St Croix EDC News

January 27, 2012
St. Croix’s December Unemployment Rate Up Slightly to 5.2%
The December 2011 unemployment rates have been released. St. Croix County’s rate up slightly at 5.2%; but still among Wisconsin’s lowest. > read more

January 25, 2012
Dick Jonckowski will Headline EDC Awards Banquet
Dick Jonckowski (known as “the Voice of the Gophers”) will provide the entertainment for St. Croix EDC’s Business of the Year banquet on Thursday, February 16th at Kilkarney Hills Golf Club in River Falls. > read more

January 20, 2012
January 2012 Economic Dashboard Released
The January 2012 SCV Economic Dashboard has been released by the UWRF-CER and SCEDC. Conditions in the regional labor market are faring better than the state. > read more

January 12, 2012
St. Croix EDC Names Top Businesses for 2011
St. Croix EDC announces recipients of the 2011 business of the year awards: Future Farm Food and Fuel (rural Baldwin); Stevens Engineers (Hudson); and Sajan, Inc. (River Falls). The companies will be honored at the annual awards banquet on February 16th at Kilkarney Hills. > read more

December 27, 2011
North Hudson, River Falls, & Hudson Lead St. Croix County on Brainpower Index
On Numbers columnist G. Scott Thomas examined the brainpower of U.S. communities and ranks the Village of North Hudson as 15th highest brainpower for small-size Wisconsin communities > read more

December 22, 2011
St. Croix County’s Unemployment Rate for November Holds at 4.9%
The November unemployment rates have been released. St. Croix County’s rate holds for three months at 4.9%; keeping St. Croix among Wisconsin’s lowest. > read more

December 14, 2011
December 2011 Economic Dashboard Released
The December St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard has been released. Due to the close proximity to the Twin Cities, the St. Croix Valley’s unemployment rate is lower than Wisconsin’s state average. > read more

December 2, 2011
St. Croix County’s Unemployment Rate for October Holds at 4.9%
The October unemployment rates for Wisconsin have been released. St. Croix County’s rate was 4.9% and only nearby Pepin and Pierce Counties have lower rates for the month. > read more

November 22, 2011
St. Croix EDC Reminds County Residents: “Keep it Local” on Saturday
Small Business Saturday® (SBS) enters its second year on Saturday, November 26, 2011. SBS is another unique shopping day on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
> read more

November 22, 2011
St Croix EDC Announces Legislative Forum at WITC-New Richmond Campus
St. Croix EDC will host its third annual legislative forum with St. Croix County’s four state legislators ( Harsdorf, Murtha, Knudson and Severson) on Monday, December 5, 2011 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Cashman Conference Center on the WITC-New Richmond campus (New Richmond, Wisconsin). > read more

November 18, 2011
November 2011 Economic Dashboard Released
The November 2011 edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard has been released by the Center for Economic Research (CER) at UW-River Falls and St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC). > read more

November 10, 2011
St. Croix EDC Seeks Nominations for Business of the Year
St. Croix EDC is now accepting nominations for its 2011 Business of the Year awards program.Categories include Emerging Business of the Year; Small Business of the Year; and Business of the Year. > read more

October 27, 2011
St. Croix County’s Unemployment Rate for September is 4.9%
The September unemployment rates for Wisconsin have been released. The 4.9% rate shared by St. Croix and Pierce Counties are the lowest in the state.
> read more

October 14, 2011
October 2011 Economic Dashboard Released
The October 2011 edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard has been released by the Center for Economic Research (CER) at UW-River Falls and St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) has released the October 2011 edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard. > read more

October 7, 2011
October 20th Business Forum will Address the America Invents Act
St. Croix EDC's Business Forum on the America Invents Act (AIA) is set for 7:30 a.m. on October 20th at the River Falls City Hall. AIA comes at a time when innovation can result in new job creation. > read more

Septemper 28, 2011
August 2011 Home Sales Statistics Released
The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association released home sales statistics for August 2011. The monthly and year-to-date data provides a snapshot of housing activity in Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties. > read more

Septemper 22, 2011
St. Croix County’s Unemployment Rate for August is 5.8%
The August unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s have been released. Only seven counties have lower unemployment rates than St. Croix County’s estimated rate of 5.8%. > read more

Septemper 15, 2011
September 2011 Economic Dashboard Released
The September 2011 edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard has been released by the UW- River Falls Center for Economic Research (CER) and St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (EDC). > read more

Septemper 9, 2011
St. Croix EDC President: Congress Must Act on River Crossing
St. Croix EDC president Ryan Sicard joined County Board Chair Daryl Standafer in submitting testimony in support of the St. Croix River Crossing project for the Senate Bill 1134 hearing. > read more

August 29, 2011
St. Croix County’s Unemployment Rate at 6.3% for July
Wisconsin's July unemployment rates announced: St. Croix’s rate was estimated at 6.3% which continues to run below the 13-county Twin Cities metro rate of 7.5%. > read more

August 18, 2011
Equalized Values Decline in the St. Croix Valley
On August 15 th, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR)released its 2011 Equalized Values Report for towns, villages, cities, and counties in Wisconsin. > read more

August 12, 2011
August 2011 Economic Dashboard Released
The August St. Croix Valley Dashboard released: The Wisconsin economy created 9,500 jobs, but lost jobs in several key areas. Particularly, the public sector's loss of 4,700 jobs. > read more

August 5, 2011
St. Croix County’s June Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.5%
On July 27th, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Scott Baumbach announced the preliminary June unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties. > read more

August 1, 2011
Wisconsin’s New Production Tax Credit is a Boost to Manufacturers
Included in Wisconsin’s 2011-2013 budget is a measure that is expected to dramatically improve the business climate for manufacturers. > read more

July 27, 2011
St. Croix River Crossing Hearing on July 28th
On Thursday, July 28th, a bill sponsored by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota) received a hearing by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resource, Subcommittee on National Parks. The bill, S1134, will authorize the St. Croix River Crossing Project with appropriate mitigation measures to promote river values.
> read more

July 22, 2011
Loans Available to St. Croix County Businesses
New or existing businesses in St. Croix County, Wisconsin may access money from a regional loan fund to help finance new capital investment activities, according to William Rubin, executive director of St. Croix EDC. > read more

July 15, 2011
Income Tax Reciprocity Payment May Open Door for New Agreement
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and his Secretary of Revenue, Rick Chandler, announced on July 13th that the state had paid off the nearly $60 million owed from the Minnesota-Wisconsin income tax reciprocity agreement. > read more

July 15, 2011
July Economic Dashboard Released
The July edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard has been released by the UW-River Falls Center for Economic Research (CER) and St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (EDC). > read more

July 8, 2011
Wisconsin’s New Job Creation Agency Launched
July 1 st marked the formal launch of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), billed as the state’s new job creation and business incentive financing agency. WEDC is a public authority that focuses exclusively on economic development in Wisconsin. > read more

June 30, 2011
St. Croix County’s May Unemployment Rate Drops to 5.7%
On June 22nd, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Scott Baumbach announced the preliminary May unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties. St. Croix’s rate was estimated at 5.7% compared to the April rate of 6.6% and March’s rate of 7.5%. > read more

June 27, 2011
Governor Walker Signs Bill Removing Roadblock on River Crossing Project
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed SB 26 into law on Friday, June 24th at The Valley House (Town of St. Joseph, St. Croix County). > read more

June 24, 2011
Home Sales in St. Croix Show Signs of Improvement Despite Declines
May 2011 home sales and median prices for St. Croix County residences declined from one year ago, but other signs point to an improving market, according to St. Croix Economic Development Corporation. > read more

June 22, 2011
St. Croix Valley Sales Tax Distributions Are Near Pre-Recession Levels
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) recently posted January - June 2011 sales tax distributions to counties that have enacted the 0.5 % sales tax. > read more

June 17, 2011
Fiber to the Home and Business Aids Economic Development
Baldwin Telecom, Inc. (BTI) continues on an important 21st century infrastructure project with the installation of fiber cable in the Town of Troy, St. Croix County, Wisconsin.
> read more

June 10, 2011
St. Croix EDC: Passage of SB 26 Advances River Crossing Project
The Wisconsin Assembly passed SB 26 on June 8, bringing the St. Croix River Crossing project another step closer to reality. Seventy-one members of the Assembly voted “yes” on SB 26, while 26 voted “no” and one member did not cast a vote. SB 26 passed in the Senate last month, and will move to Governor Scott Walker’s office for his signature.
> read more

June 10, 2011
June 2011 St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard Released
The UW- River Falls Center for Economic Research (CER) in partnership with St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) has released the June 2011 edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard. The dashboard is a snapshot of the economic condition of the labor, consumer and housing markets in the St. Croix, Polk, and Pierce counties. > read more

June 6, 2011
St. Croix EDC Recognizes Milestones of Local Medical Facilities
This week, two medical providers in St. Croix County will celebrate important milestones. In New Richmond, Wisconsin, the Cancer Center of Western Wisconsin will host a grand opening on Tuesday, June 7 th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. to mark its opening. The Baldwin Area Medical Center (Baldwin, Wisconsin) observes its 75 th anniversary with a community event on Wednesday, June 8 th from 4:30 - 7:30 pm. > read more

June 3, 2011
St. Croix County’s Unemployment Rate Drops Again in April
On May 25th, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Interim Secretary Scott Baumbach announced the preliminary April unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties. St. Croix’s rate was estimated at 6.6% which is lower than the March rate of 7.5% and February’s rate of 7.6%. > read more

May 26, 2011
2011 Home Sales & Prices in St. Croix Continue to Improve
While home sales and median prices in St. Croix County, Wisconsin declined from April 2010 to April 2011, there are signs of improvement that go back to January of this year according to St. Croix Economic Development Corporation. > read more

May 19, 2011
St. Croix EDC Thanks Small Businesses in St. Croix County
In recognition of National Small Business Week (May 16-20), St. Croix Economic Development Corporation extends an important ‘Thank-you’ to the small businesses in St. Croix County, Wisconsin for their continued contributions to the vitality of local economies. > read more

May 18, 2011
May 2011 St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard Released
The UW- River Falls Center for Economic Research (CER) in partnership with St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) has released the May edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard. > read more

May 12, 2011
St. Croix EDC Elects New Officers at Annual Meeting
St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (EDC) held its annual meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 and Ryan Sicard of Somerset was elected to serve a 1-year term as president. > read more

May 12, 2011
2010 Traveler Expenditures Up in St. Croix County
2010 traveler spending in St. Croix County increased 2.18% to an estimated $103.96 million according to an annual study released May 6th by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Statewide, travelers spent $12.303 billion in 2010 for a 1-year increase of 1.75%. > read more

April 29, 2011
St. Croix County is Near Nation’s Top in 10-year Growth
From 2000 to 2010, St. Croix County, Wisconsin was among the top population-gaining fringe counties in the U.S. according to the Census Bureau. > read more

April 29, 2011
St. Croix’s March Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly
On April 20th, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Manny Perez announced the preliminary March unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties. > read more

April 20, 2011
March Home Sales and Prices Decline in St. Croix
Home sales and median prices in St. Croix County, Wisconsin declined in March 2011 according to information released by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA) on April 18. > read more

April 15, 2011
St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard for April Released
The UW-River Falls Center for Economic Research (CER) in partnership with St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) has released the April edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard. The dashboard presents a snapshot of the economic condition of the labor, consumer and housing markets in the three county area.
> read more

April 12, 2011
Business Finance Workshop: May 3 in Baldwin
A workshop to explore better connections between small business owners, commercial lenders, and bank regulators will be held at The Orchard Conference Center in Baldwin, Wisconsin on Tuesday, May 3rd from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. > read more

April 1, 2011
St. Croix County’s Unemployment Rate Up from January
On March 30th, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Manny Perez announced the preliminary February unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties. > read more

March 25, 2011
March Edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard Released
The UW- River Falls Center for Economic Research (CER) in partnership with St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) has released the March 2011 edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard. > read more

March 24, 2011
St. Croix Experiences Large Population Gains from 2000 to 2010
Earlier this month, the U.S. Census Bureau released its 2010 population estimates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties. Growth over a 10-year period in towns, villages and cities helped make St. Croix the state’s fastest-growing county. > read more

March 18, 2011
St. Croix County’s Unemployment Rate Rises in January
On March 16th, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) released the January unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties. St. Croix’s rate was estimated at 7.0% which is higher than the December and November rate of 6.1%. A year ago, the county’s unemployment rate was estimated at 8.6%. > read more

March 17, 2011
Government Contracting Conference set for April 21 in Eau Claire
For companies considering opportunities to conduct business with both the state and the federal government, a daylong conference on Thursday, Aril 21st in Eau Claire may be of interest. > read more

March 11, 2011
Early 2010 Census Snapshot: St. Croix is Wisconsin’s Fastest-Growing County
On March 10, 2011 the U.S. Census Bureau released its 2010 population totals for Wisconsin. St. Croix County, located in west central Wisconsin along the state’s border with Minnesota, is the Wisconsin’s fastest-growing county with a 33.6% increase from 2000 to 2010. > read more

February 18, 2011
St Croix EDC Banquet Honors Top Businesses for 2010

On February 17th, St. Croix EDC honored its 2010 business of the year winners at a banquet in New Richmond, Wisconsin. The 2010 winners include Engineered Propulsion Systems, Inc. (New Richmond) as Emerging Business of the Year, GaMra Composites, Inc. (Hudson) as Small Business of the Year, and Valley Cartage, Inc. (Hudson) as Business of the Year.
> read more

February 11, 2011
February Edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard Released
The UW- River Falls Center for Economic Research (CER) in partnership with St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) has released the February edition of the St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard. The dashboard presents a snapshot of the economic condition of the labor, consumer and housing markets in the three county area.
> read more

January 28, 2011
January 2011 Sales Tax Distributions to the St. Croix Valley Announced
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue recently posted January 2011 sales tax distributions to counties that have enacted the 0.5 percent local sales tax. The Department of Revenue distributed $362,467 to St. Croix County in the first month of 2011 compared to distributions of $359,321 in January 2010, for a 1-year increase of 0.875% (less than 1% or an increase of +$3,146). > read more

January 21, 2011
St. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard Released by St. Croix EDC and UW-River Falls Center for Economic Research
St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the UW-River Falls Center for Economic Research (CER) have released the inauguralSt. Croix Valley Economic Dashboard. It is a compilation of statistical information about St. Croix, Polk, and Pierce counties presented in easy-to-read tables and graphs. > read mor

December 10, 2010
BOH Electronics Earns 2010 Small Business Achievement Award
Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp. (WBD) announced that BOH Electronics (North Hudson, Wisconsin) is the recipient of the 2010 Howard Ford Small Business Achievement Award. Company founder Ben Hanke will receive the award at WBD’s regional annual meeting in Eau Claire in January 2011. > read more

November 19, 2010
“Angel” Investors Help New Richmond Company Take Flight

There was a cause for celebration on November 16th in New Richmond, Wisconsin (St. Croix County). Several ceremonial checks were presented to Engineered Propulsion Systems (EPS), a development stage technology company that has quietly toiled away in the offices of a former creamery building just a block from New Richmond’s main thoroughfare. > read more

October 21, 2010

US Pride Products — Small Company With Big Dreams
Earlier this month, Governor Jim Doyle announced that US Pride Products, LLC (rural St. Croix County, Wisconsin) had received the Qualified New Business Venture (“QNBV”) certification from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for the development of the company’s Hands-Free Log Splitter.> read more

August 25, 2010
J&C Trucking Earns Tax Credits with Relocation to Baldwin
Baldwin I-94 Business Park Gets First Company
J&C Trucking will relocate to Baldwin, Wisconsin from Forest Lake, Minnesota later this year.

The announcement came on August 25^th during a program in Baldwin that included Aaron Olver, the state’s Secretary of Commerce.