Hougard working to put employees back to work One of Hougard's outstanding projects is Brown County's new Kress Family Library in De Pere. News-Chronicle George M. Hougard and Sons construction company is "cautiously optimistic" that it will be able to open its door again, the company said in a press release. The company laid off all of its employees, numbering about 80, abruptly on May 23. The company cited unforeseen business circumstances for the move. Since then, company attorney Ken Calewarts said last week the company was in negotiations to determine the 105-year-old company's future. The company said in a statement Friday that it is not able to further comment on negotiations. "We are cautiously optimistic that the company will be able to reopen its doors in the very near future. Since negotiations are ongoing and at a sensitive stage, there will be no further comment from the company at this time," the statement said. Hougard has several outstanding projects, including Brown County's new Kress Family Library in De Pere, set to open in July, and the waste transfer station in Hobart, set to open later this month. Calewarts said previously the "economic downturn" forced the lay off. The company said it has been working to put its employees back to work. The company statement said it has received an outpouring of support from the community and project owners since the lay off.