Sawyer County LCO EDC highlights incubator activity and housing development hurdles

Adam Lemore, executive director of the Sawyer County LCO Economic Development Corporation, told the committee the EDC is producing short videos to highlight five recent or renovated businesses and is finishing a "live, work and play" recruitment video for the county.

Lemore said the EDC’s business incubator remains operational and receives many inquiries, but that conversion from inquiry to openings is hampered by limited available capital and construction costs. "One of the challenges is after we give them information and help them with the business plan stuff, it kind of peters out," Lemore said, adding that prospective entrepreneurs need to have savings to start a business.

Lemore said he is working with local businesses on consulting projects and that the EDC hopes to secure a physical office location rather than operating as a mobile organization. He also promoted the lieutenant governor’s Small Business Academy, scheduled for May 9 at Flat Creek Lodge, and invited committee members to register.

During later discussion about housing and development, a committee member summarized findings from a finance conference comparing Dane County home‑price and construction‑cost trends and noted a large rise in construction costs and mortgage rates since 2020; Lemore and others said that high costs and limited development inventory constrain housing supply and the local workforce.

Lemore said some developers are exploring projects and that he has asked potential builders for proposals identifying what would be needed to make a development feasible in the county.