Progress Lakeshore Sponsorship Opportunities

Progress Lakeshore offers a multitude of opportunities to showcase your business and your support of our organization’s mission to retain, grow and attract businesses, workforce and entrepreneurship in Manitowoc County.

Click HERE for the full PDF version of our 2023 sponsorship booklet.

Click HERE to fill out our 2023 Sponsorship Interest Form!

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Investor Exclusive Event: Showcase your business at this investor-only event that brings thought leaders to our business community for conversation, connections and inspiration.

Local Box Manitowoc County: Progress Lakeshore’s Local Box Manitowoc County is a fundraiser supporting economic development and entrepreneurial programming in Manitowoc County. The boxes are a collection of highly curated goods from local businesses that are then sold to the public. Over 150 boxes are sold. Sponsorship showcases your support for economic growth and the local businesses represented in each box.

Annual Excellence in Economic Development Awards Breakfast: The Annual Excellence in Economic Development Awards Breakfast is a celebration to recognize businesses and individuals who create a positive business climate in Manitowoc County. This event draws over 200 businesses, government, and community members every year.

Entrepreneur Development Services: Entrepreneur development services are a unique opportunity offered at Progress Lakeshore. These services are free and confidential to those who come to us looking for guidance. We meet with and counsel approximately 70-100 entrepreneurs each year. Your generous sponsorship helps support our mission of growing businesses in Manitowoc County through one-on-one mentorship, counseling and programming for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur Training Program (ETP): Our Entrepreneur Training Program is an immersive course offered in conjunction with the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center. The eight-week sessions equip aspiring entrepreneurs to start and grow successful businesses. Participants are provided with information, tips, exercises, and tools to help evaluate their business ideas and develop their business plans.

Entrepreneurial Boot Camp: Entrepreneurial Boot Camp is an industry-specific learning program that provides the framework necessary for participants to take ideas and develop them into workable businesses. Boot Camps educate participants on the basic resources necessary to start a business. Participants develop an entrepreneurial spirit while networking with other business owners.

Startup Week: Startup Week is part of a statewide initiative held in November to support the entrepreneur ecosystem and highlight the importance of startups to the growth of Wisconsin’s economy.

Perfect Your Pitch Series: Perfect Your Pitch is a series of videos designed to help budding entrepreneurs nail down their elevator pitch, perfect speaking in public, and learn the basics of pitching a business idea, in preparation for participating in our annual LEVEL UP Pitch Contest.

LEVEL UP- Pitch Contest: The LEVEL UP Pitch Contest is presented by Progress Lakeshore and regional partners. The event includes a pitch by each entrepreneur and a question-and-answer period with local judges. Winner(s) receive prize money and services. This event offers in person and live-stream viewing options.

Let’s Talk Business: Let’s Talk Business events are short educational seminars designed to bring our business community information on current topics.

Workforce Surveys: Progress Lakeshore’s efforts to retain existing businesses in Manitowoc County include conducting annual surveys of local employers’ wages and benefits. The results of these surveys allow companies to compare their own employment and benefits practices with that of their peers in the area and assists them when considering adjustments to their human resource initiatives. Progress Lakeshore conducts two surveys annually.