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The Oshkosh Chamber is launching it's "Member Spotlight" opportunity for all members. Any and all members can apply each month and all applicants will be voted on by Oshkosh Chamber representatives on the following criteria:

• Involvement with the Oshkosh Chamber-#of events attended, program involvement, sponsorships, etc.
• Summary of “what it it means to be an Oshkosh Chamber member and how your business has benefited from becoming/being a member”.
• Supporting materials/testimonials

The Leadership Oshkosh Class of 2026 applications are due on Friday June 6th! Don't miss your chance to be a part of this fulfilling program designed to bring together a diverse group of individuals who share a genuine interest in and commitment to Oshkosh. Its mission is to inspire people to want to serve and make a difference in the community. 

On May 19th, Oshkosh Chamber held the 2025 Oshkosh Corporation-Bank First Chamber Invitational Golf Outing. Over 80 golfers enjoyed the Oshkosh Country Club course and made the most out of a chilly day! Thank you to all who attended and a special thank you to our sponsors!

Listen to this weeks updates from Bob Burnell-veteran new broadcaster and long-time voice of "Its Newsworthy" 

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!

• Leeco Steel is planning a 78,000-sq. ft. expansion to its existing 75,000-sq. ft. steel cutting facility in Oshkosh’s Southwest Industrial Park. The city council approved a purchase offer from Leeco to acquire the 9.5-acre parcel immediately east of its existing facility. The total expansion project includes a more than $20 million investment in the property, new building construction, the expansion of rail spurs on its property, and new overhead cranes and plasma-cutting equipment. The expansion could provide for an additional 10 to 20 production jobs in Oshkosh. Construction of the expansion is expected to begin in early 2026 and be complete by fall of next year. Oshkosh Chamber is continuing to work with Leeco Steel in helping this important expansion through its completion.

• Oshkosh ranked #8 on the 2025 Best Cities for New College Grads list released by Checkr, an online data analytics background check platform. The list gathered data from new college graduates ages 20 to 27 years and measures a community’s unemployment rate; labor force participation rate; income-to-rent ratio; percent of renters paying less than 30% of income in rent; and real personal income, among a handful of other quality of life metrics. Oshkosh ranked #4 overall for its employment rank. Topping the list was Iowa City at #1; Lincoln, Neb. at #2; Columbia, Mo., at #3; Cape Girardeau, Mo. at #4; and Kalamazoo, Mich. at #5. Other Wisconsin cities to make the list included Madison at #14; La Crosse at #25; Eau Claire at #28; Fond du Lac at #29; Sheboygan at #34; Green Bay at #38; Milwaukee at #52; Appleton at #59; and Racine at #68.

• State Highway 91 in Winnebago County is closed for six weeks until early July to accommodate a $9.1 million improvement project. The project scope includes 14.6 miles of roadway from the intersection with State Highway 44 in Oshkosh west to County Road M to replace nearly 30 culverts. Traffic will be re-routed on STH 44 and County M during this time. Additional improvements include new asphalt pavement, widening the paved shoulders, and installing centerline and shoulder rumble strips.

WISCONSIN and US EMPLOYMENT DATA 

Wisconsin’s April unemployment rate dropped to 3.3 percent after recording a 3.7 percent rate in March, but still remains higher than the April 2024 unemployment rate of 2.9 percent. In April, there were 3,043,113 state residents working, a decrease of almost 24,000 workers statewide compared with the same month of 2024. The national unemployment rate for April was 3.9 percent, a steady decline from the March jobless rate of 4.2 percent.

CITY OF OSHKOSH EMPLOYMENT DATA 

The city’s unemployment rate for April was 2.8 percent, down a notch from March but slightly higher than the April 2024 rate of 2.6 percent. Oshkosh recorded total employment of 34,176 in April, a decline of more than 400 positions from the same time a year ago. Total labor force numbers in April were 35,162 workers, a decrease of nearly 350 available workers from April 2024.

WINNEBAGO COUNTY EMPLOYMENT DATA 

Winnebago County’s unemployment rate for April was 2.8 percent, down from 3.1 percent in March but up from the 2.5 percent rate posted in April 2024. Total employment of 89,265 positions across Winnebago County was down nearly 1,100 jobs from April 2024 employment numbers of 90,360. Winnebago County’s overall labor force also decreased by 850 workers over the course of the past year to 91,867 total workers this past April.

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.

Kurt Bauer, President & CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) attended the May Oshkosh Chamber Board of Directors meeting to brief them on a variety of topics, including tariffs, the state budget and Wisconsin’s overall economic and business climate competitiveness.

Bauer told attendees that he is somewhat surprised by the stronger than anticipated support for tariffs among WMC members, as assessed by comments heard during recent WMC roundtable meetings held throughout the state. He said that businesses who support the tariffs do so for two major reasons, fairness and opportunity.  Specifically, many Wisconsin businesses are angry that the U.S. has opened its markets to foreign products, but many nations place tariffs and other barriers on U.S. products and goods. Further, businesses, such as tier 1 and 2 manufacturers, see the tariffs as a chance to win contracts from overseas competitors. 

Businesses that oppose tariffs are typically sourcing parts, components or raw materials from abroad and are unable to find a domestic alternative, according to Bauer.

Bauer said he hopes the recently announced trade deals with the United Kingdom and China are templates that can be quickly replicated with other nations to end the uncertainty an confusion caused by the tariffs.

The 2025 Compensation Trends Survey will open for registration and submissions on Tuesday, June 3. Registration deadline is July 8, and participants have until Friday, July 11 to submit their data. The results will be published in August.

This year, the survey covers questions on :

Compensation Strategies

Pay Adjustments

Market Data

Pay Structures

Pay Communications & Transparency

The final report will contain information on what organizations have done over the past 12 months and what organizations are planning to do over the next 12 months. The information can help organizations approach current talent challenges and prepare to make next year successful for an organization. In conjunction with the organization's philosophy, it can be used as a benchmark to develop a strong compensation strategy.

Upcoming Events

• AM Oshkosh-4imprint
• Concierge Lunch & Lead - June
• OC Connection Breakfast-June 2025
• Propel Oshkosh Young Professionals: Morning Mingle At E-Power Marketing
• Business After Hours-June 2025
• Lunch and Learn: Smarter HR and Outplacement Solutions
• Propel Oshkosh Young Professionals: Waterfront Happy Hour at TJ's Harbor Restaurant

Adopt-A -School Program 

We are working with the OASD to continue matching schools with our local businesses! If you would be interested in learning more about adopting one of our amazing available schools, please reach out to Shannon Seaman at shannon@oshkoshchamber.com to learn more! Already matched up? We would love your stories, feedback, and input so we can do a spotlight on your connection! Not looking to adopt, but interested in helping... We have options for you as well!

Save the Date

The 2025 FutureYOU event is set to take place on November 11th! Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more information coming soon. 

Mindset Leadership Program- New Program Offered by the Oshkosh Chamber

Are you a new or mid-level manager looking to grow into a confident, respected leader? Join chambers across the country in this powerful masterclass in leadership development designed to help you lead with impact, inspire your team, and drive meaningful culture change.

This in-person Mindset Leadership Program features Better Culture’s proven Seven Principles of Leadership, built around the core elements that define great leaders:

1. Culture – Lead with mission, excellence, and vision.
2. Pride – Build a workplace people are proud to be part of.
3. Growth – Help your team succeed at work and in life.
4. Standards – Create a high-performance environment.
5. Decisions – Encourage honest dialogue and smart choices.
6. Conflict – Tackle challenges with clarity and fairness.
7. Fun – Bring positivity, energy, and joy to the workplace.

Forty-three students graduated May 22 from the Oshkosh Chamber Leadership Oshkosh Program. The ceremony was held at The Waters. During the program, participants served as adjunct members on a variety of nonprofit boards throughout the community as well as organizing a record-breaking Trivia Night event raising $37,717 to benefit Oshkosh Kids Foundation.

The Youth Leadership Oshkosh program also celebrated the graduation of 23 high school juniors on May 9. These students, representing Oshkosh North, Oshkosh West, Lourdes Academy, and Valley Christian schools, completed the program with dedication and distinction, marking a significant milestone in their leadership journey and contributing to the vibrant future of the Oshkosh community. 

Stay tuned for information about upcoming Amplify events. 

American Red Cross Volunteer Opportunities in Your Community

Goodwill Week in May shines a light on the power of work

BayCare Clinic Century registration is open!

Fox Valley Workforce Board Graduates First Cohort of Trailer Technicians Thanks to Fast Forward Grant

27th annual 96.5 WKLH Miracle Marathon raises more than $1,025,000 for Children’s Wisconsin

Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight honors veterans as part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 activities 

Hands-on program boosts girls’ interest in STEAM careers

Children’s Wisconsin Welcomes Benjamin Mansalis, MD, as Chief Information and Digital Officer

Armed with new skills, Career EXCELerate cohort set to celebrate  

EAA’s One Week Wonder Sonex Waiex arrives at new home at National Air and Space Museum 

Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort Hotel, Neenah - New Addition Ground Breaking

Batley's Grill & Bar Rebranding

Goodwill NCW’s Project SEARCH Site in Appleton to Celebrate Graduating Interns 

Heroes and historic military aircraft have their stories shared at Warbirds in Review during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 

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