New Glarus

Wisconsin Connect

Communities Program

CONNECT COMMUNITIES

CONNECT COMMUNITIES PROGRAM:

WEDC’s Connect Communities Program will:

Reach out to more Wisconsin downtowns

Supplement the Main Street Program

Assist all size downtowns and commercial

neighborhood districts

Create networking opportunities for Connect

Communities

Connect communities to $$$ and technical assistance

Groom future Main Street Programs

Must have an organization that focuses on downtown issues

Signed agreement with WEDC

Report (once per year)

Must commit to participating in most of training opportunities

Annual fee: $200

Option to extend participation in the program each year

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Up to 20 communities selected each year

Applications (competitive) will be accepted April 2015

Applications judged by WEDC staff

Strength of downtown committee/organization

Need for assistance

Clearly defined downtown area

Downtown resources

Potential

APPLICATION AND SELECTION

What Is Connect Communities?

• Grass Roots

• Volunteer Based

• Public & Private Support

• Historic Preservation

• Four Point Approach

1. Organization

2. Promotion

3. Economic Restructuring

4. Design

SERVICES *

Main Street Workshops

New Main Street

Director Training

CAM Visit

Chatter Group

Roundtable Discussions

LocateInWisconsin.com

Main Street Awards

Resource Guide for

New Organizations

Webinars and/or

Regional Trainings

Online Resource Library

Connect Communities is NOTa financial grant program!

Connect Communities provides initial

steps for ongoing training and technical

assistance in the field of downtown

revitalization.

Why is Downtown / Business District

Important?

CENTER OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

QUALITY HISTORIC BUILDINGS

UNIQUE SENSE OF PLACENO TWO DOWNTOWNS ALIKE

What Happened to Downtown?

DECENTRALIZATION

PUBLIC DISINVESTMENT

FAÇADE “MODERNIZATION”

THE SHOPPING MALL

WHY DISTRICTS WITH SMALLER, OLDER BUILDINGS?

• More jobs and businesses per commercial square footage

• More locally-owned businesses

• More attractive to creative younger generation

• More affordable & flexible spaces for entrepreneurs

Based on study by National Trust for Historic Preservation – Preservation Green Lab

WHY FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN

R. Dawn Riley, Assoc. AIA, APA

Smith Dalia Architects

The most successful efforts in rural economic development represent a

shift away from traditional tactics, like ”smokestack chasing,” and

toward approaches, like place-based development and economic

gardening, that try to build on local character, social capital and natural

amenities. In this way, some small towns have redirected their focus to

be more inward-looking, and have been able to cultivate more stable

local economies.

BY THE NUMBERS

BY THE NUMBERS

In Suwanee:

•23 acre big box

shopping center

generates

$6,300/acre in

property taxes.

BY THE NUMBERS

Mixed-use

downtown

generates

$11,500/acre in

property taxes.

HOW IT ALL WORKS

THE MAIN STREET APPROACH

ORGANIZATION

ORGANIZATION

Plays a key role in keeping the board,

committees, staff, and program of work

in good shape by attracting people and

money to the organization.

PROMOTION

PROMOTION

Getting residents, visitors, shoppers,

investors, and new businesses to see

downtown as the center of commerce,

culture, and community life

DESIGN

DESIGN

Creates an attractive, coordinated and

quality image of the downtown by

capitalizing on its unique assets and

heritage.

DESIGN

• Building Improvements

• New Infill Construction

• Signage

• Visual Merchandising

• Public Improvements

• Sustainability

• Historic Preservation Planning

ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING

Economic Restructuring

Works to develop a market driven strategy that will result in an improved business mix, new economic uses for

traditional Main Street Buildings, and increased investor confidence in the local economy.

ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING

• Market Analysis

• Business Retention And Expansion

• Business Recruitment

• Real Estate Development

• Incentive Programs

Let’s Brainstorm…