Wisconsin’s Top Rural

Development Initiatives 2007

Celebrating the great things Celebrating the great things happening in rural Wisconsin!happening in rural Wisconsin!

Wisconsin’s Top Rural Wisconsin’s Top Rural Development Initiatives ProgramDevelopment Initiatives Program

• Wisconsin Rural Partners began Wisconsin Rural Partners began awards in 1998awards in 1998

• Recognizes innovative community Recognizes innovative community initiatives in rural Wisconsin that can initiatives in rural Wisconsin that can serve as models for other communitiesserve as models for other communities

• More than 150 initiatives are profiled on More than 150 initiatives are profiled on our web site at our web site at www.wirural.org

2007 Initiatives2007 Initiatives

• Two initiatives selected for Top HonorsTwo initiatives selected for Top Honors

• Presented by Presented by WRP President Bonnie Peterson WRP President Bonnie Peterson and Awards Chair Arlene Scalzoand Awards Chair Arlene Scalzo

Reedsburg Reedsburg Utility CommissionUtility Commission

• Represented by Represented by Dave MikonowiczDave Mikonowicz

Reedsburg Reedsburg Utility CommissionUtility Commission

• Southwest Wisconsin rural community Southwest Wisconsin rural community lacked high-speed communications lacked high-speed communications accessaccess

• Created a Municipal Communication Created a Municipal Communication Utility in 2000Utility in 2000

• Certified by Wisconsin Public Service Certified by Wisconsin Public Service Commission as a Competitive Local Commission as a Competitive Local Exchange CarrierExchange Carrier

The Initiative:

Reedsburg Reedsburg Utility CommisUtility Commissionsion

• City of Reedsburg, Reedsburg School City of Reedsburg, Reedsburg School District, Reedsburg Area Medical District, Reedsburg Area Medical Center, Madison Area Technical Center, Madison Area Technical College (local campus), local College (local campus), local businesses and citizensbusinesses and citizens

• Includes 4 local telephone Includes 4 local telephone cooperatives and 5 cooperatives and 5 telecommunications service providerstelecommunications service providers

Partners:

Reedsburg Reedsburg Utility CommissionUtility Commission

• Invested $13 million in communications Invested $13 million in communications infrastructure from 2000-2006infrastructure from 2000-2006

• 40 miles of fiber optic line; 4,200 40 miles of fiber optic line; 4,200 residential and business Network residential and business Network Interface Devices (NIDs)Interface Devices (NIDs)

• Provides voice, video and data Provides voice, video and data servicesservices

Strategy:

Reedsburg Reedsburg Utility CommissionUtility Commission

• 55% of residences and 60% of 55% of residences and 60% of businesses are customersbusinesses are customers

• The Municipal Communications Utility The Municipal Communications Utility provides businesses with cost savings provides businesses with cost savings while enhancing their business while enhancing their business investments, employee recruitment, investments, employee recruitment, educational and lifestyle benefitseducational and lifestyle benefits

Results:

Reedsburg Reedsburg Utility CommissionUtility Commission

• Improved operations for the Medical Improved operations for the Medical Center, including patient services and Center, including patient services and employee trainingemployee training

• Increased effectiveness of police, fire Increased effectiveness of police, fire protection and other public servicesprotection and other public services

• Enhanced educational services for Enhanced educational services for K-12 and technical collegeK-12 and technical college

Results:

Reedsburg Reedsburg Utility CommissionUtility Commission

• As the first MCU in Wisconsin, is now As the first MCU in Wisconsin, is now helping other communities in helping other communities in Wisconsin , Louisiana and Vermont set Wisconsin , Louisiana and Vermont set up their Municipal Communications up their Municipal Communications UtilitiesUtilities

A model for other communities:

Mineral PointMineral PointChamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce

• Agriculture & Rural Life CommitteeAgriculture & Rural Life Committee

• Represented by Lois FedermanRepresented by Lois Federman

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce

• Goal to boost the use of local foodsGoal to boost the use of local foods• Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce

Agriculture & Rural Life Committee Agriculture & Rural Life Committee initiated project with high schoolinitiated project with high school

• Annual school fundraiser features Annual school fundraiser features locally-produced foods in gift boxeslocally-produced foods in gift boxes

The Initiative:

Mineral PointMineral PointChamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce

• Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce

• 13 local producers13 local producers

• 3 high school student clubs: FFA, 3 high school student clubs: FFA, Outdoorsman Club and VICAOutdoorsman Club and VICA

Partners:

Mineral PointMineral PointChamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce

• Chamber members identified local Chamber members identified local producers and taste tested productsproducers and taste tested products

• Products were designed into 10 gift Products were designed into 10 gift packspacks

• Students sold orders for 2 weeks in Students sold orders for 2 weeks in OctoberOctober

Strategy:

Mineral Point’s Local Foods Gift BasketsMineral Point’s Local Foods Gift Baskets

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce

• 722 gift baskets sold with gross sales of 722 gift baskets sold with gross sales of $17,606 $17,606

• 64% increase over previous year’s 64% increase over previous year’s revenuerevenue

• Provides additional income for local Provides additional income for local farmersfarmers

Results:

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce

• Showcases diversity of locally-produced Showcases diversity of locally-produced foodfood

• Provides real-life entrepreneurial Provides real-life entrepreneurial experience for studentsexperience for students

• Retains dollars locally that used to be Retains dollars locally that used to be spent on outside fundraiser itemsspent on outside fundraiser items

• Created new friendships between Created new friendships between school and business peopleschool and business people

Results:

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce

• Student clubs, youth groups and civic Student clubs, youth groups and civic organizations that do fundraisers should organizations that do fundraisers should Think Local! Think Local! wwhen looking for productshen looking for products

• Many partnering organizations expands Many partnering organizations expands the publicity circlethe publicity circle

• New friendships and relationships New friendships and relationships between school and community can between school and community can carry to other community activitiescarry to other community activities

A model for other communities:

Congratulations!

• Summary descriptions and contacts Summary descriptions and contacts availableavailable

• Press releases for initiative Press releases for initiative representatives to take with themrepresentatives to take with them

• Have local newspapers contact Have local newspapers contact Wisconsin Rural Partners office for Wisconsin Rural Partners office for digital photosdigital photos