A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of Greater     South Wood County

Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News April 15, 2005 - Rome honored for community's progress toward the future By Deb Cleworth, Daily Tribune Staff Rome was honored this week for its accomplishments with the Community Progress Initiative. During the third annual Wisconsin Community Leadership Summit in Eau Claire, Rome was given honorable mention in the Top Rural Development Initiatives category for 2005. Rome was recognized for everything the community has accomplished with the Community Progress Initiative, said Joanne Harmon, community coordinator for the Community Progress team in Rome. More than 200 communities were nominated, and Rome was one of six to receive an honorable mention. Four other communities received larger awards, including the overall Community Progress Initiative, which received the top award. "Basically, what we did was nominate the town of Rome due to all our activities with the community initiative," Harmon said. "It was just quite an honor to receive that, and a way to celebrate our successes thus far with the town, and we're going to continue to move it forward," Harmon said. "We're not going to stop there." Community members have stepped up to the challenge, said Dave Dahl, 41, of Rome. Dahl attended the initiative rallies and wants to get more involved with the project in the future. "What's happened here so far is we've developed a mission statement," he said. "We've set up task forces that involve just totally scores of concerned people dealing with all kinds of special interest areas of concern." Senior housing, recreation and business development are some of the interest areas, Dahl said. "So it's been a very, very positive thing for the town and brought the town together in a number of different ways, which is what a community is all about," Dahl said. "It's people working together towards making a life that's mutually beneficial for all of us." Community Progress efforts in Rome have helped bring the community together, Dahl said. "The town of Rome is a growing community, and there is a lot of competing interests," he said. "A number of people enjoy the natural surroundings; the trees and the wildlife. And yet people also want services and recreation opportunities." "Knowing that growing means that the community is going to change, it's good to plan ahead and set a course and get a direction determined." The Community Progress Initiative has endeavored to do that, he said. "I think that's an excellent testament for all the work Rome has done in regards to involvement in the Progress Initiative," said Connie Loden of the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance in Wisconsin Rapids. Loden attended the summit. You can reach Deb Cleworth at 422-6730 or dcleworth@wisconsinrapids tribune.com.
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