WCEDC Successes

The Washburn County Economic Development Corporation was established in 2002, the WCEDC is a private not-for profit, non-stock corporation, established as a public private partnership to expand the tax base, create new jobs and retain existing business in Washburn County. The WCEDC works with new and existing firms as well as those wishing to relocate or expand into Washburn County.

Funding:

Currently, the WCEDC relies on corporate, public and private supporters for financial assistance. The WCEDC has applied for and is waiting for its designation as a 501c3 nonprofit organization. They receive a healthy injection from Washburn County (55% of their budget), they contract for services for the administration of five (5) Revolving Loan Funds with the Washburn County Industrial Development Corporation (25%), and also have memberships that account for the remaining 20% of their funds. The WCEDC could not continue with its economic development successes without these generous contributions.

Services provided by the WCEDC include but are not limited to the following: business planning assistance, business training needs, project funding sources, assistance with lenders and alternative financing, business and technical research and referral, information on commercial and industrial real estate and technical assistance with business start-ups, expansions and relocations.

The WCEDC Activities over the past year (2009) include:

A total of 17 Loans for approximately $954,000.00 creating 25 new jobs while retaining 166 jobs
Assisted in the relocation of a new manufacturer to the Spooner Area
Continues to work with a manufacturer from Twin Cities area wishing to relocate to Washburn County on possible financing strategies and the use of USDA/RD Funds and or Funds from the area Electric Cooperative
The WCEDC Website is being developed and almost complete
A Spring/Summer Newsletter has been developed
Increased WCEDC Membership by 1/3 from 42 to 63
Revised the WCEDC By Laws
Moved the Offices to a new more sizable appropriate location
Completed and submitted a 501c3 Application to the U.S. IRS to become a non-profit organization
Completed and had approved a Certificate of Exempt Status for State Sales and Use Tax
Submitted a Grant Application to the USDA/RD Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) for additional funds for Revolving Loans
Established two (2) collaborative training efforts one with the UW-Extension for conducting a 6-part Webinar Series on "Building Communities - Community Development in a Difficult Economy"
Developed a Business Plan Development Class in conjunction with the UW-Superior Small Business Development Center on site
Assisted in re-establishing the Washburn County Area Manufacturers Association
Held a Special WCEDC meeting with area wide expertise (consultants, loggers, government, and businesses) to discuss the merits of promoting Washburn County as a supplier for Woody Biomass as a resource and looking to position the County for future renewable energy business.

Washburn County Transportation Modes

The main highway arteries in the County are the four-lane U.S. Highway 53 bisecting the County from south to north; State Road 77 crosses the northern portion of the County from east to west; U.S. Highway 63 traverses the County from the southwest to the northeast and State Road 70 runs east and west through the center of the County. There is also a good system of county and town roads the cris-cross the County making accessibility in any part of the county easy and efficient.

The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad connects the City of Spooner running through Trego to the Main Canadian Northern Railway Line in Stanberry and then on to Hayward in Sawyer County. Although providing the hauling of timber at select sidings, but not currently providing any other freight hauling from the County. It does provide access when if needed for this service to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Duluth/Superior, Green Bay, Chicago and the State of Michigan. The International Port of Superior/Duluth is eight miles to the north and accessible via four lane express Highway U.S. 53.

The Shell lake Municipal Airport has a balanced field length of 3,700 feet with IFR approach that includes MIRLs, REILs and VASIs. The runway, ramp, and taxiway are all hard surfaced. The public terminal building is open 24 hours per day.

Utility and Communication Companies Provide Great Service to the Area

Barron Electric Cooperative and its parent company Dairyland Power Cooperative provide the bulk of rural electricity to the County. While Xcel Energy and Spooner Municipal Utilities provide the balance of electrical service to the County. WE Energies is the natural gas provider in the County. The County is currently served by two weekly newspapers the Washburn County Register and the Spooner Advocate along with two radio stations. Centurytel, Chibardun Telephone cooperative and Charter Communications provide the telephone service as well as Broadband Internet Coverage. Much the County has access to high speed/DSL services with more and more of the County coming on-line as time goes by. There is also more Wifi areas cropping up within the County.

Health Care Providers Servicing Washburn County

There are four medical clinics, and two nursing homes provide outstanding short and long-term, emergency, preventative, outpatient and rehabilitative care to County residents. The facilities are located in Minong, Shell lake and Spooner.

Education

There are four K-12 school districts in the County Each offering high quality educational opportunities with the most up-to-date technology and instruction. Three of the four facilities are less than 10 years old. The total public school enrollment is close to 3,000, with a dropout rate of just over 1%. Washburn County also has a (k-8) parochial school located in Spooner as well as a (K-12) Birchwood Blue Hills Charter School in Birchwood providing educational alternatives for the students in the County. Post- secondary education is available from five State Universities serving the area as well as the regional technical college with its headquarters in Washburn County