WEBVTT 00:00.733 --> 00:02.200 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Continuing on in the arts 00:02.300 --> 00:03.666 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% and economic development 00:03.766 --> 00:07.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% in Vilas County leadership, Vilas vision. 00:07.633 --> 00:10.100 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I want to introduce Mr. Barry McLeane, 00:10.200 --> 00:11.700 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% Special Projects Manager for 00:11.800 --> 00:14.266 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation, to give 00:14.366 --> 00:17.566 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% us an update on Vilas County economic development activity. 00:17.666 --> 00:19.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% So, welcome, Barry, thank you. 00:19.500 --> 00:21.300 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% (applauding) 00:21.400 --> 00:22.666 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% Good to see you. 00:22.766 --> 00:26.200 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% - Thank you very much. 00:26.300 --> 00:30.666 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% Vilas County Economic Development Corporation. 00:30.766 --> 00:33.366 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I've got 30 minutes, and some people would 00:33.466 --> 00:38.366 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% think five would be enough to give you everything we do. 00:38.466 --> 00:43.500 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% We, like Lola, we were formed in 2010, 00:43.600 --> 00:46.166 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% the corporation was formed. 00:46.266 --> 00:51.333 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% In fact, the then agent for 00:51.433 --> 00:55.500 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% the university helped us form our corporation. 00:55.600 --> 00:59.700 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% And the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation 00:59.800 --> 01:02.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% is a huge umbrella. 01:02.500 --> 01:05.633 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% We didn't know, I didn't know what I was getting in for 01:05.733 --> 01:08.933 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% when I applied to be on the board originally. 01:09.033 --> 01:13.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I thought, it sounds like something I should be a part of. 01:13.500 --> 01:16.633 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I'd done a lot of volunteer work for 10 years I've been up 01:16.733 --> 01:19.433 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% here, and I thought it sounds like I should be involved. 01:19.533 --> 01:21.800 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% And when I did get involved, 01:21.900 --> 01:26.200 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% our original executive director, Ken Stubbe, 01:26.300 --> 01:29.733 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% and I started looking at pieces of this. 01:29.833 --> 01:33.366 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% Ken had been a professional in economic development 01:33.466 --> 01:35.000 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% for a number of years, 01:35.100 --> 01:38.466 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% and we looked at all these different pieces 01:38.566 --> 01:39.933 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% of economic development. 01:40.033 --> 01:42.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I mean, you've got-- certainly the arts. 01:43.033 --> 01:44.866 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% By the way, my wife has been 01:44.966 --> 01:49.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% a professional artist for the last 40 years, 01:49.133 --> 01:51.866 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% has worked in collections 01:51.966 --> 01:54.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% all over the country, including corporate collections. 01:54.366 --> 01:57.000 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% She's done a marvelous job, 01:57.100 --> 02:00.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and so I know that everything you said about artists 02:00.766 --> 02:04.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% isn't true because they do have temperaments. (laughing) 02:04.333 --> 02:06.733 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And they do have bad periods. 02:06.833 --> 02:09.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Maybe that's just my artist, 02:09.233 --> 02:12.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% but I don't think so, they go through all kinds of 02:12.533 --> 02:16.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% different periods, but when we were talking about this big 02:16.233 --> 02:20.233 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% umbrella of economic development, the arts certainly came 02:20.333 --> 02:24.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% up initially as a really strong part of that. 02:24.966 --> 02:28.100 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Lola was a great example for us 02:28.200 --> 02:30.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% as we moved forward into the arts, 02:30.266 --> 02:34.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% we started in Eagle River 02:34.266 --> 02:36.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% with a small building there. 02:36.233 --> 02:38.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We rehabbed the cranberry building. 02:38.133 --> 02:41.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Some of you will be familiar with that, and we took a group 02:41.866 --> 02:44.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% of Nicolet College students and rehabbed that building 02:44.600 --> 02:47.833 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% and turned it into an incubator. 02:47.933 --> 02:50.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We moved our offices into there, and an incubator, 02:50.633 --> 02:54.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% at the time, wasn't very well known up in this area. 02:54.400 --> 02:58.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Although, there are almost 40 of them across the state. 02:58.633 --> 03:02.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Incubators bring people in that are 03:02.133 --> 03:05.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% either moving out of home businesses, or moving, 03:05.566 --> 03:10.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% or have an idea that they present to us for a business, 03:10.200 --> 03:13.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and they need an office or they need manufacturing 03:13.566 --> 03:16.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% facilities or they need storage facilities. 03:16.800 --> 03:21.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But what we do, as a part of bringing them in, is mentor 03:21.600 --> 03:23.866 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% them through the entire process. 03:23.966 --> 03:27.666 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% We've got a good close relationship with Nicolet College, 03:27.766 --> 03:31.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% so we offer what we call the EC classes to these folks. 03:31.266 --> 03:34.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% It's a 12-week class where we cover virtually 03:34.733 --> 03:38.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% everything from soup to nuts on starting your own business. 03:38.566 --> 03:41.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% From writing a business plan to 03:41.533 --> 03:45.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% insurance to marketing to legal aspects of the business. 03:45.866 --> 03:49.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Virtually all of it, and you end up, after the 12 weeks in 03:49.933 --> 03:54.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% this class, you end up with a brief business plan. 03:54.700 --> 03:56.000 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And that is great. 03:56.100 --> 03:59.000 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Most people choose to move 03:59.100 --> 04:01.600 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% forward from that point. 04:01.700 --> 04:04.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Some people get discouraged when they write the 04:04.833 --> 04:07.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% business plan and find out maybe this isn't 04:07.666 --> 04:10.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% the right time for them, maybe their funding isn't quite 04:11.066 --> 04:13.566 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% in place, etc., 04:13.666 --> 04:17.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and that's as important a part of our 04:17.433 --> 04:21.033 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% classes as success rates. 04:21.133 --> 04:22.733 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% So some of those folks we move 04:22.833 --> 04:26.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% into our incubators and move forward from there. 04:26.266 --> 04:29.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% One of the other things that has happened as a result of 04:29.466 --> 04:31.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Vilas County Economic Development 04:31.466 --> 04:35.300 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% are investments in Vilas County. 04:35.400 --> 04:37.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% This building being a great example. 04:37.633 --> 04:42.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% This building was bought 2.5 years ago by our now chairman, 04:42.100 --> 04:46.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Carl Ruedebusch, because he saw a need 04:46.400 --> 04:48.866 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% in Phelps to do some things. 04:48.966 --> 04:52.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Phelps, of all the communities that we looked at around, 04:52.600 --> 04:56.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Phelps seemed to have the most need at the time. 04:56.933 --> 04:59.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And we looked at Land O' Lakes, and we looked 04:59.166 --> 05:01.466 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% at all various communities. 05:01.566 --> 05:03.300 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% But this community seemed to need some 05:03.400 --> 05:06.900 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% help more than the others, so we bought this building. 05:07.000 --> 05:09.166 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% Carl went ahead and bought the downtown store, 05:09.266 --> 05:12.600 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% if any of you are familiar with that, we took that down. 05:12.700 --> 05:17.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% We've now got, if things go well, we're hoping to have a 05:17.500 --> 05:21.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% grocery store, hardware store, lodge, restaurant down there. 05:21.500 --> 05:24.800 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I mean, all of it is on the drawing board right now. 05:24.900 --> 05:26.533 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% We'd like to get started next spring 05:26.633 --> 05:28.166 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% on the first two phases of that, 05:28.266 --> 05:31.166 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% but the investment of real estate came as a 05:31.266 --> 05:35.500 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% direct result of Carl's involvement with this group. 05:35.600 --> 05:37.466 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% As well as a 05:37.566 --> 05:40.166 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% couple of other folks that have been involved. 05:40.266 --> 05:42.033 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% We have a building in Land O' Lakes now. 05:42.133 --> 05:44.033 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% We bought the-- 05:44.133 --> 05:47.266 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I believe it was the old Burkett Realty building, 05:47.366 --> 05:50.633 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% that is next to the Gasco building. 05:50.733 --> 05:54.866 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% In fact, I just put a sign up on that building yesterday to 05:54.966 --> 05:57.466 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% indicate Vilas County Economic Development is going to have 05:57.566 --> 06:02.000 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% an office in there, but I really appreciated what you said 06:02.100 --> 06:04.433 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% about the empty buildings in Land O' Lakes. 06:04.533 --> 06:09.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We're very much are in favor of that where all of our 06:09.166 --> 06:12.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% buildings are, we don't like to see empty buildings. 06:12.266 --> 06:15.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And if that building next door to ours, the Gasco building, 06:15.400 --> 06:17.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% it's been empty for a long time, needs fixing up, we're 06:17.766 --> 06:20.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% going to see if we can help with that next spring. 06:20.800 --> 06:24.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% It's got a big front to it, there could be a lot. 06:24.600 --> 06:26.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Performing arts could go on in there. 06:26.866 --> 06:28.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% You take some walls down and do stuff. 06:28.766 --> 06:32.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% It's so easy to visualize that stuff. 06:32.533 --> 06:36.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And then when you have the back end financing to go 06:36.266 --> 06:39.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% with it, you can get it done, it can all be done. 06:39.900 --> 06:43.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So we have two buildings up in Manitowish Waters as well. 06:43.333 --> 06:47.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We bought a fairly large building up there that had been 06:47.366 --> 06:50.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% empty for a couple of years, and we've converted that into 06:50.633 --> 06:53.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% an incubator, our Wisconsin magazine is now in there. 06:54.033 --> 06:56.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% They've expanded from one office. 06:56.633 --> 06:58.233 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% I just got the email yesterday. 06:58.333 --> 07:01.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% He wants the fourth office in there now. 07:01.166 --> 07:04.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So he's hiring a new executive editor. 07:04.266 --> 07:07.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So all of that, that's exactly what we want to do. 07:07.466 --> 07:10.733 align:left position:10%,start line:77% size:80% Our Wisconsin had been a magazine operated out of a home up 07:10.833 --> 07:15.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% in Presque Isle, and so moving those folks into an incubator 07:15.166 --> 07:19.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% has given them the way to expand, the way to train 07:19.666 --> 07:24.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% new people, and a way to offer more to the community. 07:24.133 --> 07:28.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% In addition, FYI, Northwoods is located in our incubator up 07:28.233 --> 07:33.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% there, so we're the publishing mini empire 07:33.400 --> 07:36.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% for Manitowish Waters, right now. 07:38.233 --> 07:42.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% In Eagle River, another piece of real estate we've recently 07:42.300 --> 07:45.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% bought and we've moved out of the cranberry building that 07:45.333 --> 07:48.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% we rehabbed now, and we bought the flour sack building, 07:48.400 --> 07:49.600 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% which many of you have seen 07:49.700 --> 07:51.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that big eyeball we've got out there. 07:51.433 --> 07:54.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% It was supposed to generate a lot of interest 07:55.033 --> 07:57.300 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% when we first put it up. 07:57.400 --> 08:00.966 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% A lot of people ended up thinking it was kind of creepy. 08:01.066 --> 08:06.066 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% But what it is is the eye on entrepreneurs building. 08:06.166 --> 08:08.533 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% That's what we've got going in there. 08:08.633 --> 08:12.733 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% And that has become, for us, Carl bought that 08:12.833 --> 08:17.566 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% building and as chairman of VCEDC, he wanted that to be a 08:17.666 --> 08:19.433 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% creative enterprise in there. 08:19.533 --> 08:21.266 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% So we've got, it's full now, 08:21.366 --> 08:24.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% we've got four businesses in there now. 08:24.466 --> 08:26.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Stitch It, which was across the street, 08:26.966 --> 08:30.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% they do embroidery work, she moved into that building, 08:30.466 --> 08:32.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% but we put a gallery up front, 08:32.533 --> 08:35.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% we put a very small gallery up front for a good 08:35.500 --> 08:39.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% friend of Carl's, Mark DePuydt, or Mugsy as some of you may 08:39.633 --> 08:44.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% know him, and, anyway, he uses that gallery for his work 08:44.400 --> 08:45.933 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% and he does quite well in there 08:46.033 --> 08:48.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and we're always looking for some more artists. 08:48.633 --> 08:50.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We need some 3D people in there right now, 08:50.533 --> 08:53.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% some glass people, we're looking for that. 08:53.600 --> 08:58.300 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Then, almost in the back, 08:58.400 --> 09:00.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% we've got a really great space in there 09:01.033 --> 09:04.400 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% called Goose Cap Media. 09:04.500 --> 09:06.600 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% A young man named Isaac Doud 09:06.700 --> 09:10.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% graduated from Northland Pines two years ago maybe. 09:10.533 --> 09:14.033 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% I don't know, two years ago. 09:14.133 --> 09:18.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% One of those kids that is so tech savvy, 09:18.100 --> 09:22.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that it would almost be a shame to see him go to college 09:22.466 --> 09:24.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% because he is so tech savvy he needed to be 09:24.733 --> 09:29.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% involved right away in doing things. 09:29.433 --> 09:32.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So we got one of the teachers who had left 09:32.600 --> 09:37.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Northland Pines, Scott Subach, who moved to Appleton. 09:37.500 --> 09:40.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So we formed an LLC with Carl as one 09:40.966 --> 09:43.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% of the partners, Isaac Doud as one of the partners, 09:44.066 --> 09:46.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and Scott Subach as one of the partners, and what we have 09:46.900 --> 09:49.200 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% in there is we have 3D printers, 09:49.300 --> 09:53.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% we have some really high end PC software. 09:53.466 --> 09:58.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We've got a big, fancy high end Macintosh coming this week, 09:58.533 --> 10:02.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% and we invite kids in there 10:02.233 --> 10:06.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% just to let the juices flow. 10:06.233 --> 10:09.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Kids that Isaac knows or kids from the high school 10:09.533 --> 10:13.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that can come in and just use that space any time 10:13.100 --> 10:16.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% during the day just to do things, just to create things, 10:16.933 --> 10:19.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% just to make things, just to have ideas. 10:19.433 --> 10:21.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And we've got a gathering space up front 10:21.333 --> 10:24.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% where they can sit down, and all of these different folks 10:24.800 --> 10:26.566 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% can exchange their ideas. 10:26.666 --> 10:28.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Then on the very back of that building, 10:28.500 --> 10:31.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% we have a, it's called the Blank Canvas. 10:31.966 --> 10:35.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% A young lady named Erica Johnson moved in there, and she 10:36.033 --> 10:41.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% offers lessons, art lessons, in all kinds of media. 10:42.233 --> 10:46.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But she gets groups in there, they're as big as 25, 10:46.233 --> 10:50.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and they just, she leads the class and they draw, 10:50.200 --> 10:55.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% or they throw pots, or they do whatever they do, write, 10:55.333 --> 10:58.000 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% and they just make signs. 10:58.100 --> 10:59.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% They can do all kinds of things in there, 11:00.066 --> 11:03.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and she's just been a marvelous addition to our community. 11:03.500 --> 11:06.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Eagle River, very much like Land O' Lakes, 11:06.866 --> 11:12.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% is becoming very much an art center in the Northwoods. 11:12.100 --> 11:15.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I mean, with the opening of the Northwoods Center for 11:15.666 --> 11:19.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Performing Arts behind the old Catholic church there, 11:19.833 --> 11:23.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% with the photography studio in town now, 11:23.566 --> 11:27.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% with our gallery in town, with the warehouse folks 11:27.766 --> 11:30.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that have opened up and offer all kinds of classes there, 11:30.400 --> 11:32.333 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% it's becoming a real center. 11:32.433 --> 11:37.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And I loved the analogy of coming up Three Lakes to 11:37.300 --> 11:40.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Eagle River and up to Land O' Lakes. 11:40.766 --> 11:43.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I mean I love the idea that we can do 11:43.500 --> 11:45.300 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% all of this is Vilas County. 11:45.400 --> 11:50.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% This can really be a huge destination arts community. 11:50.500 --> 11:52.900 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% Summer or winter, it doesn't matter. 11:53.000 --> 11:56.633 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% Folks will come up for a weekend or three or four days 11:56.733 --> 11:58.933 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% in the middle of the winter 11:59.033 --> 12:00.766 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% if they can come up for the right reasons. 12:00.866 --> 12:04.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% And the husbands or wives can do what they want to do, 12:04.500 --> 12:07.733 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% and the spouses can do what they want to do in the arts. 12:07.833 --> 12:11.033 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I think it's a great idea, and we've got some folks 12:11.133 --> 12:13.033 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% working on that right now. 12:13.133 --> 12:17.333 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% So I kind of got, let me-- 12:17.433 --> 12:18.766 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% - Okay. 12:18.866 --> 12:22.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - I've been told I better do questions at the end. 12:22.266 --> 12:25.933 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Part of being in here. 12:26.033 --> 12:31.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So the real estate, the arts have all been part of that. 12:31.133 --> 12:35.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% One of the more boring parts of what our mission has been 12:35.700 --> 12:40.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% in Vilas County is, quite frankly, broadband. 12:40.200 --> 12:44.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We can't expect people to come up here and stay 12:45.000 --> 12:49.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% for any length of time unless we can offer them 12:49.600 --> 12:52.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% not only broadband but I mean going forward we're 12:52.500 --> 12:55.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% going to have to offer them fiber optic. 12:55.133 --> 12:58.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% It's got to be fast broadband, we can't just do, 12:58.533 --> 13:03.533 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% you know, five up and 10 down, 13:03.633 --> 13:06.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We've got to offer them fiber optic. 13:06.600 --> 13:11.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So, to that end, we're offering that as of today 13:11.800 --> 13:14.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% in both of our Manitowish Waters locations. 13:14.833 --> 13:16.566 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% We're offering it right now 13:16.666 --> 13:20.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% at the eyeball building in Eagle River, fiber. 13:20.933 --> 13:25.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Fiber means a minimum of 20 up and 20 down. 13:25.600 --> 13:29.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% That's, you can do anything with that right now. 13:29.366 --> 13:31.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Now, is that going to be enough 10 years from now? 13:31.900 --> 13:34.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% No, we're going to need 100 up and 100 down, 13:34.533 --> 13:37.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% but that'll come, that'll all come. 13:37.533 --> 13:40.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Getting the initial fiber there is the important thing 13:40.200 --> 13:42.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% for everybody in this room that has ever 13:42.633 --> 13:46.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% thought about having a business, you've got to have that. 13:46.166 --> 13:51.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So, this fall we hope to have it in Land O' Lakes. 13:51.266 --> 13:54.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We've helped with ChoiceTEL's grant 13:54.833 --> 13:56.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that they're now coming to Land O' Lakes. 13:57.066 --> 14:00.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We hope that'll all go smoothly coming all the way up there 14:00.166 --> 14:03.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and spread to all the downtown area, fiber. 14:03.100 --> 14:06.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And then Carl, if he has to hire it done himself, 14:06.500 --> 14:10.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% we will have it here in 2017, the year after that. 14:10.233 --> 14:13.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We're dead certain about that, particularly with the 14:13.333 --> 14:15.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% development that we see going on downtown. 14:15.933 --> 14:20.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So, economic development is so many things 14:20.566 --> 14:24.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and can be so many different things to different people. 14:24.300 --> 14:29.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% It's all about what you perceive that you need to stay here, 14:29.833 --> 14:35.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% to run a business here, to operate here, or to have 14:35.200 --> 14:40.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% your friends from Milwaukee and Madison and Minneapolis 14:40.833 --> 14:42.800 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% come over here and say, 14:42.900 --> 14:46.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% "Why don't you rent my house for an extra two weeks." 14:46.633 --> 14:50.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Yeah, I can run my business out of here. 14:50.266 --> 14:53.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So, so many businesses are run out of homes anymore. 14:53.366 --> 14:56.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I think that's pretty much what I've got to say. 14:56.900 --> 15:00.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Are there any questions about what we do or how we do it? 15:00.700 --> 15:04.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We have a pretty significant board of directors, and we've 15:04.666 --> 15:07.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% started with a really impressive board of directors 15:07.366 --> 15:08.833 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% and we've built on that. 15:08.933 --> 15:12.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We've had some retire, and we've brought some in. 15:12.400 --> 15:14.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Mark Long with Discover Wisconsin 15:14.100 --> 15:16.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% has just joined our board of directors. 15:17.033 --> 15:19.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% From out here in Phelps, Wally Beversdorf 15:19.433 --> 15:21.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% has just become part of our board of directors. 15:21.766 --> 15:23.500 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% So these are all good people. 15:23.600 --> 15:26.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We've got tribal members on our board of directors 15:26.133 --> 15:29.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that are also excellent, excellent people. 15:29.366 --> 15:32.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And they work with us very closely. 15:32.933 --> 15:34.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Debbie. 15:34.266 --> 15:36.833 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - My question was, as far as how 15:36.933 --> 15:39.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% the Economic Development Corporation, 15:39.500 --> 15:41.100 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% is that a nonprofit? 15:41.200 --> 15:43.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And then like you were mentioning who, I'm sorry, 15:43.966 --> 15:47.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I forgot his name already, who bought here. 15:47.500 --> 15:49.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Yeah, we're a nonprofit. We are. 15:49.533 --> 15:50.900 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Carl, I'm sorry. 15:51.000 --> 15:55.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So Carl, does the then, he owns it as an individual entity? 15:55.533 --> 16:00.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Carl does, Carl is one of those rare individuals that 16:00.533 --> 16:04.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% he's made a lot of money in the construction development 16:04.433 --> 16:08.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% business down in Madison, does buildings in 25 states, 16:08.933 --> 16:13.766 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% and he is, I mean seriously, 16:13.866 --> 16:15.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% It's hard to believe in this day and age sometimes, 16:15.933 --> 16:18.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% but he seriously is about giving back. 16:19.000 --> 16:22.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% He doesn't make any money on this building. 16:22.666 --> 16:25.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% He doesn't make any money on that building in Land O' Lakes 16:25.966 --> 16:29.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% or the first building in Manitowish Waters, and he's 16:29.366 --> 16:32.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% certainly not making any money in Eagle River. 16:32.333 --> 16:35.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I mean, he does all the remodeling, buys the building. 16:35.433 --> 16:40.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% He is genuinely a person that gives back to the community. 16:40.600 --> 16:44.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So I am just fortunate to have met him 16:44.133 --> 16:46.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% before I died, I have to tell you, 16:46.200 --> 16:51.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% because people like that just don't, they just don't exist. 16:51.166 --> 16:53.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% You don't run across them very often. 16:53.966 --> 16:55.233 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - [Voiceover] That's very cool. 16:55.333 --> 16:59.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Yeah. He's a great guy. Any other questions? 16:59.233 --> 17:02.266 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% We're available all the time. 17:02.366 --> 17:06.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I have cards right up on the, back here on the thing. 17:06.300 --> 17:09.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So please come see me if you have ideas or thoughts 17:10.000 --> 17:14.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% about a business or anything you want to talk about 17:14.166 --> 17:15.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% business-wise, we're happy to do it, 17:16.000 --> 17:18.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and we're happy to provide mentors for any, 17:19.033 --> 17:23.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% you don't have to have a location in one of our 17:23.366 --> 17:27.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% buildings to get the mentorship that you might want for 17:27.533 --> 17:29.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% legal or marketing or whatever it is. 17:29.766 --> 17:30.833 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Yes? 17:30.933 --> 17:32.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - So you have Vilas County in your name, 17:32.900 --> 17:34.766 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% but is it strictly Vilas County? 17:34.866 --> 17:37.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% What was the driving force? 17:37.266 --> 17:40.600 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% What made the group start up? 17:40.700 --> 17:45.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Originally, some members of the County Board had... 17:47.700 --> 17:49.966 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% These organization have existed 17:50.066 --> 17:52.100 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% in other counties for some time. 17:52.200 --> 17:54.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I don't know how effective they were, I really don't know. 17:54.933 --> 17:58.566 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% But members of the County Board, 17:58.666 --> 18:02.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% certain members, decided they wanted to give this a try. 18:02.500 --> 18:07.433 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% So the initial try, they went to Kelly Haverkampf, 18:07.533 --> 18:10.533 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% who was the extension agent at the time, 18:10.633 --> 18:12.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% and sad see what you can put together. 18:12.500 --> 18:14.966 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% See if you can put together a board of directors. 18:15.066 --> 18:19.766 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% We had to go through all the procedures that just kill me. 18:19.866 --> 18:23.733 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I can't stand to go through how to set up the corporation, 18:23.833 --> 18:26.200 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% the mission statements. 18:26.300 --> 18:29.066 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I just hate that because I'm really hands on with stuff, 18:29.166 --> 18:32.600 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% but we did it and I was part of it. 18:32.700 --> 18:37.100 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I became part of the board, and by the time we were done, 18:37.200 --> 18:39.766 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% then we started saying, well, we should do this, 18:39.866 --> 18:42.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% this, or this based on the county. 18:42.500 --> 18:46.666 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% The county gave us a stipend of 18:46.766 --> 18:49.000 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% 100 thousand dollars a year 18:49.100 --> 18:50.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% for the first three years we were in business, 18:51.000 --> 18:55.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and they have since continued that for obvious reasons. 18:55.333 --> 18:57.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% The investments made in Vilas County 18:57.333 --> 18:59.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% are bringing back more than that in tax dollars 18:59.633 --> 19:02.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% right now than they invest in us. 19:02.333 --> 19:06.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But we've also reached out to the community 19:06.166 --> 19:10.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and had a lot of private and corporate donations to us. 19:10.766 --> 19:13.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So that's how we formed, the need. 19:13.566 --> 19:15.733 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% It was just simply a need. 19:15.833 --> 19:20.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And, you know, as often happens with corporations 19:20.666 --> 19:23.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% like that, particular 501(c)(3)s, 19:23.233 --> 19:25.600 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% people don't really know 19:25.700 --> 19:28.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% what they're getting into when they first get, but you say, 19:29.033 --> 19:32.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% well, we could do that or, you know, this is part of that. 19:32.633 --> 19:36.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% This is a gallery wall for us, this is our second one. 19:36.166 --> 19:38.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% The first one we started was up in Manitowish Waters. 19:39.000 --> 19:41.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I was up there and I just said, you know, 19:41.133 --> 19:44.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% we've got this great space, let's paint it a color 19:44.133 --> 19:46.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and have a different artist in here every month. 19:46.500 --> 19:48.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And Manitowish Art League jumped all over it. 19:48.800 --> 19:52.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We literally have, for 2.5 years now, 19:52.466 --> 19:55.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% had a different artist on that wall every month. 19:55.333 --> 19:58.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Some two-dimensional, some three-dimensional, 19:58.466 --> 20:01.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% some woodworkers, but it's great. 20:01.800 --> 20:03.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We have a reception for them every month. 20:04.000 --> 20:06.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% They love it, we get lots of people in there. 20:06.733 --> 20:10.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So we are well known up in that area. 20:10.666 --> 20:12.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% The same thing we want to do here. 20:12.333 --> 20:15.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% The last exhibition we had here was the high school kids 20:15.433 --> 20:18.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% from Phelps High School, and they did a great job. 20:19.000 --> 20:22.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We've got an artist coming in in May from, is it somebody 20:23.066 --> 20:26.066 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% from, Lola I can't remember. 20:26.166 --> 20:28.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I think so. I can't remember her name right off hand. 20:29.000 --> 20:33.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But anyway, we've, you know, that's what we do. 20:33.133 --> 20:35.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I look forward to seeing you again. 20:35.433 --> 20:37.500 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% (applause)