7-11-15 dwd secretary visits four fdl businesses

Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Assistant Deputy Secretary Dave Anderson visited four Fond du Lac small businesses that are participating in the Job and Business Development Program. The statewide program is financially supported by DWD and administered locally by ADVOCAP Inc. of Fond du Lac to help small businesses thrive and preserve jobs in the community.  “Encouraging entrepreneurship and empowering those who want to launch their own businesses will grow Wisconsin’s economy and ensure a robust and diverse workforce in our state,” Assistant Deputy Secretary Anderson said. “We are pleased that our investment in this program is paying dividends in the form of small business development, expanded job opportunities and a greater independence for those who take part.”   The local businesses that Assistant Deputy Secretary Anderson visited to highlight the program include:

• Russtiques Antiques & Collectibles, which occupies a vacant building in downtown Fond du Lac.

• Ang An Eddies Pizza, whose owner, Ed Antkowiak, was a referral from DWD’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) in 2010 and started the business from a hot dog cart before opening a new restaurant. In 2014 Ang an Eddies received an award for the best pizza in town.

• CH Welding, a light manufacturing business that is in the final stages of earning ISO 9000 certification and is expected to hire more employees in the future.

• River Haus Bait & Tackle, whose owner, Don Skog, has successfully run the business for over a decade and also serves on the ADVOCAP Board of Directors.

ADVOCAP is one of 16 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) that are members of WISCAP, a non‐profit association that supports economic self-sufficiency for low-income households. Nine CAAs and the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council operate the Job and Business Development Program in 29 counties as members of WISCAP, which is currently in the second of a two-year contract with DWD to administer $401,200 in state funds – along with local matching funds – for the program.  The funds support activities to help low-income entrepreneurs launch or expand small businesses, create and preserve jobs, and support economic self-sufficiency.  ADVOCAP is in the midst of a one-year allocation of $19,000 in state funds with an equal local match to provide local businesses with technical assistance, such as financial, business and marketing plan development.