Transcript The Community Economic Exploration Project

The Community Economic
Exploration Project
Brown Deer High School
Brown Deer, WI
Haley Crenshaw
Marlon Parr
Chelsea Nash
Shantique Smith-Hayes
Brown Deer
 The village of Brown Deer is a suburb of Milwaukee located
in the North Shore area.
Demographics
 Total Population :12,170
 Racial Distribution
 Caucasian 64%
 African American: 13%
 Asian: 3%
 Other: 1%
(information from 2011 census)
 Age Distribution
 Under 18: 26.4%
 Ages 18 to 64: 57%
 65 and older: 16.6%
(information from 2010 census)
Residential Income and Workforce
 Median Household Income: $61,097
(between 2005-2009 according to U.S. Census Bureau)
 Workforce
 Population age 16 and over: 10,039
 Civilians employed: 64%
 Civilians unemployed: 2%
 Not in labor force: 33.8%
(according to U.S. Census Bureau)
Workforce
•Brown Deer has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, compared the
national average of 5.8%
•Brown Deer jobs have decreased by 45% since April 2010
Interviewing Process
 Multiple attempts were made to interview businesses
and companies within Brown Deer. Many of these
establishments were non-responsive to our outreach or
shared minimal information.
 Getting straight forward information from businesses
that sell stocks was especially difficult.
 It can be assumed that companies that sell stocks were
uneasy about giving out information about the company
from fear that if certain information is released stocks
will be sold and stock prices will go down.
Interviewing Process
 However we were able to extract quality information
from at least one company in each sector of Brown Deer.
 Specific companies and businesses were chosen due to
their willingness to cooperate.
 This information was collected through interviews over
the phone, through e-mail, and in person.
Community Sectors
The following information is an analysis of the data that has been
collected from each sector of businesses in Brown Deer.
Manufacturing
 In Brown Deer we received mixed reviews on the quality
of business after the recession.
 Some companies stated that business is doing well and
are even hiring more employees.
 On the other end some companies are no longer hiring
or only hiring part time employees.
 The products sold for the companies determined
whether they saw positive or negative changes in sales
and overall business.
Retail
 Old Navy indicates that there are approximately 800
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employees employed by their business and they serve people
of all ages, primarily people aging from 15-40.
Shops are increasing their number of seasonal and part-time
employees.
Because there are more seasonal and part-time employees
there is an increase in general hiring but a decrease in sales.
People aren’t spending as much money as they used to in
stores, most likely due to the inelasticity of clothing.
New products are used and old products are marked down in
price to increase sales.
Commercial
 Benefits have been cut like insurance, sick days, paid
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vacations.
Cuts have also been made in bonuses, and overtime pay.
Sales have been affected since the recession but business
remains steady.
Lower priced fast food has seen an increase in sales while sit
down restaurants have seen a decrease in sales.
Hours have been cut for employees and work loads on
employees has increased.
Professional
 Dentists in general see a slow down in business.
 We can assume that this has occurred due to scarcity in
income, money is being spent on greater necessities.
 On the other hand walk in clinics are seeing an increase in
business.
 Private practices have seen steady business.
Financial
 Banks have noticed an increase in people’s savings.
 Less investments are made in long-term accounts.
 More investments have been made in liquid accounts.
 People are working harder to receive the same results as they
did before the recession.
Non-Profit
 Thrift stores like the Salvation Army have seen an increase in
business.
 Churches have seen more members attending masses but
fewer donations are being made to the church.
Labor
 Community members have received cuts in
benefits and pay.
 More people have been laid-off.
 People have increased work loads and hours
with less pay.
 Bonuses have been eliminated.
Agriculture
 Due to the fact that Brown Deer is such a small village there
is no extra land for agriculture.
 However there is a seasonal Farmer’s Market that comes
weekly.
 The Farmer’s Market is located in the parking lot of the
recently vacant Lowe’s building on Brown Deer Rd.
Schools
 The School district of Brown
Deer has an increase in
elementary level students due to
closings in local private schools.
 Almost half of students in
Brown Deer qualify for free and
reduced lunch.
 Recently a referendum passed
that will create a better overall
campus and facilities.
 The referendum will allow to
demolish the deteriorating
elementary school and moved
the students to the current
middle school.
 The middle school will turn to
grades K-6 and an addition will
be made to the high school to
make it grades 7-12.
 All of these changes will be
made with minimal tax raises to
the community.
Schools
 Other schools in the
community like Infinite
Gymnastics Academy and
Kindercare serve
constituents outside of the
Brown Deer area.
 Kindercare only serves
about 13 children from the
area but have noticed a
drop in children coming to
the center.
 On the other hand Infinite
Gymnastics has not seen
many changes in business
and it remains steady.
 Infinite serves mostly
people from the Mequon
and North Shore area and
only about 15% are from
Brown Deer
Government
 Community economist Mr.Piotrowski predicts that within
the next few years the economy in Brown Deer will rise.
 Mr.Piotrowski has also made us aware that currently:
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Housing prices have gone down since the recession
Vacant home levels have risen from 3.8% to 5.45%
 Brown Deer has seen limits in new development due to less
tax revenue and limited land.
Conclusion
 After an analysis of just the information we collected we
can develop the idea that the economy of Brown Deer
has remained steady for the most part.
 Sectors producing elastic products like retail have seen
decreases in sales.
 On the opposite end sectors like non-profit have seen
increased interest. More people are attending mass in
church and thrift stores have seen an increase in business.
Conclusion
 Economic indicators however
can lead us to conclude that
the economy in Brown Deer
has dropped.
 Economic Indicators:
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Vacant homes have gone up
to 5.8%
Foreclosures have gone up
Office space leasing is
down
Limited new development
Housing prices have gone
down
Loss of businesses
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Recently the Lowe’s located on Brown Deer
Road shut down without notice to
employee’s or the community overnight due
to underperformance.
References
 John Cotton, P.E.
 Tapco
 Shonda Young
 Metavante
 Kim Nicholas
 Brown Deer Lanes
 Evonne Siodlarz
 Infinite Gymnastics
Academy
 Mr.Piotrowski
 Community Economist
 Joe Buressa
 Brown Deer Church
 Bill Specht
 Cousins Subs
 Lacrita Spence
 State Farm Insurance