From the WRP Archives, Feb. 1997

Governor's Rural Summit reveals top issues important to rural Wisconsinites

One hundred and fifty rural residents, state and federal agency representatives, local and tribal partners responded to Governor Thompson's invitation to convene for a statewide rural summit on rural issues December 3, 1996. Wisconsin Rural Partners hosted the day-long event in Stevens Point. The Summit begins a several-month strategy to help state and federal agencies develop interagency action plans by teaming up with rural residents, local and tribal governments.

Participants in the Summit received study materials prior to the December 3 meeting, including a copy of Wisconsin Rural Partners' newly-published research report entitled "The Wisconsin Rural Performance Indicator: An Assessment of the Conditions and Needs of Rural Wisconsin." University of Wisconsin Community Economics Professor Emeritus Glen Pulver presented to the group his vision of where the data and current econoic trends will take rural Wisconsin. UW-Stevens Point Communications Professor C.Y. Allen regaled the gathering with his views on how to achieve "systems thinking."

Armed with this excellent information and motivation, participants rolled up their sleeves and worked in facilitated small group sessions to produce a consensus on the issues of greatest importance to them. The results of the group sessions will be used in the next steps of the Rural Summit strategy, which is for state and federal agencies to work on strategy development to address the rural issues identified at the meeting. Teams will be developed to review and coordinate preliminary strategies. As the strategies come together, the next steps in the process will be further developed.

Read the progress report from the Rural Summit 1 by clicking here [PDF file, 169 kb].

Co-Sponsors of the Rural Summit 1:

USDA Rural Development

Wisconsin Department of Commerce

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection

Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority