Tim Ryan, tryan@shawanoleader.com
Leader Photo by Tim Ryan SCEPI Chief Economic Development Officer Dennis Heling introduces a slideshow promoting destinations for tourism around the county at the SCEPI Economic Summit at The Gathering in Shawano on Thursday.
Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Shawano Medical Center CEO Dorothy Erdmann takes attendees through a tour of plans for the hospital’s new facility at the SCEPI Economic Summit at The Gathering in Shawano on Thursday.
Celebrating this year’s theme of “Connection and Direction,” area business and community leaders gathered Thursday for the ninth annual Economic Summit hosted by Shawano County Economic Progress Inc.
About 50 people turned out at The Gathering to hear from a range of speakers who stressed the importance of working together to promote the economic health of Shawano and Menominee counties.
Shawano City Administrator Brian Knapp said economic development was about more than just attracting new business to the community; it was about making the community attractive.
“Economic development is really community development,” he said.
Knapp said a subcommittee of the city’s Industrial and Economic Development Commission has been focusing on seven areas to feed economic growth, including education, income opportunities, health, safety, housing, lifestyle opportunities and making the community look attractive.
“Above all, we need the community leadership necessary to bring us all together to work toward developing those resources,” he said.
Rick Kane, SCEPI board president, said he sees the effects of unemployment and underemployment every day in his role as director of Shawano County Social Services.
“If we bring all the players together, I think we can make a difference and hopefully impact some positive change in Shawano and Menominee counties,” he said.
County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann also emphasized teamwork between government and community leaders.
“We’re a team. A team that pulls each other up when they get down,” he said. “Team players encourage one another.”
Erdmann said communication, collaboration and cooperation were the keys to overcoming economic and other hurdles in the community.
Attendees also heard from Courtney Gauthier, casino shift manager for Ho-Chunk Gaming, who detailed the tribe’s plans for expansion at the gaming facility in Wittenberg; Greg Miller, vice-president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe; and Dennis Heling, SCEPI chief economic development officer.
The keynote speaker was Dorothy Erdmann, chief executive officer of Shawano Medical Center, who detailed the hospital’s history and its coming move to a new facility adjacent to ThedaCare.