What businesses say about Iron County...

A 1991 Iron County Business Retention and Expansion Study of Iron County’s largest employers found:

50% said their employee turnover rates were less than 2%.

Non union shops common.

Ranked high quality of life, lower labor costs and good banking relationships as having the most positive impact on doing business in Iron County.

87% ranked Iron County as a good to excellent place to do business.

Utilities

The utility rates in Iron County are the lowest in Wisconsin. Iron County’s electrical needs are served by Xcel Energy (urban areas) and by Bayfield Electric Cooperative (rural areas). Xcel Energy also provides natural gas in selected areas.

Large commercial utility users may expect utility costs as much as 13% lower in Iron County than in other parts of Wisconsin.

Industrial Parks

Hurley Industrial Park, located just a mile southwest of the City of Hurley, provides 58 available acres with direct highway access and all utilities installed. Zoned industrial, the price per acre is negotiable.

Additional business information is available upon request or visit http://www.nwrpc.com

Financial Institutions

Associated Bank North, Hurley, WI

Associated Bank, Mercer, WI

National City Bank, Ironwood, MI

Wells Fargo Bank, Ironwood, MI

Citizens State Bank, Ironwood, MI

Iron County Community Credit Union, Kimball

Gogebic Range Bank, Ironwood, MI

Tax Advantages

Iron County County-Purpose Property Tax Rate: $5.6553 per $1,000 of Eq.Val.

Corporate Income Base: Net Income

Corporate Income Rate: 7.90%

Capital Stock Net Worth Tax: None

County Sales Tax: 0.05%

Property Tax Exemptions

Manufacturing machinery and processing equipment;

Farm machinery and farm products owned by the producer;

Business Inventories;

Solar and wind energy systems;

Waste Treatment facility property

Unemployment Compensation

Worker unemployment compensation rates that are less than half that of neighboring states.

Base = $10,500

Rates = 1.99 to 11.23%

New Regular Employer Rate = 3.03%

New Construction Employer Rate = 6.58%

Technical Education & Specialty Training Technical training is available at Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, Michigan; at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Ashland, and at Nicolet College in Rhinelander. The Northwest Wisconsin Private Industry Council, which coordinates job training and retraining, is located in Ashland.

Hiring/Training Incentives If your current or new employees need customized training as part of their new assignment, here’s help.

Customized Labor Training Fund

A full 50% of the cost of training employees is provided under this fund. Upgrading of workers’ skills in new technologies is a major emphasis.

On-the-Job Training

The Private Industry Council is the agent for the federal Job Training and Partnership Act (JTPA) and provides funds to administer job training programs to benefit the unemployed and economically disadvantaged.

Jobs Credit (in Development Zone) 

Contact us with your comments and questions.

Thank you for your interest in Iron County, Wisconsin!