It's a Great Day in the City of Lancaster Fund (GDCLF)

David Carlson Introduction

Bob Johnson, the greatest hockey coach the UW has ever seen, had an expression - “It’s a great day for hockey.”  Because to Bob, every day was a great day for Hockey.  

Well, today, like every day, is a Great Day in the City of Lancaster.

Many people and families have made gifts to the City over the decades that have made the City the better.  The Hillary Auditorium, Hospital expansions, the new pool, the Dog park, benches in the downtown, trail development at Lancaster Trail, the Library, and many, many, more.  Sue and Bruce Fritz have had a part in many of those things.

 Several months ago, Bruce came to me with the idea of making a donation to the City for the purpose of economic development.  A gift that would be the start of a permanent, continuing opportunity of funding to develop and grow the city that they have given so much too.  Since that time, Sue, Bruce, my wife Dominique and I have met to discuss and flesh out what that might look like.  

With that as the background, I am pleased to introduce Sue and Bruce Fritz, and the It’s a Great Day in the City of Lancaster Fund.

 Bruce and Sue Fritz Presentation

We have been blessed to grow up in SW Wisconsin and have lived here in Lancaster for most of our lives.  We have raised our family, and with my brother David, grown Tricor to one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the Midwest - and all of it based here.

Our business, like the many other businesses here in the City, have helped the community grow and prosper.  We want to do our part to see that continue, even as we retire from active participation in the family business

While meeting with David and Dominique to discuss this opportunity, it was clear that the lack of housing was holding back the growth of the City.  Job opportunities we have - new employees we don’t.  And a key issue to attract and keep new employees is Housing.   Housing for new medical professionals, teachers, employees at Foremost, Amcor, Saputo, and all of the rest that help make Lancaster a Great City.  Housing, or more specifically lack of housing, has hurt our existing businesses, and impacted their growth.  And once housing is developed, then we continue to grow, expand, and attract new businesses.

With that background, we propose to make a donation to the City in the amount of $1,000,000 to start the It’s a Great Day in the City of Lancaster Fund. 

The intent of this donation is threefold:

First, the fund will engage in activities that encourage or enable business start-up, development, or expansion, with a focus on businesses that provide family supporting jobs, primarily full-time employment, with benefits including health, vacation, and retirement. 

Second, the fund will invest in activities that, overall, are designed to replenish and maintain the original Donation.  While not all activities are expected to return capital to the Donation, it is the expectation of the Donor that the Lancaster will manage the Donation to replenish the Donation, to the extent practicable.

Finally, the fund will invest in activities within the corporate limits of Lancaster, including the purchase of land for the use of business or residential development.  Such purchase of land shall be annexed to Lancaster before development on such land occurs.

We expect the first activities to address the housing need in the community, to support existing businesses to bring in new employees.  Following that, the investments will focus on manufacturing, both agricultural and general manufacturing, professional service firms, and supporting free-lance, distance, and remote workers.

A key to this Fund will be the Public/Private partnership.  Like the hotel development - both the City and the Private investors had to work together to make it happen.  It was not just the investors, nor just the City - it was both.  That is how we envision the use of this Fund.  By itself, the GDCLF will not be enough.  Private partners will need to step up with significant investments of time and money.

And finally, our contribution does not need to be the only one to the Great Day in the City of Lancaster Fund.  Because we know many families like ours that have also been blessed by the community and want to return that blessing.  This fund, once established, can provide the means for other families to join ours in giving back, and help making Every Day a Great Day in the City of Lancaster.

We are super excited for this fund to achieve great things.  Thank you.

Sue and Bruce Fritz

It's a Great Day in the City of Lancaster

Bob Johnson, the greatest hockey coach the Univ. Wisconsin has ever seen, had an expression - “It’s a great day for hockey.”  Because to Bob, every day was a great day for hockey.  

When you heard Bob say that, you knew he believed it.  It wasn't just a catch phrase or a phony slogan that he used as a pep talk.  And because he believed, you believed.

When I started at the City of Lancaster, I adopted a version of that phrase - It's a Great Day in the City of Lancaster - Because every day is a great day here.

To say that, I have to believe it.  I have to live it, by always focusing on project and activities that prove it.  Relentless optimism, even when circumstances might lead you to think otherwise.

However you phrase it, that belief is a key to being a successful City Administrator.  You have to see, believe and act on that fact.  

That is not to say you ignore difficulties - because those are simply opportunities to show greatness.  It does not mean to ignore facts - because those are the beginring points of greatness.

Because, Everyday is a Great Day in the City of Lancaster.

The Thank You Tour -- Rethinking Business Retention and Expansion Visitation Programs

Business Retention and Expansion Visitation programs (BREV) are (and should be) the cornerstone of local economic development.  It has two main shortcomings in many communities that have implemented them.

First, it starts with a fanfare, then quickly gets pushed to the side by the crush of other shiny objects or the day to day demands of the job.  We all do it.   We all have many things that force their attention on us that must be dealt with right now.

Second, the focus is often wrong.  Too many economic developers see it as a way to “get” something, such as a new project, or a donor, or even just to show “I’m doing something”.  No one wants to spend time with you if all your doing is asking for something.  

Stop that.  The single most important thing you can do with BREV is thank business owners for being in your community.  To show your communities’ appreciation for them.  To give something to the business owner/manager.  Not to ask for things.

Back to the Basics - what is BREV?

While all of us know what it is, this is my definition so you understand what I mean when I use the term.  BREV is an organized activity by which a local community, through an individual or group, meet with local business owners or managers to show appreciation to the business, help them solve problems, assist with information to address needs, help develop plans for growth, and even to build the local community capacity (assuming you are involving others in your community in doing the BREV.)

These are all good things that belong in a BREV.  But the issue I see is we push past the first item too fast - that it gets lip service, then we move on to what is in it for us.  New Jobs!  New Buildings!  A Donation!.  Stop that.  Step back.

The Tyranny of the Urgent

In 1967 Charles Hummel published a pamphlet he called Tyranny of the Urgent, which outlines how by spending our time on the demands of life, we don’t get around to doing the important things.  

When I say, “I don’t have time for this project,” I really mean, “I don’t consider it as important as something else I want or need to do.”  For whatever reason, I have decided to use the hours another way-on a task I am pressured to do or on one that I enjoy.  It may be planned or impulsive.  Either way, the issue is not simply lack of time but a choice I make. (emphasis mine)

BREV is widely acknowledged as the most important thing for local economic developers to engage in.  Don’t let the urgent push out the most important.  Make time, stick to it, and don't let go.

Keep your Focus on the Most Important

When I became Administrator in the City of Lancaster (Wisconsin), my first step was to get to know the community.  We (my wife and I) shopped in the local stores and I was sure to introduce myself to anyone that was there - from the checkout person to the store manager. We attended many of the local churches to visit.  We ate at all the local restaurants and participated in every fundraiser (still do).

At work, I made appointments and visited as many businesses owners and managers as would give me 15 minutes.  I always start by thanking them.  Thanking them for investing in our community.  Thanking them for their personal contributions to organizations in the community.  Thanking them for choosing Lancaster to run their business.

An almost universal thing happened.  They were startled by my thanking them, and some even said that no one from the City had ever done that.

Step back for a minute. I was meeting with businesses that in some cases were on their third generation of ownership in the same family.  Businesses that employed hundreds.  Owners that had donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to City and community organizations.  

Yet somehow, in a community where previous Administrators had run BREV programs, no one thanked them for running their business in my community.  Sure, they were thanked when they wrote the check for the library addition.  Thanked for serving on a committee.  But not for doing the single biggest thing they do - employing the residents of our City.  Every day risking their fortunes by growing their business, paying wages, paying taxes.  Paying my salary!  How can you not thank them?

A good friend of mine Brad Hentschel, director of Planning and Economic Development in the City of Chippewa Falls shared a similar story with me.

One of my first BREV started by saying 'thank you', then asked them about business, gaps or shortfalls/pain points - what's keeping them up at night - and what can 'we' as the City do better to help.  That's it. When we were done, we were beginning the art of departing - and this particular manager stopped me before leaving the room by saying, "Wait, what is it that you (i.e., the City) needed today?"  (insert long, awkward but hugely excited pause here).

Nothing!!!  I need nothing today - I want you to know your investments are appreciated, and that we as a community support your efforts and want to continue providing an environment that is sustainable for your businesses needs..

From that start - just a simple acknowledgement of their contribution, became many friendships, projects, expansions.  But not from me looking to get what I want - from me focusing on them with my thanks.

Conclusion

Business Retention and Visitation Programs are the most important thing that we do as a local economic developer.  Keep at it, don’t let the urgent sink the important.

And when you do that, remember the most important aspect of BREV - Saying Thank You!