Practitioner tools for small community economic development; a community success story

Skill Building

Finding information and reliable data sources for small community development is often a challenge for practitioners. The University of Wisconsin Extension's Community Natural Resource & Economic Development-Community Economic Development Preparedness Team has developed a new "Wheel" available on the internet to help sort through the multitude of tools and sources. This session will provide a brief overview of the CEDP "wheel" on how several of the tools were applied in one small community in Northeastern Wisconsin.

Like many rural communities, Wausaukee has been experiencing population and relative income decline over the last 20 years. Leaders formed the Wausaukee Economic Development Committee in efforts to revitalize the community and downtown area in preparation for the widening of their main street, US 141. They invited UW-Extension and the County Economic Development Corporation Director to assist with their new committee.

Extension provided technical assistance in statistical analysis, but the community "learned" about survey design, implementation, analysis, presentation tips, in to addition broader ED/Organization Development concepts, tools, & processes. Evidence is provided of strong partnerships between local businesses, municipalities, the County EDC, and Extension.

Tools highlighted in the success story include the Community Economic Development Preparedness Index. The purpose of this preparedness index is to help you analyze your community's strengths and weaknesses before you develop a plan to improve economic development opportunities in your community.

Trade Area Analyst LT Software - Trade Area Analyst LT uses Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to map data collected by zip codes.