A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of     South Wood County

Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News July 17, 2004 - Economic initiative seeks public input By Colin Atagi, Daily Tribune Staff The next phase of the Community Progress Initiative is set to kick-off in about a week with a series of community rallies. During the three-hour rallies, attendees will work in small groups and report to the entire gathering. Their mission? To build the economy. "(Participants should) come with their ideas on what they'd like to see for the community and the directions they want to see it take," said Connie Loden, executive director of the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance. "It's really their opportunity to have a say in what kind of community they would like to see created. It's an open invitation to anyone in the community." Wisconsin Rapids resident Diane O'Connor is interested in attending the Wisconsin Rapids rally, but she will be out of town when it's held, she said. So she might attend the Port Edwards rally instead. "I'd like to go see how they do the meetings," she said. "I think it's awesome they're taking people in the community who've done good things and uniting them together. I'd like to see where I'd be of a good service. "For the first time, I see hope in town. I used to come home and hear there's nothing to do in Rapids, but now I see a sense of change." The rallies are the latest step in the Community Progress Initiative, a three-year program organized by the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance and the Community Foundation of South Wood County. The goal is to enhance the local economy and build optimism in south Wood County communities and the town of Rome. Rallies are planned for Wisconsin Rapids, Port Edwards, Rome, Nekoosa, Vesper, Rudolph and Pittsville. Loden anticipates a fairly good turnout and thinks the community progress rallies in April gave residents an idea of what they could do to help the economy, she said. At the earlier gatherings, David Beurle, a rural leadership and creative economic development expert from Australia, spoke about small Australian communities that found creative ways to build economic identities. Beurle, who has helped guide and promote the progress initiative, used the communities as examples of what could happen in central Wisconsin. Rome Town Clerk Terry Anderson thinks there are a lot of people who want to see their community thrive, but they need to take the initiative and get involved, she said. The meeting will be a good opportunity, and she's encouraging people to attend. "If we get together, we can make it fun. Our goal is to get 500 people and pack them in (Rome town hall), and ask them what our community can do. "I'm excited about the thing. It's a good way of getting the community involved. We need to have people come to that meeting to (get involved)." Below is the schedule for the Community Progress Rallies. • Port Edwards - 5 p.m. July 26 at the Shelter House. • Wisconsin Rapids - 6 p.m. July 27 at the Hotel Mead. • Nekoosa - 6 p.m. July 28 at Nekoosa High School. • Rome - 6 p.m. July 29 at the Town Hall, with a barbecue at 5 p.m. • Pittsville - 6 p.m. Sept. 22 at Pittsville Elementary School. • Rallies in Vesper and Rudolph will be scheduled at a later date. You can reach Colin Atagi at 422-6728 or at catagi@wisconsinrapidstribune.com.
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