Menomonie (WQOW) - Wisconsin is making a connection that could boost downtown development.
Menomonie
was recently chosen as one of 20 cities throughout the state to participate in
something called Connect Communities.
"We have a good
organization so far, we've been here since 1990 so we're very established. I
think our town fits what they're looking for," said Joanie Dulin,
Executive director of Main Street Menomonie.
Main Street Menomonie Inc. is
constantly looking for ways to help bring people downtown. Now, as the city has been chosen to be part of Connect Communities, it hopes that goal becomes easier.
"If a business
wants to for instance expand, it might give us tools that will help us to be
able to assist them in expanding. Or, new businesses to town, it would be able
to help us to know what they may need when they first come into town and how we
can help start off successfully," said Dulin.
Connect Communities is a new state
program to give downtown areas a boost. Here's one example of what the program does.
A state economic development expert may visit Menomonie to help identify what
the downtown needs.
"We have six vacant
storefronts in downtown Menomonie. So a program like this might help us to know
what type of businesses we might like to recruit to move into those
storefronts. What might be the best way to fill those store fronts and help
them to start successfully," Dulin said.
"As a business
owner I definitely think it's a good idea. As a taxpayer, I think it's a good
idea too. It's a good idea to reinvest in downtown after all the sprawl that
has gone on with urban development," said Rory Feddersen, who owns Simple
Sports.
It costs Main Street Menomonie $200
per year to be a part of the program. Feddersen says he sees the long term
benefits.
"One thing that
would be good is more advertising and marketing for the downtown. A lot of
people still don't know about a lot of businesses that are in the downtown
area. I still have people coming into my shop saying 'How long have you been
around?" and I've been here for 12 years," said Feddersen.
