Ashland WI Regional Economic Development Plan

Wisconsin Innovation Network – Lake Superior Chapter

August 2011

AgendaWIN – Lake Superior Chapter Economic

Development UpdateBusiness Support InfrastructureTechnology Park

Jim Maerzke – Wheelchair Technology Innovator

Jim Jermain – Northern Wis Broadband Technology Update

Questions

VISIONAshland Area

Technology Transfer Park

Getting Started• Build Business

Support Infrastructure

• Acquire Land Parcel• Build First Building• Acquire Tenants

Ashland Area Economic Development

Continued Growth• High Skill Workforce• Robust Regional

Economy• Regional Growth

Challenges – Getting StartedMadison/Milwaukee Development focused on

Southern WINorthern WI Development focus/initiative

Regional Business Support InfrastructureInnovation/entrepreneurshipNew Regional Investments/DevelopmentDevelopment Efforts Technology InfrastructureFinancial Funding

SolutionBuild Northern WI Business Support

Infrastructure Develop key partnerships, currently fragmented Develop regional technology infrastructure Develop Financial Support for Land, Building, and

Tenants Develop Regional Marketing Plan and Network

Build Technology Transfer Park, First Building Develop key partnerships, currently fragmented Land and Building Plans Finances = Grants + Private + Tenants Develop Tenant Marketing Plan

Business Support InfrastructureLEVEL I – Volunteer high level guidance

available locally (IP, manufacturing, marketing, lean, …)

LEVEL II – General support available locally to state-wide (IP, financial planning, project management, …)

LEVEL III – Specialized support ( Specific technologies, logistics, …)

Progress – PartnershipsPartnership, Fragmentation TO Team

WIN – LS, Annual ConferenceAshland Area Development Corporation, AADCAshland City AdministrationNorthland College, Wisconsin Indianhead

Technical CollegeUniversity of Wisconsin-SuperiorIMPACT7Ashland Chamber of CommerceAshland Area & Mellen School Districts

Progress – Business Support Infrastructure

Broadband Technology Acquisition Regional Marketing PlansWisconsin ANGEL NetworkPDCA, Plan – Do – Check – Adjust

Visit Potential Customers (Tenants)Define Customer NeedsContinuous Adjustments

Progress – Technology Transfer Park First Building

Business PlanBenchmark Successful Business ParksTenant Customer Needs IdentifiedFeasibility Study CompleteLand and Purchase Price IdentifiedPreliminary Funding Initiated, IMPACT7Attending WI Business Development

Conferences, Meeting Potential Tenants

Next StepsComplete Business PlanContinue Development of Business Support

InfrastructureExpand WIN LS partnershipsAugust 5th WIN LS ConferenceBroadband Technology

Continue Technology Park First Building EffortsFinance Plan Development and ImplementationContinue Planning and ImplementationPurchase Land

Examples - ProgressTechnology Transfer Park Tenant Recruiting

PlanTechnology Transfer Park Land Acquisition

PlanJim Maerzke - Wheelchair Technology

Innovator and Business OwnerJim Jermain – Ashland Area Broadband

Technology

Taconite Mining

Paper Converting Equipment, OEM

Forestry

Lake Superior

IND

US

TR

Y S

EC

TO

R

Education

Aq

uac

ult

ure

Bio

tech

no

log

y

Bio

scie

nce

Gre

en T

ech

no

log

y

Bio

mas

s B

iofu

el

Nu

trac

euti

cals

En

erg

y

Cel

lulo

sic

Mat

eria

ls

Sci

ence

Man

ufa

ctu

rin

g

Tec

hn

olo

gy

TECHNOLOGY SECTOR

Technology Park Tennant Recruitment -Target Industry and Technology Sectors

Ashland Area Land Location

Ashland Area Land Development

Ashland Area Land AcquisitionImpact7 HUD Grant application submitted,

includes land purchasePrice negotiated with Sellers, Right of First

Refusal Contract ApprovedAdditional Funding Required to Complete

Building, TBD

Guest SpeakersJim Maerzke - Wheelchair Technology

InnovatorJim Jermain – AT&T Broadband

Questions