OCEDC is pleased to report that a site in Rhinelander, the commercial heart of Oneida County, has been acquired for a new "sustainable" business park".  The acquisition was made possible with the appropriation of funds from Oneida County.   Assistance from Dr. Sue Thering, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Wisconsin Extension and Sherrie Gruder, Sustainable Design Specialist with the University of Wisconsin have been instrumental in the development of a “Request for Qualifications” for architectural/engineering firms interested in being considered for proposals.  The “Request for Qualifications” went out to firms during the summer of 2007 and a committee has been formed to work through the next phase of the process.

In order to attract new business of the next generation to Oneida County, our goal is to create an environment that is unique in nature.  We need to overcome location disadvantages and short-comings in infrastructure. The "sustainable" park will be a full-service park providingopportunities for business, employees and residents of the community.  Amenities such as hiking-walking trails, cross-county ski trails and observation areas are being envisioned.  A businesscenter, which will be available to the community for educational purposes, is also being considered. OCEDC is hoping to have land available within the business park in 2010. 

Additionally, there are two industrial parks in Rhinelander.  The newer of the parks, located adjacent to the Rhinelander/Oneida County Airport, contains 67 acres.  This park offers direct access to U.S. Highway 8 and State Highway 47, as well as, rail service.  Municipal water and sanitary sewer service, three-phase electric and natural gas are available to all sites within the park.  Current tenants in the park include manufacturers of plastics, industrial equipment, wood products and several CNC machine shops.

The Town of Three Lakes Industrial Park, located on U.S. Highway 45, has been filled.  Municipal water and sewer service, as well as, three-phase electric and natural gas are available to sites within the park.  Industrial sites are also available in other towns within the county, including Woodruff and Minocqua.  Most of these sites are full service and are privately held.

Business parks in outlying areas may or may not have amenities as sewer and water. What is our present and future state of economy? Oneida County’s economy can best be described as stable.  If the strong, continuing support for economic development were to decrease, we would see a decline in the economy.  Looking at various sectors in our economy, manufacturing has seen resurgence after a previous decline; the retail and service industry is expanding; leisure and hospitality is doing well, however by not providing new attractions we may be hampering additional growth in the area.

ACHIEVEMENTS

OCEDC assistance is available to all businesses in Oneida County. OCEDC works with industrial, retail, and commercial development. On occasion OCEDC will work in partnership with real estate brokers in the Minocqua/Woodruff area, Rhinelander, or Three Lakes area. Site selection assistance is generally provided to new and existing business in the value-added or manufacturing area. OCEDC has provided various types of assistance to Advanced Barrier Extrusions, Avanti Health and Rehabilitation, Superior Diesel, Inc., Ponsse USA, Inc., Laser Pros International, American Plastics, The Oldenburg Group, Grace Lodge, Burton Industries, Northstar Steel Fabricating, and many more.

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Last Update on February 1, 2010