Downtown development practitioners learn the Main Street America approach

Wisconsin Main Street directors and volunteers, as well as Connect Communities representatives and even a few Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Regional Economic Development Directors gathered in Madison on July 31st and August 1st for a Wisconsin Main Street New Director Training. While this one and a half day is required for any new directors of designated Wisconsin Main Street programs, volunteers and local Connect Communities participants are invited to participate. The first day is filled with an in-depth exploration of Main Street Approach, sharing not only history but also breaking the Four Points™ (Design, Economic Vitality, Organization, and Promotion) into easy to understand concepts peppered with examples from the downtown development team’s years of experience.

Wisconsin welcomes new Main Street program, celebrates downtowns

By proclamation, Governor Scott Walker declared August 22, 2017 Wisconsin Main Street Day. The day included the announcement of the newest Wisconsin Main Street program, Historic King Drive, as well as celebrations and ribbon-cuttings in 11 other communities: Ashland, De Pere, Fond du Lac, La Crosse, Port Washington, Princeton, Ripon, Shullsburg, Tomah, Viroqua, and Wausau.