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The Oshkosh Chamber and Network Health hosted this year's Business Expo on March 19th. The Expo, themed the "Retro-Expo" saw over 100 exhibitors and record attendance at the State of the Community Address which kicked off the day. Oshkosh Chamber would like to thank everyone for attending this year, and would like to extend a huge thank you to our sponsors. Oshkosh's business community is strong! 

Early Bird registration is OPEN for the 2026 Business Expo themed "Travel the World". The 2026 expo will take place on March 18th. Please note the time changes for the event.

Register Now

Get noticed with an ad in the latest Oshkosh Chamber Map.The Oshkosh Chamber will be collaborating on the new map with national publisher, NovoPrint USA, Inc. The new map will be updated to reflect our growth and showcase our beautiful, progressive community! 

As an advertiser, your business will reach more than 6,000 individuals through a low-cost-per-view advertising and will be positioned as a community leader and community supporter. In addition to printed distribution, the map will also be available in digital form, hosted online by NovoPrint and the Oshkosh Chamber’s website. The digital copy will give your business added views further extending the exposure of your advertising message.

To find out more and to reserve your placement today contact Jen Salfer, our NovoPrint representative, at (262) 212 9260 or email at jen@novoprint.com 

Get to know other people at the Oshkosh Chamber with our newest networking opportunity,  Oshkosh Chamber Network Builder, presented by Elsewhere Market & Coffee House + Rise & Grind!

• Developers for White Label Lofts submitted plans to the city to convert the properties at 913 and 923 South Main Street into a 47-unit apartment complex. The $15 million project seeks to renovate the 3-story building at 913 S. Main which was constructed in 1895, and will raze the existing office building at 923 S. Main in order to build a 4-story apartment building with covered parking on the first level. The two buildings will be connected as part of the development proposal. The project is being undertaken by Wisconsin Redevelopment and Titan Properties.

• Oshkosh Defense received a $95 million order in early April from U.S. Army Contracting Command for its autonomy-ready Palletized Load System (PLS) A2. The unique product offers advanced driver assistance and autonomy-ready technologies to improve soldier safety and broaden battlefield awareness. Production launch of the PLS A2 will occur this year.

• A 101-unit multi-family housing proposal on a 1.36-acre site on the 700 Block of South Main Street stalled after the City of Oshkosh Redevelopment Authority denied the developer’s request to extend its option to purchase the property. Known as The Meridian, the estimated $32 million development from Milwaukee-based Mellenium LLC included 17 townhomes and 82 apartment units in a 5-story building with ground floor commercial space. The project was supposed to begin construction this summer but has been delayed as the developer seeks additional equity investment.

WISCONSIN AND US EMPLOYMENT DATA 

Wisconsin’s January unemployment rate jumped to 3.6 percent after posting a 2.9 percent rate in December. It’s higher than the January 2024 unemployment rate of 3.0 percent. In January, there were 3,026,306 state residents working compared with 3,036,492 during the same month last year, losing more than 10,000 jobs statewide. The national unemployment rate for January was 4.4 percent, a sharp increase from the December jobless rate of 3.8 percent.

OSHKOSH JANUARY 2025 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES 

Unemployment rates jumped upward in Oshkosh and Winnebago County in January 2025, reflecting a general trend across the state, as reported by Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

CITY OF OSHKOSH EMPLOYMENT DATA 

The city’s unemployment rate for January was 2.9 percent, up a few points from 2.7 percent in December and an increase from the January 2024 mark of 2.3 percent. Oshkosh recorded total employment of 34,163 in January, an increase of 235 positions from the same time a year ago. Total labor force numbers in January were 35,171 workers, an increase of 450 available workers from January 2024.

WINNEBAGO COUNTY EMPLOYMENT DATA 

Winnebago County’s unemployment rate for January was 3.0 percent, up from 2.6 percent in December and a solid increase from the 2.3 percent rate posted in January 2024. Employment data revealed 89,231 Winnebago County residents working this year compared with 90,691 last year, resulting in a loss of 1,460 employed residents. Winnebago County’s overall labor force also decreased by more than 800 workers over the course of the past year from 92,817 in January 2024 to 91,998 workers this past January.

If you’d like more information or have questions about this data, please contact Sean Fitzgerald, Economic Development Director for the Oshkosh Chamber, at sean@oshkoshchamber.com or call 920.303.2265, ext. 20.

A record number of  voters all over the state turned out on Tuesday, April 1st to vote on a number of items. A big item on Oshkosh voter's ballots was the OASD Referendum. Read more on election results here. 

Upcoming Events

• Amplify IT 2025 - Artificial Intelligence: What's Next in AI?
• OC Connection Breakfast-April 2025
• AM Oshkosh-Image360/Crown Trophy Oshkosh
• Business After Hours-April 2025 #2
• Leadership Oshkosh Trivia Night 2025

The Senior Talent Track event will look a little different this year as it joins forces with the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board to allow more student exposure and less time commitments to our local businesses. The event will be known as the Student Talent Track and will include a resume preparation workshop and attendance at the Oshkosh Area Employment Fair. The fair will from 10am-1pm on May 7th at the Sunnyview Expo Center.

There will also once again be an area for the students to apply for jobs while on site with the help of local HR professionals. If you are interested in finding out more about being a vendor at the Oshkosh Area Employment Fair or about helping with the resume prep or application center, please email Shannon@OshkoshChamber.com

Leadership Oshkosh 

Applications for the Leadership Oshkosh Class of 2026 are now OPEN

Opportunities for people with disabilities through Goodwill NCW’s employment services

Chorus Community Health Plans partners with Network Health to streamline operations and improve service

PortSide Builders Announces Joel Daoust as New President

Evergreen Acquisition 

Aviation for the greater good featured at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025

Air Legends Foundation Lockheed Constellation C-121A returns to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2025

EAA Aviation Museum Re-Accredited

Combat jet, helicopter, and warbird pilots among highlights of EAA Aviation Museum spring 2025 schedule

OSMS Adds Rheumatologist to Clinic in Oshkosh

Media credential registration is now open for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025

Oshkosh Voters Approve $197.8 Million School Facilities Referendum

Send your Press Releases and Business Briefs to grace@oshkoshchamber.com to have them included in next months Member Matters

• Servicemaster Restoration Services
• Dairyland Dust Busters
• Keller Williams Fox Cities
• Cost Cutters
• 1890 Pub & Bistro
• Hrnak's Flowers & Gifts

4 Imprint

Adashun Jones

Algoma Financial Group

American Red Cross

Aquire Restoration

Bayshore Development

Beez Electric

Be's Refreshments

Cedar Yard Greetings

Charles E Williams Law Office

Charter (Spectrum Reach)

Christine Ann Domestic Abuse

Cost Cutters

Dairyland Dust Busters

FVTC

Delta Family Restaurant

Digital Printing Innovations

FedEx Office

Gauthier Chiropractic & Wellnew Ctr

Greenway House

Image 360

Insight Eye Care

J.G. Custom Cabinetry & Design

Jimmy Johns

Julie's Touch Of Silver

Keller Williams Fox Cities

Lake Aire Rentals LLC

Mcclone Insurance

Oshkosh Area Humane Society

Oshkosh Rotary - Southwest

Oshkosh Youth Rugby, Inc.

O-Town Iron

Pacur

Phillips Tax & Accounting, Inc.

Prime Table (Good Yolk)

Quandt Plumbing LLC

Renning, Lewis & Lacy, S.C.

Ripple Credit Union

Seek

Swanson Sweet LLP

The Doe House Boutique Inn

Touch Of Health And Wellness

UW Credit Union

Verve Credit Union

Von Briesen & Roper

Wally Schmid Excavating

Wi Institute Of CPA’s

Wihlm Dental

Witzke Electric