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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 January 13, 2006 - Contributions intended to help build up Rudolph By Nathaniel Shuda, Daily Tribune RUDOLPH -- Residents in the town and village of Rudolph hope recent donations will help build a stronger community. Both recently contributed $5,000 to the Rudolph Community Fund, designed to promote Rudolph and encourage growth as part of the Community Progress Initiative. "It is exciting to see the town and village come together for a common goal," said Dawn Vruwink, Rudolph resident and member of the Community Foundation of South Wood County, one of the initiative's sponsors. "That common goal is what is good for Rudolph." The fund could pay dividends for local residents, said Wood County Board Supervisor Hilde Henkel, who represents District 18, including the town of Rudolph. "Way too often, people say, 'Why doesn't the government bring in business?'" Henkel said. "The way to start is to get people active and get things done. This (program) seems like a good way to do it." The town of Rudolph included its donation, which will come out of the tax levy, in its 2006 budget. "There was quite a bit of discussion but very little disagreement," Henkel said, explaining that town residents themselves voted on the issue. "Only one person voted against it, so there was a strong support of (the) contribution," she said of the final decision, which was made at the Town Board's Nov. 28 budget meeting. The village of Rudolph made a $2,500 contribution to the fund in 2005 and will contribute another $2,500 before June, Village Clerk Ron Peters said. The Village Board approved the additional donation at its Dec. 13 meeting after members of Rudolph's Community Progress Initiative team made presentations on the issue, Peters said, adding that the money will be coming out of the village's general fund. "The board feels this money and Community Progress Initiative will be a good place for people who are looking for help in setting up events," he said. "It will give them something where you won't have to go to the board all the time." In addition to money from both the town and village of Rudolph, the fund will receive matching funds from the Barker Mead Fund through the Community Foundation of South Wood County. That was a factor in the community's decision. "I think we would have contributed something," Henkel said. "But I think this idea that we could contribute this one time and have our contributions doubled was a big factor." As far as the matching funds, Peters said, it was important in the village's decision as well. "Surely it was an incentive to donate," he said. The total endowment for Rudolph's Community Fund is currently up to $16,000, according to Community Foundation records. That doesn't include any matching funds. The Barker Mead Fund will provide matching funds for any contributions made by Dec. 31, to any of the seven community funds in the South Wood County area, up to $20,000 for each fund.
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