Appleton: Economy

Major Industries and Commercial Activity

Since the mid-nineteenth century the paper industry and its allied industries have been the foundation for Appleton's economy. In fact, the Fox River Valley is home to the highest concentration of paper-making facilities in the world, and accounts for more than 10 percent of the area's total employment and one-third of all manufacturing employment. With 80 paper manufacturing facilities and 90 publishing companies, the Fox Cities (a cluster of 16 small cities along the region's Fox River) has the highest concentration of paper-related companies in the world. Of nearly as great importance is the metals-machinery industry, which produces welders, fire and utility trucks, crushing and screening equipment, farm machinery, and iron and brass castings. The local economy is also diversifying; six insurance companies are headquartered in the Fox Valley, as well as a growing network of thriving financial institutions. The Fox Cities region is also an important center for regional trade and services. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue predicts a 5.1 percent increase in employment in the Appleton area between 2003 and 2007, with most of that growth coming in the service, finance, insurance, and real estate sectors.

Items and goods produced: paper; paper products; books; metals and machine products; farm machinery; knit; wire; canned goods

Incentive Programs—New and Existing Companies

Local programs

The city of Appleton has four tax incremental financing programs, which it uses to finance public costs like infrastructure and land assembly and sometimes to assist in development costs of a project. The city also has a gap financing program—a community development loan pool resulting from a partnership between the city and seven of Appleton's financial institutions. It provides funds to fill the gap between what a bank will lend and the full cost of a project, and can be used for capital expansion, procuring new business locations, and capital equipment.

State programs

Wisconsin corporate taxes remain among the lowest in the nation due to property tax exemptions on manufacturing machinery and equipment, inventory exemptions, and lack of franchise and unitary taxes, according to a study done by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) and the Wisconsin Economic Development Institute (WEDI) are two nonprofit agencies that provide information and financial services, legal and legislative assistance, and networking opportunities for their member businesses. On the government side, the Division of Business Development of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce provides technical assistance and financial incentives to businesses in the areas of business planning, site selection, capitalization, permits, training and recruitment, and research and development. On April 28, 2000, Governor Tommy G. Thompson signed into law a bill that created the Wisconsin Technology Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan board that serves to create, develop and retain science and technology-based business in Wisconsin, and to serve as an advisor to the Governor and the Legislature. The Council also serves as the key link between the state's colleges and universities and the business expertise and capital offered by the financial service industry. Recently the firm published its "Vision 2020: A Model Wisconsin Economy" as a blueprint for its efforts over the next two decades.

Job training programs

Wisconsin ranks in the top 10 states for high school graduation rate, educational expenditures, income distribution and voting rate. A local Chamber of Commerce study found that partnerships between social service providers and employers in the Fox Cities have led to successful workforce development, particularly in creating entry-level employment. The State of Wisconsin has programs available to provide grants to businesses training workers in new technologies. The Fox Valley Technical College is an award-winning vocational and technical training institute that has formed long-standing relationships with several area companies to provide top-quality customized training programs.

Development Projects

Since its inception in 1996, Appleton's Neighborhood Revitalization Program has won national awards, by 2005 having helped four neighborhoods improve both residentially and commercially, with a fifth well underway. In addition, residents have access to the HOME Rental Rehabilitation Loan Program and the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program for access to low-interest loans for improving their homes or rental units.

Major advancements in the manufacturing sector included the one made by Thomson Newspapers Inc., the parent company of The Post-Crescent, which completed a $35 million printing and distribution facility in Appleton's Northeast Industrial Park in 2001; in 2002 the local design, construction, and engineering firm Hoffman Corporation moved into its own new 40,000 square foot office building.

Also in 2002 the city opened its Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, a $45 million facility that includes a 2,100-seat theater for concerts and theater events, and a 4,000 square foot multi-use hall that can host banquets, meetings, and conventions.

The city also has four designated business parks, the latest opening in 2003 as the Southpoint Commerce Park near State Highway 441. The city also has several redevelopment sites, including Fox River waterfront property, available for residential, commercial, and office development.

Economic Development Information: Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 227 S. Walnut Street, PO Box 1855, Appleton, WI 54913-1855; telephone (920)734-7101. City of Appleton Department of Development, Jim Van Dyke, Development Specialist, 100 North Appleton Street, Appleton, WI 54911; telephone (920)832-6468; fax (920)832-5994; email [email protected]

Commercial Shipping

Outagamie County Regional Airport is served by Federal Express and Airborne Express. Rail freight is provided by Canadian National, while more than 60 trucking and warehouse firms service the greater Fox Cities area. The Port of Green Bay, 30 miles north of Appleton, and the Port of Milwaukee, 100 miles south, provide access to the Great Lakes shipping corridor.

Labor Force and Employment Outlook

Of some 202,000 workers in the Fox Cities area, 87 percent declared themselves satisfied with the local job market according to a Chamber of Commerce study. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue predicts 5.1 percent employment growth in the Fox Cities region between 2003 and 2007, with the greatest increase in services, finance, insurance, and real estate. The Fox Valley Technical College is an award-winning vocational and technical training institute that has formed long-standing relationships with several area companies to provide top-quality customized training programs.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Appleton labor force, 2004 annual average.

Size of nonagricultural labor force: 118,000

Number of workers employed in . . .

construction and mining: 8,600

manufacturing: 24,400

trade, transportation and utilities: 23,200

information: 2,100

financial activities: 6,700

professional and business services: 11,300

educational and health services: 11,700

leisure and hospitality: 10,500

other services: 5,900

government: 11,300

Average hourly earnings of production workers employed in manufacturing: $16.19 (Wisconsin statewide)

Unemployment rate: 5.2% (February 2005)

Cost of Living

The Fox Valley offers a very affordable cost of living, typically two percent below the national average, according to a national research study. With a Median Household Effective Buying Income of more than $40,000 in 2003, the Appleton MSA ranked 87th of 323 in buying income nationally.

The following is a summary of data regarding several key cost of living factors for the Appleton metropolitan area.

2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Average House Price: $214,900

2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Cost of Living Index: 92.2 (U.S. average = 100.0)

State income tax rate: Ranges from 4.6% to 6.75% (tax year 2005)

State sales tax rate: 5%

Local income tax rate: None

Local sales tax rate: None

Property tax rate: $23.56 per $1,000 of full market value (2003, Outagamie County assessment)

Economic Information: Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 227 South Walnut Street, P.O. Box 1855, Appleton, WI 54912-1855; telephone (920)734-7101; toll-free (800)999-3224; email [email protected]

Appleton: Recreation

Sightseeing

Visitors learn about the life of what may be Appleton's most famous citizen, Harry Houdini, by taking the Houdini Walking Tour of the city, and observing the collection of his many magic feats. From mid-May through mid-September tours are available to the grand log home of James Doty, Wisconsin's second territorial governor. In nearby Kaukauna, guides dressed in circa-1830s garb escort visitors through the Greek revival mansion of prominent fur trader Charles Grignon, which captures the flavor of the fur trading era. The Children's Farm at Plamann Park gives kids the chance to observe young farm animals in a lovely park setting, and the Memorial Park Arboretum & Gardens displays a variety of native Wisconsin trees and plants. The Paper Discovery Museum has exhibits which educate about one of the region's most important industries. The Fox Cities Children's Museum has hands-on activities for kids. At the Hearthstone Historic House Museum, visitors can observe the world's first home lit by a central hydro-electric power plant, and can try generating hydro-power at the new Hydro Adventure Center. More than 1,000 dolls dating from 1850 to the present are on display at the Amelia Bubolz Doll Collection. The Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve is an 862-acre park with eight miles of hiking trails. The Tayco Street Bridge Tower Museum, in nearby Menasha, has exhibits concerning the bygone era of river navigation during the time when the Fox River was the main highway for commerce and travel in the area. Menasha's University of Wisconsin Center Fox Valley Planetarium presents various shows explaining the wonders of the stars.

Arts and Culture

The major performing arts facilities in Appleton are the new Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, which has Broadway shows, concerts by the Fox Valley Symphony and national acts, and other events in its 2,100 seat theater; the 1883 Grand Opera House, which presents more than 200 events annually; the Performing Arts at Lawrence University, which offers an artists series, a jazz series and a variety of concerts; and the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, which schedules more than 130 classical performances each year.

The semi-professional Little Sandwich Theatre in the Mall presents live dinner theater productions of musicals, dramas, and children's plays at the Avenue Mall. Community theater for the Fox Valley is provided by the Attic Theatre, which produces four summer shows and a holiday production. The Children's Ballet Theatre provides training for young dancers and performs for schools, clubs, festivals, and conventions.

The Fox Valley Symphony has a more than 30-year history, and presents five subscription concerts each year, plus a holiday concert and two concert chamber series. Appleton's citizens enjoy music making and some of the more prominent musical groups include the Appleton MacDowell Male Chorus, the Chaminade Women's Chorus, the Fox Cities Handbells, the Green Apple Folk Music Society, and the White Heron Chorale.

The Bergstrom-Mahler Museum displays the world's foremost collection of glass paperweights and an exhibit of Germanic glass dating back to the 1500s, as well as a variety of traveling exhibits. The Outagamie Museum/(Harry) Houdini Historical Center features Houdini memorabilia, including a fascinating handcuff display, and magic shows in the summer. The museum also has paper-making exhibits, and exhibits on subjects of local interest. Works of fine art and student exhibits are on display at the architecturally whimsical Wriston Art Center on the Lawrence University Campus, with its glass walls and turrets, fanciful curves, and recessed amphitheater.

The Fox Cities Children's Museum provides youngsters with 27,000 square feet of opportunities for hands-on exploration. The museum features a giant human heart kids can climb onto and slide out of, and interactive displays on electricity, wildlife, rocks, bubbles, fire trucks, other cultures, music and machines, as well as the Science Spectrum, a trip through the world of science.

The city also has some impressive public artworks, including the Appleton Aurora, a unique 10 by 60 foot sculpture atop the Appleton Center, and the Fox River Oracle, a massive sculpture at the north end of Appleton's Skyline Bridge.

Arts and Culture Information: Fox Valley Arts Alliance; telephone (920)734-4860

Festivals and Holidays

Spring events include the Nature's Image Spring Fair at the 1,000 Islands Environmental Center in Kaukauna; the Antiques Showcase & Sale in April; the Memorial Garden Festival, which takes place at Memorial Park Arboretum & Gardens in May; and the grand finale of the month of May, the Memorial Day Parade downtown. June brings the Flag Day Parade in downtown Appleton, and the Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival in Little Chute. Independence Day is saluted at the Civic Celebration held at Memorial Park; also in July is the annual Paperfest in Kimberly. The Fox Cities Marathon is held in September. The enjoyment of German food and culture, including a variety of beer, is the focus of Oktoberfest, one of the highlights each year in Appleton and held in September. The Harvest Song Fall Festival at Bubolz Nature Preserve, the Crop Walk, and the Romp in the Swamp are the city's highlights for October. Christmas is celebrated with Holiday Candlelight Tours followed by January's Victorian Christmas.

Sports for the Spectator

The Timber Rattlers, the Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, play baseball in the 3,400-seat Fox Cities Stadium. World class runners congregate in the area each October to trek over seven bridges through seven cities, part of the 26.2-mile route of the Fox Cities Marathon. The thrills and spills of stock-car racing can be enjoyed at nearby Kaukauna's Wisconsin International Raceway. Sports enthusiasts have easy access to the excitement of the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Milwaukee Brewers; the University of Wisconsin Badgers compete collegiately in the Big Ten conference in Madison, just a 90 minute drive away.

Sports for the Participant

The Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve offers 762 acres of wildlife habitat. Hikers and skiers enjoy eight miles of trails along a trout pond and through a white cedar forest. The 1,140 acres of Highcliffs State Park rest on limestone cliffs overlooking Lake Winnebago. The park offers swimming, camping, marina facilities, and an adjacent golf course. The city of Appleton's Parks and Recreation System consists of 600 acres and 26 parks, plus an ice arena. Appleton's Talulah and Memorial parks feature bike paths, and Lutz Park has a boat landing. Golfers enjoy the Chaska and Reid public golf courses, and the city has five parks with lighted tennis courts. The USA Youth Sports Complex has 12 soccer fields and 7 baseball diamonds. The Appleton Rugby Club holds a spring and a fall season of games, and the Appleton Soccer Club offers both adult and youth leagues. Erb and Meade Parks have public swimming pools and Plamann Park offers snowmobile trails and access to the state trail system.

Shopping and Dining

Appleton's Fox River Mall, with 165 retail shops, is one of the largest in Wisconsin. The mall is anchored by large department stores such as Marshall Fields, JC Penney, Sears, and Target, as well as Scheels All Sports. Other major malls include the Avenue Mall, featuring specialty shops and Herberger's Department Store; the Valley Fair Mall, and the Jansport Outlet. Lamers Dairy in Appleton has tours of its milk-bottling plant as well as a country gift store. Simons Specialty Cheese in Little Chute has 100 varieties of cheese and Wisconsin-themed gifts. The Country Squire Christmas Shoppe in Neenah is locally famous for ornaments and Christmas decorations from around the world. The Frame Workshop in Appleton is an award-winning frame shop and art gallery that also has hand-blown glass ornaments from Germany. Vande Walle's Candy Shop offers self-tours of candy-making and pastry-making. The Abracadabra Magic Shop, owned by a local magician, offers magic trick materials and books. More than 60,000 titles, a coffee bar, and a fine selection of gifts is available at Conkey's Book Store, a 100-year old landmark that was recently expanded.

The city offers a variety of restaurants featuring the cuisines of Greece, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Thailand, China, and France, as well as casual American fare or upscale continental dining. For fine dining try Peggy's Café on College Avenue downtown, The Seasons on Nicolet, or George's Steak House, a family-owned institution for more than 50 years. Mark's East Side and Old Bavarian celebrate the area's strong German influences.

Visitor Information: Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, 110 Fox River Drive, Appleton, WI 54915-9108; telephone (920)734-3358; fax (920)734-1080

Appleton: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

The Appleton Area School District (AASD) is Wisconsin's sixth largest school district and is one of its fastest growing. The district encompasses the city of Appleton, and the towns of Grand Chute, Buchanan, Harrison, and a small part of Menasha. Wisconsin traditionally leads the nation in test scores, and Appleton area students consistently exceed state and national test score averages. Since 1997 the Appleton Education Foundation, an independent organization of concerned citizens and business leaders, has awarded grants to Appleton schools totaling more than $800,000 to fund educational programs not funded by public sources. The Fox Cities Alliance for Education helps 13 local school districts collaborate with area businesses on school-to-work initiatives.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Appleton Area School District as of the 2002–2003 school year.

Total enrollment: 14,948

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 16

junior high/middle schools: 4

senior high schools: 3

other: 1 pre-elementary school; 12 charter schools covering all grades K-12

Student/teacher ratio: 15.3:1

Teacher salaries (2005)

average: $41,892

Funding per pupil: $8,953

The Appleton Catholic Education System (ACES) consists of four elementary schools, and a middle school. The city's ACES schools strive to foster higher level thinking skills. There is also a Catholic High School, Xavier. Appleton has a non-denominational school and seven Lutheran schools.

Colleges and Universities

Lawrence University has been a coeducational institution since its founding in 1847 and is the second oldest co-ed college in the country. In 1964 the college merged with Milwaukee's Downer College, a well regarded women's college. Lawrence, ranked among the nation's top 50 liberal arts colleges in 2003 by U.S. News & World Report enrolls 1,200 full-time students. B.A. programs are offered in more than 30 areas. The Fox Valley Technical College offers a diverse curriculum and is regarded as one of the most progressive technical institutions in the country. The college has more than 70 associate degree programs, apprenticeship training, continuing education, and customized training. Also located in the Fox Cities are the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley, and a branch of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (Appleton).

Libraries

Appleton Public Library has 300,000 volumes and 500 periodical subscriptions as well as a CD collection and audio-and videotapes. The library is a state document depository and has a special area on local history. An expansion in the late 1990s resulted in more space for children's programs and added shelf space for books. More than 1,500 people visit the 85,000 square foot facility daily, and the library website is accessed 75,000 times per month. The special subject interests of the Fox Valley Technical College, which has more than 61,000 volumes, include agriculture, business and management, environmental studies, medicine, and science and technology. Lawrence University Library, with holdings of nearly 337,000 volumes, is also a state document depository.

Public Library Information: Appleton Public Library, 225 N. Oneida St., Appleton, WI 54911-4780; telephone (920)832-6170; fax (920)832-6182

Appleton: History

Long before the coming of the Europeans, the area that is now Appleton was inhabited by the Menominee Indians. The Outagamie Indians, also known as the Fox, lived nearby, as did the Winnebago. Early French explorers such as Duluth, Hennepin, and LaSalle floated up the northerly-flowing Fox River into the Indian lands. In the mid-1600s French trappers and traders traveled the waterway of the Fox River in search of furs, particularly beaver pelts. They were followed by Catholic missionaries, including Pere Marquette and Louis Joliet, who passed by in 1673 on their search for the Mississippi River. Later, soldiers crossed the area as they made their way to the three forts that were built on the Fox-Wisconsin waterway, and settlers followed in 1835. That year, Hyppolyte Grignon and his family opened the White Heron trading post just above the Grand Chute. They were followed soon after by John and Jeanette Johnson, whose house became the first hotel, trading post, church, and hospital.

After the building of a canal around the river rapids, steamboats bearing travelers and cargo became a common sight. Wheat farming in the surrounding area gave way to the dairy farms, for which the region is now famous.

However, Appleton itself was first established as the site for a university. At that time it was one of three villages clustered together, the others being Grand Chute (site of the treacherous river rapids) and White Heron. When Amos Lawrence, a Boston Methodist, donated money for a "university in the wilderness" to be constructed in 1847, he decided to honor his wife's family, the Appletons, in naming the new site.

Outagamie County was founded in 1851, and Grand Chute was named the county seat. As neighboring settlements developed, they decided to incorporate under the single name Appleton in 1853. By the next year the new village included a paper mill, two sawmills, several flour mills, and a newspaper. As the center grew, it was incorporated as a city on May 2, 1857.

The power of the Fox River was harnessed in 1882 with the establishment of the world's first hydro-electric plant. The paper mills that developed along the river, and the support industries that grew along with them, played a major role in the economy of the "Paper Valley" that continues into the present day.

New Englanders were the first settlers of the region, but Dutch, German, and Polish settlers had become part of the city by the early twentieth century. More recent immigrants, the Hmong-Laotian refugees from the period of the Viet Nam War, have made their mark on the area's culture since the late 1970s.

Appleton today is a prosperous community founded in an appreciation for education, maintaining a certain "small-town charm" in the midst of economic prosperity and downtown revitalization.

Historical Information: Outagamie County Historical Society and Museum, 330 E. College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911; telephone (920)735-9370

Appleton: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents

1980: 291,369

1990: 315,121 (MSA)

2000: 358,365

Percent change, 1990–2000: 13.7%

U.S. rank in 1980: 131st

U.S. rank in 1990: Not reported

U.S. rank in 2000: 115th

City Residents

1980: 58,913

1990: 65,695

2000: 70,087

2003 estimate: 70,354

Percent change, 1990–2000: 6.6%

U.S. rank in 1980: 340th

U.S. rank in 1990: 352nd

U.S. rank in 2000: 435th

Density: 3,356 people per square mile (2000)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 64,116

Black or African American: 695

American Indian and Alaska Native: 401

Asian: 3,231

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 21

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 1,775

Other: 733

Percent of residents born in state: 73.3% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 4,834

Population 5 to 9 years old: 5,401

Population 9 to 14 years old: 5,631

Population 15 to 19 years old: 5,481

Population 20 to 24 years old: 4,667

Population 25 to 34 years old: 10,333

Population 35 to 44 years old: 11,979

Population 45 to 54 years old: 9,009

Population 55 to 59 years old: 2,795

Population 60 to 64 years old: 2,033

Population 65 to 74 years old: 3,877

Population 75 to 84 years old: 2,835

Population 85 years and over: 1,212

Median age: 33.8 years

Births (2004, Outagamie County)

Total number: 2,286

Deaths (2003, Outagamie County)

Total number: 1,147

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $22,478

Median household income: $47,285

Total households: 26,899

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 1,343

$10,000 to $14,999: 1,317

$15,000 to $24,999: 3,246

$25,000 to $34,999: 3,265

$35,000 to $49,999: 5,046

$50,000 to $74,999: 6,701

$75,000 to $99,999: 3,216

$100,000 to 149,999: 1,755

$150,000 to 199,999: 430

$200,000 or more: 580

Percent of families below poverty level: 3.3% (36.2% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 1,967