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 27, 2004 - Communities Push for Progress By Colin Atagi, Daily Tribune Staff Organizers of the Community Progress Initiative's first rally Monday in Nekoosa were pleased not only by the size of the crowd, but by the number of young people who attended. Students from Nekoosa High School joined other residents at the event, which drew a crowd of about 50 to Nekoosa City Hall. "It's essential people from the young population engage in this conversation," keynote speaker David Beurle, an Australian expert on rural leadership and innovative community economic development, said during his presentation. Monday's rally was the first of seven scheduled for the next two weeks in southern Wood and northern Adams counties. The goal of the initiative - a three-year program organized by the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance and the Community Foundation of South Wood County - is to enhance the local economy and to build optimism in central Wisconsin communities. Nekoosa High School student David Dostaler, 18, was impressed by what he saw. "I thought it was very interesting, and it was good they wanted to know what (young people) thought," he said. "If they let more young people know what's going on, though, more would show up." Beurle used the town of Moora in Australia as an example of what residents could do to build the local economy. The town suffered from a flood in 1999, and half the population of 500 worked to fix the damages, Beurle said. To build their economies, rural communities must take control of their own destinies, and action needs to come from the people, because governments can't solve all the problems, Beurle said during his presentation. Those in attendance had some ideas about things that could improve the economy, including adding more industrial jobs. Others said it was up to high school students to voice their opinions since they would be the ones to lead the community into the future. Melody Zuege, who co-owns Mel's Restaurant in Nekoosa, is particularly interested in attending the Industry Cluster launch on June 23, and the guest speaker series, she said. "Nekoosa is on the rise, and it's a good place to start having the rallies," she said.
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