The Sheboygan County Economic Development Corp. and FreshTech Task Force have appointed a staff person to focus specifically on the organization’s FreshTech Innovation District and its programming.
FreshTech is a half-mile urban technology park for co-working, lab work and makerspace being built in Sheboygan along Lake Michigan. Nick O’Brien, a startup founder, consultant and community event organizer, will implement programming starting this year as the SCEDC’s director of innovation and engagement.
The programming stems from results of a feasibility study conducted by Cincinnati-based firm Econogy on the viability of an innovation hub within the district.
“We are excited about this big step in the FreshTech process,” said Joe Sheehan, executive director of the SCEDC. “The task force has put in months of important work to get to this point, and now we have Nick on board to bring the results of that work into the community and take the momentum to the next level. ”
In 2019, the SCEDC, in coordination with the city of Sheboygan, formed a task force comprising representatives of local organizations to implement ideas that originated from the FreshTech Innovation Summit, an event that pulled suggestions from workers and company leaders on what they feel is important to attract and retain professionals, and also grow innovation and entrepreneurship in Sheboygan County.
The task force was formed to provide the community with a three-year road map to develop the programming and coordination necessary to build a talent and innovation ecosystem in the county.
In August of 2019, the Sheboygan County EDC launched its planned Internet of Things Council and hired Ron Rumack, a Wisconsin native who spent most of his career as a commercial and investment banker, to lead the IoT Council as its coordinator.
