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Lt. Governor Lawton: Oconto County Impressively Resilient, Poised for Growth

For Immediate Release: October 18, 2007
Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661
Robert Chappell, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, 608-266-3516 or 608-334-7829

Lawton Lauds Tornado Recovery, Economic Development Efforts

LAKEVIEW - Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton today joined Oconto Board Chair Leland Rymer, County Board supervisors and county business and community leaders for the Business and Industrial Recognition Banquet to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Oconto County Economic Development Corporation. She praised Oconto County authorities for their visionary leadership, citing their response to June's devastating tornadoes and their partnerships with the state to create new jobs.

"The tornado wreaked unspeakable devastation in Oconto County, but it quickly became clear that it did not knock down the spirit of the people here," Lt. Governor Lawton said. "Area leaders set a determined course to begin recovery immediately, and everyone from emergency personnel to neighbors and even visiting tourists pitched in, working through the night to ensure safety and for days on end to begin the clean up which continues even now. Your work made an entire state proud."

On June 7, an F-2 tornado cut a 40-mile long swath through forests and buildings in Oconto County. Most structures in the Town of Riverview were damaged or destroyed. Lt. Governor Lawton directed the state's response to the disaster. The County received more than $647,000 in Emergency Assistance Program funding from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce to assist residents affected.

"Oconto County proved its resilience, and now you are poised for growth looking forward," Lawton said, noting a $190,000 Community Development Block Grant - Public Facilities and Economic Development award to help fund an expansion of Seneca Foods in Gillett, preserving 35 jobs and creating three more.

Lawton recently gave the oath of office to Chair Leland Rymer when he was sworn in as the new president of the Wisconsin Counties Association.

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