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 June 8, 2005 - Report: Wisconsin Rapids makes progress Year-old initiative credited with spurring job growth By Beth Burger, for Daily Tribune More than 2,000 people have joined the Community Progress Initiative and 465 jobs have been created since the program was launched last year to jumpstart the local economy, according to a report out today. The 20-page report, distributed inside today's Daily Tribune, is a product of the Community Foundation of South Wood County and the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance. Both nonprofit organizations kicked off the progress initiative in April 2004 to foster job and business growth and more optimism in south Wood County and the town of Rome. The report is intended to show the results in the first year of the three-year initiative. "We really wanted the community to have a full picture of what's taken place in the community, to highlight the number of citizens involved, what's been accomplished thus far and to provide other information for others on how they can get involved," said Kelly Lucas, president of the Community Foundation. The Community Progress Initiative has exceeded the expectations of its organizers, but it still is "planting seeds" for long-term improvement, Lucas said. By this time next year, organizers hope to broaden involvement in the initiative and pass ownership to the community to continue pursuing its goals. For Kelly Akkerman, who just opened a shop called The In Boutique in the Rapids Mall, the Community Progress Initiative has made all of the difference. "They are just a wonderful resource. I can't say enough about the help that I have had," Akkerman said. Akkerman works in health care and has a degree in fashion merchandising, but she needed guidance to make her business plan a reality. She completed a six-month community leadership program and the progress initiative's entrepreneurial boot camp, and she now participates in cluster groups focused on local workforce and education issues. Her shop, which opened May 27, joins 19 other new businesses that have opened this year after their owners were involved with the initiative. Since the initiative started, its leaders have encouraged local residents to envision what they want for the future of their communities. In Wisconsin Rapids, where the paper industry has long supported the city, the initiative has faced the challenge of recovering from the jarring effect of mill layoffs. Aside from an economic recovery, the area also has been trying to heal emotionally. Community Progress Initiative members have tried to foster those efforts through programs designed to spread a spirit of positive change. "There is a strong emphasis of transferring ownership to the community and providing the skills and training opportunities that people feel comfortable continuing," Lucas said. "I see people who care about the future of the community and want to help improve the condition of the community. I have the privilege of viewing participation by being intimately involved." Akkerman also has noticed an attitude change in the community. "I think lots of people realize we need to do this by ourselves. We need to pull the bull by the horns and take a risk," she said. But Akkerman's attitude isn't shared by everyone. Others believe a major manufacturing industry is needed to provide economic stability for the area. Virgene Anderson is a retiree from the former Consolidated Paper, now Stora Enso North America. Throughout her lifetime, people have always worked at the paper mill, where they received good pay and benefits. "Hopefully, they will continue to fill up empty spots here," she said in reference to vacant retail spaces. "It would be nice to get some industry, though. You would think there would be some industry that would want to come in. I think our town is a nice town." Connie Loden, executive director of the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance, said large industry would still be attractive but is not the group's major focus. "Those types of opportunities will be pursued, but that is not what reflects today's trends in the marketplace. If you look at the driving force, it is much more in the area of entrepreneurship and development," Loden said. "I'm inspired by all of the community people who have committed their time and have an interest in their community and want to make it a great place to live," she said. Akkerman agreed. "We are going to thrive," she said. "It's not survive but thrive, in my opinion."
		Copyright © 2005, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome