holz, National Exchange Bank & Trust – 2014 Chair Gary Boyke, Vir-Clar Farms Allen Buechel, Fond du Lac County Executive Martin Farrell, Ripon College & County Board of Supervisors Mike Gyorog, Mercury Marine Todd Koss, Grande Cheese Don Lauby, Wells Vehicle Electronics Kathy Leifer, Alliant Energy Holly Lifke, Society Insurance Kevin Lichtenberg, FIVES/Giddings & Lewis Bob Mathews, J.F. Ahern Joe Moore, City of Fond du Lac Manager Bob Poch, Keller Inc., Planners-Architects-Builders Paul Reetz, Integrity Saw & Tool James Rothenbach, Fox Valley Savings Bank Bob Twohig, Twohig Funeral Homes Dan Vande Zande, Vande Zande & Kaufman LLP Bruce Wadman, Alliance Laundry Systems Joe Reitemeier, Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce (ex-officio)

FCEDC Staff

Steve Jenkins, CEcD, President Bill Steimel, Director of Business Development Jo Ann Giese-Kent, Director of Entrepreneurship & Business Intelligence Joe Becker, CPA, Director of Finance Cassie Hintz, Market Research Analyst Sarah Spang, Executive Assistant

Organizational Core Values The FCEDC Board and Staff are committed to:

Servant Leadership – Placing first the economic well-being of Fond du Lac County residents.

Collaboration – Encouraging, engaging and participating with both public and private entities to deliver optimal

outcomes.

Accountability – Delivering on our responsibilities and commitments through diligent stewardship of the resources

provided.

Integrity – Performing functions at the highest levels of fairness, honesty, respect and ethical behavior that builds

and sustains trusting relationships.

Innovation – Pursuing bold creativity and adaptability in delivering our programs, projects, initiatives and daily

activities to produce results that have positive and sustainable impacts.

Mission Statement Aggressively pursue, promote and facilitate economic opportunities and growth for Fond du Lac County through the

attraction, retention, expansion and development of jobs and investments that increase the standard of living for all communities and residents.

Vision Statement The vision of the FCEDC is to be the most effective economic development organization in the nation, creating an

environment of progressive businesses innovation, expansion, recruitment and retention as a means of improving the quality of life for the communities we serve.

Contact us Office: 116 N. Main St., Fond du Lac, WI 54935

Phone: 920-929-2928 | Email: info@fcedc.com | Web: www.fcedc.com

Thank you to Chairman’s Council investor and sponsor of FCEDC’s existing business program, Mercury Marine, for their continued support now and in the future!