Filter: Downtown Development

A growing concierge-style program created by the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce is delivering impressive results in both attracting and retaining talent in their community.

Farmers markets are a popular way to bring people together to buy fresh produce and explore everything downtown has to offer. They also support local entrepreneurship that contributes to a downtown’s future business success.

Today across Wisconsin, we see tiny rural villages, small quaint towns, and larger cities all with thriving downtowns. Even the smallest of our communities have murals, public art, farmers markets, outdoor concerts, breweries, wineries, boutiques, B&Bs and more.

The Community Development Investment Grant helped propel The Common Place, an $18 million, five-story project within blocks of Lambeau Field on Mike McCarthy Way.

The site of a blighted Prairie du Chien strip mall will get new life as much-needed affordable housing and commercial space with the help of a $250,000 grant from WEDC. 

More than 4,200 new and expanded businesses and nonprofits have qualified for more than $42 million in Main Street Bounceback Grants by filling in vacant commercial spaces in all 72 Wisconsin counties.

CDI Grants provide up to $250,000, or 25% of eligible project costs, for construction, renovation and other physical improvements for projects that incorporate a commercial element.

Communities may experience many environmental, social and economic benefits from brownfield redevelopment by removing health hazards, removing blight through renovating abandoned buildings and removal of derelict structures, and preserving historical landmarks.

The COVID-19 pandemic foisted many dizzying changes on locally owned businesses, including temporary and permanent closures, changing entrepreneur demographics, labor market shifts and a switch to online sales. One benefit of coordinating a long-standing program such as Wisconsin Main Street (celebrating its 35th year in 2022) is the ability to explore trends over time.

Elementary students in the Howard-Suamico School District showed off their computer science projects to Governor Evers during a December event where a $150,000 grant was announced for a computer science pilot project being tested in Brown County schools.

Many communities are now leveraging these grants to advance downtown redevelopment plans and build communities that are stronger, more resilient and better positioned to attract and keep workers and businesses.

The COVID-19 pandemic foisted many dizzying changes on locally owned businesses, including temporary and permanent closures, changing entrepreneur demographics, labor market shifts and a switch to online sales. One benefit of coordinating a long-standing program such as Wisconsin Main Street (celebrating its 35th year in 2022) is the ability to explore trends over time.