Shawano County Economic Progress Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Promote economic development in Shawano County, Wisconsin
- Income
- $174,096
- Spending
- $186,943
- Reserves
- 8.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Highest pay
- $123,274, chief economic development officer
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $87,864 spent. BUSINESS ASSISTANCE RECRUITMENT Attended the New North site consultant events held in conjunction with the NFL draft. The majority of the group was involved in data center development. Continued small business support and consulting work. Entrepreneurship is on the rise and many are seizing the opportunity to become their own boss. A number of new businesses are opening storefronts in Bonduel, Shawano and Wittenberg. Was able to connect a number to finance resources that may be appropriate for their situations. Met with several entrepreneurs interested in getting their fledgling businesses off the ground. The range is from retail to consulting to small manufacturing. Participated in the Menominee economic resiliency project and the final report out session hosted at the College of the Menominee Nation. SCEPI is engaged in several site location requests from new North and from businesses relocating to the county that are in need of space. Archer and Bliss have an offer to purchase K and L Cycle in Bonduel to establish a wholesale floral business. As part of the Thrive Rural Wisconsin Grant, we worked with Wisconsin Main Street to get access to their modeling data for leakages in the Bonduel downtown. We continue to meet weekly to move the project forward and the village has been awarded their second round of financing for the project. Bonduel hosted a downtown business meeting to explain the Redevelopment plan and how the village can partner with the building owners to make needed repairs and recruit tenants to the downtown district. Bonduel's matching grant program was established and the Village is accepting applications from the one hundred thousand dollar fund. Hosted a walk through with architects of the Block Building in downtown Bonduel. Hosted WEDC Secretary in Bonduel to showcase the work the community has done through the Thrive Rural Wisconsin program of new housing in the community and the place making work in the core of the community. Jesse Bartelt purchased the building he was leasing for automotive repair in Bonduel. SCEPI has put Jesse in contact with a marketing team that offers pro bono assistance to help him promote his axe throwing business in Bonduel. Late last year we assisted Bonduel in applying for a Small Business Development Grant with WEDC. Last week the grant was awarded to Bonduel through their RDA for establishing a facade downtown improvement matching grant program seed funded by the 100000 dollar WEDC grant. Met with several business owners regarding the grant and other assistance available including free facade design assistance. City of Marion requested assistance regarding the Highway 45 frontage in conjunction with another proposed SCS multi-family development. Facilitated a meeting between Waupaca County EDC Redevelopment Resources SCEPI and the City of Marion to discuss both a potential housing project with SCS in Shawano County and the redevelopment of the community's downtown. We followed up with an educational presentation to the Marion City Council. Attended the Main Street overview in the Village of Tigerton with the Village of Bonduel as they evaluate applying to become a Main Street Connect community. I am trying to set up a meeting with Keith Block and the City of Shawano to discuss future plans. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act extended Opportunity Zones into perpetuity but required that they be redesignated every 10 years. The Town of Waukechon appears to be eligible for redesignation. I have reached out to our local elected officials at both the state and federal level and to the Governor's office encouraging that this census tract be redesignated. The rural OZs will receive triple the benefit of the urban OZs making the Shawano County location highly desirable. Assisted Shawano Family Dentistry in finding a suitable property to build their new dental clinic off Airport Road on city owned land.Working now on new CSMs and site layout for hopefully a new clinic in place by fall. As a result of this project we will be working with the City to identify all city owned parcels for future development. Attended the Wolf River Dental and Legacy First Ribbon cutting open house in Shawano. Continued work with Shawano Family Dentistry and Carter Nolan to identify other potential tenants in a bigger project. We have a related business that may be a fit and the parties are working to see if that can happen. Created a list of all City of Shawano owned parcels to better market to new business. Met several times with Aarrowcast's corporate financial team to discuss their long-term corporate strategies company wide and to assist in getting more CapX into the Shawano facility. Ongoing work with Charter Aarrowcast as they navigate the current agriculture environment and look to expand the company. Strive Behavioral Health had their groundbreaking on Engel Drive. An almost three-year process before they were able to pull the trigger and make the project happen. Working with a consultant looking to site an agricultural processing facility near rail. Project needs 10 acres and would eventually employ 200. We have identified sites and made inquiries to the property owners on availability. Working with a data center site selector to identify property with access to at least 30MW electricity and significant water. Working with Shawano Family Dentists, their builder and accountants on the potential to access the Federal Opportunity Zone program. As a first working with Banner Bank to secure financing for the expansion of a successful business in the Town of Wittenberg. Following up on the Wittenberg park project connected the village to MSA so that the village can update their comprehensive plan and create a park plan. Meetings with the Wittenberg Chamber of Commerce and the Wittenberg Development Corporation to establish an RDA and develop a comprehensive development plan for the downtown. Meetings with the Wittenberg Chamber of Commerce to discuss park improvements
- $47,446 spent. Housing * A recent study by Fannie Mae shows increased demand for rural housing within commuting distance to urban areas. * Housing will continue to be a priority and there is still plenty of opportunities for further development of both multi and single family housing. * In the Village of Bonduel, Sunrise Court has completed five homes, and the final two homes are substantially finished. * The first 8 plex in Bonduel is enclosed and should be accepting residents in the first quarter of 2026. * The second 8 plex in Bonduel is enclosed and should be accepting residents in the first quarter of 2026. * The Village of Bonduel and Sunrise Court had a groundbreaking on 11 22 2025 for the new lots. This is the first significant single family housing development in the village in nearly two decades. * The Village of Bonduel broke ground on the first of a three phase of Bear Crossing Apartments. * The Village of Bonduel has a developer agreement with Landmark development to construct two eightplexes near the village's industrial park. * The Shawano County portion of Marion is working with SCS to develop some housing in their community. We have initiated meeting with SCS to help master plan the corridor for supportive commercial development. * Assisted the City of Shawano with rewriting housing grants and loan documentation for the Main Street Village residential redevelopment on Main Street. * Met a developer with the city looking to build smaller foot print affordable single family homes in the city. * The City of Shawano is working on two potential higher end apartment projects that will bring much needed zero entry maintenance free living to the community. * The Shawano 60 Project on County B is significantly complete and should be leased by Christmas. * Working with a Shawano property owner wanting to redevelop some vacant properties into multi family. * Groundbreaking is scheduled for July 22 at 10am for the SCS multifamily project in Wittenberg. * The Village of Wittenberg rezoned a property located on Sue Allen Drive to develop single family homes. * The Village of Pulaski (within Shawano County) has approved a new multifamily development to include four twelveplexs right off highway 160. * Housing will continue to be a priority and there is still plenty of opportunities for further development of both multi and single family housing.
- $21,087 spent. Broadband Expansion * Attended Town meetings to explain the BEAD program and the town endorsement process. * Still working through all the recent changes that the PSC needs to deal with and hope to have some resolution in July. * USDA has opened another grant round for fiber to the home and we are working with Cirrinity to determine if there might be an opportunity for the county. * Still tracking the changes to BEAD and waiting for the final grant awards to be announced. The funds, more than $1 billion according to the Governor's release, come through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) which approved Wisconsin's final Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program proposal. As approved, the awards will provide funding to service all BEAD eligible locations throughout Wisconsin with more than $397 million in matching funds provided by the recipients. Additionally, funding will support high speed fiber internet services at Community Anchor Institutions like libraries, schools, and local government and educational facilities. The technologies will be split: 76 percent fiber, 10 percent fixed wireless, and 14 percent satellite.
- $19,330 spent. Other Activities * A couple of fun notes connected New North and the NFL to the Shawano Barn Quilt Project and the draft has commissioned two barn quilts for the event. * Also NFL draft related assisted in finding accommodation for drivers on Thursday of the draft. * Attended Newcap, New North, WEDA, USDA, Wisconsin Rural Partners and SBA meetings webinars. * Attended WEDA legislative day and discussed potential changes to the TID law with our local elected officials. * Attended Wisconsin Rural Partners, New North, ThedaCare and WEDA monthly meetings. * We are hosting our next Workforce Event Creative Staffing Options on April 9th, 2026. * Attended several meetings with the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Submarine Workforce and Industrial Base working group that Deloitte is leading. * Attended a WEDC workshop on site selection. * Attended the Governor's Conference on Economic Development and was part of a panel discussion on TIF in Wisconsin. * Continued RDA work is started or in process for Bonduel, Marion and Wittenberg. Also the three communities are working on redevelopment plans and establishing an active RDA. * Presented a webinar with Bonduel and WEDC on how to stimulate housing in rural Wisconsin. It was attended by over 80 participants. * RDA work is started or in process for Bonduel, Marion and Wittenberg. * The Creative Staffing Options Event was very well received with our business partners finding additional partners for staffing resources. * Will be part of a panel discussion at the WEDA Governor's Conference on Economic Development the first week in February. * With the Village of Bonduel, hosted acting Secretary of WEDC, Sam Rikkers as he toured and discussed the impacts of the Thrive Rural Wisconsin program that Bonduel is participating in.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.