PITTSVILLE, WI (OnFocus) – Pittsville is one of five rural Wisconsin communities that will receive help jumpstarting their economic development plans as part of a University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) pilot program.
The pilot program, Community Economic Analysis for Rural Wisconsin Communities (CEA-RWC), gives rural communities the necessary resources to engage in comprehensive economic development planning.
The five communities chosen to participate are: Brodhead, Gilman, the Lac du Flambeau Tribe, Mellen-Morse, and Pittsville.
“We are thrilled that a Wood County community was selected for this pilot program,” said Kayla Rombalski, Wood County Extension Community Development Educator. “It is a great opportunity to connect local community leaders with the resources of UW-Madison as they set out to create a strong local economy to support their residents.”
The Pittsville project aims to reach 3,000 residents by working with partners in the geography of the Pittsville School District. Goals are to develop a marketing strategy to promote the area to prospective residents and visitors alike and identify potential projects to meet housing needs.
Michael Hobbs, Chair of the Pittsville Community Development Authority (CDA) and local project leader shared, “Our team is committed to working with both public and private partners to build on our area’s assets. Hopefully this process and what we learn will help other rural communities in Wisconsin.”
CEA-RWC seeks to understand the challenges unique to rural communities in Wisconsin by bringing a structured strategic planning process to these communities. Lessons learned from this initiative will provide valuable insight that other communities can use. Pilot communities will work with Extension and WEDC through June 30, 2024.
More information will be shared in the coming weeks and months as the project begins.
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Author: MaryAnn Lippert
MaryAnn is a Pittsville native who believes that small rural Wisconsin communities are the best places in the world to live, raise a family, work and play. She learned this by traveling for six years through 40 northern Wisconsin counties listening to residents and helping solve problems related to state government. MaryAnn enjoys working in her yard and woods, hanging out with her family and cheering for all Wisconsin sports teams. Heaven on earth is Lambeau Field, north end zone.
