Economic Development
Economic stability and growth of the region was a
major factor in the creation of the Northwest Regional Planning
Commission (NWRPC) in 1959 by local units of government. Today, NWRPC
continues to provide professional services to local units of
governments, communities, and businesses in an effort to strengthen the
regional economy and assist businesses with the retention of local jobs
and the creation of higher skill/higher wage jobs.
Professional services include preparing state and
federal grant applications, such as Wisconsin Department of Commerce
economic, public facility, and planning grants and Economic Development
Administration grants; creating local economic development strategies;
construction and management of economic development facilities, such as
enterprise centers; facilitating local business expansions; and Tax
Increment District and project plan development.
NWRPC’s partnership with the Northwest Wisconsin
Business Development Corporation’s (NWBDC) revolving loan funds and
Wisconsin Business Innovation Corporation’s (WBIC) business technical
assistance contribute to the regional economic development efforts.
Additionally, WBIC formed and manages the only community-based venture
capital fund in the Northwest Region, the Wisconsin Rural Enterprise
Fund, LLC (WREF).
In 1973, the Economic Development Administration
of the U.S. Department of Commerce designated the Northwest Regional
Planning Commission as an Economic Development District (EDD). As a
result, a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is prepared
to guide the economic growth of the District.
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
In 2003, Northwest Regional Planning Commission
prepared a major update to the Comprehensive Economic Development
Strategy. The CEDS provides an analysis of local conditions; identifies
the problems, needs, and opportunities of the district; defines the
vision, goals, and objectives of the district; and designates and
coordinates strategies and/or activities to accomplish and implement its
goals. Furthermore, the CEDS includes two lists of projects provided by
local units of government, local economic development organizations, and
tribal nations. One list contains projects completed in 2002 for the
region and the second list consists of prioritized community and
economic development projects for the years 2003-2007.
A CD containing the CEDS is available by
contacting Monica Burkart at mburkart@nwrpc.com.
