Media Contacts
Sarah Dowidat – 920.904.0995~sdowidat@envisiongreaterfdl.com
Craig Molitor – 920.904.1683~cmolitor@fdl.com
FOND DU LAC, WI (December 18, 2017) – Envision Greater Fond du Lac, Inc. and the Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau will relocate under one roof in the heart of the vibrant Fond du Lac, WI Downtown District. The transition into the new location, currently occupied by The Commonwealth Companies, is expected to be complete by spring 2018.
While the two organizations will remain independent entities, this combined location will take existing collaborative objectives to new heights and more efficiently serve the greater Fond du Lac region’s communities and travelers.
“This is a key milestone for us as a new organization. We are excited to embrace this new location in the Downtown District that will allow us to better serve our stakeholders, businesses and partnering communities within the greater Fond du Lac region,” stated Cecilia Harry, President and CEO of Envision Greater Fond du Lac.
As Envision Greater Fond du Lac emerged as the area’s leading chamber and economic development organization in July 2017, a real estate committee was launched to identify properties that would best serve the current and growing needs of the organization.
“This new location is ideal for the role Envision Greater Fond du Lac will fill within the region,” said Holly Brenner, Board Chair of Envision Greater Fond du Lac, Inc. and Senior Vice President of Strategic Development and Marketing of Agnesian HealthCare. “As we continue to support our existing businesses and work to attract new people and employers, this location will allow us to work with our dedicated staff, volunteers and community partners – such as the Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau – even more collaboratively and effectively.”
President and CEO of Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Craig Molitor stated, “As each of our entities evolved over the years, we came to the conclusion that if community organizations such as Envision Greater Fond du Lac and the Visitors Bureau worked to form a closer community partnership we would do a better job serving our respective constituencies.”
Since 2002, the Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has been located at 171 South Pioneer Road. The building, which is visible from Interstate 41, was paid through bed tax funds and for many years served visitors and tourists as a destination for information on the region. After a careful analysis of Visitor Center traffic data it was determined that the tourism industry in the region is stronger than ever, but visitors were simply not fully utilizing the brick and mortar facility and property ownership was no longer advantageous for the organization.
“We are all working for the betterment of our community, though we all come at it from different angles. Each of us has a stake in issues that affect our region such as education, workforce development, tourism and more. Now that we are all in the same building, we will be able to work together more synergistically in one location, while continuing to operate as separate organizations.” Molitor added.
The Fond du Lac community will still benefit from having a staffed Visitors Center when the Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau moves into a leased space in the Downtown District, which it will share with Envision Greater Fond du Lac.
“We have always been strong partners with Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s two predecessor organizations –The Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce and Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation— and that is why our recent agreement to locate in the same building as Envision Greater Fond du Lac feels like such a win/win,” said Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Board Chairman, Nathan Haupt, General Manager of the iconic Schreiner’s Restaurant and Bernie’s Pub. “To see both organizations come together under one roof is such an awesome accomplishment. Separate organizations with complimentary missions and one singular goal — an increasingly dynamic and vibrant Fond du Lac and Lake Winnebago Region.”
While “for sale” signs may be posted outside current facilities, it is business as usual. Envision Greater Fond du Lac will continue to conduct business from both the Chamber office, 207 N. Main Street, and Economic Development office, 116 N. Main Street. The Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau welcomes people to “C’mon in” to their location at 171 South Pioneer Road through Spring 2018.
