Sheboygan County Chamber Releases Workforce Development Report Highlighting Lessons From Make Your Mark

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI — August 19, 2026 — The Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce has released a new workforce development report examining what the community has learned through the Make Your Mark talent attraction initiative and how those lessons can help shape the future of workforce and population growth in Sheboygan County.

Make Your Mark: From Workforce Attraction to Community Growth looks beyond traditional marketing metrics to examine the people, jobs, employers and community connections behind the initiative—and, more importantly, what those experiences reveal about the systems needed to attract, welcome and retain talent in Sheboygan County.

The report includes insights from employers representing manufacturing, hospitality, technology, marketing and other professional sectors, along with the experiences of individuals who have recently relocated to Sheboygan County and feedback gathered through three August employer roundtables and the August 14 Make Your Mark focus group.

“We started this work wanting to attract more than employees. We wanted to attract neighbors,” said Deidre Martinez, CEO of the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce. “Now we have real people who saw an opportunity, made a connection and decided to make Sheboygan County home. Our responsibility is to learn from those experiences and use those lessons to build a stronger, more connected workforce system for the future.”

Among the report’s major findings is the importance of distinguishing between marketing activity and measurable workforce outcomes. It also identifies the need for direct employer participation, meaningful human connection, thoughtful use of technology, strong alignment among public, private and nonprofit partners, and intentional development of mid-career professionals who can mentor younger talent while helping sustain community leadership, volunteerism and charitable support. Focus-group participants also emphasized that newcomers, interns and young professionals need accessible ways to find their people through ideas such as employer-based ambassadors, newcomer gatherings, professional and intergenerational networks and virtual pre-move connections.

The report also emphasizes that business must have a meaningful seat at the table in conversations about workforce, community and population growth. Employers experience workforce challenges firsthand and bring an essential perspective to decisions that will influence Sheboygan County’s economic future.

“This work is too important to treat as a single campaign or a short-term initiative,” Martinez said. “The Chamber is working intentionally to ensure the right people are in the right positions to help lead these efforts forward. That means investing in the professional development of our internal team, strengthening connections across organizations and continuing to convene the important conversations our community needs to have.”

As a countywide business organization, the Chamber is uniquely positioned to bring employers, community organizations, government, education and other partners together. Its role is not to own every workforce solution, but to help create the space where partners can share perspectives, identify gaps, challenge assumptions and work toward common goals.

“The Chamber can add tremendous value by convening these conversations from a position of neutrality,” Martinez said. “We can bring the right people into the room, keep employers connected to the conversation and help move ideas toward action. The next phase of this work is about building the relationships, leadership and infrastructure necessary for long-term success.”

Approximately $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding provided by Sheboygan County supported the original three-year Make Your Mark initiative. Those funds must be exhausted by December 31, 2026. The Chamber has also secured a $250,000 Talent Recruitment Grant through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to support continued talent recruitment efforts.

As the original funding period approaches its conclusion, the report provides an opportunity not only to reflect on what has been accomplished, but also to identify what should come next and how the broader community can continue building on what has been learned.

“We have spent decades talking about workforce and population challenges,” Martinez said. “Today, we have an opportunity to use what we have learned to do something differently. Workforce development cannot belong to one employer, one organization or one program. It takes employers, candidates and the community working together—and it requires people who are willing to lead, connect and keep the work moving forward.”

You can read the report at the following link: https://sheboygan.org/community-reports/

About the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce
Our mission is to Think BIG — Betterment, Improvement, Growth — and Influence Local. The Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing expertise and fostering dynamic organizations throughout Sheboygan County. We believe our businesses and communities are truly Better Together.