Contact: Tom Thieding, 608-210-6767 tom.thieding@wedc.org
Link to Release: http://wedc.org/main-street-workshops
MADISON, Sept. 10, 2012 – The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has announced four regional Main Street Application Workshops to help communities apply for Main Street designation.
The workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations:
October 1 – Blue Spoon Café, 550 Water Street, Prairie du Sac
October 2 – Fill-Inn Station, 104 West Columbia Street, Chippewa Falls
October 3 – Angie’s Main Café and Daily Grind, 130 S Main St., Shawano
October 4 – Village Fire Station, 1601 Underwood Ave., Wauwatosa
The Wisconsin Main Street Program will designate up three communities in 2012, and attending one of the Application Workshops is the first step in that process. Communities interested in applying must send at least one representative to any of the locations.
Communities that are accepted into the program will receive free intensive technical assistance for the first five years and then a lesser amount of assistance after that. To register, contact James Engle at 608-210-6840, james.engle@wedc.org.
The Wisconsin Main Street Program is an economic development program targeting Wisconsin’s historic commercial districts. WEDC provides technical support and training to communities that have a grass roots commitment to revitalizing their traditional business districts using a comprehensive strategy based on historic preservation by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Since the program’s inception in 1987, more than $1.17 billion in public and private reinvestment have been made in 35 Main Street communities, with 4,262 new businesses creating18,764 new jobs.
Current Main Street communities include: Algoma, Beloit Chippewa Falls, Darlington, De Pere, Eagle River, Fond du Lac, On Broadway (Green Bay), Lake Mills, Manitowoc, Marshfield, Monroe, Omro, Osceola, Pewaukee, Platteville, Port Washington, Portage, Prairie du Chien, Rhinelander, Rice Lake, Ripon, Sharon, Sheboygan Falls, Sturgeon Bay, Tigerton, Tomahawk, Two Rivers, Viroqua, Waterford, Watertown, Wausau, West Allis, West Bend and Whitewater.
About Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), formed in 2011 as a public-private entity, leads economic development efforts for the state and nurtures business growth and job creation by advancing Wisconsin’s business climate. In addition to the state’s strong legacy industries of agriculture and manufacturing, recent economic growth has occurred in multiple specialty sectors: water technology, renewable energy, bio-medical research and technology, healthcare systems, and food processing. In 2012 Wisconsin was ranked No. 20 in CEO Magazine’s “Best States for Business” list and No. 17 as a top state for business by CNBC. WEDC partners with more than 600 economic development organizations throughout the state to serve businesses looking to start, grow or relocate. WEDC has four core areas of focus: business and industry development, economic and community development, entrepreneurship and innovation, and international business development. Visit wedc.org or follow WEDC on Twitter @_InWisconsin to learn more.
