July 31, 2026
DCEDC Announces Door County Small Business Façade and Property Improvement Program Awardees
The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is proud to announce the awardees of the Door County Small Business Façade and Property Improvement Grant Program.
DCEDC was one of 19 organizations throughout Wisconsin awarded funding through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC) Small Business Development Grants program to uplift small business development in local communities across the state. This funding of $225,000, in addition to $25,000 of seed funding from DCEDC, enabled the creation of the program in Door County.
The Door County Small Business Façade and Property Improvement Program is a competitive application process for Door County businesses with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees. The program focuses on façade and other exterior property improvements that will strengthen businesses, increase the potential to attract customers and contribute to long-term growth, as well as positively impact the surrounding community.
The program will award reimbursement grants of up to $10,000 each, covering up to 80% of total project costs.
Please see the list for the business, municipality, and brief description of each project.
Each awardee will complete the project described in the application and will request reimbursement under the program. Each awardee is responsible for contacting the appropriate jurisdiction prior to the start of the project to ensure compliance.
“We were delighted with the applications received through this process and are grateful to WEDC and DCEDC’s Board of Directors for supporting this program,” said Michelle Lawrie, Executive Director of DCEDC.
Upon completion of all projects, DCEDC will assess the viability of a second round of this program.
For any questions, please contact Michelle Lawrie at michelle@doorcountybusiness.com.
DCEDC is a public/private partnership dedicated to improving the economic vitality of Door County and its residents. DCEDC has been serving Door County since 1989.
Check out the latest at DCEDC!
MWS Associates has leased office space in the Business Center since the inception of our company in 2018 and from 2015-2018 with the previous company that I worked for. The Business Center was the clear choice for us to locate our main office for several reasons: location, cost effectiveness, reliable high-speed internet, services offered and full access to the conference room. It truly offers everything our company needs to headquarter our business from without the hassle of owning our own office building with the maintenance, yard care and snowplowing that goes along with ownership.
A major benefit for us is the ability to host in-person and online meetings in the newly renovated, state-of-the-art conference room. COVID changed many aspects of our business with a major increase in online meetings being one of them. Many companies struggled with technology issues to host or participate in online meetings with poor audio, video quality, background noise and unprofessional business settings negatively affecting meetings. The size, layout and quality of the A/V equipment of the conference room now allows us to host annual company-wide in-person meetings as well. Every October we bring our entire staff in from around the country for weeklong meetings and the conference room comfortably allows us to host 20+ people. The setting also allows us to host on-site meetings with key accounts. Clients appreciate being able to combine a business trip with bringing their family to enjoy a few extra days to experience all Door County has to offer.
Jeff Bruemmer joined DCEDC in July of 2001. Jeff is responsible for maintaining the DCEDC Business Center, located at 185 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay. Jeff was born and raised in Kewaunee and moved to Sturgeon Bay in 1985.
Kathy Lasee is responsible for the organization’s financial operations, as well as the operations of the Business Development Center in Sturgeon Bay. A Door County native, Lasee graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in music with a minor in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Lasee is a charter member of the Peninsula Symphonic Band and previously worked as a music teaching assistant for the Sturgeon Bay School District. Prior to joining DCEDC in October of 2023, Lasee was the Office Manager of Kevin’s Automotive in Sturgeon Bay. During her professional career, she also worked in the loan office at Baylake Bank (now Nicolet National Bank) in Sturgeon Bay.
Devin Vandertie enjoys working with entrepreneurs and businesses to help foster economic growth in Door County. She is also passionate about helping nurture the next generation of the community’s workforce. Devin has recently earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and is involved with Leadership Door County, which brings together professionals from diverse business sectors who are inspired to make a positive impact on the quality of life in Door County. A Door County native, Vandertie cares deeply about cultivating a community that is not only a desirable destination, but also an exceptional place to live and to work. In addition to her recent achievement of a master’s degree, Devin is a graduate of Southern Door High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Prior to joining the DCEDC staff in October of 2023, Vandertie was the Laboratory Assistant Supervisor at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay.
Michelle Lawrie has more than twenty years of experience in economic development at regional and local levels. Michelle’s career in Washington, D.C., Arizona and Wisconsin has focused on serving the public interest through economic development, issue advocacy and coalition-building. Michelle began her economic development career at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), in Phoenix, Arizona. After serving in several roles at GPEC, Michelle became the President and CEO of the Western Maricopa Coalition (WESTMARC) in western Maricopa County, Arizona. Michelle later also served as Economic Development / Community Development Director for the communities of Goodyear, Arizona and DeForest, Wisconsin. Michelle has extensive experience working in development of strategies and performance measures for communities and organizations, as well as leading teams toward achieving goals desired by communities, businesses and residents. Michelle is a native of Phoenix, Arizona, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.