Community incentives help make relocating to Oshkosh easier

 MEDIA RELEASE: "City of Oshkosh Awarded Grant for Innovative Recruitment Plan" is attached. A plain text version is provided below:

City of Oshkosh Awarded Grant for Innovative Recruitment Plan

“Onboard to Oshkosh” helps make relocating to Oshkosh easier through community incentives

OSHKOSH, Wis., July 7, 2026 – A state grant of $117,500 will help the City of Oshkosh launch its “Onboard to Oshkosh” initiative, a community attraction and relocation program designed to welcome new residents to Oshkosh.

The funds from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) will support relocation incentives and community engagement efforts designed to attract new residents to Oshkosh. The initiative reflects the City’s continued commitment to workforce development and economic growth, and recognizes that attracting new residents is only the first step. Helping them build connections and feel at home encourages them to stay in Oshkosh long term.

Eligible applicants will apply through the City of Oshkosh Community Development Department. To be eligible, applicants must live outside Wisconsin at the time of application, move to Oshkosh, and have a job with an annual individual income of at least $55,000.

Approved applicants may receive reimbursement of relocation expenses and other community-based incentives. The program will connect them with local resources and organizations that help new residents become active members of the community. More information about the application process and participating employers will be announced once the program fully launches in 2027.

Local program partners include the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Discover Oshkosh, the Oshkosh YMCA, and Wagner Market. Local partners are helping provide community-based incentives and promote the program. Additional community partnerships will be announced as they are finalized.

“This investment gives Oshkosh an important opportunity to strengthen our workforce and support long-term economic growth,” said City Manager Rebecca Grill. “Onboard to Oshkosh is about more than recruitment—it is about helping new residents successfully join our community, build local connections, and see Oshkosh as a place where they can thrive.”

For more information about the Onboard to Oshkosh initiative, contact Economic Development Specialist Hannah Schueler at (920) 236-5028 or hschueler@oshkoshwi.gov.

Faire on the Fox Brings Artists, Makers, and Fun to Community Event

 Faire on the Fox Brings Artists, Makers, and Fun to Community Event

 

OSHKOSH, Wis., July 8, 2026 – What’s “faire” is new again in the City of Oshkosh.

 

The community is invited to the first-ever Faire on the Fox on Sunday, July 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Leach Amphitheater. The event is hosted by the City’s Department of Cultural & Enrichment Services. It continues the tradition formerly known as Faire on the Green that was held at the Paine Art Center and Gardens.

 

Holding the event at its new home at the Leach Amphitheater provides room for future growth, improved ADA accessibility, and ample parking for attendees. Faire on the Fox will feature more than 130 vendors offering handmade goods, and a variety of attractions. Guests can enjoy a beer garden, food court, live music, community art project, and interactive demonstrations.

 

Faire on the Fox offers an opportunity for residents and visitors to support local artists and makers. Attendees can expect to enjoy a full day of shopping, entertainment, and hands-on experiences, all in a scenic setting on the bank of the Fox River.

 

“The City of Oshkosh Department of Cultural and Enrichment Services is thrilled to be the new organizer of this incredible arts and crafts fair,” said Anna Cannizzo, Director of Cultural and Enrichment Services. “We look forward to providing an exciting event that will celebrate our community’s local creative culture in one of our premier facilities.”

 

The event is sponsored by Smith Securities and Bristol Morgan Bank. For more information about Faire on the Fox, contact Community Program Coordinator Tyler Klaver at tklaver@oshkoshwi.gov, and check out the Faire on the Fox event on Facebook.

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Eye on Oshkosh - Here's what's happening at the Oshkosh Public Library

On the most recent episode of Eye on Oshkosh, hosts Cheryl Hentz and Sarah McAninch spend the hour chatting with Sandy Toland, community engagement librarian at the Oshkosh Public Library. In addition to getting the low-down on the summer reading program for kids that recently kicked off and wraps up on August 7. Toland also discusses the many offerings the library has, including board games, video games, movies, and so much more than just books or magazines. 

The library also has a complete line of services for people who are home-bound and unable to get to the library in person. For information about that and anything else you have a question about, just call the library at 920-236-5205 and they’ll direct you to the appropriate department. You can also reach the library on the Internet at OshkoshLibrary.org. 

You can see this episode here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/H6pbrUiHagU.

Winnebago County Executive visits Eye on Oshkosh

On this edition of Eye on Oshkosh, hosts Cheryl Hentz and Sarah McAninch spend the hour chatting with Winnebago County Executive Gordon Hintz about a variety of county issues including providing shelter for the city's homeless during severe winter weather; Winnebago County Park improvements recently done; a potential new tenant at the county airport; an update on the Winnebago-Fox Campus update; the county's labor shortage and how it's impacting county staffing and local businesses; the county's strategic plan; and more.

This was the first time Hintz had been on the show since being elected in April 2025, so they talked about how the first year has been for him, especially given this is such a huge change from the long-time role he played as our representative in the state legislature.

You can see the show here or by following this link: https://youtu.be/575CKnDkBhQ

Eye on Oshkosh - Discussing city issues with current and past city council members

On the most recent edition of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz and co-host Sarah McAninch are joined by current Oshkosh Councilor Paul Esslinger, community activist Cari Tetzlaff, prior Oshkosh Councilor and Deputy Mayor Deb Allison-Aasby, and past Oshkosh Councilor and current Oshkosh school board president Michael “Mike” Ford.

The four discuss issues most recently before the Common Council including the potential purchase of City Center, a pedestrian/bicyclist bridge over US 41, Flock cameras, Oshkosh Media and Eye on Oshkosh, using 3rd party vendors in hiring department heads, residency requirements for city and school board leaders, form of government, transparency, how to rebuild trust, etc.

You can watch the show here or by going to this link: https://youtu.be/n6jl6j-R56o.

Eye on Oshkosh interviews Oshkosh school board candidates, taped 3-19-2026

On the latest episode of Eye on Oshkosh, hosts Cheryl Hentz and Sarah McAninch chatted with the four candidates for the Oshkosh Area School District’s Board of Education. They fielded questions about the budget; fiscal responsibility and transparency versus the lack of that with regard to Supt. Bryan Davis and the mishandling of $1.5 million in purchasing and razing several schools in the South Park school area; declining enrollment; declining test scores; how to attract more people to the Oshkosh school district as opposed to having more and more leave; students diagnosed with ADHD; gifted and talented programs; etc.

With the April 7 election nearing us, it’s important to listen to all the candidates – both for Oshkosh Common Council and the school board – and choose wisely. Voters should not be one-issue voters, but cast their ballots for the candidates who are best suited to represent everyone’s best interests, not just those of one group or another.

Correction: Mallory Schneider Birschbach’s name was accidentally listed on the program as Molly instead of Mallory. We sincerely apologize for this error and want viewers to know that her name is Mallory Schneider Birschbach.

You can watch this video here or by going to this link: https://youtu.be/hMgXxFgS1I8

Council candidates discuss shocking closure of Oshkosh Community Media on Eye on Oshkosh

On this episode of Eye on Oshkosh, host Cheryl Hentz continues interviewing Oshkosh Common Council candidates for the April 7 general election. The candidates featured on this episode are Paul Esslinger and Tim Neubauer.

One of the more immediate issues discussed is the closure of Oshkosh Media, effective May 15, 2026. This decision appears to have been made unilaterally by the current city manager of Oshkosh, Rebecca Grill. The “announcement” was made by email to local producers of programs on Oshkosh Media Thursday morning, and which also took the board of the Friends of Oshkosh Community Media by total surprise when announced to them at their meeting that same morning. This decision was made without public discussion or input, no public discussion by the Oshkosh Common Council, and certainly no vote by that governing body. (As a side note, Eye on Oshkosh host/producer Cheryl Hentz DID NOT receive the email other producers were sent. Hentz learned of the news upon walking into Oshkosh Media to tape this very show.) Needless to say, both candidates were stunned by this news. Besides explaining why they are seeking a seat on the Council, the candidates shared their views about Oshkosh city manager Rebecca Grill and her salary, as well as the fact that she not only doesn’t live in Oshkosh, and how she publicly states she wants greater transparency to the citizens of Oshkosh, while her actions speak otherwise. Other items discussed by the candidates were the direction the City is going; what they would like to see done differently, whether they’re elected or not; why they view there is a lack of transparency from the City toward the taxpayers and ways that could change; the recent restructuring of City Hall and the various departments within it; affordable housing; and the recent cuts to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society’s budget; This election, like all of them, is important and you are urged to make sure you’re registered to vote and, if not, get registered now. You can contact the clerk for your community to make sure you’re registered or visit myvote.wi.gov. Then you need to vote in the April 7 election. You may vote on election day, or vote during the early voting period – which your clerk can tell you when it is and where to go to cast your ballot – or vote by absentee ballot. You may request an absentee ballot either from your clerk or through the website just referenced. You can see this show here or by going to https://youtu.be/e79S1xoRY48. Those running for the Oshkosh Area School District’s Board of Education will be interviewed on a future show.