A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of Greater     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 September 23, 2004 Daily Tribune Editorial Wisconsin Rapids can't very well call its downtown the "Please Come Here and Do Business to Save Our City's Heart" district. For one thing, the signs would be huge. Yet, saving the city is one of the core intentions as community leaders promote the idea of naming the downtown and making related improvements. They want to draw new businesses and a steadier, larger stream of shoppers to prevent the historic heart of the city from gradually fading into history. The Downtown Industry Cluster group today begins collecting votes on three downtown name choices: "Our Grand Uptown," "Our Grand Downtown" and "Our River Village." The name would be the first step, followed by archway signs at the east and west entrances along Grand Avenue, new street signs and lamp posts and landscaping for beautification. This cluster's work could become one of the most crucial aspects of the three-year Community Progress Initiative started by the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance and Community Foundation of South Wood County. If the downtown group succeeds in making its vision happen, the spin-off benefits for the rest of the Wisconsin Rapids area will be tremendous. An attractive downtown makes even the industrial parks and other outlying areas more appealing for business developers. They want to offer a fun, active community to prospective employees. Young people are more likely to want to live in a place where the downtown is hopping night and day. Bedroom communities around Wisconsin Rapids would benefit. Residents could have a country life but drive just a few minutes to spend time and money in a city on the move. Imagine if you could give our downtown a makeover. Perhaps the sidewalks would be bustling with handbag-toting shoppers, popping in and out of an eclectic yet enticing array of mom-and-pop stores. The streets would be lined with beautiful trees, shrubs and seasonal flowers. A united decor would define its boundaries, making the downtown feel like a small shopping village within the city. Rapids is not far from reaching that kind of vision. We have dozens of quality small businesses already operating there, wonderfully designed landmark buildings such as the Mead-Witter and a beautiful riverfront slicing right through the downtown. What the downtown needs most is for a vision to become a community consensus - and a mission. You can start by heading out to the Ridges Golf Course today to pick up a nomination form and help select a downtown name. Nominations are due by Monday at the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance office. You can continue by staying informed about planned changes to the downtown and by spending money there when the chances arise. The city's downtown is inviting you to "please come here and do business," and that means helping to secure its future any way you can.
		Copyright © 2004, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome