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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 September 22, 2004 By Colin Atagi, Daily Tribune Staff Members of a community group are working to promote Wisconsin Rapids' downtown, and they're asking for residents' help. The Downtown Industry Cluster group has come up with three possible themes for the downtown, and residents will get to decide which one is used. Starting Thursday, voters can choose from the names, "Our Grand Uptown," "Our Grand Downtown" and "Our River Village." Gary Saeger, 14, said he likes "Our River Village." "It's right by the river, so it makes sense," he said. "The place kind of looks dead, and I know some people who don't like walking around the area by themselves, so if it's nicer, it's cool." Naming the downtown area is part of the cluster's goal to bring in more businesses and make the area more appealing to shoppers. The new name and a planned mural will help the area develop a consistent image among downtown businesses and create a sense of unity, cluster members said. Once a name is chosen, the Downtown Industry Cluster group will begin working on downtown design themes that are expected to take more than a year to complete, said Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Jerry Bach, chairman of the cluster group. The design work could include additions like new entrance archway signs, street signs, lamp posts and shrubs to beautify and unite the area, he said. "We're looking at it as a way to identify (the downtown area) as you come in," said Bach, whose group is among eight industry clusters established as part of the local Community Progress Initiative. The tentative plan is to build archway signs at the intersection of East Grand Avenue and East Jackson Street and another outside of Rapids Mall. The signs will mark the boundaries of downtown Wisconsin Rapids, organizers said. "It will kind of quantify the district boundaries from east and west," said Rapids Mall owner and cluster group member Sheldon Ferkey. "It will just show the historic side of this community." The cost of the project hasn't been determined. The cluster group plans to look for sponsors to help pay for the construction. The cluster program began in June as part of the three-year Community Progress Initiative. The Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance and the Community Foundation of South Wood County organized the initiative to enhance the local economy. Clusters are groups of businesses, organizations and individual people who have a common interest and are working together to help improve and promote the area. Voting on the names will begin Thursday at an Economic Indicators Breakfast at The Ridges Golf Course. Brenda McCarthy, 29, of Wisconsin Rapids shops downtown several times a month, but rarely sees a large crowd of people, she said. New businesses could draw more people, but first the downtown area needs a positive image so it can attract other businesses, she said. "A name is a good start, but I hope the city's new image will fit the name (that's chosen)," she said. "I'm sure a lot of people still think Eighth Street is the downtown area, so maybe a nice fix-up will prove them wrong." Several other names were considered for the downtown area before the group settled on the final three, said cluster member Heather Wessling. "We had City Center as one name - all different ones we could come up with," Wessling said. "We wanted to get it down to a reasonable three, and thought these would be the best." The group is looking at different concepts, but the final product is expected to be a variation of the current artist renditions, Ferkey said. The archways under consideration were based on those at Centralia Center, next to Rapids Mall. "It combines the new modern look with the historical look, and ties Centralia Center with many of the historical buildings in the area," Ferkey said. "We think it's a good blend." How to vote: Ballots for downtown themes can be picked up from 7:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids. They need to be turned in to the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance by Monday, Sept. 27. You can reach Colin Atagi at 422-6728 or at catagi@wisconsinrapidstribune.com.
		Copyright © 2004, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome