SECOND SHIFT · FROM THE FIELD
Boulder Junction, Wisconsin · Small business · Career change and entrepreneurship
Original reporting: Katie Thoresen, WXPR · September 15, 2026
After decades in corporate roles in cities across the country, Katie Krause moved to Wisconsin’s Northwoods looking for a change, WXPR’s Katie Thoresen reports. Her mother’s death during the pandemic and a later job loss pushed her toward running a business of her own, even though she had no experience in the laundromat industry.
On New Year’s Eve 2025, Krause became the owner of The Laundry Room in Boulder Junction. Her first worry, she told WXPR, was where to start without making missteps. A Google search led her to the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation, whose executive director, Kathy Schmitz, calmed her fears, encouraged her and connected her with resources and contacts, according to the report.
Since taking over, Krause has repainted the space and added charging outlets and comfortable furniture. She has also added staff, launched a wash-and-fold service and started running a U-Haul rental business from the location, WXPR reports.
“I am exactly where I need to be,” Krause told the station.
Location Decision takeaway
This is economic development at its smallest scale, and one of its most useful: a county EDO answering a first-time owner’s basic questions. Schmitz told WXPR that nearly a quarter of U.S. businesses fail in their first year. In rural communities, keeping an existing service business open under new ownership, and helping it add jobs and services, can matter as much as recruiting a new employer. That is our analysis; the details are as reported by WXPR.
Second Shift tells the stories of people building what’s next through new skills, new careers and second chances. From the Field items are curated from credited reporting, with Location Decision’s perspective. Location Decision Originals are independently reported by our team.
Curated by Location Decision. Originally reported by Katie Thoresen, WXPR, September 15, 2026.
This item was sourced and drafted with AI assistance and reviewed under Location Decision’s editorial standards. Second Shift tracks workforce outcomes to inform our broader editorial analysis. All reporting belongs to the credited journalists; read the original story for the full account.