Information to help FDL businesses

FOND DU LAC - Businesses in Fond du Lac County are hoping a new program from the Economic Development Corporation will make an "impact."

After a flood in 2008, the Development Corporation received a $400,000 federal grant to help businesses grow after the flood. The new Impact program will use that money to give businesses information and statistics to help them grow.

"At any stage in the business development, they can use these tools to help predict as much as possible the future and help put in place their plans," said Alan Hathaway, owner of BrownBoots Interactive.

The program has been in the works for three years. Businesses will now have access to databases about their competitors and markets. With the rough economic conditions, owners see this a welcomed tool.

"The economy certainly does have something to do with it, but I think regardless of that, this is a good program to be established to help in good times and in bad," said Ryan Prellwitz, owner of Vines and Rushes Vineyard.

Others say the program will give Fond du Lac businesses the upper hand when the economy picks up.

“We definitely have some companies that are challenged like every community, but we also have some companies that have really used this time to really focus on what those next steps are,” said Brenda Hicks-Sorensen, president of the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation.

"If you can market now, and kind of push through the hard times that we're having, people will remember that," said Prellwitz.

The Economic Development Corporation says it hopes business growth will create 500 jobs over the next three years.