Economic Development

 

General Overview

            Short and long-term economic development will be directed by, or perhaps even driven by, the natural resources of the Township.  Change and growth should be managed for the benefit of the entire community while recognizing the rights of the property owners.   We recognize that the Township should encourage new businesses that are properly located and fit well into its rural nature.

 

Selected Survey Results

            A number of the questions on the Landowner Surveys dealt directly or indirectly with economic issues.  The following are the selected questions from the first landowner survey with these  results:

 

 

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly
Agree

No Response

1.  The Town of Spring Brook should preserve as much farmland as possible.

19

58

163

141

38

2.  A landowner or farmer should have the right to sell his or her farmland for purposes other than farming.

21

28

239

102

29

3.  There should be a limit as to how many farm animals can exist on a farm.

81

135

137

39

27

4.  Productive farm land should not be converted to non-farm uses.

41

142

136

70

30

6.  Agricultural land should not be used for residential housing purposes.

43

170

118

63

25

7.  Agricultural land should not be used for commercial/industrial purposes.

43

117

124

104

31

8.  More single family housing is needed in the Town of Spring Brook.

62

170

121

20

46

13.  Business/commercial development should be allowed only in designated areas.

32

72

184

106

25

14.  Agri-business development should be allowed only in designated areas.

37

108

182

65

27

23. Gravel pit(s) should be allowed to operate in the Town of Spring Brook.

45

66

232

42

34

24. Unlicensed salvage or junkyards should be allowed to operate in the Town of Spring Brook.

169

149

40

27

34

29. The roads and highways in the Town of Spring Brook adequately meet the needs of the citizens and businesses.

13

40

295

42

29

            The second landowner survey provided this result:

5. Our township is unique in that it has a large area of flat/open land ideal for raising agricultural crops. The land use map that has been developed by the agriculture subcommittee indicates 70% or more of the land in our township is currently used for agriculture. Would you like to see ordinances enacted to limit residential development of agricultural land in the Town of Spring Brook? Yes/No

Yes – 141 (64%)      No – 66 (30%)    No Response – 13 (6%)

 

Community Evaluation

Strengths

  • Good farmland
  • High quality local schools
  • Proximity to UW System and CVTC, for education and community services
  • Proximity to Interstate 94
  • Beautiful natural environment
  • Low crime rate
  • Good medical services
  • A number of religious institutions

Weaknesses

  • No public sewer and water system
  • No economic assistance programs to promote new businesses
  • No State or Federal roads

 

Income Levels

 

2000  

 

1990

 

 

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Households

470

100.0

476

 

Less than $10,000

14

3.0

85

17.9

$10,000 to $14,999

10

2.1

56

11.8

$15,000 to $24,999

65

13.8

105

22.1

$25,000 to $34,999

79

16.8

76

16.0

$35,000 to $49,999

90

19.1

81

17.0

$50,000 to $74,999

124

26.4

59

12.4

$75,000 to $99,999

59

12.6

12

2.5

$100,000 to $149,999

17

3.6

2

0.4

$150,000 to $199,999

4

0.9

0

0

$200,000 or more

8

1.7

0

0

Median household income

$ 46,600

 

$24,231

 

With earnings

425

90.4

 

 

Mean earnings

$52,717

 

 

 

With Social Security income

95

20.2

147

30.9

Mean Social Security income

$12,263

 

 

 

With Supplemental Security Income

10

2.1

 

 

Mean Supplemental Security Income

$7,600

 

 

 

With public assistance income

4

0.9

45

9.5

Mean public assistance income

$925

 

 

 

With retirement income

58

12.3

64

13.4

Mean retirement income

$14,091

 

 

 

 

Overall in Spring Brook, 2.3% of all households are below the poverty level, with 13.6% of those headed by females, no husband present, below the poverty level.

Employment by Industry                                                                         

 

Town of Spring Brook

Dunn County

Subject

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Employed civilian population 16 years and over

712

100.0

20,791

100.0

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting

and mining

101

14.2

1492

7.2

Construction

47

6.6

1254

6.0

Manufacturing

85

11.9

3535

17.0

Wholesale trade

24

3.4

687

3.3

Retail trade

113

15.9

2755

13.3

Transportation, warehousing

and utilities

39

5.5

1026

4.9

Information

4

0.6

295

1.4

Finance, insurance, real estate,

rental and leasing

25

3.5

778

3.7

Professional, scientific,

management, administrative,

and waste management services

29

4.1

845

4.1

Educational, health and social services

158

22.2

4578

22.0

Arts, entertainment,

recreation, accommodation

and food services

40

5.6

2140

10.4

Other services (except

public administration)

25

3.5

834

4.0

Public administration

22

3.1

578

2.8

(Due to rounding percent totals may not add up to 100)

 

Employment Status

OCCUPATION

Number

Percent

Employed population over 16 years of age

712

100.0

Management, professional, and related

occupations

222

31.2

Service occupations

85

11.9

Sales and office occupations

173

24.3

Farming, fishing, and forestry

46

6.5

Construction, extraction, and maintenance

occupations

68

9.6

Production, transportation, and material moving

occupations

118

16.6

 

Employment Projections, Dunn County

The Labor Market Analyst for Northwestern Wisconsin believes that employment projections should not be made for each township.  It would be more accurate to make them for the entire county.  Note that there were 3,700 jobs added in the period 1991-2001.  This was an unusually large figure.  It is estimated that 2500-3000 new jobs will be created in the period 2001 to 2010.

 

 

1990  

1995

2000 

2002

Industry Employment

11,402

14,238

15,434    

15,730

Civilian labor Force

18,133

21,943

21,753

22,589

Employment

17,410

21,151

20,984

21,540

Unemployment

723

722

764

1049

Rate

4%

3.6%

3.5%

------

 

Labor Force

            According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the civilian labor force in Dunn County has increased from 20,960 in 1993 to 23,566 in 2000 (12% increase).  In that same period unemployment in the County has decreased from 4.7% to 3.8%.  According to the 2000 Census the Town of Spring Brook had an unemployment rate of 4.4%.  Over this reporting period Dunn County has maintained close parallels with the state regarding employment rates. 

           

Town of Spring Brook Class of Worker

 

Number

Percent

Worker over 16 years of age

697

100.0

Private Wage and Salary

536

75.3

Government

101

14.2

Self-employed

67

9.4

Unpaid family workers

8

1.1

 

Town of Spring Brook Commuting to Work

 

Number

Percent

Worker over 16 years of age

697

100.0

Car, truck or van, drove alone

556

79.8

Car, truck or van, carpool

46

6.6

Public transportation

0

0

Walked

29

4.2

Other means

3

0.4

Worked at home

63

9.0

Mean travel time to work

21.0 minutes

 

 

Largest Employers in Region

Some of the larger employers in the region include Wal-Mart Associates, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie Public Schools, County of Dunn, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, Hunt-Wesson Inc., Myrtle Werth, Hospital Inc., Cardinal Float Glass, Hutchinson Technology, Inc., Menard, Inc., University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College, and many medical hospitals, clinics and offices.

 

Regional Industrial/Commercial Parks

Name

Total Acres

Percent Occupied

Boyceville Industrial Park

250

0

Colfax Industrial Park

22

9

Knapp Industrial Park

6

100

Menomonie Industrial Park

1,250

88

Stout Technology Park

216

65

The town does not have an industrial/commercial base to use as a basis for making future projections. However, the town would review any proposal against the towns plan. If the proposal is appropriate for the town, the town would work to secure such proposals. If the proposal is not appropriate for the town, the town would recommend they pursue the above listed Industrial/business parks.

 

Selected Economic Development Programs

The Town will work with Dunn County, the State of Wisconsin, and the Federal government to participate in appropriate economic development programs:

The Community Development Block Grant-Public Facilities for Economic Development (CDBG-PFED).

The Community Development Block Grant- Economic Development (CDBG-ED).

The Community Development Block Grant-Blight Elimination and Brownfield Development Program (CDBG-BEBR).

Enterprise Development Zone (EDZ)

Community Development Zones (CDZ)

Rural Economic Development (RED) Early Planning Grant Program.

Wisconsin Development Fund-Major Economic Development Program (MED).

Transportation Facilities Economic Assistance and Development Program.

Customized Training Grant Programs.

Industrial Revenue Bonds.

Technology Development Fund Program.

Transportation Economic Assistance

Tax Incremental Financing

 

Summary

Agriculture is and will continue to be the largest business in the Town of Spring Brook.  Agriculturally related businesses will be encouraged as long as they fit within the rural and agricultural character of the area. While the town has many strengths, it is best suited to meet local agricultural needs. There are no public utilities (sewer and water). There is no direct access to the State and Federal highway systems. There is no rail service in the township. Because of the small rural population, the state and federal economic development programs available do not apply. Therefore, industrial and commercial growth is not likely to occur. The town should encourage such businesses to locate in or near incorporated areas with proper utility and infrastructure.