Next Community Visit:
Rhinelander – July 16, 2010
Please view the brochure and consider joining us for this exciting event.
Tomah – March 19, 2010
Monroe – May 22, 2009
Waukesha – January 30, 2009Dozens of new businesses opened in downtown Waukesha by the end of 2008, and the area is currently experiencing a level of commercial synergy that it has not seen in years. With each new restaurant or business that moves in, the buzz amplifies and the numbers of new customers and downtown visitors increases. The Waukesha Community Visit highlighted some of the success stories downtown has seen and also some of the early catalysts of development and revitalization that brought the downtown to this tipping point.
Racine – June 13, 2008
As a primary retail street plans for major renovation – pavement, curbs, gutters and sidewalks to be replaced with pedestrian bump-outs, decorative streetlights, trees, planters, storm-water rain gardens and more – Racine has a well-established plan for bringing visitors to downtown during construction. The public art initiative has become a highly anticipated annual local event, a tourist attraction and a successful profit center. Over the years, Racine has helped countless towns and cities across the country kick off their own public art programs. In addition, a package of incentives to help merchants and business owners survive the revitalization efforts includes interest free loans, enhanced façade grants, signage and marketing. As a final boost, a recently completed residential/retail project targets “zoomers”: active retirees with disposable income who want to be part of a vibrant urban scene – a perfect match for the eclectic shops and galleries in downtown Racine.
Onalaska – January 25, 2008
With nearly 17,000 people and a location central to La Crosse’s urbanizing area along the Black River and Lake Onalaska, downtown Onalaska has great potential. It is the site of the Great River Road, the Great River State Trail, Onalaska’s Main Street, an $8 million civic campus, significant archaeological history, the Black River, Lake Onalaska and the Wittenberg Marsh.
Pewaukee – November 15, 2006
One of the Milwaukee area’s lake communities, Pewaukee is built on a natural amenity which continues to help fuel its growth. The downtown public beach is a popular area attraction throughout the summer and the downtown economy Pewaukee is driven by service businesses and small specialty retailers. Many of the houses in the downtown area have been attractively converted to these uses, while other sites in the downtown have been redeveloped with commercial, mixed-use and condominium projects, as well as a new Village Hall.
Elkhart Lake – November 10, 2005
This community continues to keep alive the tradition of a premiere resort destination. Thriving on its rich history, Elkhart Lake provided an excellent model on which to apply market analysis tools – business inventories, business operator surveys and analyses of local economies and customer demographics – to evaluate retail, restaurant, residential and tourism opportunities.
Chippewa Falls - June 11, 2005
The Bridge Street Commercial District contains 49 buildings listed on the Wisconsin and National Register of Historic Places. The heart of this prosperous city tempts visitors with one of a kind speciality shops, local manufactures’ retail outlet stores and diverse restaurants.
Port Washington – April 23, 2004
Combining New England fishing village charm with midwestern friendliness, Port Washington’s lake-level downtown is a recent addition to the National Register of Historic Places as well as the site of new condos and multi-use buildings. Although a few vacant storefronts exist, historic buildings are being restored preserving Port Washington’s rich nautical history. Seen primarily as a summer destination, Port Washington continues to develop strategies to attract visitors year-round.
New Richmond – May 30, 2003
Located in the fastest growing county in the state, New Richmond is nestled in the scenic St. Croix Valley. Spurred by metropolitan job market of the Twin Cities region, New Richmond is part of a new trend of reverse commuting, as urbanites look to smaller communities for work opportunities. New Richmond currently struggles with preserving its small town atmosphere while encouraging and managing growth.
Mayville – Februay 21, 2003
A quaint downtown, designated a Historical District in 1994, belies the strong industrial base of Mayville. The Main Street consists of a streetscape of 19th and early 20th century commercial buildings and encompasses most of the historic downtown commercial business center of Mayville. The town of almost 5,000, situated along the Rock River capitalizes on tourism opportunities due to its proximity to the well known Horicon Marsh.
Fort Atkinson – February 8, 2002
Named one of “America’s Hottest Little Boom Towns” by Money Magazine, Fort Atkinson is being renovated with a riverfront redevelopment effort and a local ad hoc committee crafting a bright vision for the future of the downtown area. Formed in response to a proposed Wal-Mart Superstore, this committee reveals how a community can come together offers a model of strategies that can be applied statewide.
Marshfield – May 3, 2002
This small city, population 20, 000, is looking for ways to maintain its historic character while experiencing intense growth and change. While much is being done to preserve and enhance historic downtown Marshfield, the community faces new challenges as edge of town growth puts pressure on downtown. The Marshfield Main Street program and city leaders have been very effective in their cooperative efforts and are actively creating plans for a vibrant future for downtown.