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 October 30, 2004 By Colin Atagi, Daily Tribune Staff It's been five months since the Community Progress Initiative's industry clusters were launched, and they're continuing to pave the way for a stronger local economy. Each cluster group has developed specific tasks to be completed and is making strides to reach its goals, said Connie Loden, executive director of the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance, which organized the Community Progress Initiative with the Community Foundation of South Wood County. "I think for the most part, things are definitely going in a good direction," she said. "Some move faster than others, and a part of that is whether it's a real complicated group or if it has a little narrower focus." The Small Business Industry Cluster group is working to identify specific needs of small businesses and how to respond to them. The group developed a survey to obtain new information and feedback to assist members in helping local businesses. The survey was sent out to 800 businesses and placed on the Heart of Wisconsin's Web site. Information from the surveys also will be used toward the Education Industry Cluster group's study of what forms of education are necessary for local businesses. Members of the Tourism Industry Cluster group divided into three groups consisting of projects to develop strategic cooperative marketing, a portal Web site showcasing year-round events and a publication promoting the south Wood County area. "The portal Web site is the ability to come in and put a date range someone is going to visit the area, and everything available at that time pops up on the screen," said cluster member Nan Taylor. "It would be even something you could use locally, because you have the ability to see what's going on, or if you're conflicting with anything when you're trying to plan an event." The Downtown-Revitalization Industry Cluster group also divided its members into different tasks. Groups will work on beautifying downtown Wisconsin Rapids and evaluating the current condition of downtown space and how to use it. "This group will look at how the current state of our downtown is, how it's being used and what's available, and how to get a pulse of how to help other businesses," said co-chairwoman Jackie Bredl-Dietrich. The borders of the downtown area already have been established, and the group will study landscaping and current conditions of buildings. "We're at the phase where a lot of ideas have been offered, and groups of people are
		Copyright © 2004, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome