MOSINEE, WI (WSAU) — A pandemic didn’t slow down economic development in Mosinee in 2020 as Mayor Brent Jacobson says he has at least two projects that he can look back on with pride.
That includes an expansion at AROW Global’s manufacturing plant in the city’s Business Park, which continues to exceed expectations.
“Even in the middle of a global pandemic they have pushed ahead with yet another phase of manufacturing expansion,” said Jacobson. That’s along with recent expansions at Greenheck and the addition of a refrigerated storage facility that have both occurred within the last two years.
He adds that growth in the business park leads to benefits for everyone in the city.
“One hundred percent of the increment value created that the city is able to keep and invest in other projects in the tax increment districts within the city. So, [we’re] very happy about that,” he said.
Those developments have also led to road repairs within the business park itself which he says is appropriate because to be able to sell the park, which he calls one of the best in the state, you want it to look good.
Despite that growth, Jacobson knows that not everyone had a good experience in the last year with many small businesses struggled through government-imposed shutdowns and temporary changes to their business models like curbside delivery or take-out orders.
“Right now we have the federal government going through round two [of stimulus talks,] and all I can say is the more money they can put into small business stimulus, the better it is,” he said.
The city of Mosinee was one of the first in the region to give small, non-franchised businesses economic impact payments for help with things like a business mortgage or rent and utility payments. Jacobson says the well that money was drawn from has dried up, and he’d like to see more relief come from the state or federal level.
Those talks have been stalled as President Trump and Congress go through another round of stare-downs over the size of stimulus checks for individual and married taxpayers and their dependents. The President has also called on Congress to cut what he calls “pork” spending out of the bill.
Jacobson calls the status of the bill “disappointing” especially when you consider that the bill at its core is supposed to help Americans. “I think some revisions are due, and it’s up for debate. Frankly, Congress has had plenty of time to do this, and now rushing something out at the 11th hour just to get it out is unfortunate.”
Jacobson adds he is supportive of another round of stimulus checks because there is a chance that residents will then turn around and spend that money within local businesses.
Other topics Jacobson discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- Year in review for growth in the city including business part and the proposed hotel property
9:10- City tax recap
14:00- Reaction to the proposed stimulus package
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