Hugo’s Pizza supports local St. Vincent de Paul

Hugo’s Pizza of Merrill has donated more than $1,000 to St. Vincent de Paul over the past four years. Going forward, 10% of the sales on all Hugo’s Pizza gift cards purchased will be donated directly to the St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Center of Merrill.

Weinbrenner Shoe Company breaks ground on new $14.5 million facility in Marshfield

Ellis Construction, a full-service construction company based in Stevens Point, recently broke ground on a brand-new, state-of-the-art Weinbrenner Shoe Company facility in Marshfield. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Sept. 30, 2024. The $14.5 million manufacturing facility will be located in Mill Creek Business Park and is expected to open in late 2025, coinciding with the 90th anniversary of Weinbrenner Shoe Company producing American-made, quality Thorogood® work boots in Marshfield.

The 70,000-square-foot building designed by Ellis Construction with a focus on employee health and productivity is expected to support more than 150 jobs in Marshfield. The production floor will be modernized to accommodate equipment with safety and technology upgrades. Weinbrenner Shoe Company made a point to solicit employee feedback with a vote on the new building’s exterior color, which will be red. The new facility is expected to bring 35 new jobs to the organization, expanding Weinbrenner’s current workforce of 120.
“We’re proud to be part of this new chapter for Weinbrenner Shoes,” said Andrew Halverson, Executive Vice President of Ellis Construction. “With a similar long-standing history in central Wisconsin, we know that this building will be a lasting landmark for generations to come.”

Reaffirming its longstanding commitment to supporting union labor, Weinbrenner worked alongside Ellis Construction to select contractors that ultimately resulted in union firms capturing nearly 80% of contracts when union labor was an available option.

“We manufacture Thorogood® boots for America’s working men and women and believe in supporting the union laborers that are the foundation of our company,” said Weinbrenner President Jeff Burns. “We invited both union and non-union trade partners to bid, and we are proud that union firms won the majority of the work.”

Park City Credit Union helps secure grant for local business

L to R: Val Mindak, President/CEO of Park City Credit Union (PCCU); Dawn.Swan, Owner of First Street Coffee; and Danielle Wilcenski, Member …

In early September, Park City Credit Union (PCCU) announced it had facilitated the successful submission of a grant application on behalf of First Street Coffee of Merrill. The grant was awarded through PCCU’s partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLB Chicago) as part of the Community First® Accelerate Grants for Small Business program.

The Community First® Accelerate Grants for Small Business initiative provides critical support to small businesses, helping them grow and thrive within their communities. First Street Coffee, a beloved local fixture, will use the grant funds to enhance its operations and continue serving as a vibrant gathering place for the community.

“We are thrilled to have played a role in helping First Street Coffee secure this grant,” said Val Mindak, President/CEO of PCCU. “Supporting small businesses is at the heart of what we do. These businesses are the backbone of our community, and we are committed to helping them succeed.”
For more information about PCCU’s commitment to supporting local businesses or how your business can benefit from grant opportunities, visit parkcitycu.org.

PCCU is a member-owned financial cooperative providing financial services to over 24,000 members who live, work, or own land in Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Price, Rusk, Taylor, or Vilas counties with offices located in Merrill, Tomahawk, Minocqua, and Rhinelander.

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