Discover Wisconsin to Feature Ice Cream Sundae
6/25/08
After a mention on the History Channel on June 23, the ice cream sundae gets more attention on the Discover Wisconsin TV show on June 28 and 29.  The program will include the story of how Two Rivers became the birthplace of this delectable treat. Check your local listings.

Hamilton Owner Reports Record Revenues in 4th Qt.
2/6/08
Thermo Fisher Scientific reports revenues increased to a record $2.62 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007, largely as a result of the merger in 2006 with Fisher Scientific. Diluted earning per share for 54 cents in 2007 versus 8 cents the previous year. READ MORE

Little Joe's Now City Central Bar and Grill
2/6/08 (updated 4/4/08)

The classic, art-deco Little Joe's Bar and Grill has changed hands. Joe and Delores Sobiech have retired. Kari Pries and Judy DeBauche have purchased the downtown landmark and have exciting plans to add to the growing downtown night life.
 

UFO Named National Retailer of the Year
1/11/08
The Kite Trade Association International (KTIA) named Unique Flying Objects as Kite Retailer of the Year at its annual conference.

From Incubator to Manufacturer of Year?
1/8/08
Woodland Face Veneers, which opened in the Two Rivers incubator building in 2002, has been nominated as Manufacturer of the Year in Wisconsin. The company moved to the Columbus Street Industrial Park in 2005 and now has about 45 employees.

Wine and Gourmet Shop Opens
1/4/08
Abotzo, a new wine and gourmet shop, has just opened in the building that houses Element American Bistro at 1513 Washington Street.

North Pier Rehab Included in Federal Budget
1/3/08
In our continued efforts to invest in our infrastructure, the city has secured $1.83 million for rehabilitation of the north pier of the Two Rivers harbor. The funding was sought by the city with help of local businesses, the Two Rivers Business Association and other local groups.

Senior Center Renovation to Begin
1/2/08
The Friends of the Two Rivers Senior Center have raised the needed funds for the renovation project, which is expected to begin in June. The $260,000 project is funded by $50,000 from city funds and the rest from donations and grants.

Another Sale at Sandy Bay Highlands
1/2/08
Six of the 21 lots in phase one of Sandy Bay Highlands have been sold. The latest sale in the city-owned subdivision closed on January 2.

Two Rivers Continues Aggressive Capital Investment
11/14/07
New city buildings, three new bridges, recreation trails, new city parks, work on our beach, new water filtration plant, upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant -- and more to come while maintaining affordable taxes. Looking for a progressive attitude? It's right here in the new Two Rivers.
READ MORE

Local Industries in Wisconsin's Top 75
11/1/07
Lakeside Foods and Eggers Industries have made the "Wisconsin 75" list, an annual ranking of the largest closely held companies headquartered in Wisconsin. Lakeside Foods in Manitowoc was ranked 26th and is a producer of canned and frozen vegetables, canned meats and other food products. Eggers Industries in Two Rivers was ranked 71st and creates architectural doors, decorative plywood and custom furniture components.
READ MORE FROM THE EDC OF MANITOWOC COUNTY

Wisconsin Remains Below Average in Cost of Doing Business
10/18/07
With 100 being average, Wisconsin scored a 96.4 in the Milken Institute rankings of the cost of doing business. The index measures wage costs, taxes, electricity costs and real estate costs for industrial and office space.

Winter Kite Fest Announced
10/16/07
Watch for Kites on the River! The hugely successful Kites Over Lake Michigan kite festival has expanded to a winter event. The Lakeshore's new Kites on the River will take place on January 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the West Twin River near Vet's Park and Riverside Park.

Welcome to Three New Businesses
10/3/07
Anytime Fitness will be opening in mid-October at 1506 20th Street.    The national chain of 24-hour fitness and tanning facilities is owned locally by Mike Langley, who also has the Anytime Fitness franchise in Manitowoc. Papa Murphy’s Pizza will open soon in the Family Video building at Washington and 18th Streets. And the much-awaited opening of Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, 1033 22nd Street, will occur within the next two weeks, owners Antonio and Christina Mannino report.

Revolving Loan Fund an Important Development Tool
10/2/07
Since its inception, the Two Rivers’ revolving loan fund has issued over $6.6 million in business loans. READ MORE
REVOLVING LOAN FUND PAGE

Most City TIF Districts Exceeding Expectations
9/4/07
Certified 2007 valuations for these districts were just recently released by the State. Those numbers show that a total of over $27 million in new tax base has been created in these districts since 1992—actually, about $22 million of that total has been created since 2000. Further, the 2007 total valuation of these districts is nearly 12 percent higher than was projected in the original TID plans.
SEE THE REPORT
LEARN MORE ABOUT TIF

Wisconsin on Economic Development Honor Roll
7/31/07
The annual Development Report Card for States has named Wisconsin to its honor roll for the second year in a row. It is one of only 7 states so named. About Wisconsin, the report says, "Wisconsin has distinguished itself as a great place to live, consistently earning high marks for Performance... (T)he state has shown significant improvement in Business Vitality and Development Capacity... Wisconsin can now proudly say that it is a great place to both live and work, with bright prospects for its future economic performance and standard of living."

Ice Cream Sundae Garners More National Attention
7/23/07
First, CBS Evening News re-ran last year's Assignment America piece about the ice cream sundae as part of its coverage of the U.S. Senior Open at Whistling Straits. A few days later, American Profile magazine ran a story in a publication that is distributed in hundreds of newspapers around the country. On July 21, the Madison Capital Times "discovered" the Two Rivers link to this most favorite of ice cream treats.

Kayakers Featured on Fox 11 TV
7/20/07
The July 20 edition of Fox 11's morning news program, Good Day Wisconsin, featured segments on kayaking at Neshotah Beach.

New Business Loans Approved
7/2/07
The Business and Industrial Development Committee has approved three loans to new and expanding business in Two Rivers. Luigi's Italian Restaurant will be expanding from its Manitowoc location into the former Cafe Alkayme building. Shipwreck Adventures will use the loan to diversify its product line into canoe and kayak sales and rentals. GT Machine in the city's business incubator will be purchasing additional machinery and equipment. Since moving to the incubator in March 2006, GT Machine employment has grown from 14 to 32.

Utility Honored
5/13/07
Two Rivers Water & Light has been honored by the American Public Power Association for its highly reliable and safe electric service. Two Rivers Water and Light has achieved Platinum status as a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) for proficiency in reliability, safety, training, and system improvements. It was also recognized by APPA with its Electric Utility Safety Award for 2006 and 2007 for its worker safety record.

State Businesses Share of Total Taxes Less
4/11/07
Wisconsin businesses pay 35% of all state taxes, compared to a national average of 40%. They pay 47% of local taxes, compared to an average of 52%. The 39.3% of total taxes paid by businesses ranks Wisconsin 41st lowest in the nation.

Free Business Assistance
4/2/07
The Wisconsin Business AnswerLine can help entrepreneurs with FREE answers to your questions about getting closer to your dreams and goals. Last year, 4,600 people called with questions. Call 800-940-7232 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or send an e-mail. LEARN MORE
 

Building Your Competitive Edge
5/1/07
May is Manufacturing Month. LTC's manufacturing symposium will expose you to innovative strategies to transform your global and workforce challenges into opportunities. May 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at LTC. Register at 888-468-6582.

Export Fundamentals Web-Based Seminars
3/12/07
Learn about exporting and improve your export management skills through this series of interactive seminars on your computer. The six one-hour sessions run until May 31. $35 per session. READ MORE & REGISTER

Home Sales Show Healthy Upward Trend
3/1/07
Homes sales figures show some positive trends for Two Rivers. The Manitowoc County Board of Realtors reports an increase of 11% in the number of homes sales in 2006 over the previous year - 161 sales compared to 145. More significantly, the total dollar volume for sales was up a significant 30%. The average home sale price increased from $79,750 in 2005 to $93,681 in 2006. SEE THE CHART

EDC Offers Entrepreneurs Course
1/9/07
The Economic Development Corporation of Manitowoc County is again offering the E-Seed Entrepreneurs Course through May 9. In the fall of 2006, EDC graduated eight existing and potential businesses from its first course. Gain access to entrepreneurs and info about research, law, accounting, marketing and business financing. The end result is a new business plan or a revamped business plan. Existing businesses and start-ups are encouraged to attend.

GT Machine Receives Tax Credits
10/27/06
GT Machine LLC, 2614 Williams St., has received $60,000 in Community Development Zone tax credits for its expansion project. It recently expanded into a new 19,200-square-foot location and is purchasing new equipment. The project will create 12 jobs and represent $365,000 in new investment. Contact us for more information about Development Zone tax credits and other incentive programs available to you.

New Construction Drives 4.2% Increase in Equalized Property Value
8/30/06
The equalized value of property in Two Rivers grew $22.5 million in 2005, bolstered by new commercial construction. READ MORE

Green Bay Business Assistance Center Open House
2/5/07
Celebrate EntrepreneurshipWeek USA at the Business Assistance Center in Green Bay from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Meet people from the Center and learn about the services they can offer.
2701 Larsen Road in Green Bay.

Entrepreneur's Connection
2/5/07
February 15 from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
KI Convention Center
The Green Bay Business Assistance Center presents all the small business resources you are looking for in one place - in one day. Featuring Dave Anderson of Famous Dave's BBQ franchise and entrepreneur panel discussion.
$25 fee -- $15 for students
920-496-9010 or e-mail

Business Plan Competition
12/13/06
You can win your share of $25,000 in prizes in the Northeast Wisconsin Business Plan Competition. Enter your plan for a start-up business, significant changes to an existing business or launching a new product. Several prizes will be awarded ranging from $10,000 to $2,000.
READ MORE

Free Listing for Commercial &
Industrial Properties
12/12/06
Two Rivers is a member of the LocationOne® listing service (LOIS)- a nation-wide database used by site selectors, agents and brokers. Check the menu on the left for the correct form for your property (under Add Your Site). Fill it out and send it to us - we'll list your property at no charge. Don't forget to send us up to three pictures for inclusion on your property's individual web page. Click on Available Property to see the current listings.

New North Economic Development Summit in Manitowoc
10/27/06
New North, a consortium of businesses, economic development agencies and education, is holding the 3rd annual Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Summit in Manitowoc on Dec. 14 at the Capital Civic Center. Register by Dec. 7. Find out how you can leverage our regional brand and discover the tools available to Northeast Wisconsin.
READ MORE

CBS Evening News Covers Our Sundae Story
8/22/06
The CBS Evening News will cover our ice cream sundae feud Friday 8/25 at 5:30 p.m. READ THE SUNDAE HISTORY   SEE THE CBS VIDEO

Developer Announces Plan for Former Eggers Property
6/5/06
A Milwaukee company has announced plans to develop the former Eggers property along the East Twin River. Caleb Acquisitions plans to acquire the 3.5 acres to build 30 duplex condominiums with a boat dock and private slips for each unit. The company plans to market the condos as vacation property. The 1,600 to 2,000 square foot units will sell from $240,000 to $300,000. The $8 million development will begin construction i December with the first units ready next spring.

CBS News May Cover Sundae War - Your Vote Needed
8/10/06
The CBS News "Assignment America" segment this week will include our Sundae war with Ithaca, New York. People are asked to vote for one of three possible story ideas. CBS crews then develop a story about the winning entry. Place your vote Friday through Monday at the Assignment America website.

Sundae War with Ithaca Draws National Coverage
7/13/06
The Sundae War has been covered by the New York Times, USA Today, National Public Radio, Chicago Tribune, upstate NY TV, and the Associated Press and hundreds of its print and broadcast outlets including New York Newsday and Arizona Republic. US News and World Report is working on a story. Hits on this Internet site have more than doubled since the war began. We have also placed a coupon in the Ithaca newspaper for a free Two Rivers ice cream sundae.

We Resolve!
6/19/06
Two Rivers declares - "We are the Birthplace of the Ice Cream Sundae."
Read the resolution
Syracuse, New York ABC-TV Coverage

The REAL Story of the Ice Cream Sundae
Invented in Two Rivers 125 Years Ago
6/16/06
Ignore any other claims. Two Rivers is the REAL birthplace of the
Ice Cream Sundae

Hear Results of Consumer Survey and Enjoy a Burger
6/2/06
Join us to see what an extensive consumer survey says about Two Rivers. Learn about shopping and spending habits and what buyers are looking for - and let's start talking about what we need to do for a better future. We'll get together on Tuesday June 20 for burgers and brats at 5:30 on the patio at City Hall, followed by the Leede Research presentation at 6:15. RSVP by Noon on June 16 or call 793-5532.
Review survey results on the EDCMC web site:
Executive Summary (PowerPoint File)
Complete Presentation (PowerPoint File)

Tuition Reimbursement for Training Employees
5/26/06
The Business Employees’ Skills Training (BEST) Program helps industries facing severe labor shortages upgrade the skills of their workforce. It provides tuition reimbursement grants to help cover a portion of the costs associated with training employees. Call 1-800-HELP-BUS.

Five New Downtown Businesses Opening
5/11/06
Five new businesses are opening in downtown Two Rivers. Welcome to
La Bella Cafe at 1701 East Street in the former Joanne's Floral building,
Connie's Treasures in the old Coenen Shoe Repair building by Kurtz's,
Shipwreck Adventures at 1611 Washington Street, and two new businesses in the totally remodeled 1513 Washington Street - Elements American Bistro and The Fitness Store, which is returning to downtown. The Fitness Store is now open.

Tourism Spending Worth $11.81 Billion
3/16/06
Traveler spending in Wisconsin rose slightly last year to $11.81 billion, according to a study released by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Overall, traveler spending grew roughly $30 million.

Laid off from Hamilton's - Want to Start a Business?
3/16/06
The Neshotah Pines Professional Building is offering 3 months of free rent and utilities - and 3 more months of 50% rent and utilities. The City's NxLeveL™ Entrepreneurs course can help you get started.

Smaller Manufacturers - Huge Impact
3/15/06
Small and medium manufacturers employ 60% of the manufacturing workforce and account for 40% of the value of US production.
This March 2006 report (pdf) from the Manufacturing Institute includes a list of policy recommendations as well as fifteen “best practices” that characterize world-class manufacturers.

Another Success for Business Incubator
2/23/06
The city's two business incubators are designed to help start-up businesses grow and expand. Another tenant, and its 22 employees, has moved out and set up shop in a larger building in the Columbus Street Industrial Park. READ MORE

Wisconsin Makes National Economic Honor Roll
2/17/06
Wisconsin was one of 7 states to make the economic honor roll in the annual report by the Corporation for Enterprise Development. Wisconsin earned an A for economic performance, a B in business vitality, and a B in development capacity.
February newsletter of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce