Wisconsin's Top Rural Development Initiatives for 2005

Dateline Eau Claire, Wisconsin, April 13, 2005

The Top Rural Development Initiatives for 2005 were awarded in a public recognition ceremony on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, 5:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn Convention Center, downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The recognition ceremony was held at an evening reception in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Community Leadership Summit.

Community Progress Initiative, a joint effort of the Heart of Wisconsin Business& Economic Alliance and Community Foundation of South Wood County, took top honors at the 2005 awards. In the past year, CPI has stimulated a multi-track campaign among seven communities in central Wisconsin with the motto "Make it Happen!" The initiative has involved more than 2,000 area residents in creating a new economic future for the region, with training and education programs, technical assistance and support, leadership development and community visioning. Read more about this impressive initiative at the CPI web site.

Second place went to the Potosi Brewery Restoration; third to the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail; and fourth place to the Jefferson School District's "Character in Action" program. Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation containing summary profiles of these initiatives, or visit their individual web sites by clicking on their titles above.

In addition to the top four intiatives that were presented with plaques at the ceremony, six additional initiatives were given "Honorable Mention" recognition. These initiatives are the Wolf River Sturgeon Trail (New London); Dairy Business Innovation Center (virtual/online); Platteville Community Arboretum; Wolf River Senior Village (Manawa); Iron County Story Kromer Pursuit Race; and the Town of Rome in Adams County. Visit their web sites to learn more about these successful initiatives.

Profiles of all of the above initiatives, as well of those initiatives awarded from past years, are being gathered into a searchable database so community leaders from across Wisconsin can take these great ideas and adapt them in their own communities. This database is expected to be published on this web site by the end of 2005. Stay tuned!