Contributed Photo Farmers Insurance-Shawano recently received a Vision 2017 grant. Shown are, from left, Amber Kleban-Zahringer, Jim and Pam Higgins, Farmers Insurance Agency; Dennis Heling, Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. chief economic development officer; and Nancy Smith, Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce executive director.
Farmers Insurance-James Higgins Agency has received an interior grant totaling $3,036 through Shawano Country Vision 2017.
The matching grant was awarded to help cover renovation costs at the business located at 116 S. Main St. in Shawano. The renovations included new flooring, paint and interior signage.
James Higgins acquired the Farmers Insurance Agency in Shawano on Feb. 1. Since then he has completed several updates to the exterior and interior of the office.
“Being on Main Street, I get many walk-in customers that drive past, notice my office and stop in for their insurance needs,” Higgins said. “By updating my office, I’m getting many customers who didn’t realize there was a Farmers Insurance office here until they noticed my new signage and updates.”
Higgins understands a welcoming and vibrant Main Street sends a powerful, positive message to potential shoppers looking to spend money, potential newcomers looking to move to a new community or owners deciding where to locate potential new businesses.
“I’ve been impressed with the retail mix and vibrant downtown in Shawano ever since I started looking at this business opportunity,” Higgins said. “Too many towns have watched their downtown areas deteriorate to the point where nobody wants to patronize the shops there. By keeping the downtown relevant it keeps the city and county economically viable.”
Organizers say small businesses in Tigerton, Eland, Gresham and Shawano have received a total of $123,000 in Vision 2017 facade and interior grants, which has stimulated over $800,000 in private investments, since the program started in 2012.
“The intent of the Vision 2017 grants is to assist small businesses that may not qualify for other financing programs,” said Dennis Heling, chief economic development officer of Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. “We are pleased so many businesses have benefited from this program. Our efforts to help individual businesses contributes to a healthy business climate and enhanced quality of life for our residents.”
Shawano Country Vision 2017 is a five-year economic development plan designed to spur capital investment and grow the economy by implementing specific action steps in key areas, including business expansion, attraction and recruitment, tourism/retail development and community development. One of the key goals is to bring at least 1,000 new jobs to the area by 2017.
The plan was initiated three years ago by the board of directors of Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. and the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce to proactively tackle economic challenges, which included several plant closures, job losses and lower than average per capita income.
FYI
Any employer or entrepreneur operating in Shawano or Menominee counties can apply for Shawano Country Vision 2017 grant programs. To determine if your project or business development idea is eligible, contact Dennis Heling at 715-526-5839, scepi@frontiernet.net or Nancy Smith at 715-524-2139, nsmith@shawano.com.