This blog is designed to create strong connections between the Village of Waunakee and current businesses, prospective businesses, developers, realtors and anyone else who may have interested in the economic prosperity, growth and success in our community.
A program that promotes sustainable manufacturing in Wisconsin will be expanding to included 30 additional manufacturers. The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) manages The Profitable Sustainability Imitative, will assist small and mid-sized manufacturers in using sustainable practices. This will save money and help the manufacturers gain a competitive edge in the market.
The estimated return on investment is 31:1. The pilot initiative will result in a $54 million in economic impact over five years by the 45 Wisconsin companies participating.
Advance Now: Madison Region's Strategy for Economic Growth is a comprehensive, action-oriented regional economic development strategy that will systematically move the Madison Region's economy forward. The eight-month development process will engage citizens, as well as public- and private-sector leaders from throughout the region, to define a shared vision for sustained economic growth. The project will culminate in a detailed implementation plan that includes tangible performance metrics, capacity assessments, and one-to-five year action plans.
The Opportunity
In many ways, The Madison Region is poised for tremendous success. We enjoy an exceptional quality of life, paired with assets in research and innovation, natural resources, and an educated, creative workforce.
The Challenge
The region's assets have not translated into widespread economic prosperity and job creation. Although the region has historically benefited from a strong economy, we are falling behind on the road to economic recovery.
The Madison Region was outpaced by four of five peer regions in employment and business growth, and our per capita income is dropping at a higher rate than our peers. (Thrive's 2010 State of the Madison Region Report)
Wisconsin ranked #43 in Forbes' 2010 Rankings of the Best States for Business.
The Madison MSA ranked 327 out of 392 nationwide for projected employment growth through 2014. (Moody's)
In light of today’s global marketplace, our fragmented economic development model has become outdated. Advance Now will build a comprehensive action strategy to unify the more than 90 separate economic development plans already in place throughout our region. This roadmap will help our region prioritize and support the most promising growth industries enabling us to better compete on national and global scales.
The Goal
Advance Now will position the Madison Region as one of America's leading job creation engines and most livable communities. It is our goal to build a world-class business infrastructure as seriously as we invest in our quality of life. To this end, we'll focus on such outcomes as business retention and expansion, sector development, and capital attraction.
The Strategy
With outcomes built specifically for the Madison Region and tied to economic drivers, the strategy will recognize assets using data sources and feedback from key constituencies to define what our region will be known for globally. In addition, the strategy will enable Thrive to obtain a federally-approved Economic Development District (EDD) designation for the Madison Region, creating funding opportunities such as seed money for revolving loan funds, planning grants, and infrastructure funding.
Thrive will partner with the Atlanta-based economic development consulting firm Market Street Services, led by founder and CEO J. Mac Holladay, CCE, PCED, to develop Advance Now.
The Village of Waunakee is putting together a committee to come up with and recommened a revolving loan program for helping with build-out costs for new commerical tenants in Waunakee.
The committee is looking for any available information regarding this project including what works and what doesn't work. If you have done this before or have any feedback or ideas for the committee please send any information to Todd Schmidt via email at tschmidt@vil.waunakee.wi.us or 608-850-5227.
The committee will be meeting in the next couple of weeks, please send your information or ideas as soon as possible.
In a way to increase the Village's effort to recognize and support out local businesses, the Economic Development Commission (EDC) reserves time at each of their meetings (the second Monday of each month at 7 pm) to hear a presentation from one of Waunakee's local businesses.
Last meeting we heard from Tormach, a small machining company that creates, produces, and gives support for CNC (computer numerical control) machines. What makes them different is that they target hobbyist and start up companies.
To find out more about Tormach please visit their website or read our local tribune article on Tormach.
If you are interested in presenting at our next meeting please contact Todd Schmidt at tschmidt@vil.waunakee.wi.us or 608-850-5227.
The Village of Waunakee participates in an on-line state-wide building and sites database as a resource for anyone looking to locate or relocate a business here in the Village. This system is called “Locate In Wisconsin”, and can be found on-line at www.locateinwi.com. Our goal is to list every single available space and every available piece of land so that those hunting for locations in Waunakee can easily find them in one place. Those using the database can search by size, location, cost per square foot, amenities, access to transportation and more.
In order for this system to be successful, the Village needs cooperation from all of those who have space or land to advertise. Village staff are available to help make the process of listing properties easy. We will even do it for you; everything from taking photos to determining lot dimensions. Best of all, this service is free of charge, no matter how big or small your listing might be. Whether it is a 500 square foot office in the back corner, or a prominent 100,000 square foot building right on
Main Street
. Whether you are currently using a listing agent (note – this does not replace your listing agent, but does help direct traffic to your listing), or are for the first time looking to put something on the market… it SHOULD be listed on this system!
To check out all current listings go to www.waunakee-ed.com click on available properties, and use the search function to find all buildings and sites available in Waunakee.
If you have any available property and/or space and would like to have it listed on locateinwi.com please contact Ashley Greiber at Village Hall at agreiber@vil.waunakee.wi.us or 608-850-2830.
Future Urban Development Area Planning (FUDA) is a joint planning process of the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission, the City of Middleton, the Village of Waunakee, and the Towns of Westport and Springfield.
Phase two: Create development scenarios to guide future growth. Please join us at Waunakee High School (301 Community Drive) on October 25th at 7 p.m.
Advance Now is a comprehensive, action-oriented regional economic development strategy that will systematically move the Madison Region's economy forward. The eight-month strategy development process for Advance Now relies on feedback gathered from residents of the eight-county Madison Region. In particular, more input is needed from residents of Columbia, Dodge, Jefferson, Rock and SaukCounties, from people under 25, and from people of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Lend your voice to the conversation by taking the Advance Now public input survey at advancenow.thrivehere.org. Just 15 minutes of your time will help shape the future of the Madison Region. Please encourage others to do the same. Survey topics include education, workforce, quality of life, and business climate. The survey closes at midnight on Sunday, October 16, 2011.
