Busy April for City's Business Retention and Expansion Program

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In photo: Watertown County Club Chef Rob Eddy, Watertown Country Club Marketing and Events Coordinator Angelia Nowatka, City of Watertown Development Coordinator Alex Allon, Watertown Mayor Emily McFarland, Watertown Country Club Marketing and Events Coordinator Suzi Roman.
With Spring rolling into Watertown, three local businesses invited representatives from the City and Chamber of Commerce for tours and needs-based discussions.

To start the month, Mayor McFarland and Development Coordinator Alex Allon, visited Bread Basket Community Support Center at their new location within the Watertown YMCA. Amy Hanson, President of Bread Basket, showed them around their new space and talked about their plans.

"In the month since opening to our regular schedule, we've had roughly 1,500 visitors to the pantry," she said. "We try to be as accommodating as possible to our visitors, never turning anyone away or asking for unnecessary information."

Hanson anticipates continued high demand for their services and plans on adding a walk-in refrigerator and loading doors to help manage the higher loads. Their new permanent location, and their mobile food pantries, are all centered around the mission of providing healthy and diverse, fresh food to the people who need it, when they need it. "The presence of a group like Bread Basket is a blessing to the community," said Mayor McFarland. "We are prepared to support them in whatever way possible as they continue to help our neighbors and friends."

The next step on the schedule was the Watertown Country Club. A team from the Watertown Country Club gave a tour of the facility, highlighting some of the new renovations and the addition of two new virtual golf simulators. They also introduced the Watertown Country Club’s new head chef, Rob Eddy, who has transformed the menu with his extensive fine-dining experience.

“Celebrating our 100th year, our club is experiencing a pleasant increase in activity and engagement,” said Andy Grinwald, Club Ambassador. “And with what Chef Rob has done to craft a stunning new vision for the menu, we look forward to sharing this with the community during open dining hours and of course, the classic Friday Fish Fry. Reservations are encouraged!”

The program’s team rounded out the month with a visit to Wis-Pak, a staple of the Watertown business community since 1969. Wis-Pak leadership led a tour through their facility, showing the City’s business team the innovation that sets them apart from the competition. “Employees at Wis-Pak get to work with state-of-the-art equipment and industry-leading processes,” said David Bauer, President. “Everyone that’s a part of the Wis-Pak Watertown family takes pride in a commitment to quality and service. We honor that commitment by supporting our workers with competitive wages, benefits and a high-quality work environment.”

Mayor McFarland appreciated the value that a business like Wis-Pak brings to the City. “Very few communities are fortunate to have the kinds of employers that we have in Watertown,” she said. “Wis-Pak has provided area residents with family-sustaining jobs for over fifty years. That is an incredible accomplishment and something we are grateful for.”

Anyone interested in exploring job openings at Wis-Pak Watertown can visit the careers page on their website: https://wis-pak.com/careers/

City's Business Retention and Expansion Program visits two well-established companies
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In photo: Wesley Peck - Konecranes, Watertown Mayor Emily McFarland, Watertown Development Coordinator Alex Allon, Brian Pierce - Konecranes, Don Peters - Konecranes, Cody - Konecranes
In the month of November, Kusel Equipment Co. and Konecranes invited representatives from the City and Chamber of Commerce to get a first-hand view of the work they do.

The program's team, which includes Mayor Emily McFarland, Development Coordinator Alex Allon, and Chamber of Commerce Director Bonnie Hertel, was first hosted by Kusel Equipment Co.'s President and CEO, Dave Smith. The group toured the facility and learned about the custom fabrication projects they take on.
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City of Watertown completes first month of Business Retention and Expansion Program
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In photo: Jim Schuett, Plant Manager Symbol Mattress, Watertown Mayor Emily McFarland, Symbol Mattress employee, Watertown Development Coordinator Alex Allon.
Representatives from Symbol Mattress and ITW Shakeproof Industrial opened their doors to Watertown's Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program this October. The businesses met with Mayor Emily McFarland's team to discuss their needs, find opportunities for collaboration, and tour their facilities.
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City of Watertown launches business retention and expansion program
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Beginning this month, two Watertown area businesses will be giving the City the opportunity to hear their opinions about the local economy and City government as Mayor McFarland formalizes an economic development program. Announced at the Chamber of Commerce's "Wakeup Watertown" event in honor of Manufacturing Month, the Watertown business retention and expansion program officially begins this October with visits to local industries to identify their needs and concerns, hear their opinions about local government, and see how the local business climate can be improved.
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Watertown City Council paves way for major development project
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The Watertown City Council unanimously approved a Development Agreement between the City and Main Street Watertown LLC., also known as TWall Enterprises, to build a mixed-use building on Water Street adjacent to the future Town Square.
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