Contributed Photo Vision 2017 gave a $5,000 grant to Shawano Auto Sales to replace the business’s showroom floor. Shown are, from left, front row, Paula Lackner and Pam Schmidt, Shawano Auto Sales; back row, Jeff and Rick Roloff, Shawano Auto Sales, Dennis Heling, Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. chief economic development officer, and Nancy Smith, Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce executive director.
Shawano Auto Sales, 939 E. Green Bay St., Shawano, has received a $5,000 Vision 2017 interior grant to replace flooring in the showroom area.
Shawano Auto Sales was founded in 1957 by the late Earl and Vi Roloff as a salvage yard. In 1963, the company became a Chrysler franchise. In 2008, the business was taken over by the second generation. Siblings Jeff and Rick Roloff, Pam Schmidt and Paula Lackner now lead the dealership.
According to Jeff Roloff, this was the last phase of a three-phase project to modernize the showroom.
“This grant gave us the ability to upgrade the floor to stand the test of time,” Roloff said. “We look forward to many more years of service.”
Dennis Heling, chief economic development officer of Shawano County Economic Progress Inc., said the façade and interior grant program is closed after four years of awarding grants through the Shawano Country Vision 2017 program.
“We have been overwhelmingly pleased with the success of this grant program,” Heling said. “Every dollar invested in a local businesses has resulted in an eightfold return on investment.”
Since 2013, 52 grants totaling $171,000 have been awarded to small businesses through the façade and interior grant programs, stimulating total capital investment of over $1.4 million, according to SCEPI.
Grants have been awarded to businesses throughout Shawano County in Tigerton, Wittenberg, Gresham, Eland, Bonduel and Shawano.
Vision 2017 is a five-year economic development plan designed to address various needs of area businesses and communities. The plan’s overall goal is to spur capital investment and grow the economy by implementing steps in key areas, including business expansion, attraction and recruitment; tourism/retail development; workforce issues; and community development.
This plan was initiated four years ago by the board of directors of Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. and the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce to tackle economic challenges that included several plant closures, job losses and lower than average per capita income.