COMMUNITY UPDATE: SUBMIT YOUR ARTISTIC CRANBERRY CREATIONS; MARDI GRAS BUSINESS EXPO AND JOB FAIR SET;Join me for coffee at Dunkin’

Share Your Artistic Creations For A Cultural Center Exhibit

As part of an overall drive to encourage our area arts community to revitalize the “look” of our public spaces, an open call is being issued to artists, emerging artists and residents to contribute to an exhibit that celebrates our cranberry culture.

Selected pieces will be part of the Cranberry Art Exhibit, taking place March 15 through April 18 at the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center. The Cultural Center seeks original artwork inspired by our area’s cranberries, cranberry blossoms or cranberry farming in Central Wisconsin. Art forms from a range of artistic expression are welcomed, including 2D, 3D and mixed media.

One entry will be chosen and photographed as the official art poster for the 2019 Cranberry Blossom Festival.

Submit your entries (up to three per artist) from February 26 through March 5. More details and an entry form are right here.

This exciting Cranberry Art Exhibit reminds us that input from local artists is essential to our vision of adorning our city’s public spaces. Recognizing that reality, the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center has been working with the Mayor’s Beautification Council, City departments and District 3 Alderperson Scott Kellogg to advance ideas that would expand the platforms for area artists. These would include sculpture, murals and other art installations in our parks, which other municipalities have demonstrated can serve as visitor destinations with proper planning and nurturing.

Much work lies ahead in making these ideas a reality, but be aware that the City invites your creativity. We appreciate that an active arts community can significantly contribute to a quality of life that identifies us as an ideal location in which to live, work and play.

Mardi Gras Business Expo & Job Fair Promotes Local Businesses

As Mayor of this great city, one of my favorite mantras is, “Buy local!” It’s our way of spotlighting the importance of area businesses and recognizing the financial benefit of keeping money circulating within the community.

One fun and festive way for both consumers and businesses to support this key to economic development is to participate in the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Mardi Gras Business Expo & Job Fair, on Tuesday, March 5, from 3 – 7 p.m., at Bull’s Eye Country Club, 2800 Ridgewood Trail in Wisconsin Rapids. Admission: $5 & includes raffle tickets.

The Business Expo & Job Fair provides the opportunity for local businesses to display their products and services, and promote themselves with decorative and creative booths. Residents can come discover the wealth of “home grown” products and services available right here in the community, and potential job opportunities, as well. With more than 40 business booths on display, participating businesses and visitors will enjoy networking with guests, friends and Heart of Wisconsin members, while sampling an array of local foods.

Come on out, and savor a taste of local fun!

Coffee with the Mayor at Dunkin Donuts

One of the most enjoyable aspects of being Mayor of Wisconsin Rapids is the opportunity to meet face to face and talk with local citizens about topics and issues that mean the most to them. I look forward to continuing the tradition this Saturday, March 2, 2019 “Coffee with the Mayor” session at Dunkin Donuts located on 8th Street. This is the fourth session to take place this year! The event takes place from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.

It is a privilege to converse with engaged citizens. I look forward to your sharing your thoughts and questions about the future of our city, and to provide me with valuable feedback. Hope to see you there!

Thank you for reading my blog.

-Zach

 

COMMUNITY UPDATE: MATALCO ANNOUNCES NEW JOBS AND INVESTMENT WITH WISCONSIN RAPIDS PLANT!

Matalco $80M investment in Wisconsin Rapids – Your Questions Answered

This past Wednesday at City Hall, I was honored to be joined by state and local officials when Matalco Inc. announced that it will invest $80 million to construct a 110,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Wisconsin Rapids’ Rapids East Commerce Center. Check out the video of the announcement.

Along with the excitement of this development in diversifying our economic base comes reasonable questions, which have been expressed to us both personally and through social media. In the interest of transparency, I will now address some of these questions.

Q: What does Matalco manufacture?

A: Matalco Inc. has built a reputation as a leading supplier for the aluminum extrusion and forging manufacturing industries. The Matalco plant in Wisconsin Rapids will produce aluminum billet, which are solid aluminum logs of various diameters and lengths. Matalco creates these billets for extrusion companies that then create other products from the material by cutting or pressing the aluminum. Matalco will take in scrap aluminum, melt it and cast out the aluminum billets. It will use mostly recycled material. Aluminum is a unique metal: strong, durable, flexible, impermeable, lightweight, corrosion-resistant and 100% recyclable.

Q: Exactly what will our community get out of this project?

A: Matalco will equip this new facility with the latest advanced technology to service existing and prospective customers, and to expand market share. At full production capacity, the Wisconsin Rapids facility will employ 80 permanent, full-time skilled and unskilled personnel, with annual production in excess of 230 million pounds of high-quality aluminum billet. The building process itself will offer opportunities for hundreds of construction workers, and for companies that offer power logistics services. Matalco also expects to establish ties with other local businesses, and with the skilled and well-trained resources at Mid-State Technical College for apprenticeships.

Q: How will this project affect our environment?

A: Matalco’s production process features filtering and recycling of water, avoiding contamination of the surrounding water table. Efficient furnaces produce virtually no waste; any excess furnace heat is captured and recycled. Technological controls ensure that air emissions are maintained below governmental reporting thresholds. The normal byproduct of a remelt process, the dross, is recycled in-house. What remains is salt cake, which is sold to other recyclers to be processed for reuse. Matalco also operates a modern and light-weight scrap hauling fleet and continuously updates its equipment to lighter weight aluminum – reducing road congestion and minimizing its carbon footprint.

Q: The City still needs to approve details of the real estate sales and development agreements. How long is this expected to take?

A:  City staff and City Council members will review the property and tax incentive package before giving final approval to this project. Both the City and Matalco consider this review standard procedure for an undertaking of this sort. While the review takes place, Matalco will continue going forward with its plans for breaking ground in April or May.

Q: Like the Foxconn deal, the Matalco project benefits from local and state incentives. How can we as taxpayers be assured that our “investment” will yield the economic and job-growth benefits promised?

A: This Wisconsin Rapids plant will be the fifth (fourth in the United States) that Matalco has opened in North America since the company was founded in 2005. As a leader in the aluminum manufacturing industry, Matalco has a laudable record as a conscientious and reliable corporate citizen, with a track record of treating employees fairly, and committing itself to employing advanced and sustainable manufacturing procedures.

Q: Aside from incentives, why did Matalco choose Wisconsin Rapids over other locations?

A: Matalco selected Wisconsin Rapids because our location is ideal for what it views as an underserved upper Midwest market – an opportunity for growing its customer base and expanding its market share. In addition, Tom Horter, president of Matalco Inc., has praised our city’s local investments in quality of life as among the reasons for making this business decision. He expressed his excitement at being part of what he described as, “this progressive community.” His statements underscore the value of continued City efforts to promote revitalization and a multi-pronged approach to economic development. These efforts are being noticed and eventually bear fruit.

Q: Where is this building site located?

A: The certified Rapids East Commerce Center site comprises 51 acres located south of State Highway 54 and east of 48th Street S., at 4800 Commerce Drive. The location was approved in 2014 for the State’s Certified In Wisconsin® program, which enables faster turnaround times, quick approvals and low risk for business developers.

Q: What is the construction timeline for this project?

A: Matalco hopes to break ground on the facility this April or May, with completion scheduled for mid-2020.

Q: Who will be constructing the facility?

A: The general contractor process has been completed and expect announcements after the City completes its approval process.

I am certain that you will have additional questions as we draw closer to groundbreaking this year, and continuing on through the facility’s opening in 2020. Please do not hesitate to address these questions to the Mayor’s office at mayorsoffice@wirapids.org, or by calling 715-421-8216. Be assured, you will receive a timely response.

All along, please know that securing investments of this magnitude for the City of Wisconsin Rapids required a focused, proactive approach involving state and local economic development partners. Many local and state officials and staff also share credit for this breakthrough.

As is evidenced by all the “helping hands,” successful economic development requires a vision, the ability to leverage strengths and assets, the determination to be proactive whenever possible, and the willingness to work collaboratively. Working together, we can continue our progress in making Wisconsin Rapids a vibrant and growing destination community.