A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of     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 24, 2004 - Industry groups begin work on cluster idea; related businesses work together to enhance community By Colin Atagi, Daily Tribune Staff The next step in the Community Progress Initiative began Wednesday with the Industry Cluster Launch, which introduced a new concept to those in attendance and included the presentation of a federal grant. Between now and September, residents will work in groups to develop plans to enhance local industries by using steps involved in creating industry clusters. The clusters are groups of related businesses and institutions in a geographic area that work together to enhance their industry. The groups Wednesday focused on paper and forest products, agriculture, tourism, financial services, downtown revitalization, new industries, small business and education and workforce development. To help advance the industry cluster project, and to support the three-year Community Progress Initiative as a whole, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development awarded an $88,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance and the Community Foundation of South Wood County. "We're elated to be recognized for the importance of our work and that the federal government is getting behind it," said Connie Loden, executive director of the Heart of Wisconsin, which created the initiative with the Community Foundation and launched it in April. Jim Haguewood, executive director of the Clallum County Economic Development Council in Port Angeles, Wash., served as guest speaker Wednesday. Clallum County began its industry cluster four years ago to revitalize a region where the economic character was shifting from traditional manufacturing. Though the same concept of industry clusters will be used in south Wood County, the procedure and results could vary, Haguewood said. "This is about identifying issues and setting priorities," he said. "It's about identifying what issues we're trying to solve and why. "This can be done. It takes work and it takes commitment, but you can turn around your community." About 70 people have committed themselves to participating in the project. All groups will meet in September to present their business plans. Mark Swanson, 39, of Wisconsin Rapids participated in the new industry/technology group and said the discussion got off to a good start. "This is going to be very successful," he said. "We've got great people working at it. The biggest problem was, we got so many ideas. We've got to narrow it down." Fred Siemers, chairman of the Heart of Wisconsin board, said he was happy about how much the participants dove into the project. "We told the groups they would adjourn at 2:15 p.m., and they're still in there (at 2:45 p.m.)," he said. "That tells me there's interest and enthusiasm in the industry cluster concept, and it's very encouraging." It wasn't just for adults, either. Rudolph resident Seth Milkey, 14, participated in the agriculture industry group. "It was fun and gave me some good experience," said Milkey, who lives on a farm. Each cluster team will work to create new investment and growth by attempting to develop opportunities for expansion, diversification and collaboration and build cooperative networks within and between each industry. Haguewood used a cranberry festival as an example of cross-clustering, because it promotes agriculture and tourism at the same time. Dawn Olson, owner of DawnArt Visual Images, will be part of the group focusing on tourism. Art is an important aspect of tourism and she's ready to commit herself to the project, she said. "The higher a community is developed, the more advanced skills there are and there's more room for art," she said. "When you need support and inspiration, you look for art." Collaborating with other participants will give everyone the opportunity to brainstorm new ideas for improving the economy, said Dave Beurle, an expert in rural leadership and creative economic development from Australia who has helped to guide and promote the Community Progress Initiative. "The problem is, you don't always know where ideas will show up," he said. "As people work together and talk together, new ideas will be able to develop." You can reach Colin Atagi at 422-6728 or at catagi@wisconsinrapidstribune.com.
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